Xiao Liwu is doing great!
It’s been almost three weeks since panda cub Xiao Liwu’s public debut, and he is doing a great job learning how to be a zoo panda. Xiao Liwu has become an early riser, waking up early with his mom, Bai Yun, ready to make his way out to the north exhibit. We have no problem shifting him out in the morning: he eagerly follows Bai Yun through the shift tunnel out to the exhibit, often passing his mother in the tunnel and arriving to the exhibit before his mom has time to catch up!
Once out, Xiao Liwu enjoys climbing on anything he can find: logs, toys, Mom. He continues to explore his environment, perfecting his climbing skills and nibbling on bamboo sticks. Such activity makes our boy sleepy, so Xiao Liwu tends to find a nice place to nap mid-morning. Oftentimes he ends up choosing the moat, much to the dismay of his fans, since he isn’t visible down there (unless you’re watching on Panda Cam). But lately, little Wu has been soaking up the sun on the climbing structure or napping on top of the log.
Sitting in the sun makes a panda quite hot, and you may notice Xiao Liwu panting. He will learn to seek out shade when he gets hot; this is a process all of our babies have gone through. Xiao Liwu does love water, and we have seen him playing in his water tub and the drinker. Soon we will fill the pool with a small amount of water for him to splash around in.
After a full day out on exhibit, our biggest challenge has been getting little Xiao Liwu back into his bedroom in the afternoon. Bai Yun is always ready to shift in for dinner; Mr. Wu is usually sacked out in the moat or in the climbing structure in the afternoon. Because of her trust in her keepers, we are fortunate to be able to shift Bai Yun into her bedroom for dinner without her son, giving keepers the opportunity to wake Xiao Liwu up and encourage him to come in.
Once awake and in the shift tunnel, Mr. Wu tends to roll around and play in the tunnel on his way to his mother. Bai Yun waits patiently in back for her son to make his way in. She seems to know he needs to learn to shift in as well as he shifts out in the morning.
All in all, our panda boy is doing an excellent job learning to be a zoo panda, and we are very proud of him and his amazing mother.
Elizabeth Simmons is a keeper at the San Diego Zoo. Read her previous post, Big Day for Mr. Wu.
Ahhhhhh I loved reading this thank u. Imagining him do all this brings a smile and it made my day!!! No wonder we loved him and Bai so much. They are so cute.
I enjoy the updates on this special lil boy Panda..I am a lttle confused. When we see Bai Yun eating her bamboo for long periods..Lil boy Wu is in a seperate yard? About what time at nite do you shift Mom and boy to their sleeping qtrs..Very interesting here. Thanks
Moderator’s note: The cub is with his mother during her meals. They are moved off exhibit in the afternoon.
Mr Wu just absolutely fascinates me..If he can’t get there forward, he backs into it..whatever it is. He was headed into the big stump haybed he loves so much and there was a huge stalk of bamboo in the way. As he headed in forward, he almost lost his footing and his bottom was hanging off..he gently maneuvered his rear around and over and then kinda fell in , as if to say; I can do this….He is smarter than the average Panda or am I just learning how smart they are..Gotta luv da Panda baby boy..<3
“Now today’s lesson in Panda cub learning how to fall’…Momma grabs cub from the branch by the nape of the neck..brings him down to a lower branch or bed, holds cub for a minute..then just lets go. whop, bounce..I held my breath that Mr Wu was ok and would just get up and ramble off..He did.I hope Mr Wu will be ok, but I’m not sure I will..lol
Mr.Wu fell dowm from tree structure.It was high.Is he OK?
Moderator’s note: Yes.
I rush home everyday at lunchtime to watch the panda cam! Love it! Wish he had a little friend to play with!
He has the best friend in the world to play with — Mama Bai.
That cute pic.He looks he having fun there,Doing a good job.I have not seeing playing in the water.He just a baby still.
What an adorable update. We all love our little adventuresome snufflepuff sooo much. Do I understand from older blogs that Yunnie wasn’t quite such a T-Type? Hugs to all who take such good care of this wonderful family
The opposite of his little brother. He slept late in the mornings, keepers had to wake him in the afternoon some days to go back to his mama’s area. He liked to climb the tree stumps. Seldom higher. water was not an enemy but not a good friend,. He was a thinking bear and Wu Wu is an active bear-go for it type, and take the consequences. Bai Yun still gets a little confused at each one. But love conquers all.
thanks, I was thinking about how Yunnie was described as a later riser (Xiao Li Wu is my first panda cub). it is interesting to hear the differences between cubs. I am surprised (as another commenter) how quickly the cubs develop their preferences.
This is how I remembered Yunior (I was on night watch most of that time) mom and Yunnie played a great deal at night, that seemed to be why he was a late riser, but even though he was curious about water momma took him kicking and screaming into the pool for his dunking bath. He also played in momma’s water bowl-or rather cubbie face, feetsie, Toushie bath bowl. Eventually he became our surfer dude, since he liked to ride on the flat floating toys in the pool…..that was just about as close as he got to the water that I saw for a long time, until it got REALLY San Diego Warm.
When the awards came up somebody compared Mr.Snugglepuff’s face to our Yunnie and said our new baby is the prettiest. He may turn out to be just that, but take a look at the photo in the link I provide, close in on the face, he was between 6 & 10 months old, reclining on “the stone throne” located in Sweet Daddy Gao Gao’s enclosure (where cubs are usually raised after the “classroom” until weaning). That was combined with his “surfing”, imagining him with his baggies on, and us Aunties and Unkas taking turns getting him to the beach while a “stuffie” pretended to sleep in his hammock above the stone throne. (That was the story we told ourselves during the time.)
Please read this to end before doing anything about sending her compliments about the wonderful photos you will see. As usual I got carried away coming across a load of photos I have seen before, some I may have posted before, when we used to complain about not being able to see Yunior because like all five first cubs he loved to climb.
Not high in the trees?? The date tells us it is Yunior !!!! http://www.flickr.com/photos/ritapetita/4540355107/in/photostream/
Nice page of variety lower half Yunnie
http://www.flickr.com/photos/ritapetita/page164/
The stubborn Yunnie I may have forgotten to include last week…..
http://www.flickr.com/photos/ritapetita/4395395758/in/photostream
Early work training program……………..lots of them available
http://www.flickr.com/photos/ritapetita/4393371089/in/photostream
Always good for a laugh-if you aren’t smiling you are sick…..
http://www.flickr.com/photos/ritapetita/4376499491/in/photostream
Early days in the new enclosure.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/ritapetita/4372484073/in/photostream
I am going to find the photo I am looking for-I promise……
Here is the one I have been looking for, close in on that face…..he had a piece of carrot in his mouth, for a long time I thought it was his tongue kind of twisted. I never knew that it was the carrot until I went way close in for a head shot for my cell phone….then the carrot is plain.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/ritapetita/4589179482/in/photostream
Talented family, sister ZZ looks like she is hanging by her mouth…..
http://www.flickr.com/photos/ritapetita/4587633639/in/photostream
This is just for fun, mom and Yunior on the stone throne.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/ritapetita/4608177744/in/photostream
I just realized that I have not come across the photo of the flat toy in pool he first surfed on, but when I get into this photostream I get lost in the beauty. I bet I find it some day when I am looking for something else, then I will put it up for all to see. I want to thank you guys for a lovely evening in the photo album, I had no idea I was in for so much fun. He was a climber, a surfer (sort of), and was and is handsome, now we need to decide who is more handsome, but he was more tentative than our Mr. Wu. I guess we will watch and see….and find out in the end that there are now six different cubbies, instead of the five before Snugglepuff……love grammmie
What a lot of information you put into this one entry! It’s a nice look behind the scenes, and it makes me all the more appreciative of the work and attention you put into making sure that our darling pandas get the best of care. Thank you all.
Litte Gift is really starting to develop his own personality, his likes and dislikes, growing up fast. But will never grow out of his cuteness!! Just love to watch him and Mum interact.
I just love reading these staff blog posts, so interesting, informative, entertaining, well written, a peek into the secret world behind the scenes. Thanks very much for keeping us up to date. Little Mr. Wu is a real charmer. So much so that I find myself watching the Panda Cam instead of doing other stuff I should be doing.
welcome to the club!! I think I was a charter member
Warnings should be posted!! It only gets worse as Mr. Wu grows, and the cure is yet to be found… In the meantime, enjoy the ride. We learn so much as we go along and today’s blog is yet another brilliant example. Thanks nanny keepers — keep it coming
And we aren’t looking for a cure…..we never want to be cured of anything panda. Love grammmie
Hua Mei was the worst, because she was the first. I logged hundreds of hours watching her. I’ve tried to be more conscientious/productive with subsequent cubs, but Mr. Wu has captured my attention (too much).
Same here!!! It is hard to prioritize daily tasks when Liwu is in front of the camera doing nothing except being his charming self… then snapshot after snapshot for our keepsake!
.. and here, I found a video of further training that Bai may do in the future, except Yunnie was at the receiving end.. so heads up if we see her “sitting” on Liwu …
Bai grabbing Yunzi and teaching him a lesson ( pls. pay attention to the narrator for this lesson)
http://youtu.be/whhYL9UrlNE
That was a fun video. The narrator is obviously very knowledgeable.
He is doing so well at getting up in the morning. Loved readingof the problems of getting him to return in the afternoon. He’s clever and will soon learn. Thanks for this upate Elizabeth.
Morning all! Again let me say “congratulations” on Mr. Wu taking the gold. It could not have happened without all of the tireless work that you do for the Giant Pandas. My question is, in what way is Mr. Wu different than the other cubs were? Did they learn the routines better, faster and more readily than Mr. Wu? He seems to be quite independent and with a mind of his own. Why don’t we see Mama & Mr. Wu on the platform anymore? Where do they sleep? Someone wrote in and asked why they were sleeping on slabs? What purpose does Mama have for going up in the crows nest and waking Mr. Wu? Thank you all again for you great work!!!!
That is a good question about Bai waking Snugglepuff, she used to do the same thing with Mr. Yunior, usually because she wanted to sleep while occupying the spot he was sleeping in, or because she was ready to play, and wanted a cubbie to play with…..love grammmie
Thank you for the informative blog Elizabeth, and a big shout-out to all the keepers, cam operators, and all others for doing such a wonderful job. I’ve been hooked on this cam since Little Wu’s birth. It makes my work day that much more bearable
I am missing the regular exam videos so these updates are a great substitute. Can’t believe how big and active that tiny little blob has become. Do worry for him when I see him falling out of trees though. Love all the other San Diego Pandas too.
Does the bedroom you speak of have a camera? Is that the area we see them in sometimes that has the cement table they climb up on? Also, is Bai Yun getting too old to be a Mom again? I am just curious if this is her last cub? Lots of questions, I know. Thank you so much for allowing us to watch Baby Wu grow.
Moderator’s note: We have a Panda Cam camera in the garden room, which is the area where the platform is located. As to Bai Yun, we’ll just have to wait and see.
I am not sure, I think it was a news show, which I seldom watch, said that China is sending sperm to Mexico to inseminate a 22 year old female. I don’t remember if she had ever mated, or had cubs, but I was astounded by the announcement, hoping it was not really true. Life expectancy in the wild is average 20 years if I am remembering correctly, to deliberately inseminate a 22 year old seems a waste of resources, when there are more likely to get a cub from a younger female. I don’t know how these things are judged, perhaps I am not the right person to make any judgements.
I understand that more pregnancies result from natural mating than insemination in pandas, do we know if both are used whether natural, rather than AI is more likely to cause the pregnancy, if any pregnancy results? When humans use AI there are certain physiological things that enhance the chance of pregnancy, are there things that can enhance chances of pandas becoming pregnant by AI????? Thank you…..love grammmie
A plan to inseminate Xin Xin at the Chapultepec Zoo in Mexico City with semen collected from a male giant panda in China was announced last July. Prior to this time, semen from China was not available to Mexico. Scientists at the San Diego Zoo Institute for Conservation Research worked for several years with researchers at the Chapultepec Zoo to inseminate all three of the female giant pandas still residing there. At that time the semen available for insemination was of such poor quality that only one conception occurred. Unfortunately, the pregnancy was not sustained, and no cub was born. Xin Xin never conceived.
I agree that the chances of a pregnancy in a 22-year-old giant panda that has never reproduced is extremely low, in fact there are no records of a birth to a female panda over the age of 21. It is certainly true that inseminating a younger panda would have a much higher chance of success. However, there are a large number of male giant pandas in China and researchers there have been banking semen for quite a long time. Because semen is a renewable resource, using a small portion of the Chinese reserve will not significantly diminish it.
Yes, natural breeding has been proven to be much more successful than artificial insemination in the giant panda. But in Xin Xin’s case, it would be very difficult to send her to China for a rendezvous with a male, or to transport a male to Mexico. So, this plan to bring semen to Xin Xin instead of a real-life mate is better for both animals. The chances of conception with artificial insemination can be increased by measuring the female’s hormones to be sure that insemination is done at the right time. Also, using highly concentrated, highly motile sperm will maximize the potential for fertilization.
Because Xin Xin and her half sisters, Xiu Hua and Shuan Shuan, are the only living offspring from a pair of giant pandas given to Mexico over 30 years ago, the birth of a cub would represent an important addition to the gene pool. I’m sure we’ll all be watching with great interest and hoping for the successful artificial insemination of Xin Xin!
Okay I am ready to wait and see. Thank you Barbara D. for taking the time to give me more information, that by itself helps me understand the why. Here is hoping that no harm is done and another branch of wild panda becomes available to the future. Will you help us keep up with any progress made? Love grammmie
He really seems to delve into practicing. What a hard-working little fellow!
Thank You for Your interesting update!
I just noticed in the cam; has Gao Gao lost some fur of his side?
Moderator’s note: Do you mean other than the shave spot on his belly?
It’s probably the shave spot. Thank You!
Thank you Elizabeth. I so look forward to these reports. You keepers are the best!! I have gained a tremendous amount of knowledge reading all of the reports. I love Giant Panda Bear both adult and babies. Thank you for this wonderful opportunity to view them through the cam and the added bonus of your reports.
Sally, when things slow down you can access the the blogs covering all of the cubs back to Su Lin. Many subjects are covered, and recovered, but all are good. If you have any trouble getting there give a shout, someone ill help….love grammmie
I don’t know why Hua Mei or Mei Sheng are not covered, I only started watching the day Yun Zi was born.
Moderator’s note: Readers can scroll to the very bottom of any blog post, below the spot for submitting a comment, to see our blog archives. If you click on 2005, you can find blog posts about Su Lin when she was small.
I have seen him sleeping on the top of a tree, nice and cozy laying in the hay. He sure checks everything out. Its sad to see him fall, but it is all in the learning process. Thank you for all info you and the staff gives us human moms.
Thanks for the update Elizabeth. The little guy will soon learn how to go in as well come out in the morning.
I have enjoyed watching them so much! Thank you for the update……. the Panda Cam is indeed a gift to all that watch. How could you not adore watching these two? Puts a smile on my face every day! Thank you all!
9:32 AM….Is that Gao Gao? What is he doing….licking the wire mesh?
What is the licking behavior Bai is doing by the fence at 9:33 this morning?
Oops, I think it was Yun Zi doing the licking.
if it was Gao Gao or Yunnie, they may have been interacting with a keeper behind the fence. sometimes they have training through the fence or get some treats, I think.
Thank you for the frequent updates. It’s nice to learn the stages he is going through.
Here is a picture of Bai Yun and Mr. Wu on the mini-keebler. You could see the same sight in D-Moms exellent video.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kristina_a/
Was Bai Yun covering the baby with Burmuda Hay, or trying to evict him so she could curl up for a nap??? Love grammmie
I think she was only checking him, because she went away after this.
cute..thanks for posting
Here’s one more video from Sunday showing Xiao Liwu out in the North Exhibit at 6:55am PT ~ as Elizabeth explained, he’s an early riser and is very active 1st thing. The end shows when Bai Yun’s transfers off exhibit in the afternoon, leaving her 26 week old son sleeping on the mini-hammock.
2013-01-27 The Beginning and End of Xiao Liwu’s Sunday
http://youtu.be/-04O0zpl-lg
Here I thought I was doing an imitation of pandas the last few days, but maybe the pandas were imitating me!!!
Great work D-Mom you keep outdoing yourself. I wonder if the NannyKeepers behind the windows in the green sections right across from that VERY high tree our baby climbed then did the firemans slide down-just for fun. Even calm old me got shook up, and am glad I slept through the live portion of it.
Love grammmie
Super video again. Thank you. Question for the moderator. When Wu was climbing up the tree, it looked like there was a couple of disc type things around the top of two of them. Is this something new to keep our little guy from climbing to high? I don’t remember seeing these before.
Moderator’s note: Yes, there are tree guards to keep the cub from climbing too high. They have been there since the exhibit was opened to the cub.
Thanks moderator. Must’ve been a different camera angle or the sun maybe because I sure don’t remember seeing those before. As brave as Mr Wu is, I’m glad they’re there!
Love watching “Mr Wu”, even the heart stopping moments when he falls off a tree branch or head over heels down to the moat. Thanks for the update.
I volunteer to go get him every afternoon! I’d do it for free, rain or shine. Where does the line start! What a job! It sure helps to know what goes on off camera that helps round out the picture of watching him perfect his flying skills. Since we can’t touch him, it’s hard to know if he’s all fluff and padding, and how deep is that padding for his landings. Would panda cubs be like other animal babies by having soft bones during their infant-size years? What helps these cubs survive their falls? And it’s great to know that he loves the discovery and that he’s not sad about being second to boo. Great information, SDZ!! Thank you so much for sharing.
I’m curious about Gao Gao since there is less information out there about him. Is he a happy, playful personality with his keepers or all business of eating? Since he was wild part of his life and learned about humans as an older panda, it would be interesting to know some about his personality and how he gets along with humans, what does he enjoy other than eating and sleeping. Does he seem to like posing for the parade of people, or just ignores them? Do the keepers see more of GG in Mr. Wu or more of Bai – by personality? You all know these bears better than anybody, so whatever you can share is so appreciated.
Thank you!
Moderator’s note: Rebecca, be sure to read Happy 10th Anniversary, Gao Gao.
I can tell you a couple of things. First he was wild rescued at or about one year old, and a great favorite of the keepers. They tried to release him, but he volunteered to stay captive, and why not. He was loved, fed, he got to travel where he was given a beautiful bride who loved dancing the Sprng Salsa as much as he, and was wiling to raise the babies by herself. What more could a dude ask for? Way to go Gao Gao!!!! Love grammmie
Have the hours changed yet for visiting him or is it still 9.30 to 11.30?
Moderator’s note: The viewing hours for our guests are now 9 a.m. to noon.
West Coast 11:11 am, Mr. Wu just fell to the ground and Bai Yun is looking for him from her perch in the tree. I see him moving somewhat on the ground. Hope he is OK!
Moderator’s note: Yep!
I don’t think Mr. Wu is ready for a 40-ft tree yet! I see Bai went down and then a play session began.
Thank u so much for these updates are so great. I’ve learned so much and it has made me want to know even more! My 5-7 yr old grand kids love this as well as 20 yr old.Thanks for telling us how they start and end their day and all you do for all animals.Saving for a trip to California.
The darling baby panda Liwu is so adorable, I just want to hold him! I know I can’t!!!!!
Thank you for the video and the people who do all to take care of the pandas….
I still wonder when does baby nurse???? It has to be at night since he certainly does not in the day time…..
I have not seen him in the water yet!
His lovely beautiful mom Bai Yun went right away to see her cub when he fell of the tree this late morning……
I still hold my breath when Liwu falls down, no matter what anyone says, when you fall, it hurts!!!!!!! Animals or humans, except animals don’t tell us!!!!!!
Moderator’s note: Your question has been forwarded to our Panda Team.
thanks for the cute story. I can imagine Xiao Li Wu rolling around in the tunnel while the others are waiting for him.
oh my goodness, Xiao Li Wu is crazy. he has climbed quite high in the branches and then he tries to just hug a branch and dangle his paws. even if there were a sign: keep 3 paws on branches at all times, I’m not sure he would listen.
Don’t worry, he isn’t crazy at all; his a very wise little panda. In the nature it would be extremely important to learn to stick on the branch.
I like your sign Mo–it is just right. Grammmie
Good Morning Elizabeth and Debbie ..
Thank You! are the best words i know how to say for what You Both do for us as fans and the Beloved Pandas that we just can’t get enough of =) ..
few questions please:
1) it would be wonderful to know what vocalizing have our Liwu been using or learning to date or if he have been using much of any so far?
2) during exam, would it be possible to find out if Liwu have a black spot on his tail like Yun Zi or if Liwu shares any characteristics with his other siblings or Bai Yun or Gao Gao?
3) lastly, (for now hehe) .. could this chart of milestones for all of Bai Yun’s Cubs be update to include Liwu ? http://www.sandiegozoo.org/pandacam/panda_cub_milestones.html
(i personally really like this chart, it have all of Bai’s cubbie pics with it. SO ADORABLE !!)
JUST a thought .. we are all so concerned at times about Bai Yun’s way of raising Liwu (forgetting they are bears) .. and i was just thinking .. especially when it comes to her “swiping” him off of this or that .. might Bai truly just be teaching Liwu how to fall ? .. falling and recover without being hurt per say ?! ..
Moderator’s note: I can answer #3: I use that chart too, Rose. It will not be updated any time soon, however, as our Web Team is busy working on other projects for our many websites.
What a long, fun play time Bai and Wu had today! Just checked to see what they were up to about 2:30 Eastern, and caught them in a rough and tumble play, mom showing him who’s boss, picking him up, Wu running away, mom right after him. it lasted quite a long time, tho a lot was behind some bushes. Hope DoxieMom got that!! I always look forward to her videos.
Whew!!! Another gut wrencher! I’m exhausted! Tuned in just in time to watch him struggle high up on a limb. He made it down though, with Bai Yun tugging at him at the end to finish bringing him down. He is just too beautiful. A truly delightful creation, these pandas.
I the blog Yun Zi’s Spring Break i the answer to one question I have heard from others about how much fur padding a young cub actually has.
Young cubs can fall without getting hurt. The growing cubs still have a good layer of fat, and about 3 inches (8 centimeters) of fur, allowing the cub to safely land.
Still hold my breath when he is high up and I am learning to turn off the cam when XLW looks too precarioius…I know he is ok, I’m not!
http://blogs.sandiegozoo.org/2011/04/05/yun-zis-spring-break/
I haven’t seen the baby for about 3 days & was having withdrawals. He is just soooo adorable. He cheers me up everyday. I love Mom too & how she watches him. Thank you to all the staff too for taking such good care of him. I hope to come to San Diego soon & see him in person.
I just tuned in and watching the Little Gift – he seems a little wobbly?
Little Mr. Ants in His Pants Wu is a very busy little panda! Just when you think he’s going to settle down for nice little mid-day siesta in the sun, something catches his eye that he has to investigate. He is just so darn cute — and so very, very busy!
at 2:21 PM PST, is that Yunzi? Kind of small to be him, too big for Liwu, and too small for Gao Gao.
Logged on just now. A panda on the ground, on it’s back. White stuff all around. Looks like sawdust stuffing! I thought it finally happened: Untill I saw him moving.
He’s only sleeping! Anything for attention! What a cutie.
I just wanted to first to say happy 6 month birthday to our wonderful cub tomorrow.
I can’t believe its 6 months they go too fast.
He is a joy to watch so busy and great climbing skills
So is our fabulous moderator getting herself armed and ready for attending little Liwu’s last examination? You really have earned this opportunity and I eagerly look forward to reading your report. Have fun. And sneak him a little kiss from his auntie, me!
Moderator’s note: I had a dream that I missed the exam! I’m so glad I woke up from THAT one.
Is the exam tomorrow? Enjoy, well deserved!
3:18 your ca. time she just pushed him off the platform TWICE when will you take him away from her before she really hurts him? She is really not dealing with being a mom this time, she was so good with the last cub.
Moderator’s note: Be sure to read Through the Bear Lens.
I did read the article you mentioned but I also have watched her with the other cubs.
Moderator’s note: Kay, I don’t know how else to reassure you that this is how bear mothers are. Our new high-definition cams are able to provide more extensive coverage of our pandas than the old cam when Yun Zi and previous cubs were this age. Please remember that our Panda Team, made of panda keepers, veterinarians, and panda researchers, keeps an expert eye on mother and cub, and sees nothing amiss.
Thank you!!! I don’t think you can be any more reassuring and that we are all overreacting. his just so cute its hard to watch. but you are so right. and he and Bai look healthy and thriving.. the hi def cam is a frenemy for people like us !! hahahaha
Thank you for everything panda team… people lets chill
Well, it’s panda love… I mean necessity!
Don’t worry Kay… I’ve watched Bai push Yunnie off the Keebler into the bush that was growing beside it… Yunnie picked himself up and moved on about his business… We used to call Lun Lun “Mommie Monster”… and all her cubs lived to grow up and be strong healthy pandas…Bai, Lun, and Mei all know how to take care of their cubs…
Bai dropping / pushing wu off the platform 3-4 times was TOUGH to watch. Why does she do that?
Moderator’s note: Be sure to read Through the Bear Lens.
3:20pm just saw Bai Yun pushing her baby down from the platform / 4 times in the row/ he badly wanted be with her but she did not want him there. He fall 4 times and finally he left the platform looking very sad and lonely
:(:(:(:( Was not fun to watch it 
:(:(:(. Tomorrow is his birthday ….hope she will nicer to him…..Wuuuuwu don’t cry Tomorrow will be better day ! Xoxo
Isn’t it funny how differently different persons can see the same thing? I watched the video and to me Bai Yun didn’t seem cranky at all. Her ears looked very playful, so maybe it’s only “bearplay”.
How true. We are projecting how we feel if that happened to us. For all we know, Xiao Liwu was enjoying himself because he kept on going up for another. Later he went after mom’s foot while she was eating and he and mom tussled at the garden room/sunroom door. Mr. Wu thought nothing of the pushes fom Mama Bear.
I am glad I missed seeing Bai knock off little Liwu live… but I may watch the video later if there is one .
Like others, I feel bad when the cub falls off.. I may not have seen the other cubs have the same experience.. maybe we are all exposed more to this one with “better” cam coverage and just were not made aware of her past cub’s experiences.
Though, one wonders. Could it be because Liwu is the smallest of the rest of her cubs that Bai wants to toughen him more so he can survive better on his own and therefore, have better chances in life? Maybe by instinct, she wants to train him a different way with to give him better reselience and strength. Again, this is just me looking at them from “human perspective” and may not be the case from theirs.
No matter, we know Bai loves all her cubs very much but maybe differently.
And I am wondering, is it because she is older now? Does she have any issues with arthritis or other chronic conditions that she tolerates but which make her a little cranky?
Yes, I wondered about Bai’s age might be a contributing factor as to how she is rearing this new cub as well.
Does the Panda Team have knowledge of other pandas ( wild or in a conservation center) in her age range that have given birth and if there is any correlation on how they bring up their cubs at that age… Is there such a study/research as “panda geriatrics”? Are there any other physical exams/studies besides blood work to to verify and ensure the panda health?
No such work has been conducted. Our own research at San Diego Zoo Global is the closest thing to answering the question of age impacts on maternal care.
I agree that Mommie did look rather cranky when she pushed WuWu off 4 times. At first it seemed like play, but after the 4th time, she seemed to go off in a huff. And that 4th time he seemed to sense mommie was not happy about something – like she didn’t want him on her sleep shelf. But he is such a cute little trouper – never seems to take it personally.
Two videos from Monday: The 1st shows random scenes from the Panda Cam during the time Xiao Liwu and Bai Yun were outside in the North Exhibit. Includes some playing, climbing, a splash in the pool, and the end of the day on the mini-hammock.
2013-01-28 Monday Memories with Bai Yun and Xiao Liwu
http://youtu.be/ec5aLazbChk
And the 2nd: 3pm Bai Yun and Xiao Liwu are back in the Garden Room ~ sharing bamboo but NOT sharing the platform. PLEASE know that Xiao Liwu was fine after the 4 falls … after this footage, he was in the Garden Room playing on the climbing structure for over 15 minutes!
2013-01-28 Garden Room Antics with Bai Yun and Xiao Liwu
http://youtu.be/9QE5Wt7u7wg
Hope you’re working late tonight Debbie
Right now I am crying like a baby for Xiao Liwu, after seeing Bai push him off that platform 4 times. That poor little baby. he kept coming but she wanted no part of him. I will try from now on to pick and chose what i see, because this is really hurts my heart to watch. I commend you all for being able to understand all of this behavior and be able to deal with it emotionally. I would be a basket case.
He is a fire ball……
If I had a son I’d want him to be just like Xiao LiWu. He makes me proud. And scared.
Bai sure pulled Wuuu off the drinking bowl and carried him away by the scruff of his neck.
She gets particular about where her boys sit.
Wuuuu did’t seem to like putting his foot in the water.
Thanks for the video Doxiemom. It is hard to see little Wu get knocked off the platform but I must admit I did giggle a bit, especially the first time when he was walking around on top of her. I sometimes knock my kitty off me during the night when she’s walking on top of me. And he certainly didn’t seem any worse for wear. Even the great mom Bai needs some “me” time just like any mom needs. Thanks again for all your great videos. I love, love, love watching them!
isn’t he just the cutest baby panda on earth
I’m not an expert, and in fact just started watching the panda cam a few months ago. I’ll just say though to all of those that are concerned and seem to need constant reasurrance, the keepers have written some really interesting and informative posts about what’s normal for these bears. They’ve patiently answered questions and addressed concerns in their blogs as have the moderators. Please, let’s all trust that they know what they’re doing and that little Wu is fine. If they felt there was any reason for concern, I know that they would intervene immediatly. I for one, think that they all do a wonderful job.
Please lets just enjoy the priveledge of being able to see them every day- I think we’re inceredibly lucky to have front row seats.
I couldn’t have said it better Daisy. Kudo’s to you for speaking up. This is a priveledge and we shouldn’t presume to tell the experts how to do thier job. That includes the best expert of them all, BaiYun.
I don’t understand some of the readers. Keepers, researchers, staff keep writing explaining the “way of the panda mom & her cub” No sooner do we read that blog when some start in again, crying that Bai pushed wu off the platform or he fell. Get over it. THEY ARE BEARS !!!!
Maureen, I noticed that too! In two Blog AFTER this one, it started again, I just read several of them! Doesn’t anyone ever read the earlier Blogs to learn about the P. Bears?
Wonder why it keeps popping up…
Long overdue and well said Daisy! We are so happy that the word is spreading around World about our adorable little Wu-wu and so many new people are now joining us on the Panda Blog. But, I have also noticed the increasing amount of comments that are expressions of personal anxieties– to the point of being offensive, sometimes even insulting to the Panda Team. Suggesting that the Panda Team is being somehow being neglectful or not properly taking care of the Pandas is inappropriate. The fans Gao Panda Family are simply Viewers — and words cannot express how wonderful it is to have this opportunity to be a part of this amazing experience. For the newcomers, the Moderators have been extremely helpful and polite about answering our questions. We ask that you be aware of the role of the Moderators — many of your questions can be answered by researching information which has been collected over the years and is available to you on this website. Most importantly, Pandas are wild animals — please be respectful and leave their care to the Team of Professionals and Caretakers who have Doctorate and Advanced College Degrees, years of experience and knowledge, and is known around the World for having the most successful program in the U.S. for Panda reproduction.
It is about 5:45pm Calif time – who is it sleeping in the twilight? It looks like Snugglepuffs loft, but the panda looks bigger. Does Yunni have a similar looking sleeping area? thanks!
That’s Yunnie alright.
I just viewed Doxiemoms’ video in the last blog of baby Yun Zi, and I had to laugh, because I have noticed that Bai does not want her cubs to have her treats or share in her boo, but she sure likes to take over their things, even Yun Zi’s hammock, with only her face being in it, standing on her two hind legs. LOL She does the same with Xiao Liwu and his little hammock, and his keebler nest. She just has to put her big rump in his little spaces. Poor Yun Zi took one heck of a fall off that rock, over that sharp edge sticking out…ouchie! He was moving pretty slow after that one.
Bai is an equal opportunity momma, but here my experience is with another cutie Yun Zi, maybe she treated al the kids the same way, trying to get younger with them rather than being big bad momma. The day before Mr. Wu was conceived she woke and stretched in the baby hammock above the stone throne, wondering if she should allow hubbie to visit that day, or the next. The decision resulted in Mr. Wu for us to love….love grammmie
‘Hey Wu-ster, come over here and lend me a paw,’ called out Yunnie who was up a ladder. He was hanging some couplets on the wall for his Mama.
‘Wu Wu here. What do you want me to doooo?’ asked the Wu.
‘Mama likes to put up auspicious couplets at the doorway and also the red cloth. I need you to pass me the couplet one by one.’
‘Wokey….ish this the one?’ asked Wu Wu as he held up a couplet that said ‘Yi Fan Fong Xuan.’
‘That will be fine,’ said Yunz as he reached down for it.
‘Ge Ge, what does it mean?’ asked Wu Wu.
‘Literally it says One sail wind sends you along the right way. What it means is ‘May you achieve all that you attempt smoothly and easily.’
‘WOW, Wu Wu has much to learn. Teach me some more.’
‘Here is another one,’ Yunnie points at another couplet, ‘Oh, in Chinese when you repeat a word it means lots and lots of that item. This one says NIan NIan Yo Yu means May Year after Year be filled with blessings.’
‘Hee Hee, I wike that. What about dis one?’ asks Wu Wu as he drags one out.
‘Oh, in Chinese when you use a large number you mean lots and lots. So Wan Shi Ru Yi means May your Hundred Thousand projects be fruitful. Wan Shi is 100,000 matters.’
‘Hee Hee, I ish learning so much, Ge Ge. Wu Wu is getting back to his Chinese roots. How do I say Happy New Year?’
‘Xing Nian Kuai Leh! It means New Year Happiness!’
‘Hee Hee, Xing Nian Kuai Leh Leh Leh! Wu Wu ish Kuai Leh this Xing Nian!’
What a lovely story that brings us some Chinese flavor. I almost forget it’s getting closer and closer to Chinese New Year (which falls on Feb 10th this year)! I wonder if SDZ would do something special for Chinese New Year to honor the pandas’ homeland?
I just watched Doxiemom’s video’s and I think Bai is trying to teach Liwu to do what he is told. No one worries about a cat that falls that far so why worry about a bear??? One day this cub might be put back into a wilder area if he goes back to China. Bai didn’t read Dr. Spock, that is why she knows what she is doing. Being a male cub little gift has to learn to be strong. I think he is head strong and has been since birth, thus, he needs more reprimanding. He doesn’t seem to love his mommy less, the keepers and vets are not concerned so neither am I. Bai loves her cub but like any animal, she will raise him to a point and when he leaves her area she will be ready for it and so will he.
Tanda, in one of our fiction writings Yunz ans Wu were talking about Bai, and one of the things Wu said he loved. about Bai was holding her between his paws……at his size and hers at the time he mostly could only hold her snout, but I used to see him do that often…..gazing into her eyes. I think in those moments you could see the love as it travelled between them. At that time Bai was his whole world, along with the SKS NannyKeepers, who he also loves. Now he seems impatient for life to present itself to him. Of course as long as he keeps meeting it with a bang he needs time to relax with a nap. Love grammmie
Hey tanda~~
I Really hope Li Wu Wu doesn’t go into the wild.
Am trying to learn about Pandas but, to me, to put him there would be like me putting my puppy dog out the front door, telling her to have a nice life, leaving her out there and closing the door. YIKES!!! NO WAY!!!!!!!!
Like Wu Wu, she’s never had to search for food or watch for and/or protect herself against anything.
Going into the wild would be a totally new and different world
Wish he would stay at the SDZ and China send him a girlfriend and they could have babies! ♥
:)
lol In my thinking, that’s a Wonderful Plan !!
I just want him to be Loved and Cared for.♥
Such a sweet, precious darlin’
Just my thoughts~~
Thanks~~
puppygirl
Thank you so much for the updates!
It would be nice to have the site map of the whole Panda area.
I’m just curious how all these North Exhibit, Garden Room, Den, etc are connected….
Would it be possible to draw a map??
Moderator’s note: You can zoom in on our Zoo map to see a bit how the panda area is laid out.
Yes, I’ve checked it already, but doesn’t provide details of what you have been describing….
I just think SDZ is one of the best zoos in the world in terms of the environment and all the expertise you provide.
I know that there are a lot of zoos in the world where pandas and all the animals are stuck in small cells…. it makes me really sad.
I would want to show all those zoos how great this facility is!
Yes, it is so sad to see animals in small cells, but thank goodness most zoos now have much better exhibits. In the case of pandas, China will approve the proposed habitat before the zoo will be awarded pandas. That’s a good thing.
Moderator,
Thank you for everything you do, looking forward to the answer, when does baby Liwu gets his nourishment???? when does he nurse?????
I saw those videos tonight, when sweet darling baby panda Liwu falls over and over his Mommy pushing him….The discipline is sure tough!!!!!!
Again I’m wondering, in the wild, the ground is covered with fallen leaves, it is more cushion for a panda when they fall……Here it’s a little different that must hurt the baby cub Liwu when he falls unto a hard surface!!!!!!!!
I love that baby panda Xiao Liwu, he is soooo adorable………
Moderator’s note: Please know that he is falling on dirt, not concrete.
Danielle we could probably get some volunteers organized to stand by, ready to kiss Wu Wu’s Boo Boo’s. I want the first Toushie kiss!!! Love grammmie
Hey Grammmie~~
:)
LOL!! Sounds like a plan! I’m second !!
puppygirl
Can you guys take off the camera from the den and put it in the bedroom instead? It was so nice to be able to see the cub and mom playing den in the evening hours.
Also, will you guys please grow some grass again in the exhibits? It would keep their fur cleaner and be more cushiony for Xiao’s falls.
Thanks!
My husband installs closed circuit cameras, and he says it s not as simple as jut taking the camera off one wall and screwing it into another spot. there is a lot of wireing that needs to be moved and because this goes onto the internet its even more complicated.
I’ve taken a lot of behind the scenes tours at this zoo and others, and whenever someone askes about grass, we always learn that the animals tear it out before it can get established! At one zoo (I can’t remember, maybe San Diego) they would go to all the work of installing sod in one area knowing full well that it would be ripped out before lunchtime, but they did it because the animals (I think it was grizzlie bears) really enjoyed the tactile fun.
Liwu couldn’t have a better or more experienced teacher than Bai Yun. Although sometimes it looks like she’s being rough with him, viewers have to realize that she is teaching Master Wu the skills he will need when he becomes an independent bear. Look at how Hua Mei, Mei Sheng, Su Lin,Zhen Zhen, and Yun Zi turned out; confident, independent, and feisty! Not a dud in the bunch!
Exactly Deb. I couldn’t agree more.
Oh help! How do you moderators keep sane? I, too, dont like to see Bai pushing Mr Wu off the platform, in fact it tears at the heart strings, but he just gets up, brushes himself off, and toddles off. He is obviously thriving. I am sure if the surface was not adapt to catching falling cubs that the researchers would have done something about it. Our pandas in Edinburgh had their indoor cement surface changed to cushioned flooring as it is easier on their paws, but the San Diego pandas appear to spend much more of their time outdoors in the dirt. Looking forward to the new exam report from one lucky and deserving lady. In the meantime, while you are all sleeping, I’m visiting the handsome Yang Guang and his sweetheart Tian Tian today in Edinburgh. Thanks again for all the interesting information, Doxie’s wonderful videos, and for the moderators’ unending patience.
St.Annes-On-The-Sea
Lancashire UK
Baby Wu Congratulations for winning the gold for THE PANDA CUB OF THE YEAR 2012. I have not been writing to this blog since December, been very busy looking after the birds. Winter is the season when they need us the most.
Baby Wu, you brought me luck. I also strike gold. A four digit number that I gave my father on his birthday won in the lottery. Every year I give my father a lucky number for his birthday. This year I decided to use XIAO LIWU’s name for the four digit number. I added up the letters to form the number using LIWU XIAO.
On Monday morning, I received a call from my twin sister telling me that my eldest sister won the lottery using this number. She won $100 and an Email arrived in the afternoon with the good news that my father won $600.
My family, who live 6500 miles away, will be spreading the news of BABY WU, BAI YUN, GAO GAO & YUN ZI this Chinese New Year to relatives and friends who visit them.
In the meantime, here in UK I am spreading the news of BABY WU while feeding GAO XING & BAI XING (the Swans) at the Alpine Pond and other Birds at the nearby lakes.
Thank you BABY WU, the Year of the Dragon brings me luck.
To the Moderator, Debbie can you please whisper to BABY WU a BIG THANK YOU on the 21st exam.
Debbie responds: If I get close enough.
I’m so happy for your family Cynthia!!! You gave me a good idea, I shall be doing the same as you for this coming Thursdays “Lucky for Life” drawing: the top prize is1000 dollars a DAY. I promise, if I win I promise I’ll give you enough feed for your precious swans and all the other birds you take care of for a long time to come. I know how expensive it is since I too feed all the birds in my backyard. And it goes without saying, if I win big, I’ll be adopting a panda or two or three……
We sure have missed you Cynthia, but understand about our panda swans. Speaking of the swans……is our couple well? I hope that you have gotten to watch Little Lord Wu Wu from time to time. The princeling is thinking of going into medicine—he sees how easy it is to give all of us Aunties and Unkas a quick heart attack, and fall in love, his specialty should be cardiology. Give us a quick update when you can……..love grammmie
The link below will lead you to five adorable photos. I am not sure how she does it, but she does, time after time…..love grammmie
http://www.flickr.com/photos/ritapetita/page1/.
Do you think these could be used as a desktop, grammmie? I don’t know if they are big enough or if Rita would allow it. Can you find out for me. I would like to use only one, with cubbie and his ball in the box.
I just found the question and will ask, but the answer in the newest blog when I get it……love grammmie
I can’t wait until May when we visit. He is just adorable.
Please can someone check, there is a panda who appears in distress! It is not the baby Liwu….I’m not sure which panda it is, the poor thing is walking around and falling on his right side, he is not climbing trees, just walking and every so often, falls on his side….Please check on this panda….. thank you. It’s 7:11 a.m. here in San Diego….
Moderator’s note: That was Yun Zi; keepers say he sometimes does a “shoulder roll” if he feels he is not getting his food delivered in a timely fashion.
Ah yes, Yunz, our greatest actor. He has seen every Kung Fu Panda movie, program, what have you. All of the cousins call him Uncle Po, and Yunz was at just the right age to be a rabid fan, and to want to act along side of him. Our Yunz is very talented in many ways…..love grammmie
Yunzi was indeed a funny cub and is still such a wonderful delight to watch…
You might enjoy his “creativity” (with again, one of the amusing videos from DoxieMom.. how can we ever be without her wonderful clips! Thank you DM … and nice close ups of him as a cub)
2010-03-10 Yun Zi’s Simple Pleasures: Treats and Rump Rubs!
http://youtu.be/O6BtzQGFXVM
That is just Yun Zi playing it up for the nanny keepers. He does that a lot. He’s a big show off sometimes, and don’t be concerned, there are plenty of keepers who watch his every move, every hour of every day.
Would it be to sappy to say that “Xiao Liwu is the BEARY best.
Though it is hard for us humans to watch, we must remember that this is normal bear behavior & Bai has raised many great cubs. And I remember seeing Zoo Atlanta’s Lun Lun treat all three of her cubs the exact same way. They’d climb up the structure only to be knocked down by Mama Lun many times. She wasn’t nicknamed Mommy Monster for nothing!
Wishing Mr. Wu a happy 6th month anniversary of his birth. A big thank you to all the care givers that have taken care of Mama & Mr. Wu for the past six months.
Great & informative post. It is so funny the difference between Mr Wuzzie & Yunnie. Wuzzie os so fearless. When I saw him go into the water I thought, oh my this is much different from his brother! I enjoy watching these Pandas so much & reading your posts. Thank you so much
!
There is a new blog entry at Zoo Atlanta*, describing Po’s latest antics, how he would leap into the hammock, followed by tumbling out of it onto the ground, even after he had one of the hammock straps snapped. Somehow the story reminds me of Mr. Wu, because panda boys look more and more like daredevils to me. Many of you worry about Xiao Liwu’s multiple falls resulting from pestering Bai Yun, but I’ve come to think that he actually thinks that’s playing with mommie and he enjoys it. Why else would he keep going back knowing his mother would push him off again? Even some humans enjoy bouncing around, jumping off high places. Maybe he’s looking for some thrills too, just like us.
*link to Zoo Atlanta blog: http://www.zooatlanta.org/1212/panda_cam
Happy six months, Xiao Liwu!!!!!! You’ve grown up SO quickly, and we’ve LOVED watching you!!!!
Thanks Elizabeth! I appreciate all of you who take the time to fill us in on the day to day activities of our panda family. I never fail to learn something new with each blog post. I just can’t wait for March to see Mr. Wu in action!
And thank you dear, sweet, kind and most of all PATIENT blog Moderators!
Moderator’s note: You’re welcome! See you in March.
The way Mr Wu slides down those tree trunks, maybe he would like a slide? Maybe into the pool? I’ve seen other websites where they give the pandas slides and rocking horses. That would be fun to watch and he would like that!
A slide into the pool filled with some water sounds like great fun for WuWu! Or maybe just sounds fun to hoomans like us who want one too!
Those human slides and rocking horses are cute, but I’d rather watch a panda exploring and interacting with its environment. After all, if you gave a human child a choice between sliding down a plastic slide or a tree branch, most would pick the tree branch!
These bears are soo smart, I like that the zoo encourages their natural curiosity/creataivity! If you do everything for them, they’ll be bored!
It’s not only play, it’s also exercise, and therefore a real trunk is better. In their natural habitat pandas don’t have any slides. Wasn’t he cute when he slided like a little fireman down the trunk!
Came someone please move that tree?? Wanna see Mom and Wu playing in that box!!
I’ve been watching Bai Yun play awfully rough with Mr. Wu. He can’t get away from her. I also saw her drop him a time or two.
Bai is getting rougher and rougher with WuWu, but I think it is part of the process of making him a sturdy and resilient little bear. And now in my next statement I am kidding, kidding, kidding: Poor Bai may be suffering from pre-estrus syndrome. LOL
What I’m noticing in the last few days is that he comes back for more and more. She knocked him from the platform, he was right back up the log–four times. She was playing today on the ground by the box and he tried like crazy to get away. As soon as she walked away, he grabbed her side in his mouth and she dragged him along as she walked while he hung on tight.
When it appeared he left with hurt feelings in previous weeks, I believe that he was tired out by the encounter and went to rest. Now, he has much more stamina and he keeps playing and playing with her.
He is also really learning the lessons she teaches. I watched him today when he wanted to go to the mini keebler. She was eatng in her spot to the left of the mini keebler. Last week he would have crawled over Bai and she might have put a foot on him to keep him away. Today he went on the horizontal logs above her, climbed down the perpendicular log by her and got to the mini keebler walkway without even touching her. Smart cubbie!
I also have seen Bai Yun playing rough with Mr. Wu. What is normal for panda mom’s regarding this kind of play? Yesterday towards later afternoon there was a span where Bai Yun was on metal platform, and Mr. Wu would try and join her, perhaps to bug her, and she repeatedly knocked him off platform or log….. he would keep getting up and go back up log to try again. Just wondering what is normal panda mom/panda son play??
Moderator’s note: You just witnessed it, Jill.
Ponder this: if he was really negatively affected, he’d be afraid of her, but he just keeps going back for more
Oooooeeeeeeee. He’s such a fearless little cub. He makes my heart sing and stop at the same time. I’m so glad he’s growing into a strong, little bear. Can you give us an update on how much he weighs?
Moderator’s note: We’ll include that info after his next exam.
Thank You for letting me know that , this was an act of the panda falling on his side…..It’s nice to know that there is someone watching the pandas about every hour or so!!!!!! What about night time??????
I was watching Bai Yun and her cub Liwu play together, they were having so much fun, Liwu kept going back for more….
I L O V E the way he runs after his mother with his little legs, he goes sooo very fast…He is such a gorgeous baby panda Liwu, and today he is a half year old…..what a big boy he is…..I Love that baby Liwu……and his mom and the other pandas……
A friend of mine sends me pictures of her pandas from Vienna, though, they are very good pictures and some adorable ones…..To me it is nothing like OUR SWEET “Little Gift” here in San Diego Zoo!
I shouldn’t compare because I love all pandas, it’s just that Liwu is sooo special and so lovable and cuddly that snuggle puff, Love him so much……..
Even my two cats at home like watching Liwu on the computer screen…….
Thank you moderators and everyone who is there taking care of the pandas…….
Hey… just saw the link to the Koalacam. It’s easy to miss — but it’s close to the Pandacam link. It’s pretty cool… but just a shot of a sleeping Koala… not nearly as exciting as the Pandacam.
Been thinking… maybe mama Bai is going to “the change” — maybe needs her meds checked. She does seem to be a little less patient with Mr. Wu… but Mr. Wu also seems to be a bit more precocious than previous cubs. Kinda a tricky situation… I’m sure mama Bai is thinking to herself “what have I gotten myself into with this rambunctious boy!?” Just a thought…
I have to say it, I love Bai Yun, but sometimes she is a cow… grrrr
But she is a darling cow!
SDZ, do you think that Bai’s frequent and repeated physical displacement of her male cub Wu is to impart alpha behavior increasing his mating potential were he to be wild, annoyance at his interruption of her basic needs for food and rest, impatience from mothering at her age. or…….? There is obviously purpose as it is a common, almost daily, pattern. I do not interperate this as rejection or mistreatment. Is this behavior observed in wild Giant Pandas?
Thank you!
Moderator’s note: The answers to your questions can be found in the post Through the Bear Lens.
BainYun is a bear. She has the same needs that other bears have. the zoos are filled with mamas and their pesky babies. Go to any blog about a baby and a mama, China, Australia, etc etdc. Tai Wan, and all mamas need the same things. Shi Laan bothered his mother so much that the visitors wondered how she stood it. She would just go on eating. And go back to sleep or to play with her cub. Dont get so involved that you forget what-She is –, as Wu says, A BEARZY
I totally agree. And Mr. Wu is a bear, too, so he needs a Bear Mom.
Happy six months, Xiao Liwu!!!!!! I am so excited, will be seeing you in the “fur” tomorrow!!!
Tries different places to sleep and rest. And he says to the visitors- I am not a doggy nor a kitty-I am a bearzy!
Are there problems with all the zoo’s cams at present? Keep getting rotating circle. It’s 1.50pm Pacific Time.
Moderator’s note: Still having viewing problems, Lynn?
Yes, Bai can be rough with Mr. Wu. However, he repeatedly comes back to jump on her back, nibble on her ears or swat at her face. I would think that if he was being mistreated by his mom that he would not keep initiating more of that kind of activity. Sometimes it seems like Bai wants a break and little Wu wants to continue “playing.” I think that she’s a great panda BEAR mom! Thanks for the hardwork on the panda cam site! It really is appreciated!!
St.Annes-On-The-Sea
Lancashire UK
To the Moderator, Debbie & Janis, Winsted, CT, thanks for your replies.
Grammie & Beverly, you asked me to update you on Bai Xing & Gao Xing (the Swans), so here it is. On Christmas Day, Bai Xing flew away and left Gao Xing alone. I was surprised. Earlier in the afternoon, I noticed Bai Xing pecking at Gao Xing on the Island (Arguing in Swan language).
For the next few days Gao Xing did not want to eat, sometimes calling for her. He was heartbroken. I assured him that Bai Xing would return but then on the 29/12 Gao Xing flew away to look for her. I thought I would never see them again.
On 3/1/13 Gao Xing brought Bai Xing back to the Alpine Pond. I was very happy and relieved to see them. I had so many questions to ask Gao Xing but I knew I would never get an answer from him. Where did he go to look for her? How did he find her? All swans look alike. When he is flying how did he know which Swan is Bai Xing?
All I know is that Gao Xing is a clever Swan, like Gao Gao a clever Bear. The swan he brought back was definitely Bai Xing because I checked her tag.
The good news is that I think they have decided to breed on this island which means there will be baby cygnets this spring.
Nice story!
How uplifting
How much we don’t know about the animal world.
I am so happy at the news. I have been doing a great deal of panda imitation, sleeping a whole lot. I asked about them higher in the comment section. I know little about swan behavior—–really glad this one came out right. About how many babies ar in a clutch? If you run out of names from Bai and Gao’s group they have a great many cousins, and then there are all of the nicknames. When you answer this do it in the newest blog, I am slowly but surely catching up, and have to watch how far back I go. This half or whole page of comments got completely lost from me…..love grammmie
Hi Cynthia,
So glad to hear from you! Grammmie and I have been waiting!! Great new about Gao Xing and Bai Xing! Can’t wait to hear about the baby cygnets this spring, so cute.
Snugglepuff is really developing into the finest P. Bear, of course how could he not, he has Sweet Daddy Gao and Beautiful HIH Bai as the most handsome and beautiful P. Bears around as parents and the world’s best SKS Nanny Keeper to tend to his smallest whims!
Take care and keep us posted… always,
Beverly
Grammie—-Where are you?
Xiao Liwu misses you.
Me too.
Being lazy, and trying to catch up. First time I have seen most of this page. Love grammmie
I am a 2nd grade teacher and my class has been following “Mr. Wu” since December. Needless to say they are in love with him as I too love that little guy! We watch the Panda Cam daily and my students journal about his adventures and love to draw pictures of Mr. Wu and Bai Yun. We have the pictures hanging all over the classroom. Today, my students sang Happy Birthday to Mr. Wu. (I believe it is his 6 month birthday) They drew more pictures and made him birthday cards. Thank you for making the Panda Cam available…my little 2nd graders are huge fans of the Pandas!
Moderator’s note: How nice of your class to think of our cub on the day he turned six months old! Thanks for sharing.
Can’t help it I just want to pick Wu Wu up and kiss and cuddle him, he makes me smile so much. Just watched him playing with Bai while she sits and eats, he seemed to just want to play with her and she very patiently touched him and tapped him with her foot while she munched contendedly. They are both gorgeous!!!
Hey Lindsay~~
That really was SO Good! SO Gentle ♥
LOL! kept waiting for Wuu Wuuu to chomp down on her foot and/or leg!
“Hey Mom, pay attention to ME” !!
He makes me smile a Lot too!
:)
puppygirl
Bai Yun has been VERY patient for the last 20 min. with Mr. Wu climbing all over her and biting her while she’s trying to sleep. He’s being very persistent and will probably find himself flying through the air to the ground, just like yesterday! He sure can give back as good as he gets. Is there such a thing as panda addiction because I sure have it. They are absolutely fascinating!!
Hey Linda~~
:):)
Didn’t you just Love it?!!!!
SO Funny!!
Was afraid he was going to slip off a couple of times
SO happy he didn’t 
:)
hehe!! He couldn’t quit until he climbed over that “mountain” to get to his “napping corner”!
LOL! Absolutely Persistent!!
Have that Panda addiction also ♥
puppygirl
This is such a sweet article! I love that he rolls around in the tunnel. You can tell he loves being outside playing and doesn’t want to come in for supper. That sounds familiar!! lol
I would like to remind all of you, if you can get the Smithsonian channel, Thursday morning they will be showing Panda’s in the Wild again. It will answer many of you concerns about Bai and actions with her cub. She is a good mother, she is a bear. Her cub is also a bear. These might be in a zoo but they are still wild animals. I trust the zoo keepers and the knowledge of SDZ, one of the best zoo’s in the world. Again on the Smithsonian channel, Thursday morning at 9am West coast time. Panda’s in the Wild.
Hey Elizabeth~~
:):)
I LOVED your article!!
SO Terrific learning these things about “our” Baby that we don’t see♥
As I was reading, I could picture it in my mind. Made me LOLLOLLOL!!!!
Would LOVE to see a video of it especially the “out” and “in” in the tunnel !
Has to be SO cute and funny!
Can just picture Mom waiting for him to come back in! (here I’m being hooman again!)~~she waiting and thinking “Okay, buddy, let’s get a move on. I’ve got to eat for both of us”! Then, with a sweet smile, she gives him a ((((((HUG)))))) and a kiss when he Finally arrives!
Geezzz~~they are in my ♥
Thanks SOOO Much to You and ALL your Crew
:)
:)
That says TONS for ya’ll that Bai Trusts you like you said about her leaving her Baby and going in.
IMHO, that’s Terrific!!
It’s been said the Pandas don’t know or feel Love.
I believe they do and believe they Love ALL of you! ♥♥♥
Thank you~~
puppygirl
Bai Yun, we could really use a great story…any chance we’ll be hearing from you soon?