Xiao Liwu is working on his motor skills.
In recent weeks, a lot has been happening with our bear population at the San Diego Zoo. In particular, some of our smallest bears have been undergoing significant transitions to their daily routine.
Our panda cub is preparing for his debut on exhibit. For him, this is a natural progression as his skill set advances, and he becomes more agile. A month or so ago, Xiao LiWu was a fairly immobile little bear, content to sleep for hours inside the den while his mother stretched her legs in other areas of the facility. Now, his ability to crawl has transformed into good walking skills, and he is ambling around regularly.
Recently, the cub walked, on his own, a good distance toward the north exhibit where he will first meet his admiring public. He got nearly to the door of that exhibit when he encountered a barrier: a slider door in the open position jutted into his travel path about a foot. He investigated the slider and pressed up against it, spending several minutes working the problem this obstacle presented. Ultimately, he couldn’t quite figure out how to go around, as his mother had done on her pass through the tunnel. Deterred, he turned around and headed back to the den for a nap. Before he is regularly on exhibit, he will have figured out how to overcome little adversities like this one.
Our other small bears, the sun bears, have also undergone some transitions in the last few weeks. After unsuccessful pairing attempts for Marcella and Francis earlier this year, we moved Francis to an off-exhibit area where he could receive lots of human attention and training opportunities. The quiet time away from public viewing seemed to serve him well, and he slowly settled into a nice routine. In the fall, we began to acclimate him to a new exhibit near the foot of bear canyon, an area some of our other bears had done very well in. With a slow-moving protocol, we were finally able to get Francis comfortable being on exhibit.
In December, we moved Marcella out of the exhibit on Sun Bear Trail and placed her adjacent to Francis in an exhibit on Center Street. We want her close by the male should she cycle again, but we didn’t want to move Francis away from a place he seems comfortable in. Thankfully, Marcella has been quite adaptable with moves like this, and she is settling in fine. Shortly after her move up the hill, keepers noted that Francis seemed more willing to accept Marcella in his new space. He has even started bringing her gifts, leaving his enrichment objects at the gate that separates him from his potential mate. In time, we hope that this builds into an acceptance of Marcella that promotes successful breeding between our sun bears. It is important for them to try again, as no sun bear cubs have survived more than a few days in the US since the birth of Marcella’s twin cubs nearly five years ago.
As the year winds down, we expect these recent changes will help our bears settle well into the next phases of their lives. We are hopeful that the New Year will be good to our animals, as Xiao Liwu grows into a robust little panda, and our sun bears will (fingers crossed) succeed in breeding. I would also like to extend my warm wishes to you for a happy holiday season and a peaceful transition to a new year.
Suzanne Hall is a senior research technician for the San Diego Zoo Institute for Conservation Research. Read her previous post, Perfectly Panda.
that is sweet that Francis is bringing Marcella gifts. good luck with their breeding.
excited to hear that Xiao Li Wu is getting closer to his public debut. he is growing to be a feisty boy cub.
I think I echo the sentiments of all of the animal lovers who regularly scroll through the blogs: THANK YOU for all you do to keep these animals happy and healthy. Merry Christmas and happy holidays to you all!!
I don’t think it will take little wo to figure out how the barrier out. Also my wishes for the luck on the sun bears,, Mother nature will take over.
Thank you for all the up dates and info the staff give the public.
lu
Liwu will be a large bear soon enough, I am not in a hurry for him to do anything, as long as he is healty he can be as slow as he wants to be. He is so fun to watch. I am assuming the polar bear is not going to have cubs, I haven’t heard one way or another.
Doxie mom where are you and your wonderful videos.
I wish all a Merry Christmas.
Moderator’s note: Our polar bear’s due date is from sometime in November to the end of January, so there is still hope!
He well be ready soon
What a lovely bit of news about all the little bears! Thank you especially for the news on the sun bears. It would be great if you could include them in the panda blog from time to time; they’re such critically endangered species and their forest homes are shrinking fast. Let’s all keep our fingers crossed that the new year will see bring them even closer together. It was lovely to imagine Francis bearing gifts, hopefully as a prelude to more romantic moves!
And our little gift is sure to work things out! Mama Bai will be ever so proud, as shall we all. To all the SDZ people, all best wishes for the season. Love to all.
I believe that sun bears are actually mentioned from time to time in Suzanne’s blog, as some of her research at the Institute for Conservation Research involve pandas and sun bears.
Thanks for the lovely blog on these bears. I too tried to have a mental picture of how Francis visits Marcella with his gifts. Such an adorable thing to do!
In terms of other bears, i.e. the polar bears, I am still hoping to hear good news from Chinook. Let’s hope the new year will be especially good to the polar bears!
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all at SDZ! Thanks for another wonderful year!
Thank you, Suzanne, for a delightful Christmas present of a blog. I think the New Year will be exciting for the little bears and their fans, who will enjoy their adventures. I look forward to a trip down to SDZ in January to meet the charming Little Wu.
Thanks for giving us the Greta news information it was easry to find even with my lack of skills. It is like having 3 different ones to watch. Love grammmie
Wishing everyone that blogs with us, the SDZ staff, keepers, and moderators, a wonderful and Blessed Christmas and a prosperous New Year! Excitement is brewing for Xiao LiWu…PANDA CLAWS IS COMING! Yeaaah.
Yes to all of it. And very very happy and merry Christmas(cwispmoss?)to all.
Hugs to the bears and lots of carrots for the polar bears. Mrs sister carries hers wherever in spite of the condition of her bucket.
New year happiness.to everyone , Mayan calendar starts over again at one. They only have five stages. Relax. .2013 needs prayers.
Merry Chritmas
Thanks for the update on Mr. Wu and the sun bears. From the time I started watching Mr Wu he has a mind of his own and one day soon he will show us. Then we all can watch him climb all over out side. Just a reminder he is Bai’s most lay back cub. But he needs to hurry! lol
I remember when Tai Shan (NZ) was small he was fascinated by a large screw or something shiny at the door of the den, It looked like he was following MeiXiang out of the den but this doggone thing attracted his attention so he spent ( seemed like) hours playing there before going out to the big indoor exhibit.
8:09p.m. Both in den, Bai sitting, relaxed, Mr. Wuuuu having a snack, seated on his backside right in front of her. He is in the circle of her legs, sitting on the floor. A few days ago when he could not quite reach the upper set comfortably he strattled the leg on each side to raise himself up to a comfortable height. Love grammmie
I swear I just saw him lick his lips between leaving one nipple before getting to the next one. He might be mixing and matching flavors??? You know how he is…….love grammmie
Thank you for all of your updates! Was just thinking….have they tried putting Liwu’s new ball on the other side of the slider — or are they keeping it for when he has his next exam It will be fun to see how he responds to it seeing again either way. Pandas Hugs and Merry Christmas to the SDZ Team!
Every nite I go to see mom and son are in bed, It is so neat to see the two of sleeping, It is quite the sight. All is well in the world, at their world. The zoo does just a good job, that the animals feel safe .
Thank you for that and Happy holiday to all the staff and their charges.
To the San Diego Zoo, and all of staff, doctors, etc, even the Kiss Stealing NannyKeepers, and all of the friends who gather here, please have a safe and happy Holiday Season, so we can keep on having fun together here. Come Christmas Day if you have nothing more to do, or don’t want t do much try out the zoo. The animal will usually be active, and the crowds, less dense………Love Grammmie
That explains why Kenny the sloth bear isn’t in his usual stomping grounds lately! I missed him and his goofy swaying that he does for visitors.
Very sweet of Francis to shower Marcella with gifts. Hoping that she will respond favorably and we may hear more pitter pattering of cubbie feet in the spring or summer (and I’m still keeping my fingers crossed for Chinook!)
Thank you Suzanne for all your updates in what has been an extremely busy & exciting year for you. We look forward to seeing Xiao Liwu out on exhibit in 2013 and will be following the sun bears, of whom, there are 2 in Edinburgh Zoo as well. Hope they can breed and also the lovely Polar Bears.
Happy Christmas to you & all at SDZ.
While awake for a bit at 3:30 a.m. I, of course checked up on our biggest and smallest P. Bears. It is cold again tonight and being wise, they are snuggled up together in the den, looking cute and sweet. Having said that if I went right back to check I bet they would probably be awake, with Mr. Wuuuu trying to climb Mount Mommy to taste her ears. We should never touch “the ears”. Love grammmie
it is snuggle time for Bai and Mr Wu. What a neat pic to see Bai’s arm around her son. She is a good mom. 7:16 am cst Sat
Thank you Suzanne for your informative blog on Sun Bears and updates on Xiao Liwu. He is transforming into a beautiful little bear just like his brothers and sisters.
We will be in San Diego Dec. 31st to visit the zoo. Maybe Xiao Liwu wil have made great progress by then and want to meet his public fans.
Wishing the SDZ Staff a Beautiful and Blessed Christmas. Happy New Year!
it is 9:00am cst. Been watching what is going on in the den. Bai for some reason today keeps bringing Mr. Wu into the den. Also she had to make Wu eat this morning. I don’t think he was ready to eat because he wanted to be out side.
Well there are times she needs relief from a built up milk supply, if he isn’t ready Bai would be in trouble , she didn’t get a breast pump, at her baby shower. That would be painful reminder!!!!!
Saturday morning and it looks like Yun Zi did some more remodeling. He’s pacing and pacing. He needs a new tree—-quick.
To make it easier to measure the baby panda why don’t you just get a mat with rulers printed all over it. You film the whole process so you could just stretch him and roll him etc… Just a thought
But then each nannykeeper will not get a chance to scritch my brudder’s head and chin and rub his belly. He also does not get a chance to climb into thier laps to charm them. Hee Hee Hee.
Yunz
I remember going to SDZ summer of 1997 with my 3 sons to see the pandas. I think both Bai Yun & Gao Gao were in the same rather empty exhibit. One of them was at the opposite side of the exhibit, far away from the visitors, lying on the ground sound asleep. The other was up in the trees, maybe sleeping. (I wonder which one was Bai Yun and which one was Gao Gao.)
In those days I was using those auto-focus cameras that don’t have zoom. So all I got are a couple pictures of black & white blobs. Since the pandas were not moving, my husband didn’t take any videos.
We stood in line to see them and we were quickly shushed along. I was rather disappointed with the experience.
Now I see the visitors are a lot closer to the pandas and they get to stick around for as long as they want. Guess it time for another visit.
Betty there have been many changes as the years go by, each improvement geared toward a better life for the bears first, and toward visitor comfort and enjoyment second. The San Diego Zoo is one of the finest, if not the actual finest zoo in the world, and the pandas are a great source of money to support their work there. The largest or most diverse group of animals reside there, and living plant species are even more diverse and the last time I heard worth more than the animals, but that was pre-Pandas, I am not sure of that evaluation now. The Panda Trek is configured to give a better chance to see the Pandas, with the least time just standing there hoping the Pandas might move. Visitors are important to keep the guests coming back as many times as they can, things are geared toward just that, but always the animals come first. I first visited the zoo more thank 50 years ago, and never saw either the animals or plants misused. It was the first time I had ever see the moats used
instead of bars as most zoos do, to contain the animals whenever possible. Some of that way of display goes back to the Pan-American exhibit near 100 years ago, forming the core of today’s display. It sounds like it is time to visit again, when you can, to see if Panda viewing is better, and at the right time, to see WuZi in the fur!!! I no longer can visit the zoo, so when you go be sure to take lots of film/videos to share with us. Love grammmie
P.S. the guests still have to move along, or some of them would be rooted in place by now……….but the experience is much better. A quiet zone around the Pandas is much more than just a way to decrease comfort for people, but to have the bears as near as they can be to their wild habitat, the quiet, dense, bamboo forest. With six cubic/cubettes they must be doing something right!!!
P. P. S., the one in the tree was not likely to be Sir Gao Gao, he is the “grounded bear”, s that. Makes him a non- candidate for the exhibit. If there were two bears actually in one habitat it would be Bai Yun with a Cub, and either would be in a tree….all of her first five cubs love climbing.
Love grammmie
P.P.P.S. remember the free ranging Peacocks and Hens, Jungle Fowl, etc.? That is part of “bug abatement” green style. My husband and I both had allergies to many insecticides, so he talked to grounds keepers, when he could, to find out their methods, knowing with all those animals bugs would be around. There is always something new (or old) to learn at the zoo, you can never visit enough without learning something, so go as often as you can, perhaps in time Yunior or little Wuuuu will start waving to you. Love grammmie.
Grammmie,
I went in 1997 and Hua Mei was not born until 1999 and I am pretty sure there were 2 pandas in the exhibit (of course after 15 years my memory could be wrong). So it has to be Bao Yun and Gao Gao.
I am beginning to realize that before going to a zoo, it would be wise to read up on the animals you really want to see.
I first went to see the pandas at Los Angeles Zoo in 1984 (I wish I knew which pandas they were). There were a number of people standing in front of the panda exhibit and I was right in front. There were 2 pandas and I thought they were fighting. They were really active, going from one end of the exhibit to the other chasing each other. I was rather disappointed by their behavior, so I walked away.
Now thinking back on that visit and knowing what I have learned from this site and others that I have visited, I think they were 2 toddler pandas being rambunctious. I would have enjoyed seeing the pandas more had I known.
I am sure I will enjoy my next visit much more. Hopefully soon.
Moderator’s note: To clarify, Betty, it was Shi Shi in 1997.
Gao Gao didn’t arrive in San Diego until 2003, so the bear you saw may have actually been Shi Shi, the male panda who was here before Gao Gao. He fathered Hua Mei through artificial insemination.
Well other folks back then would know better than me, but even when our first Pandas were in residence for 200 days they were never allowed together in the open exhibit part of the enclosure. They usually had Chinese trainers, and did a few tricks. It was the way they kept them from boredom. One (f) was named Basi, and I will get corrected if wrong, the other was Yuan Yuan? ? ? Somebody mentioned Bai’s first husband Shi Shi, A.I. father of Hau Mei. Of course great magic occurred when Gao Gao was brought in after they figured Shi Shi was a nice guy, but way too old for a frisky Bai Yun. Around here we think he has more than done his duty (but he never looked at it as duty) by our lovely Bai Yun. Can you imagine some other animals with digestive upsets, and painfully bad teeth actually overcoming how he felt so that we could have our Littlt Gift? ? ? What a Gaoo Gao we have–isn’t that right Bai Baby? ? ? This is turning out to be a fun learning experience Betty, thank you, love grammmie
According to the internet, www(dot)giantpandazoo.com/LosAngelesZoo.html , the pandas that came to the Los Angeles Zoo were Ying Xin and Yun Yun. Just in time for the 1984 Olympics.
You were right about the names of the pandas that came to SDZ in 1987 http://www.sandiegozoo.org/pandacam/fun_facts.html .
I agree with what you said about reading up before going. It works for more than just pandas and other animals in a zoo. My husband and I went to where the Fabrigae Eggs were being displayed close to San Diego Zoo, the day before our time, to pick up our tickets. While there I bought the book about everything in the show, and after reading it that night found I enjoyed what I saw that much more because I knew what I was looking at. You give good lessons Betty…..love grammmie
I’m sure our little bear will be out in no time .. he is so adorable!!
I’m curious about bai yun why does she look like she stirs up the den floor and scoops it up on herself? how did she make the den? thank you
When she “fluffs” she is doing a bit of housekeeping, When she rubs it on herself kind of like a bar of soap in the bath or shower, she is ” self anointing”. That means she likes the scent enough to wear it like perfume. Somewhere out there in cyber space is a video of Tai Shan, a Washington D. C. cub using a bird in this manner. Thankfully he did not physically damage the bird that flew off once released, I bet it had nightmares for years. I have watched him looking up from a quiet resting place in China, as birds flew overhead and wonder if he has ever repeated the experienced…….love grammmie
thank u
I feel bad for Xiau. He is always be himself now in the den? Where is mom?
I’m sure this question has been asked several times, but I was wondering with all the “touching” Little Gift gets, will he always be docile and friendly to humans or will he eventually be “untouchable”?
All wild animals remain just that….that is why a seemingly docile creature suddenly attacks the folks who have raised it, and it seems to loves. Some of those acts are in truth a way of trying to protect their owner, others are just a sudden return to wild instincts. Our zoo has rules in place for just that reason, to keep the NannyKeepers safe, and the animals too. It is part of the reason that they can act the part of good natural breeding stock, something needed for success in the breeding program…love grammmie
It is 12:09 am eastern and Bai is being tormented by Xiao LiWu…he is biting the heck out of her and shes had just about enough..she gave him a big swat and almost knocked him out of the den…LOL So whats he do, comes back in and tries to climb up her back…poor Bai!
Im using opera browser and I cant view the web cam..says plug in disabled???? anyone know how to fix this? I use to view it before, now all of a sudden I cant
..anyone having this problem with opera?
If I shared the problem you have I would need to scream for help, so I hope your cry is heard and your helper gets you fixed up….love grammmie
Check your plug in, sounds like it may be Adobe Flash Player issue.
Try closing browser and restarting first.
If that doesn’t fix it… Uninstall Flash Player (go to Adobe Flash Player to get the Uninstaller for Flash Player), close browser, restart. Then Install Adobe Flash Player from Adobe Flash Player, close browser and restart. Then Verify Version and Installation, that it is correctly installed, google Verify Adobe Flash Player Version…
It is important to get Adobe Flash Player from Adobe ONLY. It is free and clean for Internet use from them.
thanks, I will try that, still dont understand why I could get it before, and have no problem with other browsers, its just Opera…
Nancy,
Sometime Flash Player just does things that cause you to not be able to view what you had no problems with before. I have seen this on many different setup. Possible newer version of browser or Flash Player or Java needs to upgraded, other plug-in conflicts, etc. There really are so many variables it can be a mind bender to reconcile.
Use the most stable browser you can find and know even with it this can still happen. My two favorite browsers are Safari and I can always count on Firefox. I may really like some others as well, but the conflicts and stability issues are not worth it to me.
For now, conflicts in the computer world seems to be commonplace and eventually rear its head. Also, to make you feel better, I have experienced my share of these issues. No computer is immune that I am aware of.
Adobe Flash Player has a good help section, it is step by step help, that is pretty good. Good luck.
Sweet little interlude about 10:15 pm. Mom was having a bedtime snack of boo when all of a sudden she started fussing with the little one. she had her back to the camera so I could not see what she was doing. Finally finished and the two of them went back to sleep – nose to nose. So cute!
Day 13 Story 13
A Primer for first time Panda Mamas by Gao Bai Yun
Lesson 1 Enjoy the baby
Babies grow up all too fast in my honest opinion. From that wriggly butterstick, in months they become 15 pound snugglepuffs who will start asserting themselves. Enjoy every moment you can.
Now with all sorts of clever phones, Papa Bear can help record all those precious moments. Of course I am blessed with my own Pawsie Mama who makes videos of all my children and places them on Utube for all to enjoy. And also the folks at SDZ do a brilliant job of videoing Wu Wu’s every exam. Methinks they edit out some kissing bits so I won’t know. Humnpff, a mama always knows even when you have sworn the cubby to secrecy.
I love to look at all my cubbies’ photos and sometimes I blog to remember all the milestones such as when the cubby opens his or her eyes to the first time they squeal, ‘No more baffs!’ Hee Hee, I love every minute of it. Now Mr Wu is in his Terrible Twos phase and he wants to be his own bear. Sooooo cute and so earnest that little one. Yunior was quieter and more compliant at the same age but he let rip the minute he had his own enclosure. But I am proud of all my kids.
However do not be over-bearing, (pun fully intended). No cubby likes Mama watching every move. It is OK for the cubby to take a tumble once in a while. Of course you will learn to develop the Mama-dar (our special radar) that tells you exactly what the cubby is up to even before he or she thinks it. After 5, I can tell you it becomes honed into a fine weapon which is one asset in your arsenal for cubby training, hee hee hee.
Thirdly, enjoy those moments of quietness when the cubby is sleeping. I love watching Wu Wu now and he is a picture of innocence. When he stirs, I try to imagine what he is dreaming of. Is he climbing trees? Playing with his Ge Ge or his baw (as he calls it)? I imagine this is what a panda angel must be like. And he will not remain innocent for long so the cubby phase is to be treasured,
TO BE CONTINUED
Such a cleaver and loving mama you are, Missy Bai.
I just checked in on HIH Bai Yun and our darling little WuZi, cuddled up to sleep in the den. He is curled up on her right arm and paw, up near her chest and chin, she has her left paw up on her left cheek so we can have an unimpeded view of her pride and joy. Of course she also gets to show off her own lovely charms at the same time. I find her never so charming as when she acts like a young Panda herself when playing with a toy, a baby or simply looking like she is smiling. It is hard to believe there was ever, or will ever be another Panda Lady as lovely as she. I know her daughters are also lovely, but there is only one Bai Yun-may I kiss little Wuuuu NOW??? Love grammmie
Grammmie, when referring to Bai Yun, what does the HIH stand for?
Her Imperial Highness, she is an Empress you know……..
Dear Debbie,
I believe she refers to me as Her Imperial Highness which of course I am, hee hee.
Panda Hugs,
Missy Bai
Nice try, Grammmie. My Gao, Wu Wu and Yunior want to wish you and yours a Merry Christmas and blessed New Year.
BY
Thank you for the “nice try”, but do I get the kiss..???
St.Annes-On-The-Sea
Lancashire UK
Dear Gao Gao,
Wishing You, Bai Yun, Baby Wu and Yun Zi a Happy Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
This will be Baby Wu’s first Christmas and I am sure there will be lots of presents for him. It will be very exciting for him too.
I will be bringing Christmas cheer to “all my Feathered Friends”, on different lakes and ponds on Christmas Day. This will be Gao Xing’s & Bai Xing’s first Christmas on the Alpine pond.
On Christmas day last year, at the Lake I was treated to a breathtaking, a spectacular and an unfor-gettable sight. A family of 7 swans, parents with 5 Cygnets glided down on to the lake right in front of my eyes. It was one of my best Christmas presents.
The year before, on Christmas day, I fell into the lake that was -6°C. I fell trying to feed the family swans, Mr & Mrs Finney and their 2 Cygnets, Beauty & Cutie. I stood on a slippery slope. I was pulled out immediately, I was wet from the waist down and my fingers turned purple. I spent the afternoon worrying whether I had broken any of the Swan’s wings or the Duck’s feet. The next day I checked on them, they were OK.
The big freeze that year was one of the worst in the UK.
It is so very kind of you to make sure your feathered family friends are well taken care of, but only Polar Bears should be testing the water while snow is on the ground, so please stay out of the water this year. You need a long handled device to put the food where you want it, but not lead to a snowy swim at the time you are trying to get it where it is needed. I hope an inventer sees this and fashions you such a device. They could give you one to use, for advertisement, and make a bit of money on the ones sold to other friends of the feathered families. I think that sounds fair–don’t you?…stay safe, love grammmie
St.Annes-On-The-Sea
Lancashire UK
I would like to wish all Panda Lovers, Meg Southerland and her team at San Diego Zoo and all Mod-erators a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
Thanks to you all. I think Baby Wu is the most famous Baby Panda in the world.
Will the panda’s get Christmas treats? If so will or can it be put on video for us to watch? I sure hope so!! Most of us are just to busy right not to spend much time watching the bears.
Merry Christmas to everyone and Happy New Year.
Tanda, I, for one, am happy to report that there is nothing more important for me to do besides watching our Pandas. I hope others will give themselves just a few minutes of quiet peace every day……love grammmie
Ms. Bai is redecorating the den. She just pushed some bamboo towards the camera and it stuck. Mr. Liwu is nowhere to be found.
MERRY CHRISTMAS TO EVERYBODY AT SDZ AND WAP!!
Chari Mercier
St. Pete, FL
Sun., Dec. 23, 2012, 7:25 pm EST. Well, I was on the pandacam a few minutes ago, and no one was home, and it looked a little bit bare. I got back on the pandacam just now, and Bai has decided to fill that den up with some more boo stalks, like it’s her food pantry! No one still not home yet, tho! Bai is a nutty momma panda!
Oh yeah, your article about the bears was very interesting. I am also waiting for the day that Xiao will be out in the yard with mom very soon! Just let us know when, ok?
Merry Christmas, you all!
Chari Mercier
St. Pete, FL
OMG! Bai went into the den to do some cleaning and then brought in a tall boo tree for x-mas! lol But it is so full they can’t get into the door.
I would tell you what the kids are doing in the den, but before they were both in there Bai decided to put nice leafy Boo inside blocking most of the view.
dEAr UnKAs & AuNTieS,
Wu Wu wan to wish all my nannykeepers (Mama says can give me Crispmass kiss) and all the unkas and aunties who love us
A BEARY HAPPY CWISPMASS! And may you have a Wu-derful time wid your family and frens.
LoVe,
Wuuuuu Wuuuuu
ps Ge Ge helptch me wid some of the spellin and typin. Wu Wu twy to do as much mysef
Mewwy chrismass to you too. Also a big kiss while mamma says it’s ok
Little Darling Wu Wu;
It looks like you worked very hard to try to type that whole note by yourself, very nice! The Aunties and Unkas wish you, your family, your K S NannyKeepers and all good Pandas a Very Merry Christmas. As we can we will visit throughout the day to see what you are doing, and that nobody eats too much. It sounds to me that most of the NannyKeepers will come by on Christmas Day so that they can collect their kiss from you, that Mommy is allowing just this once. I hope they appreciate the great gift they will be given by Bai and Gao’s Little Gift. We will be jealous, but only in the nicest kind of way. I would tell you to hang out a stocking for Panda Claws to fill, but you wear them all of the time, so just hope he leaves good things near mommy’s milk bar or stack of bamboo. With much love, your auntie grammmie.
Recently I was reading a current blog, or one of the many paths they have lead me to when a question came up about the picture at the top of the blog. It is obviously Bai Yun, with which cub? She seems to be giving a lesson in Bamboo to the cub facing her……”this bamboo is a bit sweeter than this, but you need the vitamins in this one to help you grow large and strong. There are many types of “boo”, but we only have a few that we feel are the ones to eat in wintertime. Tomorrow we will review the Spring “boo” etc. Does Bai only teach that class to each new cub/cubette, or does she give instructions, as needed, to all new NannyKeepers too?? For those of you who have ZooNews magazine on your tablet device be sure to see the lovely photo on the illustrated table of contents for December an adoption ad is found from clicking on the photo shown of a large and small panda. It was an official photo that was taken of Bai Yun and Yunior the first day they were released outdoors to the media, first public viewing the next day. Bai put Yunior up on her four feet to spin and juggle him like a juggler in a circus used to do. She did it for months it seems, before they were “turned loose”, and it seemed like they both enjoyed it, well Bai did, anyway. I found her starting to do it a few days ago with Little Wuuuu, and wondered if she did it with all of the kids??? I think that is enough questions for right now……with the holidays and all I am not expecting fast answers, but will keeping checking back to see how we do. Thank you so much, love grammmie
Someone had asked this same question in some blogs ago. I believe it is one of the sisters – Su Lin or ZZ. I lean towards Susie.
Peace,
Lucilla
Thank you Lucilla, I think your memory is superior to mine. Does Santa/Panda Claws visit Singapore by boat or what??? How many times have you visited Onionhead and his love there in you river zoo??? Do they know you by sight now? ? ? If not you are not visiting enough. Will you be taking photos like our friend Mollie does? ? ? Is there a pass you can buy for seeing the zoo an/or the Pandas? ? ? You might make a suggestion to the folks running the place to do just that! ! ! Happy Holidays to you and yours, and safety and good health to you all year….Love grammmie
Merry Christmas to all the nanny keepers and all the of the SDZ staff. We will be spending Christmas with our son, daughter-in-law and 4 year old grandson. Billy is super excited this year. He tell us Santa is coming plus it’s Jesus’ birthday
FWIW, Baby WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO is a BIG STAR according to msn.com!
The video of he and his ball is trending in the top 10! SUPA CUTE! Sadly it callls him a “Clumsy Panda”!
Merry Christmas and a happy 2013 to all the “Panda People” on here!
Thanks to SDZ for all you do!
AND a big shout out to Rita Petitia and Doxie Mom for all you show us!
God bless us, every one!
That’s right! Little Wu is quite the celebrity. Here’s another site reporting on xiao liwu as cutest baby animal:
www (dot) crushable (dot) com/2012/12/19/other-stuff/cute-baby-animal-photos-panda-cubs-xiao-liwu-san-diego-zoo-pictures/#8
For anything negative about our little dude Wuuuu, a crowd of torch bearing mothers will be lead by Bai Yun, so get your travelleling shoes on, and be ready to show the world what our little gift really gives to our hearts. Love and peace to us all…..love grammmie
My boy is NOT clumsy!!!
BY
Dear Young Beautiful and Most High HIH Bai,
We know who ever called YOUR baby clumsy IS CLUMSY to say the least!!! I’m sorry they did that, obviously they do not know WHO or WHAT they are talking about and like Grammmie said: “For anything negative about our little dude Wuuuu, a crowd of torch bearing mothers will be lead by Bai Yun, so get your travelleling shoes on, and be ready to show the world what our little gift really gives to our hearts. Love and peace to us all…..love grammmie”…
We are ready!
P. Bear Hugggs and Air Kisses,
Beverly
BTW, it was funny teh way that Bai was cleaning the den yesterday like a mad woman with Baby WOOOOOOOOO right beside her. My Mom used to tell me “Santa Claus doesn’t come to a dirty house!”
I can see Bai telling Baby WOOOOOOOOOO “Santa Claus doesn’t come to a dirty DEN!”
Dear, San Diego Zoo Team, Keepers, Staff, Veterinarians Modertors and everyone involved with the pandas….
Have a Merry Christmas and a very Happy New Year♥ Many Blessings to all of you and the animals at the zoo…..I love the pandas, especially Bai Yun baby boy “Little Gift” ….Bai Yun is such a good mom to her baby, I love watching how she hold her son close to her …….The baby “Little Gift” is a gorgeous baby panda as all baby pandas are……..he is sooooo adorable, I’m just fascinated by him, he and his mom have captured my heart!!!!!!! thank you everyone for taking such good care of these wonderful animals…..Peace! Love you more, Danielle
Two Pandas snuggled up in the den, very close together 15 minutes ago, are now laying with 8 feet in the air……they must have gotten a bit warm, they stayed together but each are laying with their feet in the air to cool off a little. Of course they look adorable. For some time before finding them cuddled nobody was in sight, when WuZi is in the den alone it seems to me it was no different than when Yun Zi was left alone, it is like WuZi follows when he wakes up. Do we know what happens when we have an empty den, sometimes for great lengths of time, we don’t know where they are, and can only assume they are together. These things sometimes go for 3 hours in one continuous empty den time. Is there any way to find out, or do you need some of us to volunteer for close, quiet, no kissing, watching of out of camera range investigation??? I know a thousand folks would volunteer right now!!!! Love grammmie
Day 14 Story 14
‘Stand still, Wu Wu!’ commanded Lady Bai as she placed shirt after shirt on her cubby.
‘Mama, what is happening?’ asked the curious Wu.
‘Tonight is the family Christmas Dinner and I need to get you ready. Your Ge Ge Sheng and Jie Jies Hua Mei, Su Lin and Zhen Zhen as well as your nephew Yun Hui are on their way. Your neice Hao Hao managed to get time off (I think it must be for good behaviour) so she is also on that flight.’
‘WOW, my Ge Ge, Jie Jies and my niece and nephew. Mama, I want to look my best……wait wait no baffs. I am clean. I was not out the whole day!’
‘Hmmm, let me check under your tail…..’
‘NO MAMA, this is so embawassing!’
‘What is more embawassing is when you show a dirty tail to Hua Mei and Su Lin. They’ll laugh at Mama. Hold still…..OK, now…..what do we have here?’
‘My handsome son!’ declares Gao Gao proudly as Bai has dressed the Wu in a nice striped green T with beige shorts. He looked adorable. Gao picked up his young son while his wife went to check on her stews and roasted bamboos.
Yunnie runs in, ‘Are they here yet?’ In his paws is his latest toy a DSLR. He wanted to make sure he took loads of family photos. Because there was a new addition to the family, Sheng, Mei, Su and ZZ decided to make a trip back. Also they knew Mama and Papa would get a thrill seeing them.
Wu Wu ran to his brother Yunnie who twirled him round and round. Wu Zi laughed and yelled. He took a flying leap onto his Papa who caught him and spun him around.
Bai peeked in and shook her head, ‘Boys!’ Her food were done to perfection. She went and changed into her special red party dress from Alexander McBear. She added a string of pearls and sprayed some men’s cologne discretely behind those exquisite ears. And she was ready to party.
Then she heard the sound of cars driving up the Panda Canyon. And howls and yells of greetings as her children and grandchildren arrived!!! She ran out and soon all the Gao Gaos were hugging and kissing. Wu Wu was tossed this way and that. Hao Hao was carrying him and then it was Su Lin, and ZZ was holding him upside down. He was loving this family reunion. He loved being called Uncle by Hao Hao and Yun Hui.
Bai Yun burst into tears when she saw Yun Hui. She had not set eyes on this grandchild yet and she was so happy. Gao Gao brought out the boo beer to share with Sheng. Yunior was allowed a glass.
Hua Mei and Su Lin helped Mama set the table and before long the table groaned with all the dishes. There were chocolate marshmallows and fruit cake. Also boo dumplings and yam buns. Papa even made some boo patties which he swore was from a secret family recipe. As they gathered round the table, Gao Gao prayed a blessing on the family especially on the 3 young ones who carried the hope of the species.
Then the pandamonium exploded as the children who missed their Mama’s cooking ate like there was no tomorrow. Zhen Zhen’s cheeks looked extra fluffy and Su Lin smiled extra wide when she saw her Mama had made special pies for her. She insisted Yun Hui try Grand Ma’s bamboo carrot shepherd’s pie. And it took a mouthful for him to be a fan. Wu Wu had a special bottle of milk with flavouring. Tonight he chose mango.
When the last piece of dessert had disappeared, Gao Gao appeared with stockings, one for each bear. All labelled with their names.
‘Grandpa, will Panda Claws know I am here and not in China?’ asked an anxious Yun Hui.
‘Of course! Grand Pa emailed him and told Panda Claws who will be here tonight.’
Hao Hao stood up and signalled to her aunts. Then she faced her grandparents saying, ‘The Panda Grrrrls are happy to be reunited for Christmas so we have decided that I would perform some new songs for Gong Gong and Por Por tonight.’ The furniture was quickly pushed away.
With Hao Hao singing, Zhen Zhen on drums, Su Lin on keyboard and Hua Mei on guitar, the Panda Grrrls sang their hearts out. Their songs were so catchy soon all the pandas and some neighbours were rocking and rolling. Bai and Gao showed they still had it in them. Yunior and Sheng took turns carrying Wu Wu so that he could also be part of the fun.
Gao Gao whispered in his beloved’s ear, ‘Not quite the salsa but holding my beloved is always a pleasure.’ And Bai blushed and fluttered her eyelashes demurely at her husband.
And later that night when Panda Claws arrived, he heard the gentle and not so gentle snoring of 10 tired but happy pandas. And he discovered that Wu Wu had left him a plate of boo cookies and some cuppy cakes as well a mug of boo tea, He smiled as he shared his cuppy cakes with his reindeer.
Softly as he was leaving, he turned and said, ‘A Very Merry Beary Christmas to one and all. And to all a good night!’
Wu Zi stirred. He opened one eye but before he could rouse himself Panda Claws was gone. And Wu Zi drifted off once again to dreamland where the woods were filled with the sounds of the Panda Grrrls.
Delightful story! It seems that Santa Paws came and saw that in the den there was already a Little Gift. “The Wu” indeed!
Here’s hoping that everyone has a black and white Christmas!
I keep thinking that the stories cannot get any better, poof, they do. I am sorry that Cousin Princess Lin Ping was not there to sing and dance with the Grrrrrls. But I am sure it was more important that she be with her family.
To all of the Panda families, everywhere, have a blessed holiday season, and enjoy each other’s company. That goes for extended panda families, including the Hoomans who adore them. NannyKeepers who are not allowed to kiss the P. Bears give each other a hug and a kiss and enjoy each other, and special greetings to our blog writers, moderators, and commenters. Love grammmmie
charming. I like Alexander McBear as well. does Wu Zi mean something in Chinese? like something you add to a child’s name?
His Poppa was the first one I remember nick naming him that. Does anyone else remember better??? When it comes to memory mine may always be questioned. Love grammmie
Hi,
We Chinese Bears use Zi to indicate child or younger person or a diminuitive.. Hence Yun Zi is Son of Cloud. Although in Chinese language, Xiao is Small, Li is Gift and Wu is Object or Item. So Xiao Li Wu means Small Gift Item. However in English, Wu Zi sounds nice even though it means Small Item. We can call him Li Zi.
Panda Hugs,
Bai Yun
I love the Wu Zi better, besides the first time I remember hearing it was from his daddy…..love grammmie
thanks. I forgot Yun Zi’s “Zi”. for a second I thought it might be a joke like saying Xiao was woozy or not coordinated. except he may be a little too coordinated with his teeth anyways.
Dear Missy and most superb story-teller, Gao Bai Yun. What would these stories be without your love for de-tails! We love you for all your talent and especially your humor and Mama skills so each cubby grows up to be a happy and secure Big P Bear.
And the occupation of the den goes on with 2 sleeping cuties, I only wish I had had the energy to pop open my laptop and made a dozen photos of them.
Since I finally could have gotten some really cute shots and I didn’t it is my own fault. When I start moaning about lost opportunities remind me of what I missed, and tell me to read this…..love grammmie
Well I don’t have children but I have two big cats Maine Coon and Norwegian Forest cat, who decided to wake us up this morning. So I decided to peek in on Little gift and his mama and they are so cute face to face in the den. I just love seeing this all animals cuddle with their moms.
Happy Holidays to you Suzanne, the Panda Team, and our moderators. Thank you for the update on Xiao Liwu’s progress and also Marcella and Francis.
Saturday night there was a 45 minute play session in the den around 8:40pm. Here are the highlights from the fun filled frisky session between Bai Yun and her tenacious cub Xiao Liwu.
2012-12-22 You Better Watch Out Xiao Liwu …
http://youtu.be/QBOcD2fy7Jk
Well not only a wonderful action/adventure filled video, but he followed momma just like he is supposed to. He even showed off his climbing skills by climbing Mount Mamma. He is progressing right along.
Thank you for all the stuff we would miss so much if not for these videos. Love grammmie
Hear, hear! Indeed, we would miss these treasured moments if not for Doxie Mom.
Thanks so much, Doxie Mom! What a little rascal he is! Not nice to bite mommy’s butt. I love how he puts his arms over his face.
Moderator: Do they make little panda noises when they’re playing like that?
Merry Christmas to all! Panda blessings.
Great play session, but that show was so energetic that even though I slept most of the day, I drifted off again. In 2010 I was just moved from hospital to nursing home, in 2011 I had pneumonira, this year I guess I will just sleep all day. Love grammmie
Did all or most, of you enjoy that wonderful 48 minutes of Bai Yun in the Gardern room? If you did try going backwards through our blog comment sections you will find a great many videos, usually with static areas cut from them. You might find the big guys acting like cubs, and the babies acting mature, and anything in between. There must be hours of such things going back as far as Su Lin and Zennie as babies. Eventually you might get as far as Mei Shen, and Hau Mei, I really don’t know what’s is there. But on a cold day give yourself a warm treat, through the past. Spend as much time as you like, there is no charge. Sometimes you will find a site is no longer in place, but that is not often, so it is always worth a try. Enjoy….love grammmie
Wow! Santa just visited my mates and I and left us lots of pressies. Thank you, Santa. And to my gramma, grampa and uncles Yunnie and Liwu in San Diego, Merry, Merry Christmas.
Love,
Hao Hao
To all of the wonderful folks and animals who inhabit this little panda universe, best wishes for a very Merry Christmas.
Merry Christmas to everyone, have fun and be safe. Panda huggs and kisses,
Beverly
Merry Christmas to all of the Pandas!! Hope all enjoy a peaceful day and all the best in 2013. Can’t wait to see Mr. Wu on exhibit.
Also a very merry Christmas to all the staff and panda keepers at the SDZ And last but not least our wonderful moderator(s).
Merry Christmas from England to the Pandas & little Wu, and to all at San diego Zoo
Merry Christmas to everyone at SDZ, especially the nannykeepers and vets who take such wonderful care of all the animals!
Merry Cwispmoss to all the Yun-Gaos: Bai Yun and Gao Gao who gave panda fans the best surprise present ever this year, Yun Zi who keeps us all entertained with his antics, and little Xiao Liwu who will experience his first Cwispmoss this year! I hope the whole family gets lots of special tweets and prezzies!
I forgot: Master Wu and his green ball was shown on the Today show news segment this morning!
in case of interest, I stumbled on the Today show clip of Xiao Li Wu:
http://www.hulu.com/watch/438483?playlist_id=1031
(video is from the SDZoo exam with new audio by the Today show host)
At 8:57 p.m. Only the Hulu ad was available.
I tried again, seeing that somebody else tried and apparently got through, but all they wanted from me was to give them a bunch of infortmation they need not have unless I decide to subscribe. Thet should be able to just cut me off if I do not give information to them before the one free week is up. I am careful about whom I give that kind of information to. Thanks for trying….if anyone can direct me another way I am game….love grammie
So happy to see Wu-Wu is continuing to get Nation-wide exposure — here comes the conga line of more new fans!
Thanks for that clip. Toooooo cute.
have a beary merry Xmas all.
You are getting some much needed rain today. Yun Zi was pacing in the rain and he was up higher than I’ve ever seen him. I bet he’s looking for Santa. xoxoxo to all and Merry Christmas to those of you that celebrate. To everyone else, a prosperous New Year from AZ.
merry christmas to all at the san diego zoo!
A Very Merry Christmas to ALL the wonderful Keepers and Staff, Animal Fans, and the amazing animals we see at the San Diego Zoo! We are Blessed!
Bobby Wood—it has been a long time since we have been delighted with one of your “from the zoo” videos, I know I have been missing you, I bet there are many others too! I hope your video camera and you get back to visit our Panda family more often. Love grammmie
On Christmas Eve, 5:43 pm, Wuuuu is alone as Mom just left. He has found a bamboo stick amongst the hay and is chewing on it like a big boy! Guess he finds that soothing as he is teething.
I can’t believe he could be eating it!
Little one is chewing on bamboo, that has to feel good on his teething gums. He and his mommie had such a sweet play time before she went out and left him chewing away. He looks like such a big shot sitting up chewing. lol He is so happy and content.
Merry Christmas to all and I personally thank God for animals. What a blessing.
Merry 1st Christmas to Xiao!
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year SDZ keepers, vets, staff and everyone else! Little Xiao LiWu has kept me so entertained this year. Thank you so much for sharing him. I’ve become addicted to pandas! He has really given me some smiles tonight as I watched him gnaw on the same piece of bamboo for quite a while! Greetings from snowy Michigan!
1:30 am here in Boston-just checked in-Xiao Liwu is munching on a stick of bamboo, and so is mom. All’s well with that little world, and that’s the one I’ll embrace for a while.
Happy Christmas Everyone.
Day 15 Story 15
Christmas
The sun climbed happily and the skies were the bluest ever. It was as thought nature was celebratig along with the hoomans. All over the zoo, the creatures were stirring as they greeted their nannykeepers Merry Cwispmass!
Xiao Li Wu was fast asleep but he suddenly sat up! Has Pandy Claws come? He rushed over to his stocking and it was stuffed full. So were the stockings of all his siblings, even Mama’s and Papa’s. He tried to jump and get his stocking, he missed and ripped his stocking as he fell,
Wu Wu was covered with sweets, candy, cuppy cake, cute socks and a nice green ball rolled out. Wu Wu was so happy, he started singing, ‘Joy to the world, my prezzies come, let eaarth exclaim the gifts, let every child get his little gift, wuuuu wuuuu wuuuu.
His Mama and Hua Mei who was laying the table for breakfast were amused to see him so energized. Su Lin, Hao Hao and Yun Hui entered the home refreshed. Susie was showing Yun Hui and Hao Hao her favourite parts of the zoo. Zhennie was exercising on Yunnie’s tree. Yunnie was showing ZZ his new moves. The siblngs were enjoying theit time together. Mei Sheng was watching an early sports programme with Papa in the den.
Wu Wu rolled all round the living room with his green ball. ‘With a Wuuuuuuuuuuuuuu Wuuuuuuuuuu here and a Wuuuuuuuuuuuuuu Wuuuuuuuuuu there!’ Mei Sheng picked him and the ball up and pretended to bowl with him at the skittles that were Hao Hao and Yun Hui. The family were laughing so much the nannykeepers became suspicious.
Yunnie checked on their CCTV. ‘Coast is clear. NK 2 has returned to cleaning the yard. NK 1 is putting out boo for us. Whew!’
After breakfast, the Gao Clan went to carolling around the zoo to bring cheer to all the animals. And the group grew as the babies and the young ones joined the entourage.
And the zoo rang with laughter and great joy as the pandas led the other animals to sing, ‘Feliz Navidad’ and other carols. AT Yunnie’s instigation, they all gathered near a zoo CCTV and all the animals at the count of 3, mooned the camera and screamed MERRY CHRISTMAS! then ran out of range back to their respective eclosures.
Other Than a full hour on the panda cam, starring Yun Zi And Gao Gao this brought the biggest smile since I woke up. Of course I start reading from the bottom, I have no idea what is above to read. These stories are a wonderful thing to look forward to, but to have so many, in these days, is heaven. Love grammmie
When did the KS NannyKeepers figure out that the Gao family had more than doubled in size for Christmas Day snackies and Bamboo??? Had the family from other shores had to consult “rent a panda” to hide the fact of their absense from their usual NannyKeepers??? And most of us simply have to decide between our two families for each holiday. If our Pandas were the regular type this would not be a problem, but each is so very special that it is more difficult. Do the replacement rentals have to sing and dance too??? A busy Panda’s work is never done!!!
MERRY CHRISTMAS TO MAMA AND BABY, I THANK YOU BOTH FOR MAKING MY YEAR “BEAR-ABLE”, THANK YOU TO THE KEEPERS WHOM I ENVY SO VERY DEEPLY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Oh Wanda, you do have a special way with words. Thanks!!
Good morning and hope everyone that celebrates is having a wonderful Christmas morning. Such a lovely time of year so enjoy each other.
Beautiful Bai just brought in quite a bit of special Boo, maybe a hay, it looks so fine and fuzzy, she really likes it, I watched her eating this special Boo or hay last night, she enjoys it so much. Any way, I think Snugglepuff is somewhere in it, I sort of see something moving!!! Snugglepuff are you in there sweetie pie!?!!! (O)(O)
Guess the SKS Nanny Keepers are coming in to get their crismus kiss from Snugglepuff, now that is a special gift we all would love to get!!! Thanks Nanny Keepers for taking such wonderful care of the P.Bears and all the animals at SDZ EVERYDAY of the year, you are appreciated. P. Bears huggs and kisses!!!
Rumor has it that Panda Claws has been seen here in Finland in Santa Claus Village, Rovaniemi, Lappland, with a certain Young Master Wu!
https://plus.google.com/photos/106809102125552887862/albums#photos/106809102125552887862/albums
Ah so there’s where he went when he disappeared after dinner with his ball. I thought he went to play with Yun Hui and Hao Hao. Hope he helped Panda Claws and not distracted him.
Panda Love,
Bai
You betcha that is our Wu Zi in the photo, thank you so much for sharing it…….love grammmie
that was pretty good. I almost did not see the Panda Claws part but that was a good surprise.
In an attempt to make sure I skipped no one with holiday greetings, and thanks for serving us, I managed to leave out one group—- THE MEERCATS ! ! ! ! I do not know if there is a volunteer at the Zoo this Christmas Day, a NannyKeeper, or whomever manned the cameras this afternoon, a great big Thank You!!!!! Between Yunior and Goa Goa there was more than an hour of nap demonstrations, and lessons in “Boo Eating”. We started with Gao in the tub, napping, followed by Yunior doing his eating in many places, then Gao Gao showing his best eating techniques for almost an hour, before retiring to his tub again, we must assume for another nap.
To all of you who provide us with the panda cam there is no way to thank you enough. During the night I can only assume that Reindeer hooves on my roof awoke me, but I got to watch more than an hour of HIH Bai Yun, and King Fluffy Butt play, cuddle, sleep, disappear, then reappear for another round, what Hooman could ask for more. Thank you……love grammmie
any Christmas gift for Mr. Wu?
This is just for fun. If you would like to see a photo with a “donut toy” in it just put these words in the blog search box, above on the right, Bamboo Feeding Basics. Scroll down until that name comes on the left and click on it. Sometimes I get a whole page, other times just 2. Now enlarge the photo, there is a young Yun Zi with a “donut”, but look inside the donut……yes it looks like WuZi’s ball inside of it, maybe he caught a scent of his big brother on it and that is why he loved it instantly. These things are all going to have to wait to be answered until Wuuuu is a bit older and can type a bit better, but by golly he sure tries. It would be hard for him to conceive of Yunior as a baby, he might think the photo is of him!
Remember the Top Secret Project Bamboo, part of the space program, using the shuttles? When I was not sleeping today I managed to read some older blogs, while fooling around I even found a photo of the zip line escape basket used in Pandanaut training, a wire basket escape route to the ground as a last ditch escape effort that has to be included in training, but when training Pandanauts it has to be the last thing used simply because after they do it once they want 10 or 15 more climbs up the rocket just to “Zip in the Basket” again. Being Pandas who can blame them. I was not even looking for it when it jumped out in front of me. Of course for me that is the way things usually happen. It got left out of the most recent posting of the project, but I feel like an old friend has been found. It is being used in the photo by two Pandanauts. Enjoy…love grammmie
Enjoy when I open my laptop so I can give the link.
I forgot when I had the laptop open about this promise, so it is the top of tomorrow’s list, now I just have to remember tomorrow’s list when tomorrow comes. I will approach my laptop much earlier in the day, and see if I can ease the pain a bit so I can get more done….love grammmie
Well as I got really determined during my all night “NOT Sleep In” I managed to go through my skimpy notes about the “Project Bamboo Zip Line Training, in the Wire Basket” and finally located it. The photo is great, and it takes only a moment to see why that portion of PandaNaut training is at the end. Our young bears love climbing, and daredevil rides, what more could they ask for than a climb up the rocket for a quick ride back to the ground. I think they find it hard to believe this is a safety feature for fast egress from the rocket top. We’ll done Pandanauhts!!!
Here is the link. http://www.flickr.com/photos/kjdrill/2773696540/in/photostream/
I will test the link as soon as I hit the post sign, if it does not work I will work on it until it does, or I get to write an apology…love grammmie
The link I sent was so wrong, and nothing to do with our subject. The two links were in the same area, and I just goofed. Here is the correct link, and I am so glad to catch the mistake first!!!
Http://www.flickr.com/photo/45944933@NOO/4552290045/
I checked it and it worked, unless I got it right in the retyping, so enjoy. Love grammmie
Me and Mommy biting boo in the den (pandas bite boo, though I don’t know why).
https://plus.google.com/photos/106809102125552887862/albums#photos/106809102125552887862/albums
Bamboo is tough fibrous plant, they really can only ingest leaves, slim branches, and the inside clum after stripping off the green outer layer that is too tough for even a grown Panda to chew. And after all of that trouble it has very little food value– that’s why they eat so much of it. Pandas in managed care are actually quite lucky…because they get nutritious snackies, fruits and veggies they would have to steal from an irate farmer in the wild, and instead of a lifetime expectancy of 19-21 years, they get, usually, nearly, or above 30 years. True they had to give up living the way nature intended, but Gao volunteered (he was born wild and rescued, when released he came back, that is volunteering). Now even though Bai was born in captivity she was the result of natural breeding, and seems to know what to do when she and Gao dance the Spring Salsa, and so does he. Their only meeting that did not result in a cub was 2011, but we suspect she wanted to have Little Wuuuu during the year of the dragon. That is just about the best sign to be born under in Chinese Culture. It makes the mind boggle that in 6 Spring Salsas they have produced 5 cubs and cubettes……2 Girls 3 boys. (She had 1 girl first with first hubby Shi Shi, thanks to AI). Love grammmie
Around 5:15 a.m. The web cam first showed a cute scene of two sleeping Pandas when I first came on about a half hour ago. When I just checked back I found Bai still sleeping but little Wuuuu was sitting near her rear end chewing on Bamboo, and occasionally patting her on the bottom with his tiny paw. I have no idea why, or if any siblings did this, but it is cuteness overload……almost like he is making sure sher knows he is right there. If he does not take off for places unknown I wonder if he will continue to pat. Well it is time to go back to see what more there is going on…love Grammmie
Well something else new…..he almost left the den, then turned around and came back, climbed up on Bai, then stood up as tall as he could until he got his paws on top of the side of the den edge. I kid you not. He started working his way around the edge of the den until he fell off, and tumbled down her bottom. He seemed a bit startled, Bai roused slightly, he moved slowly away and out of the den. I guess I should see if he came back……love grammmie
Day 16 Story 16
Bai Yun’s Primer for first time panda mamas
Lesson 2: Love thyself
I know that the minute you scoop up that small wriggling pink baby, your whole attention will be focused on that cubby. You will want to spend all your time with him or her, watching every milestone, taking delight as the cubby suckles and wanting the very best for your first child. There will be anxious moments. All of us are still sending our best wishes to my sista Mei Xiang. These acts of nature will happen. We don’t know why but we will just keep loving our cubbies and doing the best we can at one of the best jobs in the world; being a panda mama.
Let me tell you, no one and I mean no one can be on call 24/7. Believe you me, I tried. For my first cubby Hua Mei I wouldn’t let her alone. If I had to leave the den, she went with me. She got tired, I got tired. I kept making mistakes. Thank the Panda God, Hua Mei became a hero mother inspite of me. I learnt that once the cubby has reached about 2-3 months, you need self time. And take it.
I am blessed with a garden platform which allows me to sleep and eat my favourite boo while being hollering distance of my cubby. You will learn to distinguish between the ‘Mama, I need you now!’ and the ‘Mama, I want attention!’ and the constant ‘MAMA, I is HUNGRY!!!’
Find a nice spot in your enclosure to call your own. Make it your own with your pillows, scented candles and snackies. It is even better if it is near the nannykeepers’ door so they can hand you all sorts of treats while you lounge around.
Also make it clear to the hubby, he is not to disturb you when you are on your Self Time. He will be anxious as it is the first cubby. He will call and text and Panda Book to find out all he can. Just send him videos and memes.
The one thing is initially when the cubby yells for the Milk Bar, it is best to answer that call. The good news is they are always hungry so the milk bar is quickly emptied. Also they grow faster and then you can have longer Self Time. Otherwise it can get painful. And don’t forget to burp. Sometimes the milk goes to the lungs then it is Oooh Oooh time.
On my own time, I have recently taken up sketching. I try to draw my cubbies and Gao Gao. Also my BFF Kathy. Who knows, one day I might exhibit my drawings, hee hee. Do something that you would not normally have time to do so that you maximise that time alone.
Once the cubby is older, your time will be spent trying to inculcate good values and wisdom. Also they will start asking questions which may disrupt your Self Time. Wu Wu is always asking me the ‘Why’ questions. Thank the Panda God for my iPaw as I can find out the answers to why is the sky blue and why there is water from the sky. I have also told him that sweet folktale about how we were all white and how we became black. Wu Wu said if he had a choice he would like to be blue and whie. What a sight! I think black and white is just right. (Yes, I know I just rhymed, hee hee.)
To be continued.
Here is a good “why” question, for Mr. Wuuuu. Early this morning, 5 or 5:30 a.m. around then, Grammmie saw you sitting near momma’s bottom with some boo in your mouth. Every now and then you reached out with your right front paw to pat mommy on her Toushie very gently. Why did you decide to do that??? Did someone suggest it, or was it your own idea??? Many of us thought it was cute, but then we think that all of the time anyway. I am also interested in the “Standing on momma so my front paws can reach the top of the den” thing??? We’re you trying to see if there is another way out of the den opening” ??? In your back and white stripes you looked a bit like James Cagneybear. He was a greatness movie star and actor in his day, lots of us love to see his old movies. Are you thinking of acting or escaping??? These are the things that drives us crazy, we want to know what is in store for our widdle bitty man Panda. Lots of love from everybody, and grammmie.
Dearest Auntie Grammmie,
I like to tap my right leg like Mama. I love rhythm, hee hee. Maybe I will be a performer like Justin Bearber or the other one Justin Timbearlake. Also becaws I wuv my Mama so much, I just want to be able to touch her. She does that too when she is eating her boo. She will tap her foot and touch me, hee hee. I guess it is a cubby-mama thing.
Now my back feetsies are stronger, I want to cwimb evewy whewe. Mt Mama too. She wikes to tips me over when I gets to the top. She says it will teach me to keep twying.
Hee Hee, I nows runs out of the den when Mama is sweeping. But she always catches me and gives me a good baff after that. WAHHHHHHH, I dontch need more baaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaafs. I just want to wuuuu here, wuuuuu there. But I wuv her and I know she wuvs me lots too.
Me,
Li Wuuuuuuuu
Dearest Mr. Wuuuu
Thank you for your answer. Now that I think of it Mr. Timbearlake is doing some movies, and who knows what young Mr. Bearber might do next??? Perhaps my thoughts about acting in your blood are not that far off. It makes me happy to know that you love your mommy so much that you like to reach out and touch whenever you can, and that she likes touching you. I know when my cubbies were young that hugging them was the most favorite thing to do, but by the time they were going to school they could take BAFF by themselves……with mommie near by.
We played games just like you play with your mommy, and I would pretend to be angry and tell them I was going to get them. They laughed and said I had to catch them first….I told them they had to sleep sometime! When they were teenagers they said it again to me, and I let them “sleep” until he was 35 and she was 23….mommies can have long memories….but that is a long story for another day. One of them happened at the San Diego Zoo Hunte Amphitheater. Love Auntie Grammmie
P
Dearest HIH Bai Yun;
Please refresh our memories– grammmie is getting old and sometimes her memory fails her. If you do not want to repeat the story could you set us on the path to digging it up ourselves. I forget a lot of things, but for some others they just didn’t happen to have discovered you, your Gao and your adorable babies. Panda drenched minds want to know! Love grammmie
Now that I think of it a blue and white might not be bad. For daytime a strong pastel blue, early evening dinner and cocktail parties a nice royal blue would work, then for those late night and Salsa dates, a Nice Midnight Blue would be very pretty, and seductive. So if we go that far how about a rainbow of colors to remind the world that Pandas bring beauty, strength, peace and love. Uh, Oh, I got carried away again didn’t I….it is that little Wuuuu and his toushie patting, and escape attempt occupying so much of my mind that I got caught up in his lofty thoughts. He is going to get me in trouble, I can see it coming and am powerless to stop it……love grammmie
What a lovely story!
Hi! Hope that you all enjoyed your Christmas holiday with your families yesterday!
I was looking at some pics of animals on MSNBC website’s Animal Tracks page, and guess who made the list? A pic of little Xiao holding onto that green ball during his last vet exam last week! He looked so cute!!
Was just on the pandacam, Xiao is taking a nap in the den, and the den is totally emptied of all of the boo stalks! I wonder if Bai ate them all or just took them back outside? Anyway, she’s not in the den right now; she’s on her ME time schedule again!
A quick update on Andean Bear mom’s twins at NZ. Been on the bearcam, the cubs are growing a little bit, and from what I could see when I could catch a peek at them when Billie Jean stretches out a bit, the twins are starting to grow their dark brown/black hair now. Both of the cubs are still very loud squealers! No date on their first exam yet, but will let you all know when that happens when the bear keepers know. The cubs are 2 weeks old this week!
Gonna go for now! Going back to the bear cams later on!
Chari Mercier
St. Pete, FL
Thank you Chari for the updates, I always look forward to what you have to report.
Here are Billie Jean’s cubbies on Christmas Day. Beware of the noise
121225-02 Billie Jean & 12-Day Old Cubs – Merry Christmas
http://youtu.be/O5mryp-1MoE
Wow..they are noisy. Is that all from the cubs, or was mama yelping also?
All that racket is from the two little ones. I think Mom has a deeper or more nasally sound.
Thank you Jusy, they are so vocal, that is funny! Mother’s warmth and milk is all that is needed to quiet the cuties.
BTW one of my Maine Coon cats jumped up in my lap and put both paws around my neck and looked at my MacBook in disbelief of the sound coming from it!!!
Thank you Jusy for the video. I really enjoyed it. I looked in on her today and had to laugh watching her doing a juggling act to position the cubs to nurse.
Thanks Jusy. I’ve been trying to get a better look at these cubs for awhile. I especially liked the clip on the side that I clicked on where Billie Jean had a cub in each arm. That was so sweet. Talk about an armfull.
Thank you Chari, we hope you had a fine day too. Have. You thought more about doing some more Panda Fiction Writing??? What I found the other day was really good, and me thinks you should perhaps try some more! ! !
Love grammmie.
Don’t worry, Grammie! When I think of something interesting from the pandas, I’ll write something for you all! Yeah, those Andean Bear cubs are extremely loud squealers, especially when they want some attention from momma BJ! And yes, all of those squeals are from the twins!! I don’t think BJ has uttered a sound since she gave birth to those cubs. The cubs are doing all of the talking right now!
Going back to the bearcams again before going to bed!
Goodnite!
Chari
His Royal Spunkiness is sleeping again, and I can only peek at him about an hr a day. So many,many thanks to those of you who capture and share those adorable videos of him in action. Would love to see what Grammie witnessed early this morning – the tush patting, etc. How precious!
Oh, Kathy, it was more adorable than watching him lick his lips between nipples the night or two before. I do not recall Yunior doing any Toushie patting when this young. Momma looks so big stretched out, and he so small sitting up that it adds to the sweetness of the patting. Perhaps he is just a REAL male and checking out things to do when older??? But that takes away from the sweetness……love grammmie
I would love to show you a video of some of the things I happen upon in the middle of the night, but I have no idea how to do it on my laptop, let alone my iPAW mini. I am always thrilled when I figure out some simple thing that seems so hard until that old lightbulb goes off! ! ! Love grammmie
The den has been empty now for awhile. The cam must be showing the wall? Is Mr. Wu having an exam today?
Moderator’s note: No exam today.
Good morning Panda fans. I just found two special treats for those who wish to partake. One is a story about Gao’s early life, directly from an old blog. My habit is to sometimes loose myself in the comment sections, and just going to numbers 11 and 24 will get you lots of stuff under Black And White Overnight! That should take you to a blog from May 29, 2010 when Yunior was young. Count down 24 color changes to a post from Don telling the history of Gao Gao when young. It is very informative.
If you wish to see photos of Gao Gao (we usually saw him on the cam around 3 p.m. Pac.Time in his bedroom eating his big evening meal, so my favorite photog did a bunch of photos. This may help the newer viewers to come to know him better. When you go to the link I will provide you will find a whole page of photos, I clicked on the first one (top left), and I bet I spent a half hour on the photos of him, and also others in our Panda family. At the lower edge are more pages to click on, featuring many photos too I bet. I do not know if it is just my iPaw Mini, or what, but sometimes going to the next photo from the center of the five on the right side of the page it just doesn’t change. I stumbled into using the refresh (photo stays the same then) then clicking again on the photo you are trying to reach, (sometimes 2 or 3 clicks does it) suddenly it works. It may then “stick” again, just repeat until you are able to work by clicking on the photos again. I have no idea why or how this works, but it does. Just from the first photo I clicked on I saw young Yun Zi, Su Lin, ZZ, Bai Yun, and of course Gao Gao, all of this just from the top left photo, I have not explored the rest yet. By the way the captions are fabulous, don’t miss that part, our favorite photog is a real “stitch”. The comments are good too, but there is only so much we can see and do in a lifetime!
I am so glad that we can access the older blogs, and that we can access their comment sections. In just looking at 24 comments I found enough stuff to keep me busy for the rest of the year. I can hardly wait to see what more is in store for me. The four photos at the bottom of the blog section, before comments, change each time you press the key that changes or enters stuff, so at the end of the blog I take a moment to write down the “name” of the blog I think looks interesting, knowing that if I find something in the comments to “click” on like the link in number 11, or any other thing, that those four photos and their blogs will change. So if there is not another blog up soon, and you have a bit of time on your hands (or you can steal some time) go tip toeing through the past, so full of richness and Pandas!!!!! For myself I bet I have a list of blogs to read that equals 100 or more. It boggles my tiny mind. If you have any trouble with stuff once you get there just give a holler, if I am not handy I bet a moderator, someone on the Panda Team, or others reading our comment sections will volunteer to help you out…….love grammmie
I promised a link for a page(s) of Gao Gao photos, and I finally opened my laptop so that I can provide it right here, right now . I will not be on the laptop a lot, it is hurting my back and neck I can use the iPAW Mini that much less strain for both….so here is the deal. At some point in the day I will collect anything I cannot or have not learned to do from my iPaw, open the blog and put them all in one entry. We might think up some kind of name to put at the top so anyone with an interest can find the entry quickly, then scroll down to what they want. Had I known this switch would have been so different in feel I might have done it sooner, so just typing would not be stressful, mazybe in a few days it will get better. If I promised you something, and have not delivered it, please remind me so it gets done. Thank You Love grammmie——-and now on to email……oh help………..
Looking at my last wordy contribution, perhaps I need to shorten them somewhat, or it might be mistaken for an above the photos section of the blog. I do try to keep things short, but want to make sure you have all the information needed to see what you are aiming at, so looking for stuff does not end up being a frustrating situation, rather than a pleasant trip down Memory Lane. Love grammmie
Grammmie, I have no problem with your post, they are always pack with so much goodies, that I may read them two or three times!!! I enjoy them so much, thank you… P.Bear hugggs!!!
Thank You Bev….love grammmie
Go Grammie, Go Grammie, Go Grammie. That’s me cheering you on. Good job!!!
TY SA. TY. SA. TY. SA. TY. SA. TY. SA.
OMG! OMG!! There is a beautiful photo op of The Young Beautiful and Most High HIH Bai sitting up on her platform eating her Boo!!! She truly is BEAUTIFUL!
there is a panda on the cam either bai yun or yun zi
brick walls
a platform with a log leaning on it
yam, apple lined up in a row on the climbing structure
is it bai yun on her break from the xiao liwu?
sitting and eating bamboo on floor
can you help me identify which bear it is?
Moderator’s note: It sounds like it was Bai Yun in her garden room.
But, Moderator Dear….how would those snackies be sitting there in front of Bai, eating bamboo. Doesn’t she eat the goodies first in case a cubby comes along with lust for her snackies??? You surely have seen her more times than I have, and I am as old as dirt, but stray snackies doesn’t sound like Bai to me. Is there an imposter bear, or imposter snackies in his mix??? Love grammmie
Moderator’s note: Bai Yun knows all snacks are for her. She doesn’t have to worry about that at this point.
A few days ago when we saw our Cutie Patootie with the ball, I mentioned a day that Yun Zi had a huge choice of enrichment items available, but picked out one that was almost his size, and he seemed to really love that one toy the most. I have been looking for a photo of him with the toy, but did not have any luck so far. (I was looking through my favorite photog’s pages.) As it turns out it was an official photograph taken by the zoo employee, and not my pal, even though she might have one anyway, but when looking back at older blogs I found the photo attached to a blog WEANING PANDA CUBS -with Bai and Yunior as the stars of the story, the photo is in the top right of the blog upper portion. Love grammmie
I just discovered that you do not have to go all the way to the blog, on the page of blogs to choose from while scrolling down, the picture was right there, but feel free to read it anyway. Once we wear the fingers down on all upper blog writers, and our moderators we are going to have to read the old ones anyway just to keep ourselves out of mischief.
Now there is an idea…..rerun older blogs that still address the questions, worries and interesting facts about the Pandas. No need to write a new one every time, and we still get educated and can start a new comment section. The more I read this the more it makes some good sense…..love grammmie
Wondering why no camera in the ‘garden room where the cub is now spending time? Love the videos of exams, etc. It is a joyful place and we love watching all the activities (or naps).
Thank you and Merry Christmas.
Wanna see 48 minutes of beauty? It was just amazing watching the beautiful mama. No editing whatsoever
121226 Bai Yun in Garden Room
http://youtu.be/fKl_2lUYLac
I have to say the recording is not as sharp as the cam showed it. She is a real beauty and CLEAN
WOW Jusy. I watched every minute of that video and loved every single minute. Bai is so beautiful and perfect. Her ears are working all the time. Loved it when she was looking for her treats in the bamboo. Thanks for sharing this. EVERYONE Look at this video. It’s wonderful and you can tell where the kids get her patience and perfect ears from.
JUSY I loved it too, thank you…love grammmie
Will Master Wu be having his weekly cuddlefest/exam on Thursday?
I hope so, don’t you???
Two things seem to be holding Little Wuuuu back, following mom when she moves, and climbing skills. After seeing him climb quickly onto Bai’s back he went right to the wall of the den immediately stood up and got his paws stretched up to the lip around the top of the den, then was moving towards his right side, not paw over paw, but close, he worked sideways several steps until he ran into Momma’s backside slide. He seemed shaken for a moment then got to his feet and walked out of the den door, while Bai slept without so much as a yawn. In fact, since she missed the bottom patting he did she missed everything fun in the morning. He must be following her a lot these days, we sometimes get hours of nothing going on in the den, we must assume they are together. Wish we could see what he is up to in the garden room….love gammmie
Is revenge all that sweet??? Ask our lovely HIHBai Yun about that. She must have read about his little hi jinx this morning with the bottom patting and the escape attempt. An innocent, deeply sleeping baby was given a vigorous bath, to wake him up, then when he got back to a nice deep sleep she decided it was play time, with nibbles all over. Now, Bai, I know you are his mommy, but he does not know all of the no, nos yet…is it fair to torrture him like that??? He did not wake you up this morning, he just was patting in case you woke up and didn’t know he was right beside you, and I don’t think it was a serious escape attempt, he was just trying to get stronger faster so you guys can get out in the sunshine and fresh air that much sooner. Please have a little pity on such a tiny little man, he will do better….okay??? Love grammmie
Humpfff, we’ll see. He is not all sweetness you know…he is all sweetness and more, hee hee. My Wu Wu is going to be such a heart breaker and Mama needs to make sure he is not a bad boy.
Love,
Bai
Happy Holiday to all my fellow panda fans! I have not been able to watch panda cam as much as I’d like to for the past few days, because I have been spending time with my hooman family. However, I did get to show the panda cam (and my recently contracted pandamonium) to anyone who would listen. And I even got them to watch an old documentary called “The Panda Baby” (which is about the panda program in SDZ and our first born Hua Mei) with me! Hopefully I successfully spread the pandamonium around =)
Since I am sure feeding a growing youngster is taxing for mama, do you increase the amount of food you give Bai Yun as Xiao Liwu gets larger? Also, do you weigh the food each day to determine the right amount for each bear or do you have another method for determining portions?
Moderator’s note: Your question has been forwarded to our Panda Team.
The panda team is certainly the right place to get answers to questions like that, and I have read older blogs addressing just that information. Since they are fed a variety of bamboo flavors, not only are each species weighed, but also noticed for upcoming meals, so that as tastes change so does the bamboo offered. That is one reason that uneaten bamboo is gathered for evaluation after cleanup is finished. Love grammmie
Day17 Story 17
The day in which Li Wu discovers cup cakes
It was the day after Christmas and Bai was still feeling in a creative mood. She looked in her larder and found she had flour and raisins and cherries and….With arms akimbo, the Panda Domestic Goddess wondered what she should do. She wanted to make something special for Wu Wu as he was feeling sad now that his siblings, niece and nephew have returned to China. He was moping in one corner. EVEN thegreen ball could not cheer him.
Bai had an idea. She quickly got out all she needed and she started mixing her dough. Before long the most yummy smells wafted from herkitchen. Gao Gao peeked in with much hope.
‘Honey, these are not for you!’ smiled his sweetie and she spots Yunior, ‘And not you either, young man!’ Yunnie grinned as he guessed why his Mama was baking.
‘Ping’ went the timer. Bai whisked out the cup cakes and she piped green cream and sprinkles and put in nuts and cherries and candy canes.
‘WUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU, where are yoooooooooooooooooooou?’ sang Bai Yun pretending not to know her young son was seated under the table playing with his ball forlornly.
‘Yunnie, where’s your brother? Go and look up the tree. Gao Gao, quick yor son is missing! Go and check in the pool. I better call Su Lin to make sure he did not sneak on their plane, oh me, oh my, why’s my wuuuu wuuuu!’ exclaims Bai Yun as she bustled around her home.
‘Hee Hee Hee, silly Mama, I am HERE!’ yelled Wu Zi who leaped up from beneath the table. He turned his head and spotted the plate of oodies on the table.
‘MAMA, what are these?’
‘Well, Mama made some cup cakes with fresh boo cream. And I thought I would make a Christmas tree, a bell, a candle and here is a flower. But Mama has a problem. Papa and Yunnie do not like cake.’
‘That is so not true!’ mumbled Gao Gao as his wife clamped her paws on his mouth quickly.
‘Now, Mama needs someone to help taste these cakes, whooooo can help her? Wuuuuu I wonder?’
‘Hee Heee Heee, Mama, you are so funny. Me is whooooooo will taste you cakes!’ giggled Li Wu.
‘OK, Mama will warm up some milk and you dip the cake into the milk. It will soften the cake for you. And youc an lick the cream.’
‘YUMMY! Ge Ge, why don’t you wike cake? Mama is a good cook!’
Yunnie tried to act nonchalant and innocent,’ Oh me? I had too much during Christmas. Susie made some lovely rich cake and even though cup cakes are my favourite, I cannot eat a single one.’
Bai Yun returns with 3 glasses of hot milk, ‘OK boys, I figured you men might want to join Wu Zi. Yunior gets chocolate and my Gao Gao dear gets his favourite banana flavoured milk.’
‘Mama, since you insist what can I say except you da best. You rock!’ smiled Yun Zi.
Gao Gao hugs his wife and declares, ‘Yunnie, you are so right. My Baiby is the Best!’
Wu Zi pulled the plate eager to start and the cup cakes flew and their cream toppings flew and landed all over him. I think he wasn’t complaining. Gao Gao and Yun Zi laughed at the sight of the Wu happily licking the cream off his fur as they rescued what they could. Fortunately for them, Bai had another batch ready to serve up.
And a Happy Cup Cake Day to one and all.
Excellent!!! I too love cupcakes. No frosting please.
Sounds good to me, I think we should all have to use up all of those left over cakes— who would join me??? Love grammmie
Absolutely! Count me in, Yummy P. Bear cupcakes!!
Gosh, almost forgot… I want the frosting, lotz of frosting, please!!!
But not my double dip of frosting. Cuppycakes should be cut into a top and a bottom, and both should be frosted!!!
Funny – an article in today’s paper was about a new cupcake store in a neighboring town. The owner (and baker) has found quite a market (weddings, special events, etc) for her cupcakes
You should check who opened it. Was it a Mrs Gao BY or a Ms Pan BY. I imagine Ms Bai is a domestic goddess and can bake anything.
Lucilla
Exam day today….whoohoooo!
Enjoyed the close ups of Bai Yun in her Garden Room. Also, the logs and bamboo for Xiao Liwu to climb on and fall off to get ready for his debut.
Will he make his debut in January?
Thank you!
Moderator’s note: Yes!
Do Pandas have taste buds?
Moderator’s note: Your question has been forwarded to our Panda Team.
If they do not have taste buds why does Bai scramble for the snackies, why would food rewards in training work, and why would they limit their diet mostly to very hard to eat and digest bamboo??? I personally think they not only have taste buds, but they and their keepers use them on a daily basis to get what they want. And then there is all of that honey that almost all bears just love. I am willing to bet that Hoomans learned about honey by observing bears using it. As it turns out honey has antibiotic properties, and some 3,000 year old honey, once reliquified was found to be healthy to eat. Who knew? Well bears knew!!!!! Love Grammmie
9:10 AM..Our beloved Gao Gao is in his tub with his favorite Bermuda hay, just muching away…to the delight of a group of ladies who are smiling and taking pictures. Ah yes, his adoring public!
Big Daddy sure is a crowd pleaser, he has a bamboo stalk over the tub. It looks like he is praying to the panda gods for more boo.
11:01…now Gao Gao is in a Bermuda hay-induced coma, snug as a bug in his tub. My heart just melts
I just tuned into the cam, and initially thought it was Yun Zi in the tub.
My is delighted that Gao Gao, in addition to being the bamboo eating machine, has a child-like side in him!
I have to admit – seeing Gao Gao in the tub is slightly disturbing… it almost looks like a coffin. He’s asleep — and does look very comfy… and all of visitors are having a chuckle, pointing and taking lots of pictures. What a funny panda.
That comment is not very nice. How that comment was accepted by the moderators is beyond me.
Moderator’s note: We are an indulgent bunch.
Darling Yunnie,
I agree with you and wish too that it did not get through to disturb us. That being said, just know the some hoomans for different reasons just see thing differently than most and mean no harm, so just overlook it, knowing that most of us know that Sweet Daddy Gao absolutely loves his tub and if it is around, you can count on him eating and sleeping in it!!
P. Bear Hugggs and Air Kisses,
Beverly
I count on their indulgence a lot!!! But come to think of it, he loves that tub so much, that many years hence, when he meets his Panda God it would be comforting to think of him resting in his tub if burial is his final method.
I thought for animals to sleep in confinded areas was normal. Gao is so darn funny he is going to do what he wants and he does love his tub.
Did Liwu have an exam today?
Moderator’s note: Yes. We’ll have video and photos available later today, I hope.
Tanda, I think you’re right….at least my cats like to sleep in places that seem confined. It’s almost as though it gives them a feeling of security.
Back to the womb?
Lou I know dogs like secure places like a crate or in our case, my bed. lolol It is just a natural instinct for them to sleep in a protected place, it saves them from predators. Like lots of animals sleep in tree tops where it is safe. Nature is wonderful if we live in a place we can enjoy it, which I do.
It is 4:11pm cst. I just got to see the great Gao Gao in the tub of his hay. He is just a cutie pie!
Thank you, Suzanne, for the update not only on Xiao Liwu, but also on the sun bears. I hadn’t heard anything for quite awhile about Francis and Marcella. What a great idea giving Francis his own new space and making him extra comfy. Marcella is such a sweetheart and so accomodating. Sounds like he and Marcella may get together afterall. Keep us posted!
happy, healthy new year to everyone at SDZ panda research and
all who love animal kind…
black and white hugs to all!