Yun Zi ponders his next move.
As soon as the bedroom door opened, our young panda ran to the tub and began to go through the ice, rubbing the cubes all over his head. He then tipped the tub over, spreading the ice everywhere, and tumbled down the hill, bringing the tub with him. Our guests were enthralled and were laughing and snapping as many photos as they could! Yun Zi even chased his Boomer ball around the exhibit, almost like a kid chasing a soccer ball.
After a lot of playing and running around for almost two hours, he FINALLY took a nap. What a day in the San Diego Zoo’s Panda Trek!
Alyssa Medeiros is a panda narrator at the San Diego Zoo. Read her previous post, Gao Gao and the Tub.
I am so excited he is back out for visitors to see. I am coming from the UK and I have booked tickets for July. i LOVE pandas xx
Day 2 at Bi Feng Xia
(See Lee’s account of Day 1 in the comment section of the post Science for Kids: Observing.)
Since we are “staff,” we were let in today when we arrived, 45 minutes early. We walked directly to the nursery and the two girls were up and awake. I honestly could stay watching them all day. Got lots of pictures, and tomorrow I will try to get some video. I hope they cooperate.
The first shift this morning was to clean out Cui Cui and Tai`s outside yards. We get them inside with panda bread and then lock their doors. All I can say is that Tai eats a lot and poops a lot, too. Unreal the amount that we collected in just 24 hours. After restocking their yards with bamboo, we let them out and clean the inside space. There is a lot there, too. Thank heavens there is no smell to it. This takes a good hour, and since it is so hot out, we are soaked with sweat by the time we finish.
Shift 2 – we cut up panda bread, Tai gets 350 grams and Cui gets 300 grams, carrots, and bamboo shoots. Mr. Zhang allowed us to take pictures, and I have attached some. It was fabulous! I hand fed Tai and Darlene hand fed Cui. We sit them down at the bars and have them put one arm on the metal armrest and the other hand holding the bar. Then the panda puts their mouth between the bars, and we put the food right in their mouth. Small pieces. They sit like that until all the food is gone. I was allowed to rub my hand on Tai`s arm. I got goose pimples doing it. The fur is coarse but warm. He didn`t mind at all. Mr. Zhang said that Tai is a good boy and obeys all his commands.
Shift 3 – Cut up panda bread, cut an apple in half for each and more bamboo shoots. I called Tai over to the bars and using my hands, got him to sit down and hold on to the bars. Now that was an experience I will never forget. We hand fed them again and put some bamboo in the inside space as it is so hot outside we wanted them to stay in now.
No Shift 4 because of the heat today.
Our ride doesn`t pick us up until 5 p.m., so we went back to the nursery area and watched the babies. They were active again and, of course, we got more pictures.
Lee, Wow I would love to get that close to Tai Shan! Thanks for sharing the experience with us.
Lee, how amazing and what an experience. I didn’t see pictures attached, but when you get back I am sure we will be able to see some and I am looking forward to it. Thank you for your update!!!
Have MORE fun and stay safe.
did you get to see Hua Mei, Mei Sheng, Su Lin and baby, or Zhen Zhen? would love to know how they are doing.
Hi Teresa, I’m back home now so can answer you. Here is what is up with the San Diego born pandas.
Hua Mei – they preformed AI on her so only time will tell is she has another little one or two this year. She is in the breeding program so no access to her.
Mei Sheng – could possibly be a daddy this year as he is in the breeding program too and off limits.
Su Lin & her baby boy – In the semi-wild area at Bifengxia and no one is allowed anywhere near them. They are being watched by video cameras only.
Zhen Zhen – She is now at Emeishan Eco Park and we did go down to see her. She has her keeper from BFX with her and she looks marvelous. I have pictures and a couple of short videos of her and will get you a link as soon as I get them done.
Tai Shan is an absolute sweetheart. He’s been my baby from the moment I knew he exsisted, and it’s wonderful to read tales of his life in China. I am so envious that you actually got to touch him and interact with him; what a privilege!
How lucky, I would love to touch Tai too. He is my first baby, I love and miss him so much. .
I hope to see Yun Zi soon.
I am so happy that I can see Yun Zi again. I have missed him.
How nice to see Yun Zi having such a good time. Wish I could have been there..!
Anyone take a video ? I have hopes.
it is so nice to see the little man again; missed his antics, he was having such fun today on his swing, I missed the tub of ice …. next time. Did the keepers get any video of his playing
Yunni is a born entertainer! I love watching him on PandaCam again. I missed him.
do you know why Yun Zi rolls in the same place all the time???
he’s so cute, love him
You go boy, Yun Zi. You always delivers and we love you much!
Does anyone know if Mei Sheng is breeding with other females this year???
Dear Bloggie,
I am back on exhibition!!!! COWABUNGA. I climbed really high so I can all who come to visit me and Papa.
Yup, Papa is in the next exhibition space. I can see him sometimes and once he climbed a tree to try and see me too. Cool. We smiled and waved at each other. Papa has such long paw fur, he looks like one of the Musketiers.
I am practising my drop and roll for the pandastics event at the Pandalympics. I now have worked in a half twist, maybe the judges will be impressed…
I got a swing, wheee! I love it and now I know why the cubbies from the Panda Kindy in Cheng Du love their swing too. I saw Auntie Lee and Darlene’s pictures from their trip.
ZZ JIe Jie called to say she enjoyed seeing the aunties. And she has a large enclosure in her eco park. And she has trees. I am waiting for my concrete one. WHOOPEEEE but now I will just run around my enclousre.
I think I will do some surfing cos I am a Californian kinda guy.
HANG LOOSE MOTHER GOOSE!
Love,
The Love Bear, Yunz
Yunior, you are always so amazing and interesting.
starting on Mother’s day was the first I’ve gotten to see Yun Zi live. he is a fascinating panda child. so full of energy and curiosity. I had no idea that pandas could be that fast and such agile climbers. you would not expect it with the tubby tummy and stocky limbs. it’s a joy to watch him roll around playfully. I hope the zoo can continue to provide enrichment for him.
I wonder how a panda’s intelligence is measured. for elephants their social intelligence is considered high but since pandas are more solitary, does it mean they have lower emotional intelligence? what other forms of intelligence would be measured for pandas? I’ve seen blogs about a hearing study.
Day 3 at Bi Feng Xia
I will tell you about our first shift today. It was a lot of work, and we loved every minute of it.
Darlene and I plus Samantha and Coon from Holland all worked together and cleaned Tai Shan, Fu Long, and An An`s yards. Tai and Fu are eating and pooping machines. After cleaning and then restocking the bamboo in all three yards, we let them go outside and cleaned their inside rooms. We also washed down all the walls and floors of Fu Long and An An`s inside space with disinfectant. This is done twice a week.
We then called the pandas inside to give them their carrots, bamboo shoots, and panda bread. We give this food all by hand, one piece at a time. They don`t get the first piece until they follow our hand signals to sit down and put their hands (front paws) on the bars. Well, Fu wouldn`t do it for Darlene, so Liu Yu came over and got him to stand up on his hind legs for a carrot and then he sat down for the rest of his food.
I was going to feed An An, but when he came in he noticed that the place had been cleaned and he had to walk along one wall, on his hind legs, sniffing the wall. I`m sure it was the disinfectant smell that interested him, but maybe he was just checking to see if we did a good job
Then he followed my instructions and sat down and had his carrots, shoots, and bread. I got some video of this and hope to post it when I get home. We can do the pictures now but don`t know how to do the videos.
I got some videos of the 2 girls in the nursery, Tai Shan outside, and An An eating.
Found out that Hua Mei mated this year and MAY be pregnant but didn`t learn anything about Mei Sheng other than he was in the breeding program. Did hear that Su Lin and her cub are fine and that the little guy still has not been named.
Do you have any videos you can post of him please?
Moderator’s note: We don’t have any recent video of Yun Zi. But check out video of our newest jaguar cubs! http://youtu.be/eq0tVHhQVXk
Sounds like a fun day for all……..including Yun Zi!!
Thanks for the link to the jaguar cubs, moderator. They are soooo cute! Hope to see them out on exhibit soon.
OMG it is 7:30 p.m. SanDiego time and I just got on line to view the Bears and our BIG BABY / Wow! he has grown is in the hammock spread eagle/ fast asleep MY MY that is awsome. Glad some one is using the hammock these days. Too darn cute.
To All: DoxiMom has posted a fantastic video of Yun Zi playing on his swing!!!!
Here is the link:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-q9L80vamHI&feature=g-all-u
TOO CUTE – thanks for posting
Marvelous video! Wow, they’re sure getting good use out of the particular enrichment item. I remember it as Yunior’s surfboard, and also as Zhennie’s “floaty thing.” Zhennie, of course, after floating on it, would throw it into the moat, the eventual resting place of all her toys.
It makes a great swing! So amazing to see a panda actually swinging on it! Very creative, panda team!
What a wonderful account of Yun Zi’s arrival back on exhibit. Sorry I missed it all.I notice a red disc on the fencing in Yun Zi’s enclosure. Is this to do with his training? Also did you ever make a video of him at his hearing study?
Moderator’s note: The Panda Team will be providing a video in the next day or so.
Brilliant. Will look out for it. Thank you.
Just noticed the position of Gao’s tub inside the cave. What a cool idea!
I really really enjoy watching the Panda Cam! I look forward to watching him everyday!
He is so funny and cute! I love him!
Thank you so much for the CAM! Its Great!
How cute, our boy is growing so big. Can’t believe he is almost three.
Chengdu Panda Base
Up at our usual 6 a.m. this morning. Had breakfast and hopped in a taxi to go to the Chengdu Panda Base. Only 58 Yuan ($9.75) to get in and a further 15 Y ($2.50) for the shuttle carts, which are a must in this heat. It is 30C but the smog is almost as bad as Beijing, and we haven`t seen the sun since we arrived in Chengdu. We do know it is up there, though. Humidity is very high, so hope I have sweated off a couple of pounds on this trip… hahaha!
We first stopped off at the nursery where we saw Ya Ya and 4 of the under-1-year-olds. They are all so much fun to watch. They attack each other, they attack Ya Ya, and Ya Ya attacks them. It is very crowded here – not like at Bifengxia. This base is on the outskirts of the city, but there is a lot of traffic noise and pollution all around.
We asked where Mei Lan was and then hopped on a shuttle and went quite far back in the base to his location. There is a beautiful, and quite new, building that he and others can go into when it gets real hot that has air conditioning. But we walked around to his yard as it was only 10:20 a.m. He was asleep on his wooden platform, so we took a couple of pictures and then sat down on the sidewalk to wait until he woke up.
Very few visitors come way back here, so he doesn`t have to put up with the loud noises of children or adults. The people aren`t mad or anything, but they do speak in very loud voices.
Anyways, Mei Lan woke up about 35 minutes later. He sat up, stood up, and then left. There is so many trees and ground cover in his yard that we were not able to get many pictures before he went inside, but he seems okay and well looked after.
Can you imagine a panda riding a bike ? You will be very surprised to see the talent of a trained panda .
The panda named Basi , not the one visited SDZ in 80’s , who performed jugglery in a Chinese New Year tv variety show in 1991. I think it’s the last jugglery show of the pandas, because China had passed a law in early 90’s that training pandas for entertainment purpose are forbidden.
Here is the url of the video :
( www).tudou.com/programs/view/Y2MXWRLtYUI/
( remove the ( ) ) or just put this in the google search bar
Eco Park to see Zhen Zhen
We had hired a car and driver from a local agency here in Chengdu to pick us up at 8 a.m. for the 2-hour trip down to the new Eco Park in Emeishan where Zhen Zhen is now. Well, he arrived at 7 a.m. instead of 8. We were all ready (as we were just going down for breakfast) when the front desk phoned, telling us he was here. Well, forget breaky, we just got in the car and were off. Once we left Chengdu, the highway was practically empty. We got in the fast lane and were at the park’s gates by 9:05 a.m. We told the driver (using hand signals as he doesn`t speak any English) we would be back at the car by 12 noon.
It is quite expensive (by China`s standards) to get in: 140 yuan ($23) each. This is for a dinosaur exhibit, tea making and tasting place, and 3 pandas. Beautifully done, though. There are about 10 dioramas with pandas also in amongst the trees as you walk along. But we were on a mission. They tried to steer us towards the dino display and then the tea building, but we just politely waved them off and went right to the pandas. I had a good map that I had printed off a site that Danielle had sent me, so I knew exactly the way to go.
Zhen Zhen was awake and moving around when we got there, and I started to take pictures of her. Darlene said she wouldn`t use her camera as I was taking enough for all of us. Yes, I did get about 50 pictures before she decided to go to sleep. I got pictures of her walking, sitting in her pool, eating, climbing her wooden structure, looking at us, lying down on one of those big rocks at the back of her yard, a video of her walking and then running.
A lady came over to us, and we found out that her name is Liu Chun Hua and she is Zhen Zhen`s keeper from Bifengxia. She came down with the 3 pandas on March 30 and is looking after all of them and training 2 local people to be her assistants. The other pandas are Ge Ge and Min Min. Mrs. Liu has worked at Wolong and now Bifengxia for 9 years and is married to another keeper, Do Li, who is still up at BFX with their child. She gets to see them every couple of weeks when she goes back to Yaàn on her days off.
There are 3 trees in each yard for the pandas to climb. Mrs Liu has done a few changes since arriving. She told them that pandas need trees for climbing and for shade and that they needed signs telling the people not to throw food into the yards. Well, the trees are big enough right now to climb and are already sprouting new branches and leaves and the signs are up but are a little hard to read. She also said that we are the first `white`people to come and see the pandas. She was so happy to be able to practice her English that she has learned from the volunteers at BFX. We had no problem understanding her as long as she is given enough time to find the word she is looking for.
We left there knowing that Zhen Zhen is in good hands.
Aw, thank you Lee, what an adventure
Lee, Thanks for the report on Zhen Zhen. It’s good to know she has a caring keeper.
Lee, sounds like you are having a wonderful time. Glad you got to go see Zhen Zhen. Will you please share your pics with us by posting a link to them?
Will share the link as soon as I figure out how to put stuff up on flickr.com. I posted 2 videos of Zhen Zhen already at the panda-fandom worldwide site and Mei Xiang’s second miracle site if you can access either of them.
Keeper Liu’s husband’s name is Dong Lee (or Li). He is part of the team at New Leopard Mountain in Bifengxia where Su Lin and her 2011 cub are living.
is it possible to tell whether the pandas either enjoy or mind having people watching and snapping pictures of them? it seems like food is placed in places that are in plain view of the visitors so maybe the animals don’t care about visitors because eating is higher priority. do the pandas act differently when they are in the exhibit that zoo visitors do not access?
Moderator’s note: Your question has been forwarded to the Panda Team.
The pandas have preferred spots in the exhibit that they tend to utilize, regardless of whether or not there are visitors watching. However, if guests are unusually loud, the bears may retreat to the back areas of the enclosure. They tend not to choose resting spots in close proximity to the queue, except in locations where they are out of view of the guests.
Watching Yun Zi on his swing he is so funny and now you can see how much he has grown standing on the swing. He is so entertaining !!!!
Yunzi has gotten so big … and round… and magnificent!!! It has been a while since we saw him in the videocam. Is he the heaviest one of his siblings at his age?
It is a delight to see him playing and enjoying his new swing this morning!
will you open the howdy gate between Yun Zi and Gao Gao?
it’s a joy to see him again, he’s gotten so big.
Moderator’s note: Probably not.
Hi everyone~!
This is not virginia, it is her daughter posting from her computer. She wanted me to tell you all she is still recovering in the hospital, but we are hopeful she will be out by this time next week and then will continue to improve at home. She is working towards FINALLY taking the panda trip to SDZ we were planning for Mother’s day. I have been keping her busy in the hospital telling her what you all are doing/posting and what her beloved pandas are up to. A special thank you To Lee, as my Mom is eagerly awaiting every one of your updates. She cried over Zhennie going to China and worries about Su Lin and her baby, so it is wonderful to tell her they are OK. Keep those good thoughts coming and hopefully my Mom will be able to see her pandas soon!
PS: Was the howdy gate open today? (Sunday), it looked like it was!
Moderator’s note: Glad to hear your mom is recovering! As for the howdy gate, it has not been opened. Keepers say it’s best to keep it closed, as adult males are territorial and don’t appreciate seeing other males, even if one happens to be his son.
Best wishes to your mother for a speedy recovery!
Glad to hear Virginia is getting better. Get well soon Virginia!
I was thinking about why panda’s seem cuter than other types of bears. in a vague way, I think panda proportions (their face and limbs) are much like teddy bears. also those big black spots over their eyes kind of abstract their face to look more youthful.
for their behaviors, it is cute to watch them reclined and sitting to eat their bamboo. it’s a similar position to how people would rest. one of my favorite behaviors of Yun Zi is catching him throw a summersault into his walk. it’s so playful.
Moderator’s note: For more on this topic, see post Panda Attraction.
Yunnie’s To Do List
1) Power walk around the Compound
2) Re-arrange my swing
3) Re-arrange the trees
4) Remove Hammock….scratch that, I LUV my hammock and I think it is a chick magnet
5) Put lots of boo in hammock
6) Go surfing
7) Climb trees
8) Eat boo
9) Do 10 drop and rolls every half hour
10) Drop a note to Mama to tell her how much I luv her.
How’s Momma bear??
Moderator’s note: Enjoying her quiet time!