We love Gao Gao!
We are all excited to be celebrating another anniversary for Gao Gao, as this is his 10th year here at the San Diego Zoo. Gao Gao likes his parties to be low-key and with his close human friends. We will be spoiling him with frozen applesauce treats, his favorite smells, and toys. He enjoys cinnamon spice, apple pie spice, and any musky scents. His favorite toys are the ones he can sleep in full of soft bedding.
At 23 years old, Gao Gao is doing quite well for his age. He is weighing a consistent 165 pounds (75 kilograms) and is still climbing like a young panda. He had a dental check up on January 8; they had to replace the bridge on his back molars. We have changed his food preparation to reduce the wear on his teeth and now offer him bamboo bread (made with bamboo ingredients). This is where he is getting most of his calories. We also pre-cut his favorite bamboo stalks into thinner and shorter pieces to make it easier for him to chew.
As to Gao Gao’s famous webbed feet, just his rear paws have the webbing, which is a little longer than the webbing we have between our fingers and is not noticeable unless he has a veterinary exam. He is also famous for the long hair on his rear paws: we call them his slippers.
We are happy for Gao Gao to reach this milestone in his life. He has been an exceptional mate to Bai Yun and is the father of five cubs. He continues to amaze us with how smart he is and with his gentle nature. All of his cubs have followed in his footsteps. And personally, I would say that Xiao Liwu is most like his father. So here’s to 10 great years with Gao Gao and, hopefully, many more to come!
Jennifer Becerra is a senior keeper at the San Diego Zoo. Read her previous post, Thankful for Panda.
Happy 10 years Gao Gao,may you have many more.I love watching you enjoying everything around you,I love when you roll in the cinnamon box.You sure do love the Bermuda hay. I love you and your little family.Thank you San Diego for providing the cam which makes all this possible,I have learned so much about pandas since discovering this site not too long ago.I appreicate what you are doing for all the beautiful wildlife you care for
I think Gao Gao is great, when I came to visit he was the only panda I seen, I was very surprised how small he was. Here’s to many more years. We might even see another Gao Gao cub.
Sssssshhhhhhhh, he thinks he is the mighty Gao Gao, and counts his super powers by number of cubs and cubbettes resulting from his prowese. . Love grammmie
Size does not matter! Hee Hee.
Grammie, Cubettes..now I like that for the girls..never came across it before..Gao and Bai’s cubboys and cubettes, ha.
Happy Bearday to Gao Gao, Happy Bearday to Sweet Daddy Gao Gao… Happy Bearday to Bai Yun Studmuffin Gao Gao… We love you too! Sigh… Gosh you are so handsome!
Hope your tenth year Anniversary Bearday is the best Bearday ever!!
Happy Anniversary, Gao Gao! May you spend many more years on this side of the world with us. You are a great mate and father. Enjoy all your treats!
Jennifer, what a lovely report about Gao Gao. I think everyone loves him and he appears to enjoy the crowds. He certainly posed for me back in October. Love to see him in his tub. Hope he continues to thrive in the care of SDZ.
We learn so much from this blog! I hadn’t realized I have webbing between my fingers.
Gao is a lovely little bear, and am not surprised that he is very smart. SDZ, thank you for taking good care of him and his teeth. Hope he is there for many more years. He seems so happy.
Gao Gao you are so special. You have been here 10 yrs and have how many kids now???? No wonder you eat so much bamboo. lol i have seen you at the zoo and you are so handsome, no wonder Bai loves you. Everyone is so happy you are at the SDZ!
Happy 10 year anniversary Gao Gao! I have enjoyed learning so much about you and the other pandas.
Do any of Gao Gao kids have the webbed feet?
Moderator’s note: His first four all had slightly webbed rear paws.
Thanks for this blog Jennifer. We all love Gao Gao and have since he first arrived in San Diego. He is the most laid back of all the pandas and with his ever present smile, he is probably the most photographed too.
I laughed when I read where you said they had to replace his bridge. He is and always has been an eating machine so I am not surprised. Your staff is probably already thinking ahead on how to make the next one, even stronger, than the one currently in his mouth.
Happy Anniversary Gao Gao! You already gave us 10 marvellous years, you have been a loving mate to Bai Yun and you both gave us 5 fantastic cubs! Thank you!
Have a wonderful annivesary Gao Gao, you are such a sweet looking boy!
Could you move that big post so I can say Happy 10th Anniversary of your arrival Gao?
Moderator’s note: ???
Gao was setting behind a big tree stump eating bamboo. All you could see was his arm and part of the bamboo move.
Happy Bearday to my favourite Gao Gao. Such a gentle, wise soul.
Thank you for the wonderful information on Daddy Gao! We hope he feels “royally” treated for the very special bear that he is!
Will there be pictures (if no video) of his celebration taken? If so, ‘will look forward to viewing the photo gallery
Moderator’s note: No photos from our staff, but perhaps some panda fans will share theirs.
Thank you, moderator.. I hope someone will be able to share some pictures or video of Gao Gao
. Thanks in advance!
I was there and got some photos and video. I’ll upload them and post them on Flickr!
Happy Anniversary Gao Gao! Thank you for 10 wonderful years and 5 most beautiful cubbies you’ve given the world!
Thank you to SDZ for taking such great care of him!
Happy Anniversary Gao Gao. He is a beautiful bear and has a wonderful personality that has been passed along to his cubs. I hope we have many more years with him. His youngest son is such as sweetheart and so adventuresome. We love you Gao Gao and so does Bai I think. LOL
Thank You for the dental update. I know there were some concerns among us cam viewers about his teeth. Glad to hear he is in great health. So happy you are with “us” Gao Gao. We love you!
Happy Anniversary Gao Gao. May you have many more. I love watching you eat your food. After all, you are the bamboo eating machine. Have a great day today and always.
Thank you Jennifer for reminding me Gao Gao arrived at SDZ 10 years ago this month. Congratulations ‘little big man’, it seems like only yesterday!
Shi Shi (father of Hua Mei by AI) had left SDZ a short time earlier and Gao Gao later arrived in a ‘crate’ carried en route on the front of a ‘forklift truck’ – we watched in awe as laid back Gao Gao sat in his crate with his beloved bamboo, still chomping on down.
The ‘little man’ was a fast worker from the start, when Bai Yun first saw him it was love at first sight and their first cub Mei Sheng was born on 19th August 2003 the same year.
Now 10 years later we are watching ‘Mr Wu’ doing many of the things that Gao Gao and Bai Yun’s other cubs have done over the years, I think the area where ‘Mr Wu’ is honing his skills was Cam 29? prior to the HD cameras.
Kind regards to all as I feel certain there will be many more people out there who will also recall Gao Gao’s arrival proving that often good things arrive in small parcels …
Yes, Hazel, I remember the look on his face, peering out of that truck. He looked so puzzled, but also intelligent. I wish I had a picture of that, but it will forever be in my memory.
Happy Anniversary, Gao Gao. I love you, too, and would love to see you. Thanks to your keepers and moderators for taking such good care of you. A precious panda Daddy! May you have years of good health and happiness. You deserve it.
Love you GAO GAO. See you in June. You are just so adorable as are all your cubs xxxx
yay Gao Gao. thank you for the health updates on Gao Gao. I was wondering about him. I didn’t know he had a bridge for his molars. it’s totally understandable that people adore little Xiao Li Wu but many viewers still go gah gah for Gao Gao.
Congratulations Gao Gao! Here’s to another ten years! Any chance you can come visit the National Zoo pandas in Washington? Maybe around spring breeding season? We have a real sweet lady panda here named Mei Xiang, and she’d just love to have a web-toed cubby with your able assistance!
Thank You so Much for All that You and the SDZ family does for our adopted beloved Pandas big and small !! I was just wondering cause for some reason i thought i read somewhere on a Chinese panda blog that all of Gao Gao and Bai Yun’s cubs have his inherit webbed rear paws .. is this incorrect? It would also be most interesting to know if any of his grand cubs have this trait as well?
Moderator’s note: Perhaps that blog was written before Xiao Liwu was born?
Thank You for the quick reply =) .. it was a recent article that i read while travelling in Asia and they did list Xiao Liwu’s name as part of Gao Gao and Bai Yun’s Progeny .. guess they were just making a blanket statement perhaps without real facts lol .. who said news was always factual .. so to be clear .. Mr. Wu does not have this trait or perhaps he is still young and won’t display his web rear feeties til later ?
Moderator’s note: I don’t think he has the trait, as I believe the other cubs showed it fairly early on.
When it comes to news about pandas, I trust the news from the US zoos, Bifengxia and Chengdu. Find the other media a bit unreliable.
Happy Annibearsary, Sir Gao Gao! Love you and your family.
Love you Gao, you drive all the girls crazy (not just Bai Yun) with that sweet fave of yours. You look forever young, even at 23.
Mazel tov, Gao Gao. May your year be filled with happiness and a lot of boo.
Happy 10th Anniversary Gao-Gao to the best Panda Papa ever!
My sister and I began watching these bears when our little gift was born. Then I took them to the hopspital where I work and began sharing. For all of my patients and our nursing staff from Sutter Cancer Center in Northern CA, I say THANK YOU to all at SDZ. Your Panda cams and blogs have made a difference in how our very ill patients cope and get through their medical processes. I am an Integrated Therapist & Medical Aromatherapist. The first thing I do for a new patient who will be staying for awhile, is show them how to log on to the Panda Cam. We have all watched our “little gift” be born and grow & now make his debut. He is a wonderful deterent to pain, depression, loneliness and hopelessness. We all thank you so much for providing this wonderful gift for us and our patients. It ispeaks to the Quality of their Life as they go through treatments.This is something that should be put in all hospital long term care and critical care units. In the love of this little fuzz ball, my patients need less medication for coping and sleeping. I have been known to turn off their computer as they fall asleep with Xai Liwu sleeping quietly on the screen in their lap. Scripts Hospital should consider using this in their critical care and long term care facilities. We all love you Bai Yun and our little healing bear” little Wu”. Happy anniversary to Gao Gao! Forever fans, Robin Gayle & Dixie Lee.
Moderator’s note: Thank you for sharing our pandas with those in your care, Robin! Panda therapy at its finest.
RobinGayle: I was thrilled to read this! I sure wish I had known about this PandaCam when going through treatment for cancer back in 2004-2005. I just know it would have given me the boost I needed to help me through it. It certainly gave me a huge boost whe I lost my husband three years ago this month. Panda therapy truly does help with pain, loneliness and despression. I recommend it to all — but especially those going through physical or emotional distress. I can’t imagine a better therapy myself… Thanks for sharing this valuable information!
Panda Cam “therapy” is definitely REAL….my sister is being treated for depression & anxiety and she daily watches the various pandas…very calming & just plain CUTE!
Gao Gao is such a delight & deserves all the pampering from his keepers! Was wondering with his advanced age if he needs any medicines with his food. I read about BaSi the oldest panda at age 32. Her keepers in China hand feed her and give her special medicine for blood pressure. She’s had some health probs & surgeries in the past but came through them. Hopefully papa Gao & mama Bai will live as long!
Currently, Gao Gao is not on any long-term medication, but that can always change as he gets older. Gao Gao is trained to put his arm through a sleeve so our veterinary techs can draw blood and monitor him. On occasion, he does receive Tums to increase his calcium intake. He eats them like candy.
Hi Jennifer. Does he get to enjoy all the available Tum flavors? Any favorites? :=)
‘Quick, Papa is having his shower, he just got back off exhibit. Go hide!’ directs Bai as her 4 overseas cubbies have returned to celebrate their father’s Annibearday with him. They all loved their papa so much.So Mei Sheng, Su Lin, Zhennie and Hua Mei (whom GG adopted) quickly hid, giggling like kids.
Yunnie brought out some ice cold boo beer for his papa while Xiao Li Wu tried to help Mama with the candles on the cake.
‘Hey, honey, you think we could go get some pizza. I am exhausted. So many hoomans came by to celebrate with me, it was quite some party. Did you see the cake I got?’ asks Gao Gao as he settles into his favourite chair as Yunior passed him his boo beer.
Suddenly Xiao Li Wu ‘stumbled’ and turned off all the house lights. And then there were screams of ‘SURPRISE! and ‘Happy Bearday’ as Bai Yun brought in a mountain of cake with 10 candles.
The lights mysteriously come on and the Gaoster is lost for words for once. He grins as his children give him hugs and high fives.
Bai Yun had made a cake that was like a bamboo grove in China. There were even clouds and a lake. Gao Gao’ eyes misted up as she planted a kiss on his cheek, ‘Happy Bearday, heart of my heart!’ she whispered.
All the kids brought all their Papa’s favourite foods from China and what a spread it was. Yunior and Sheng prepared a special video on Gao Gao’s life. Bai Yun and Gao Gao roared with laughter as their wedding video was incorporated.
‘Darl, do you remember how I almost tripped going down the aisle? See see! ZZ, when you marry, always try your heels with the dress before hand,’ chuckles Bai.
‘Honey, the moment I saw you at the top of the aisle and my heart went ba-da-bing ba-da-boom, I only had eyes for your beautiful smile and lovely eyes….,’ recollects Gao.
Mei Sheng laughs, ‘You guys are still sooooo mushy!’ And he receives a gentle swipe from his papa. ‘Son, when you find your forever queen, you will know, and vice versa. Eh Su Lin?’
Su Lin blushed as she thought of Yang Gang. Yunior grinned and was soon teased by his family about Miss 2008.
Xiao Li Wu quietly approaches his papa. Gao Gao spots him and scoops him up. ‘Papa, here is my pwesent to you. Happy Bearday! Wu wuvs you!!’ Wu Wu had drawn a picture of his papa. A very cute crayon rendition. Gao Goa beamed at his young boy. ‘Love you Wu Wu too.’
No one slept as they talked into the night and morning when the fantastic four had to return back to China. Hua Mei hugged her adoptive papa. ‘You are an amazing papa! Thank you for everything.’
Gao Gao beamed and beamed as he held his wife’s paw, ‘We didn’t do too badly did we, love?’ She smiles and squeezes his paw.
aww shucks. sweet story. “forever queen”, I like that phrase.
Brought tears to my eyes. What a beautiful annibearsary celebration!
What a nice stoy! Of course it is all true. Happy Anniversay there Papa Panda. Wishing you many more. Bai being the love of your life is truely a great mom.. Thanks to the SDZ for sharing your 10th Anniversary with all of us Pandaholics.
Dearest Gao Gao….will you always have those sexy, furry, fluffy, feetsies ?
Do you have them that way to keep warm, or just to make sure that ladys
Of every species adores you???? They are just over other the top,and look very soft….love grammmie
This story is really just too cute – another must for the Story Book we hope gets published one day…
It would be great if all the stories would be published into one of the best Panda Bear books. I would sure buy one. The proceeds could be used for the Panda Center at the SDZ.
Love this story. GG is a pretty amazing grandfather, too, with 9 living grandchildren.
Yes and that Hao Hao is a realy cutie pie. She’s gonna drive one male panna crazy.
Happy Ann.Gao Gao you have cute pawsI hope stay here for a long time.You have cute son cub.
Happy Bearday Gao Gao! An article in the Chinese press that I read long ago mentioned your good looks and tender personality. The article also mentioned your natural performance in the documentary “Return to the Nature” that won you such acclaim in your native China
No wonder you have had such star quality ever since you arrived in San Diego. May you have many more years to bask in the adulation of your fans as you munch away on your boo!
Happy anniversary Gao Gao! Where would we be without our big daddy panda?
Happy Anniversary big Daddy, hope someone got some video of his special day. What a great Panda Dad you are, love watching you eat and eat and eat ……..
Kathy, I did get a few videos of our sweet boy enjoying his treats.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bhkCV3zNBMQ
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WVgQYOteYfo
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8vmpYA6-Jhg
So happy that Gao Gao is such a beautiful and healthy giant panda! I will see you in March, Gao Gao my love!
Dear Moderator,
Do we have any information about how Gao Gao was chosen to come to SDZ by the Chinese? Of all the pandas they might have sent, how lucky we are that it was Gao Gao.
Happy Anibearsary, Gao Gao.
Moderator’s note: I do not, but I’m glad they did!
Either an older blog, or video story told of two of our folks that were in the choosing process, used his handstand marking around all of his enclosure as a deciding factor to the story. It might be Dr. Ron S. was one of the two helping decide……or he know who did. When I read/saw it recently I saw that from the first time I knew it. Apparently the tiles on the wall were discolored the same distance off the floor all the way around, from his high marking. I would give them to you but I am a bit under the weather, I would have to hunt them.
I first found them by accident. Love grammmie
Moderator’s note: It was a comment posted by Don Lindburg, our former head of the Panda Team. Here it is again:
Posted May 29, 2010 at 11:32 AM
In earlier comments to blogs, I have noticed several inquiries about the early life of Gao Gao. The Chinese authorities had been petitioned by the Zoo in 2001 to swap non-breeding Shi Shi for a new male. They selected Gao Gao, living in a captive facility at the Fengtongzhai Reserve. I was sent, along with veterinarian Dr. Meg Sutherland-Smith, to Fengtongzhai to evaluate his health and reproductive potential. We learned that Gao Gao had been found wandering aimlessly in a state of dehydration and with a bloodied ear. The local authorities assumed that the mother and cub had been attacked by a leopard, but in any case the mother could not be found. Gao grew up in a large pen with bars on the public side and smooth plastered walls on the other three. A small “bedroom” area at the back was where he received his daily diet of bread, gruel, and bamboo. In the center of his cage was a brick planter extending about 10 feet above ground, having a small, spindly tree growing out of the top. The brick floor was uneven in places, and Gao would often sleep in one of it’s depressions. Extending along all three walls and the planter was a black ring, about 3 feet above the floor. There could be only one explanation for this. The ring was the residue from Gao’s scent marking and the height above the floor indicated that Gao was using the head-stand marking posture. (Earlier, a zoo researcher, Dr. Ron Swaisgood, had shown in an experiment that adult females spent more time exploring a scent mark about 3 feet above ground than those placed at ground level or half way in between.) Gao’s only known contact with another panda during the first 9 years of his life was with a female housed in a nearby pen at Fengtongzhai, whose growth had been horribly stunted. This was said to occur at a time when she was experiencing a weak estrus, but nothing came of the pairing except play. (Gao was released to the wild when he was about 3 years of age, but had to be recaptured shortly thereafter because he was hanging around the homes of farmers. It is unlikely that he encountered wild-living pandas during this time.) Suzanne Hall has mentioned in one of her blogs that Gao spent about a year at the Wolong Center before he came to San Diego, so he certainly encountered females undergoing estrus during this time. He arrived at the San Diego Zoo on January 15, 2003, at which time he was about 10.5 years of age. He had barely been released from quarrantine when the charming Bai Yun came into her spring period of receptivity. Despite his sheltered upbringing, he knew from the start what he was supposed to do, amazing everyone. The rest is history!
Wow! Gao Gao is awesome! We are so lucky to have him.
Wow! I’m sure glad he had just been released from quarantine when Bai entered her ‘period of receiptivity’ (love the phrase)! Thank goodness. I wonder what SDZ would have done if he’s still been in quarantine. That would have been quite a dilemma with estrus only once a year. Phew!
Dollars to donuts Suzanne K the zoo would have stuck with quarantine protocol since they would not wish to endanger not only a breeding female, her daughter if housed close enough, and any other animals close enough to be endangered…..love grammmie
OH, Grammmie!! Thank you ever so much for your post about Poppy Gao’s history.
:)
Such a heart-melting bio. To begin so sad and to turn out so sweet and wonderful.
I Love that the Panda Keepers tell us he is a gentle soul. Bless his heart.
Do truly believe we (the SDZ) came out holding all the aces by having him.
He does strike me as being very mellow and sweet.
I’ve often wondered how he would be with Li Wu Wu. If he would teach our sweet baby how to be a young bear and stay as sweet as he is now.
Wonder if Poppy Gao would play gentle games with Wuuuu and they would have fun together??!!
LOL!! I know! In my dreams!
Anyway, IMHO, we and Gao came out Winners with him being at the SDZ.
YEA!!!!!!
Hope you are feeling Good today!
Thanks again~~
puppygirl
Thanks so much for the update on Gao Gao. Most of the time I’m busy watching Bai Yun and the cubs, so it was good to give Dad a bit of the glory.
While watching the panda cams I noticed that one of the pandas has what appears to be a shaved patch of hair on the stomach near/just above the left thigh. Which panda is this and what is this spot? I hope it is nothing serious.
Moderator’s note: Gao Gao has a shaved spot on his belly as part of the dental work he had done last week. It is part of the anesthesia procedure.
Happy 10th Gao Gao! I’m glad you got your dental work fixed. I love you. You are such a funny panda. I hope you enjoyed your treats.
Happy Anniversary, Gao Gao! You are a fabulous Daddy and such a handsome fellow! What do you think of your new son? Have they told you how beautiful he is? Ya done good!
Could not let this day pass without wishing my favorite panda a very happy birthday. Gao Gao is just the sweetest, most adorable panda guy ever, and I am delighted to hear that his newest baby is just like him!
I was fortunate enough to see Gao Gao enjoy his wonderful cake and gift boxes this afternoon, and he looked so pleased! That cake was gone within 15 minutes. The keeper staff outdid themselves giving Gao Gao a wonderful anniversary party. We even sang “Happy Birthday” to him as he was let back out onto his exhibit after the keepers finished putting his treats together. Always the laid back dude, he very methodically ate each layer of his cake, then the apple, then munched on some of his bamboo and licked up the scraps, then moved over to his gift box and tore into it. He’s such an endearing fellow. Thank you for sharing your anecdotes and for taking such wonderful care of our panda family!
Thank you for sharing the video of Mr. Gao — It must have been amazing to be a part of his Special Day!
Happy Anniversary, Big Daddy!! We love you and your very sexy hairy feet. As they say, “Live long and prosper!” We look forward to many more happy videos of you.
Happy Anniversary Mr. Gao! And many more to come.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8vmpYA6-Jhg
Here is one of the videos I got of him opening his presents.
thanks. that’s great to see Gao Gao tearing into some of his favorite bamboo.
Thank you for sharing! He looked like he had one fine celebration!
Great video of Gao Gao opening his B’day box & chowing down that bamboo. I always know it’s him by that adorable round face & the fact that he eats left handed most of the time. He is also not a sloppy eater like his son,Yun Zi…lol!
Thank you so much for this JL, as I missed it. You are soooo lucky to be in San Diego – if I lived there I’d be at the zoo every day! Gao Gao is a star, he seems so very gentle. Pandas brighten up our days.
Great video! Happy anniversary Mr. Gao. Will see you in March.
Happy 10th Anniversary,Gao Gao. I so hope that Mr. Wu is a small Giant Panda just like his small Giant Panda Daddy!
Happy Anniversary, dear papa Gao. May you have many, many more happy years at SDZ. Can’t wait to see you again.
Happy Anniversary Gao Gao, you are a wonderful and handsome daddy.
Thank you for the update on my beloved Mr. Gao. Now I know why he had a shaved patch on his tum-tum! Happy Anniversary Gao!
Go Gao is a stud, lol
he has so many sons and grandsons;
you think he just sleep and eat? he can make Baiyun pregnant!
Did Doxie mom get video of Gao getting his cake and treats? I sure hope so.
Alas, no. If it is not shown on the cam, she cannot record it. We have to count on the visitors who were actually there to provide and upload video as I think the cam was on Xiao Liwu at the time.
Tanda/Jusy, I did get a few videos of our sweet boy enjoying his treats.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bhkCV3zNBMQ
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WVgQYOteYfo
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8vmpYA6-Jhg
Thank-You Jennifer and a Beary Happy Annibearsary to our favorite Panda Gao Gao and I was happy to read that he had dental bridgework done as it was obvious his teeth were bothering him…. As for his famous webbed toes we were wondering if Young Master Wu shows any webbing on his toes ?
Moderator’s note: No.
As part of Papa Gao Gao’s special day .. did Yun Zi, Bai or Mr. Wu receive any special enrichment toys or scents also ? it was quite Sweet watching Mr. Wu rubbing his face on top of the tree structure this afternoon, but wasn’t sure why he was doing so.
Happy Anniversary dear Gao Gao! You are a true panda ambassador. You have given the world five special little gifts and what a joy it is to watch you on Panda Cam! ….AND how lucky you are to be in the care of such knowledgable and loving keepers. I hope to see you again some day!
Congrats to Gao Gao on his 10th anniversary at SDZ. Kudos to all those the SDZ who keep our charming Panda Papa in good health! WHat a valuable asset (a true treasure) he is…
Thank you for this lovely blog on Gao Gao the stud, aka the bamboo eating machine! I too am glad that he came to SDZ, and his presence here has gladden many hearts of panda fans!
Happy 10th anniversary, Gao Gao, and here to many more at SDZ!
Gao Gao needed bridge replacement for his molars. Sounds like he has peridontal disease. Any veterinary studies on dental implants for giant pandas, or animals in general? If yes, what are the follow-up outcomes in these cases?
Moderator’s note: Your question has been forwarded to our Veterinary Services Team.
In Gao Gao’s case, the bridge refers to placing composite materials in a space that had formed between two of his molars to prevent food from packing there. In people, a bridge in dental context refers to a more complex problem/procedure. We are not aware of any dental implant studies in non-domestic species.
Happy 10th Anniversary papa Gao :You were the first panda we saw in the exhibit and we have loved since then.
You and your gorgeous mate sure make beautiful cubs. Enjoy your day 
Happy Birthday Gao Gao! He has such a sweet face. We are all very blessed to be able to watch Gao Gao and his wonderful children on Panda Cam.
Happy Anniversary to the most awesome papa panda ever – our beloved Gao Gao!! We are so glad you came to the San Diego Zoo! Thank you for all the joy you have given your dedicated panda lovers! See you at Pandamonium 2013!
Here are two more videos I got today. The first is of the crowd all singing to Gao Gao when he was let back out on his exhibit after the keepers set up his treats.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bhkCV3zNBMQ
Here he is enjoying his cake!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WVgQYOteYfo
This is very nice video! Thank you! Gao is just so charming!
Happy Anniversary, Gao Gao!
Gao Gao is such a handsome panda bear, definitely my favorite bear.
Happy Birthday handsome Papa panda,Gao Gao. So glad you are here with us at the SDZ.
Happy 10th Anniversary GAO GAO!!
You look so cute and young!
Hope you had a wonderful day today. Also I have to say that you & Bai Yun have very cute cubbies!! Love them so much.
Love,
Seiko
Mrs Gao and Liwu are sound asleep with Mama’s paw and arm over cub. So sweet. I am so glad to see them in the den as I get ready for work. It just starts my day out perfectly! Thank you SDZ
Happy birthday, Gao Gao! You have done a wonderful job siring so many children. A wish you a long and happy life!
Happy Bearversity Sweet Daddy Gao Gao. One look at you furry fluffy sexy feetsies and all of us girls swoon….is it the same way with panda ladies??? Love grammmie
Happy Anniversary Gao Gao and the panda keepers
What a great 10 years it’s been.
Hey Bai,
I know its a guy thing that we don’t often express how we feel. I have been a pretty happy go lucky kinda of guy. I love the simple uncomplicated life.And I am so glad that you are part of my last 10 years.
Honey, I treasure all this time we have had. It seems like only yesterday we were cruising in my red cadillac and having milk shakes. I thank the Panda God that I plucked up the guts to ask you to marry me. You were a Ms Panda Universe and I was just this regular guy from the hood, hee hee, some guys do have all the luck I guess.
So here we are, 10 years and 5 cubbies later and I am so in love with you. I wont say no to Cubby No 6 if you know, if you wanna salsa. Just whistle, you know how to whistle, that I know, hee hee.
Thank you for looking after all the cubbies and for teaching them the right ways of our people. Xiao Li Wu is turning out to be a champ. I hope all our kids will help grow our people and be pambassadors.
So dearest love, I hope we will have many more good boo filled years together and we will have many grand and great grand cubbies, hee hee.
I look forward with great excitement to every new day with you.
With love,
Your G Man
Happy 10th Anniversary, Gao Gao! You’re the bestest ~ such a joy to watch you kick back and enjoy your dinner wearing your fuzzy slippers last evening. Thank you for 5 wonderful little gifts
Cheers to your continued good health!
For those that might have missed yesterday in the North Exhibit (the Classroom to us old timers) … here are Tuesday’s video highlights including Bai Yun visits to the moat to see Xiao Liwu, her visit to the platform to get her treats (which Xiao Liwu was standing on), and other memorable moments.
2013-01-15 Xiao Liwu: Cartwheel, Cuddles and Cuteness
http://youtu.be/7BQOJEZlbs4
Bai Yun has on the cutest black jacket this morning. Wonder who the designer was?
Ahh, Gao Gao, Super Dad. I am happy to hear you are doing good for your age. I am glad you are getting special treats, you deserve them. I was just looking at your newest son, Mr. Wu, and he is such a little cutie, you would be so proud if you got to see him. I hope you have many more happy years at SDZ, and hope they stay healthy. I love you so much.
Here is a blog from SDZ in 2009 about Gao Gao, his history and his arrival in SD.
http://blogs.sandiegozoo.org/2009/01/19/celebrating-gao-gao/
Oh Jane, thank you so very much…..love grammmie
Wow Jane, the article and pictures were wonderful. I would have never found this lovely blog about Gao and how he got to SDZ. Thanks for the article. It has enriched my world. By the way, there is a picture of Gao and Mr Wu right next to each other and they look alike. I think I even see some of the brown fur in Wu’s paws.
Thanks for this blog Jan. It filled in some of the blanks for me. Moderator, Can you tell me if GaoGao and BaiYun will spend the rest of their days at SDZ or will they have to return to China someday?
Moderator’s note: We’ll know something later this year as our loan agreement with China is renewed.
Please oh Please tell China we can not let Bai Yun or Gao Gao leave us. Oh my goodness, what good would they do China???? NO NO I think Yun Zi needs to stay as well, he would be a good replacement stud bear for his daddy. Well he might be… lol
Tks Moderater, I’ll keep watching for news. Lets hope its good.
Gao Gao’s early life breaks my heart. To think his mother might have rejected him or been killed, leaving him alone in the world to fend for himself is so sad. Of course, we’ll never know how he ended up alone and hurt, and Gao is too much of a gentleman to tell us
. He also proved he was a smart guy; he must have liked life with “da hoomans” a lot when he was being rehabbed, so he decided to “break back in” by doing the kind of mischief that would get him noticed. After all, it’s easier for a “Little Big Man” on the inside where you get three square meals a day, nice tubs of sweet hay to lay in, lots of biscuits or panda bread for snacking, and a den of your own to sleep in.Plus, you have the added bonus of a gorgeous wife for bi-yearly dates! You don’t have to forage and fight for every scrap of food or females like he would if he’d stayed in the wild. Thank GOD Gao is here with us living the kind of life he deserves as a pampered panda!
HI Jane~~
Hope you see my Thanks to you.
I do so Greatly Appreciate you posting the link for Poppy Gao Gao’s bio.
Have to tell you it made me cry.
He is such a sweetheart and a gentle soul.
After his rough start in life, I’m so glad and grateful he is at the SDZ where he is so Loved, Appreciated and Well Cared for.:) ♥
Also for the fact if not for him we wouldn’t have our sweet, precious Li Wu Wu baby.
I read somewhere on here Li Wu Wu seems to take after Gao. Golly, I hope so. Like I said, such a sweetheart and a gentle soul.♥♥♥
BTW, Gao, if you are reading this, you are a Very Handsome guy!
:)
So happy we get to see you every day
Thanks again, Jane~~
puppygirl
Happy Anniversary to a sweet gentle soul – Gao Gao!!!
Dear Gao Gao,
you are so great and wonderful Pa. I love you.
Such a sweet and handsome guy. Can’t wait to see you in March GG!!
He is just the coolest bear!
Happy Anniversary, my Shrek Bear.
Congratulations to our dear and fluffy Gao Gao!
Mr. Wu cuteness is more beautiful every day! It is delicious to accompany him in his growth. These animals are so docile and defenseless … Congratulations and thank you to the vets, keepers and all involved in some way in this wonderful work of conservation and care of the pandas and all other animals. May God bless you in such a beautiful mission. Hugs.
At 2:30 a.m. I tuned in to the den to find our two lovelies cuddled up in sleep together, then I just logged on to a close up at around 10.a.m to find my screen completely filled with Mr. Wu. What a wonderful end and an auspicious beginning. Love grammmie
Happy Anniversary, Gao Gao, and many more!
Happy Anniversary Bid Daddy Gao Gao!! You’re the absolute best…so handsome, great partner to Madame Bai Yun, super granddaddy to your many grandcubbies. Wishing you many, many happy years in San Diego. Hoping you get a giant bamboo smoothie as a treat!
as i watched Mr Wu most of the morning I had a moment of clarity. We have been WUed {enchanted} WUtivated {captivated} and down right WUmermized {mesmerized} someone mentioned that Mr.Wu meant Mr. Thing, well he is that and more.well my moment is over back to watching.the cutest thing on earth
At 12:13 PM PST, viewing bai pacing at what I think they call “classroom”. I am simply awed at the beautiful structures put up by SDZ to allow the pandas to explore and enjoy their scenery. One could tell the thought that was put into this. It makes everyone – pandas, panda fans- so happy that SDZ cares for the panda family so much and we are all grateful! Sure would make me happy if China will allow Bai and GaoGao to make SDZ their “retirement” home as it will not really be the same without seeing them (even if just the video cam) everyday. We have so many lovely memories on our visits at the zoo even if we had to spend most of our time at the Panda Canyon falling in line and then going around the line again and again to catch a glimpse of these wonderful creations!
Does Xiao Liwu seem to be very cautious? I watch the little one’s in China and Atlanta and they seem more reckless than he.
In Chinese managed care, panda cubs are weaned from their mothers, at 6 months of age(Purpose: allowing adult females to recycle into estrus for mating, so as to increase giant panda population, for conservation of species). Perhaps, these panda cubs are more spoiled by their Chinese keepers, relatively.
The “little” ones in Atlanta and China are all at least 2 years old.
I wish I could remember where I read or or heard on a video that .now that the numbers are up that they are waiting until 18 months….love grammmie
wonder if Bai’s paws sweat watching Xiao Li Wu climb. he seems to handle going up and down even the steep branches pretty well. but I still get nervous in case he may fall. also earlier in the morning he was sleeping in the moat. then in seemed like in minutes he was up in the keebler tree. he seems to move quickly when he has a destination.
Is there a close-up picture somewhere of the amazing Gao Gao’s adorable footsies? Thank you SDZ for all the pleasure these cams and pix give us day after day after day.
moderator I have a silly question but perhaps someone will answer it. Would the name Gao Liwu mean Big Gift?
San Diego Zoo just shared this link on Twitter, it’s our Xiao Liwu’s pictures from his exam yesterday!
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-giant-panda-xiao-liwu-san-diego-zoo-pictures,0,7341554.photogallery
it would be lovely if bai and gao could retire in san diego and the zoo get another breeding pair as well. i would hate for bai and gao to go back to china. they are getting on in years and it seems they have strong bonds with their keepers and their adoring fans have strong bonds with them. it would be a shame for them to go back. the zoo could continue with panda gerontoloby studies….and the new pair could bask in san diego and make more panda babies.
Yes we do need Panda Geriactics studied as long as Pandas might be in managed care…..love grammmie
I agree….just from a human point of view, I think it would be traumatic at their age to relocate somewhere else. Has it been determined what ages Bai and Mr. Gao would be in human years?
Conversation with Bai Yun #48
Xiao Liwu: Mama.
Bai Yun: Yes, dear.
X: I’ve been engaged in some serious thinking lately.
B: Oh? About what?
X: Let’s say we redecorate the Garden room.
B: In what way?
X: Well, the log leading to the 6 foot high platform.
B: Nice log, isn’t it?
X: Well, it’s got nodes.
B: Oh, you mean the bumps where the branches used to be.
X: Precisely. Well, I have a proposal.
B: What would you propose?
X: I propose we request an additional access point.
B: Access point?
X: Like a vertical or inclined fireman’s pole.
B: Oh, so you’d be able to slide up and down a pole!
X: Yup. So can I have one, Mama?
B: Well, your sister Su Lin used to negotiate a vertical pole leading to a recessed platform on the other wall.
X: Oh, really? A recessed platform?
B: Yes, like a high cubby hole, walls on 3 sides.
X: Wow!
B: That’s right. And she enjoyed it very much.
X: Oh, and I’d like something else.
B: What something else?
X: I’d also like parachute jump equipment.
B: Ooh, wouldn’t that be nice? I’d like that, too.
X: And a trampoline.
B: That sounds great, too.
X: And a diving board with pool.
B: Getting ready for Pandalympics, huh?
X: Yup, been practicing cliff diving at the moat in the North exhibit.
B: Ah, yes, you’ve been doing splendid.
X: Thanks, Mama.
(In Gao Gao’s yard)
Tourist: Hello, Gao Gao.
Gao Gao: Hello, Mr. Tourist.
T: So congratulations on your 10th Year Anniversary!
G: Thanks. And I got a new bridge! You wanna see?
T: Uh, no thanks. So your snacks were great, huh?
G: Hehe, you noticed, eh?
T: You scarfed up everything in 15 minutes!
G: Yes, must be on the ready at all times, you know.
T: Oh, you mean your salsa moments.
G: Yup. And the handstand scenting maneuvers. (then flips)
T: Wow, you hit a bull’s eye on that tree.
G: Right on that heart and cupid’s arrow. (then flips again)
T: And you marked the top of the wire door.
G: Hee hee. Must mark every entry/exit point.
T: You were fast!
G: Yup. Preparing for the next Pandalympics competition.
T: I think you’ll win.
G: Thanks. Hee hee hee.
(In Yun Zi’s yard)
Tourist: Hello, Yun Zi.
Yun Zi: Hello, Mr. Tourist.
T: You must be practicing for the Pandalympics, too.
Y: Yup, here’s my drop and roll.
T: Great form!
Y: And here’s my Leap onto Trees Gecko Maneuver.
T: That’s a nice a Praying Mantis movement.
Y: Hee YAH! (then flips onto hammock)
T: What’s that maneuver?
Y: It’s the Fast Forward Feed on Bamboo Maneuver.
T: Looks like that’s your major event.
Y: Right On!
So looking forward to the Pandalympics — thank you P. Wong — we’ve missed your interviews!!
Pandalympics heck, it sounds like they are getting ready to take over the world—but is that a bad thing??? Love grammmie
Thank you, P. Wong!! I’ve missed your conversations!
It’s 3:03 P.M. Mtn Standard time and it’s the shot of the same “post” I referred to yesterday, when Gao was hiding behind it eating his boo. There is even boo there now, but no Gao that I could see. Mystery shot.
3:06 P.M. and now I see a stick of boo going back and forth. Mystery bear there huh?
Hello out there. Does anyone else think Xiao Liwu needs a friend?
Maybe China would loan us a playmate for him.
In the wild a giant panda cub has only mom to play with. They are solitary animals. In China that is not the case for their many cubs as they leave their mother at a younger age and are raised in nurseries together. I often wonder how that might change their thinking when and if they are put into the wild again.
To live all by itself for quarantine period, after leaving it’s mama, and cared for by the SkS NannyKeepers—ask Beverly, they would be , doing and a lot of kissing. The NannyKeeper sleeping cuddled up with it all night. Then the Nannys would have to determine who is first, second……etc. can you see the zoo decend into chaos, oh whoa is us the volunteer cam operators trying to keep up with action not only for our animals, but Hoomans, and guests…..can you see where it would lead??? And after the quarantine Mr. Wu may say “that is my mama and I am not sharing!!!” Love grammmie
Well little wu wu, I thought you were going to climb onto my keyboard today, such a lovely close up shot I got of you, thank you to your camera operators, they do an excellent job! Guess climbing the tree tired you out a few minutes ago! Such a cuddly bundle of fun!
It’s amazing — he’s still up there — snoozing away. I can’t believe he hasn’t fallen yet. Wonder what he’s dreaming about? So absolutely adorable.
3:44 PM My heart is just overflowing with love as I gaze at our Mr. Wu sound asleep on a branch. That doesn’t lessen my love and admiration for the other Giant Pandas at SDZ, but …..golly, who can resist a baby?
I didn’t know Little Gift has an exam yesterday, when will it be posted? Love his exams.
at 4:40 PM PST, LiWu is on top of the branch. There is some wood that is sticking out with jagged edges that I am afraid might hurt him somehow. Wouldn;t it be safer if the branch has a dull, rounded edge. I am just a bit afraid fo him as now he is squirming around it and might get hurt with any sharp edges.
The exhibit is “cub proof”
Where did all the Pandas go?? Must be out for lunch then dinner?
They didn’t know that was two meals……love grammmie
Wu Wu is afraid to get down. He makes it hard for himself because he doesnt ask him mama to help him. And he insists on going high up.Po and Yunnie asked their mams to help them Yunza e ven went to get his mama when he\ was spooked by the mirror and the reflectins. Perhaps you need to block the high areas from Wu until he understands going to go down and up. He is always going to go go and not think. That is who he is.!! ,He is so fearful he waits hoping someone will come to get him. That is a fact. Or his mama will come. What can you do with such a bear? He is afraid to fall too. Needs help!! His problem will get worse if you dont fix it now.
Liwu is a great problem solver. He always gets himself out of the predicament that he puts himself in. You just need to be patient and watch him do it. He really does it by himself. The only times someone else, whether it be Keeper or Mama, helps him is when they need him to be somewhere sooner than later.
All the trees that he has climbed, he has climbed down on his own at least once successfully. As for that moat, I’ve seen him climb up it successfully. The thing he needs to perfect is getting down the moat with an intermittent quick descent (flip, cartwheel or slide).
I too think Xiao is a cautious bear. He really thinks carefully before venturing out or on in his treks. He can wiggle and squirm out of the best of predicaments. The only time I’ve seen him fall lately was into the moat and then he does a summersault (and he seems to come out OK in this exercise) and the other day he kinda fell from the branch onto his platform, but Mom caught him. She kinda fills up the platform when she sets up there, but it’s so darn cute.
Today is the first time I have seen that platform for a very long time. Mr. Wu is lying on it right now. I remember watching another cub navigate that board used to climb up. Which room is this and is the camera just recently set up in there again?
Moderator’s note: This is the Garden Room.
does Xiao Li Wu decide when he will nurse now or does Bai initiate nursing? does he tend to nurse more regularly at night in the den? during the day I see him more active and trying to play with Bai. in one of the comments, a moderator said that he does not nurse as often but does he still nurse at regular intervals?
Moderator’s note: Your comment has been forwarded to the Panda Team.
Mosaic—-watching the den in the middle of the night when Bai insisted Mr. Wu was staying with her. She held him Down until he fell asleep—got up and left. Came back, roused him, went to sleep. Left for a couple of minutes, came back. I could only see her back (he was in front) and saw she was doing her right rear foot- tapping–a signal he was nursing. He eats much faster now so since the number of times is down it is harder to catch them at it….love grammmie
It is 8:18pm here, so 5:18pm your time. I am watching a bear who is on the ground, reclined back, eating boo, but keeps stopping, looking around as if on guard. Is that Bai? Is her cub in the enclosure too or is Mr. Wu having an exam, or is this another bear that the cam is on? I am curious as to their behaviour and what they are tuning into so very intensely!
Moderator’s note: I believe the Cam was on the Garden Room, where Bai Yun and cub were, at that time. Perhaps a keeper was doing something interesting nearby….
Happy Birthday to Gao Gao! I’m visiting SD Zoo in April and can’t wait to see you and your family! Stay healthy!
Happy 10th Anniversary, Gao Gao!!
So Happy for you [that] you got your teeth fixed so you can really enjoy your food and treats
Have to give you an “atta boy”! You and your Bai have beautiful and terrific children!
Love this video by lgfedya1
It’s funny, sweet and Li Snugglepuff is Adorable in it!
IMHO, he is really enjoying himself (just being a little Panda cub!)!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZsgEwN-o1zA
TY. Puppygirl it was great. Love grammmie
Hey Grammmie~~
hehe!! I thought so too!
Loved seeing them like that where he couldn’t fall and get an “ouchy”.
Also Loved that she didn’t mind sweet baby sitting at her feet, picking up some pieces of boo and imitating her eating.
Seems to me he doesn’t want to stop her from eating. Little baby just wants to be close to his Mommie.
Made me LOL when he kept going back after she would nudge him trying to tell him to “buzz off”!!
SO happy you enjoyed it too!
Happy Birthday Gao Gao,I couldn’t post yesterday…..I love you , you are such a special dad, so handsome….I’ll be coming back to see you again next week and your adorable baby son and his beautiful mom….
happy birthday GaoGao,
I wish you will have good health for last long and may eveybody treat you nicely as always.
Happy Anniversary Gao Gao! You are a very special panda and I love you very much. You have done a great job fathering Mei Zheng, Su Lin, Zhen Zhen, Yun Zi and Xiao Liwu. You are absolutely adorable when you fall asleep in your Rubbermaid tub! : )
Happy belated birthday Gao Gao!!!
You must be a proud papa, since precious and adorable Xiao Liwu is just as adorable as you.
What can I say? I live You Gau Gao. Best greetings from your fans in Poland
Of all the footage I captured on Wednesday, the times that Xiao Liwu was interacting with his mother in the Garden Room, between 3 – 5pm PT, were the most memorable. He was under foot or over head from Bai Yun while she was eating her dinner. Here they are …
2013-01-16 Not Now Xiao Liwu, Not While Mommie’s Eating
http://youtu.be/9_L456RV414
Here are a couple more short clips from yesterday …
the first is our 1st glimpse of Xiao Liwu nursing in the Exhibit on Panda Cam:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/pandalover19/8388879165/in/photostream
the 2nd is Xiao Liwu “body surfing” into the moat yesterday morning:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/pandalover19/8386545355/in/photostream/
Thank U DoxieMom !.(had doxies when I was a kid..love them) ok..do you work at the zoo? how do you get all these GREAT video’s???..thanks sooooooooooo much for sharing with all of us….it makes my day
‘Hey, son, what say we give Mama a treat tonight? Wu’s been pretty rough lately and I think she needs a break, ‘ Gao Gao speaks with Yunior on his approw phone.
‘Pops, I will take care of the little darling and you can spoil her, hee hee, take her dancing, hee hee.’
‘I as thinking more of us as a family spoiling her. I asked her favourite masseusse Mandy the Gorilla to come over and give her a back rub. Then we can cook dinner and let her put up her feet. Yeah, and you can go pick up some videos. There’s a couple of new movies – Les Miserabears and The Bearbit I think. She also wants to watch that latest Bear Pitt movie. What she sees in him I’ll never know.’
‘OK Pa, I will go get the videos. I know we can play Pictionary so Wu Wu can draw too! He’s good. I loved your portrait!’
‘OK, and I will make spaghettie boolongnese and some cawwot soup…..Oh waht a beautiful evening, oh what a beautiful day, I have a beautiful feeling, a Bai Yun is coming my way…’
Soon Bai returns after collecting Wu Wu from his play school. Immediately he runs to hug his Papa. Bai sniffs the air. ‘What have we here?’ she asked. ‘It is the Official Spoil Mamas Day, didn’t you know?’ asks her husband looking the picture of innocence. Yunnie bounds in with the videos and a bookay of red roses. He winks at his papa who is grinning.
‘OH MY, OH MY, dearest, all for me?’
As Gao Gao nodded, Mandy knocks on the door. Yunior opens it and when Bai sees who has come, she breaks into the widest grin ever as she knew she was in for one enchanted evening. Who knows she may even squeeze in some dancing with the Gao later.
And her bearday isn’t until September. Maybe we need to see that. Gao has the words and music to “See You In September”……..love grammmie
Love that you so insightful, Gao Gao; would you please talk to my husband?
I thought pandas were black and white. Our little wu wu is black and gray
Someone is in need of a good washing from his Mama. A typical little boy: always getting into things and getting dirty!! It’s 10:53am est and it’s moat naptime.
Thank you San Diego Zoo for the HD live cam and the people manning the camera so we can almost always get a close-up look on our beloved pandas.
This is a great example:
https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/r8_YxhdznDPh20s9TMyN05ti6N9pyZSaC1YNJHxrT28?feat=directlink
We can even see the texture of the little platform that Mr Wu is sleeping on! There appear to be metal knobs around the edges of the platform. What are they for?
Moderator’s note: We’ll pass along your compliments to our Panda Cam volunteers, Fay! The metal knobs you see hold the individual straps that make up this mini-hammock.
Hahaha! Thanks for the reply! I thought it was a wooden platform, not realizing it’s actually a mini-hammock.
moderator someone posted photos of Little Gift and his latest exam,,,is it going to be posted here? Thanks
Moderator’s note: No, our photographer and videographer were not at Xiao Liwu’s 21st exam. But the Los Angeles Times was and posted photos on their site.
Mr. Wu is hanging out at the bottom of the steps ….. he seems to love that area. To bad for any visitors that come to see him ….. looks like he has that area all to himself …. LOL ….
It is 11:12 a.m. Pacific time. The cub is in the bottom of the moat and visitors are leaning over the barrier with cameras to photograph him. What
if a camera is dropped ? Might it not injure the cub?
Moderator’s note: Please know that we have a panda narrator stationed at the cub’s exhibit to make sure things like that don’t happen.
I just watched the video of Bai trying to eat, LG can be a real pest when he wants to be. How cute!!! Do you think he is just wanting attention or is he lonesome somehow? I didn’t ever think of Yunnie as lonely but for some reason I think this little guy acts like he needs more attention.
This is a little off topic but I wanted to thank the meerkats for some extraordinry shots of our favorite litte star, Mr. Wu. Just love the ones of him sleeping in the sun, with his little body moving up and down as he breathes. They are real keepers.
Moderator’s note: I will forward your thanks to our Cam volunteers, Anne.
Does someone know if baby Pandas shed their coats, like human babies get new hair later on in life?
Mr. Wu is in his mot but it looks like he is digging a hole.
Thanks so much for the 10th Anniversary story on Gao Gao!! He is a handsome Panda and along with everyone here, I just love him!! Thank goodness he is at San Diego Zoo!! Here’s to 10 more years!!
Jennifer, thank you for such a lovely write-up on our Gao Gao. He is an institution!!! I hope he stays at the SDZ for the rest of his life. One of my long haired cats has ‘slippers’, but on all four feet.
Thanks for all the giggles. My co-workers must be wondering why in the world I keep giggling at work. Mr. Wu is always wiggling up high on a branch, and I can’t help but giggle whenever I quick take a peek at the cam. Thanks for sharing him with us. I hope to come over and giggle in person very soon!
What a day! I watched the little one slide down a branch and then after some thought he worked hisway over to another long branch and went down, sliding and hanging on. And soon he was down and ran away. He was so happyn he had the courage to do that. So was I! I sat here and encouraged him all the while and all the way down. What stress! But now he is learnng and not afraid. He fell from a height his first fall. No wonder he was spooked by that. But now he will be ok! Bai had to rescue Yunnie a few times. The wee one did his own thing. Big Boy!
Moderator -regarding my previous blog about the possibility of a dropped camera hurting the cub while he is at the bottom of the moat. When I see arms holding cameras extending OVER the moat, how can a narrator prevent that camera from falling? – unless there is a net that is off camera. Sorry to be such a pest about this.
Moderator’s note: She can’t, but she is there to remind folks to be careful and not dangle anything directly over the cub. I think he’ll be safe.
Have a question, pls~~
Do the Pandas get fleas and/or ticks on them?
If so, what do you use to get rid of them?
Know they make several products for treatment and/or prevention for puppy dogs and cats.
Just wondered about Pandas.
Thank you~~
puppygirl
Panda Team responds: All of our animals are checked for fleas, and we’ve really never had flea problems with the pandas.
Dear Panda Team~~
Thanks so much for your answer.
:)
That’s Terrific the Pandas don’t have a problem with them!
Love how you take such Super Care of your animals.:)
One Example: checking all of them for fleas.
That’s SO Good of you to do that.
Thank You~~
puppygirl
Looks like precious Li Wuuuu has made a nest for himself down in the moat.
I’ll be glad when he can get down there without taking a tumble or “body surfin’” so he doesn’t scrape his tummy on the pieces of concrete.
Would Love to hold him on my lap and rock him to sleep.
He is such a precious baby and I L.O.V.E. him soooo much♥♥♥
Somewhat off-topic question for the panda team. If there ever had been a case where a cub had needed some extra help and had had to be taken from Bai Yun (hypothetically speaking, of course, since she is a wonderful mama,) would it be the panda team who would hand-rear or the NACU staff?
Moderator’s note: Our NACU staff has always been prepared to assist with panda cub rearing, especially is twins were born and Bai Yun needed assistance. Happily, we have not needed their able service with any of our panda cubs.
Hello Moderator. The cubbie had his physical exam on Tuesday. What is his current weight, along with the other measurements? He sure looked big in the LA Times newspaper photos.
Moderator’s note: At his exam on January 15, Xiao Liwu weighed 17 pounds (7.8 kilograms) and measured 33 inches (85 centimeters) long.
I noticed today Wu appeared to be drinking something, water I assume from the top of a tree stump. Bai came down from a tree and pushed him off the stump. She started drinking and every time he came back she pushed him away. If she doesn’t want him to have water, why does’nt she nurse him? It seems she is always pushing him off something or pushing him away when he isn’t doing anything like trying to climb her. This doesn’t look like showing who is boss to a rambunctious baby, it looks like indifference or meaness. Is it possible she has had one too many cubs? Suppose she hurts him by pushing him off something high? Will he be separated from her? He frequently looks sad or lonely to me. I realize I am attributing human emotions to an animal and that I know nothing about pandas, but I feel sorry for him when she treats him roughly or indifferently.
Panda Team responds: Linda, Bai Yun is a bear, and her notions of how to manipulate her youngster are not those of humans. She is rougher than we might be with our own children, but other bears of other species have been noted to be as well. This does not mean they are unconcerned about their offspring or are callous to their needs. It just means that they are all bear, as we would expect them to be. Xiao Liwu is healthy, active, and thriving.
I remember her doing this with Yun Zi, and remember the panda narrator telling us that this is part of her way of teaching him how to be a big boy bear so he’ll be able to thrive on his own someday.
Dear Panda Team~~
Thanks for your reply to Linda.
I’ve had the same thoughts Linda wrote about.
As I posted about Bai pushing Li Wu several days ago, and then saw Bai climb up on a small platform and push Li Wu. He would have fallen off except for catching himself on the edge of it.
After she did that, she climbed down. Didn’t see any food up there.
Can you tell me why she did that?
Have to tell you, it made me Gasp. He’s such a sweet little baby and IMHO, only wants to be close and cuddled by his mommie.
Yep, here go those hooman emotions again!
Thank you~~
puppygirl
OMGOSH! Bai Yun & Baby Wu are sleeping adorably on the platform in the tearoom! This is the first time in a long time I have “captured” them as being so loving and adorable! God Bless them! Too sweet!
Thank you to all the zoo-hoomans who take such good care of them and to calm us down as we see Mr. Wu take a tumble or 2 or when Mama seems to be treating him meanly (but apparently ‘motherly’)….!!! <3
Hey Bon~~
I say “Ditto” to your post.
Thanks~~
puppygirl
he he he … too cute, aren’t they
I just noticed the den is completely cleaned out of bamboo. Does this mean Bai Yun and baby are no longer sleeping in the den any more??
Hey, Gao Gao!!! Happy 10th Anniversary at SDZ and Happy 23rd Birthday!! We all love you a whole bunch, and you are one of our favorite pandas along with a bunch of others here in the USA! Have a great day, a great week, a great month, and a great 2013!
Glad to read that his health for his age is very good, and that he had his teeth done to help him eat better. He’s in remarkable shape, so I’m not surprised at all that he can still climb a tree! Great exercise for him!
Just got on the pandacam today, and I saw little Xiao under a log just snoozing away! Cool!!
Chari Mercier
St. Pete, FL