Help us provide a Yun Zi-proof tree!
Yun Zi, whose name means “son of clouds,” loves to climb. So in his honor, we would like to give him a present he’ll never forget—a custom-made artificial tree! Many of you have already donated to Yun Zi’s tree, and we would like to thank you for your ongoing support. Through our animal care Wish List program, we have raised almost $8,000. We plan on supplementing these funds with an additional $5,000 from a different program in January 2012. At that point we will have raised nearly $14,000 for Yun Zi’s tree. We still have to raise an additional $7,000 to reach our goal.
This panda tree will be approximately 12 feet tall (3.6 meters), with a 3-foot-diameter trunk and 6 to 8 branches that incorporate pockets for live plants. The custom-made tree will be fashioned in concrete so it will last for years to come. Its trunk and branches will be sculpted by hand to look like bark and then painted in lifelike patterns. During the month of December, you can help support this project once again for as little as $10. If you would like to donate before December, you can call us at 619-557-3914, and we will be happy to help you.
On behalf of our panda boy, thank you in advance for your special gift to him!
Kym Harvey is a development programs coordinator for San Diego Zoo Global.
Thank you so much for this blog Kym. We now understand how we are doing in the fund raising, what the tree is going to be like and why it is so expensive. It is going to be massive. Just the right size for a growing boy.
What a nice Christmas gift idea. We can donate to the tree like we did a couple of years ago for the bamboo cooler.
save the pandas
hahaha…I agree…we need a ‘Yun Zi-proof’ tree…please email your mailing address to me so I can send a money order…’thank you’ to all the staff at SDZ, Bernice.
Moderator’s note: Thank you, Bernice! The address is:
San Diego Zoo Wish List
P.O. Box 120551
San Diego, CA 92112
great I will use this address too, I don’t have a credit card
Moderator’s note: Thank you, Kathy. Every little bit will help us reach our goal for Yun Zi.
I would been there on HAlloween but I need to send a check. Is a check alright? Please advise soon. Thanks
Moderator’s note: A check is great! Thank you, Virginia.
Thank you for the tree update. I was thinking about Yunior’s tree few days ago. Poor baby, I will definitely help purchase his tree. I will let my sister know about this tree too.
Moderator’s note: Many thanks, AC, and for spreading the word, too!
It would be nice to think that, if the tree lasts for years to come, that Yun Zi could be here all that time to enjoy it!
‘Jie Jie, come quickly! Come, come!’ yelled Yunnie.
Susie ran from the living room fearing the worst. When she arrived at the play pen, her son was sitting on the back of the rocking horse looking so contented and cute.
‘Isn’t this a Kodak moment?’ asked Yun Zi, who had spent 5 days with his sister to help her with her baby.
‘YUNNIE, you scared me! I thought something had happened….Whew!’
‘Susie, I am here. I would never let anything happen to my nephew. He looks so handsome like his uncle, hee hee!’
‘I just finished talking to my husband. He may come visit next weekend. Mei Sheng texted to ask if you want to go on a picnic. Maybe you can meet some China pandas and get to know the locals?’
‘A likely story. I wasn’t born yesterday…are you guys trying to hook me up? I am 2 too young, hee hee.’
‘We’ll see…..for some things you are never too young….like love!’
‘Jie Jie, OK, I will meet them and see. Never know right….ooooh, Mama will have a fit…..Anyway, I am going to start Bao Beh on Sesame Street, what do you think?’
‘A little old fashioned don’t you think?’
‘No, I think they are great…Sunny Days…Everthing’s AOK…On my way to where the air is clean….Tell me how to get, how to get to Sesame Street…..!’
‘Hey, Yunnie, you can sing!’
‘Hello, I am brother to the Panda Grrrrls, of course I can sing. I can even dance!’
‘SO, you think you can dance?’
‘GROAN, sis, that was BAAAAAD!
‘Hee Hee, I thought it was punny! By the way, ZZ is coming over soon with lunch. She cooked.’
‘Yikes, she cooked?’
‘Hey, she’s not bad. In the early days of my depression, she helped me by coooking great congee. She called Mama for help though.’
‘You had depression?’
‘Yes….when I felt lonely and overwhelmed by the baby and everything….and my huband was far away….I guess pandas do get post natal depression too…but I learnt to ask for help….ZZ came and the BFX nannykeepers came…Mama called and called….even Papa called me from the hospital….’
Yunnie hugs his sister and she smiles as he is chubbily comforting.
‘AWwwwww, such a sweet moment, right out of Norman Bearwell! Well ZZ’s here with lunch! I MADE PIZZA!’
‘YAY!’ yelled Yunnie who was missing American food and the siblings chowed down as Su Lin cuddled her son.
Won’t he be going back to China soon?
Moderator’s note: There are no plans at present for Yun Zi to move to China.
can he say please, you can bring in a little girlfriend for him when he’s ready to have babies of his own
Kathy: I like your thinking! Wouldn’t that be wonderful!!!
And send Zhennie back too!
Yess yes yes! We will wait for her and go to the Airport to see her come home!!~ She seemed to be very sad when Rita left.
Oh wouldn’t it be wonderful if a girl friend for Yun Zi were flown in from China!
I just had the same thought, why go to all this expense, when he will only get the use of it for such a short time? And with Bai Yun not having a cub this year, the zoo will soon only have 2 adult pandas that don’t spend much time in the trees.
Moderator’s note: China has not informed us yet of their plans for Yun Zi’s future, but we are eager to provide this wonderful climbing structure now for him and all future youngsters.
I do will help for the tree, also nice to know Yun Zi will get to stay here, I will keep my fingers crossed for him to stay. Thats my wish.
lu sacto
Moderator’s note: Thank you for helping provide Yun Zi with a sturdy tree, Lu!
I would like to contribute electronically. Please provide a link so that I may accomplish this. Thank you.
Moderator’s note: Thank you, C. Johnson. I’ll find out for you.
We’ll add it to the December Wish List. In the meantime, you can call 619-557-3914 or email wishlist@sandiegozoo.org
I will surely contribute, because I love Yun Tzu. He has the most wonderful, toothy, panda smile.
Problem is, I think he will be sent to Leopard Mt at BFX by this time next year. Unless this tree is built very quickly, he will have little chance to use it. Does this make sense to all you fellow pandaphiles?
‘ YUNNIE, hurry, get into the buggy, we have to go now!’ yells ZZ.
‘He’s coming, he’s trying to see which cap looks better!’ yells Su Lin on his behalf.
Yunnie come flying down the stairs. He was wearing a baseball cap and he looked really cute. Su Lin loaded a picnic basket into the back seat of the buggy.
‘Bye, Susie! You sure you dont want to come?’ asks Yunnie. Susie grins and replies,’I dont want to be a lamp post. Enjoy your time with the girlies! Make sure you get their contact details and be a gentleman!’
‘Hey, I am always a gentleman. And there will be other cubbies there too, not just those girlies….anyway, I just want to find out about BFX.’
‘Sure, sure, if you say so. Have a good time. Take lots of photos!’ and with that Susie and Bao Beh wave as Zippy ZZ zooms out of the driveway. Yunnie was excited and he couldn’t stop talking. ZZ was amused at his obvious interest in certain female cubbies and she did her best to answer his questions.
They met Mei Sheng at a lovely field near BFX. Tai Shan and Fu Long were there together with 5 young cubbies. After all the intros were done, they decided to play a game of skittles. Soon laughter and giggles filled the air. Yunnie clowned around. The 3 girls thought he was adorable and goofy so they giggled whenever they talked to him. Yunnie enjoyed chatting with the guys about trees to climb in BFX. He did make sure he exchanged numbers with everyone before leaving.
Mei Sheng high fived ZZ and the 2 siblings smiled at how Yunnie could hardly bear to tear himself away from the 3 girls. He got on so well with all of them. ZZ started humming, ‘When I fall in love…’
‘Hey stop that! We are just friends! And by the way, I saw that guy in the next villa looking at you!’ retorted Yunnie.
‘Su’s neighbour? He’s my pal at BFX. We climb lots of trees. He’s a good climber.’
‘That’s nice, you have something in common!’
‘Hey this is about you not me!’
‘Hee Hee Hee! I ain’t saying nothing. A gentleman never kisses and teels.’
‘You mean you kissed them already! Wow you work fast!’
‘No No No, it is just a figure of speech!’ Yunnie blushes deep red.
‘Ya, right. I heard that one before! Hahaha!’
‘Stop it, ZZ. Hee hee hee!’
He is just too cute for his own good!
He is.
Are we going to get cameras like the Ellies / Polar Bears / and Apes…??? They are better to view.
Moderator’s note: We are in the process of upgrading Panda Cam to offer HD views like our other cams.
did anyone get pics or video of the antics of our boy the other day
Thank you for the update on Yunnie’s tree. we thought it is already funded. Looks like some ways to go. We will donate some more
).
Anyway, like the others, we are concerned he is going home soon as he turns 3 next year. THat is why we are planning to hopefully visit him next year. Perhaps, SDZ can ask for Yunnie to have an extended stay so he can enjoy his tree some more
) ??? Is that a possible arrangement?
Moderator’s note: Thank you for your contribution, Lil & Bill! Nothing is set in stone about if or when Yun Zi goes to China.
Thank you for the tree update. That will be a wonderful Christmas present for Yun Zi ~ more funds for his tree. Perhaps we can get it done quickly for him. I do hope they won’t take too long in its construction and shipping. Our little man is waiting!!
Moderator’s note: The tree will be built right here at the Zoo, so we won’t have to wait for shipping.
Oh, thank you moderator, I was under the mistaken impression that it was being built elsewhere and shipped to the SDZ! This will be so much easier ~ as well as faster!
just called in my donation for Yun Zi and his tree, hope everyone will give a little something to make this happen. after all yun zi and his family have given us so much joy we need to give something back and this is a great way to do it
Moderator’s note: Many thanks, barbara!
I sent Halloween cards to the bears and the keepers. Did they get them? Of course they couldnt read them but could they see them.???? The keepers got one too. I sent a special one with lots of treats in a bag to BAi Yun. Anyway it was a fun thing to do.
Moderator’s note: I’ll have to check, but thanks for thinking of the bears and keepers!
Yes, your Halloween cards were received and appreciated. Thank you!