Bai Yun sniffs the air as her cub dangles above her this morning.
As our weather here in San Diego goes through quick changes from warm to cold to wet, our animals are having quite a bit of fun with the change. For many of us, we can smell rain before if comes, or right afterward. We smell fresh rain on the dirt or grass, and it’s a reminder of how well nature clean things off every now and then.
For myself, I’ve always found it interesting to watch carnivores right after a good rain. Even the pandas will exhibit the behavior of throwing their head back into the air and taking a big whiff of what’s around them. I can sometimes smell a little change in the air, but nothing compared to animals’ sense of smell.
Shortly after a good rain, I begin to see the male pandas re-scent their enclosures, marking territory that is theirs and putting a good mark on there that will stick. So often they will begin to roll around and cover themselves with the scents that have been washed into the ground.
Just a reminder: our pandas will be out during the rain, as they are designed to live through harsh winters that include rain and snow. Our mild San Diego winters are very easy for them to live through. Come see us soon!
Anastasia Horning is a panda narrator at the San Diego Zoo. Read her previous post, Big Guy on the Block.
We need rain make look green and pretty.There fur looks thick for the rain.
Maybe that’s what the one polar bear was doing this morning? She kept throwing her head back and moving it around- smelling perhaps?
Yes, that is what they all do. Bears that is . Can smell odors for miles.Some hunting dogs do the same.I have seen that behaviour myself.Probably there are more species too.
Thank you Anastasia for a great report about Winter Smells…I bet it’s great fun to see the reaction to the rain for Lil Mr. Wu….
Thanks again
Thanks Anastasia for those interesting observations. There have been a few times when I have noticed Bai Yun smelling the air & likewise Yun Zi. Often wondered what they were smelling. With Bai, I thought perhaps it was Yun Zi high above her whose scent she was catching. I’ve noticed recently at Edinburgh Zoo,Yang Guang, the male doing this, probably because Tian Tian is coming into season. Watch this space re Edinburgh Pandas!!
But I so want to make little Wu a yellow rain slicker with matching hat!!! ;(
That would be so adorable! I can’t get enough of the little sweetie!
That would be unbelievably adorable. Of course, he’d likely destroy it quickly!
Knowing him he would wear it and pose for pictures until we are weak in the knees! What a cutie!
How cute would that be!!! I don’t know how he just keeps getting cuter everyday I see him.
Yes, he thinks he knows better what to do with stuff like that, for sure!
Now I know there is someone smart enough to put a yellow rain slicker and hat on him somewhere out there in our blog base.
He would look like the UK’s Paddington Bear!
Anastasia can show you how to make it. She has one she has used for Yun Zi.A rescue from the MOAT.
My rain gear was destroyed by Yun Zi as a cub. Those claws are very sharp. I think I went through three sets of rain gear with him
I can see the slicker and hat in my mind’s eye, and it is adorable. Love grammmie
After another night with 8 inches more snow in NW NJ I say Winter Smells for another reason ! LOL 3:-) Again Thank You for another informative Blog
It sounds lie you are all set for SNOW DAY on Tuesday starting at 9 a.m. San Diego time. I sure hope I wake in time for it…..love grammmie
Sweet Baby Wu, Where Are You???
Grammmie~~
Thanks for your reply to my questions on the previous Article and Blog.
I replied to your reply.
Thanks So much♥~~
puppygirl
I saw the reply. I got in the habit of checking back on previous comment sections to make sure I saw anything that posted soon after a new blog goes up. Sometimes commenters think their questions are passed over, rather than answered where they they were asked. The blogs themselves make great reading when you have time, and the comment sections are a wealth of extra information. I have been reading and making notes for an hour and a half, and just found out there was a new blog, so I am on my way through for the first time. I have decided it is a small world. It turns out that my Dr. I have been seeing for several years, has a nurse, who is a dear friend of Narator Anastasia. I was blown away when Kristi told me. Sometimes fun facts come up when you least expect them….love grammmie
Hey Grammmie~~
Glad you saw my reply.
It really is nice getting answers to our questions about the Pandas.
Even though I’ve learned a lot about them on here, there’s still SO much I don’t know.
Love all the info and facts on here.
Indeed it is a small world sometimes! Hope your Dr.’s nurse is a sweet Li Wu Wu fan!
Hope you are feeling Good !
puppygirl
Hello Camera Person~~
Can we, Please, see Baby Wu??
Thanks~~
puppygirl
It looks like Mom Bai keeps walking around in a circle.
Is she looking for Baby Wu Wu?? or is she upset about something
Has something happened to Li Wu Wu??!!
If Li Wu Wu is out with Mom, is it possible to see him??
Thanks~~
Moderator’s note: He may be out of sight from our camera operator, but he is in there somewhere!
Dear Moderator~~
Thanks for your reply.
I was really getting concerned b/c we can usually see “our” baby plus the way Bai keeps rapidly walking around in a circle!
LOVE him SO Much and have to “keep an eye on him” ♥
He is SO Precious♥
Thanks, hope he shows up Soon!!
puppygirl
None of us want to see “our puppy” worry so much. Wait until they are in the next enclosure, the trees are tall, with lots of leaves, making it very hard to see a big panda baby, let alone a small one. Sometimes the babies spend hours up in the trees and there is no way to get the camera up there. I just want you to be prepared….okay???? Love grammmie
Hey Grammmie~~
hehe!! okay. I’ll do my best!
Maybe the way darling Li Wu Wu likes to flip around on the branches will make it easier for us to see him! lol He’s SO funny!
Wonder a lot of times how he keeps from falling. Am happy he is so agile and such a good little climber
It hurts my heart to see him fall. Don’t want Anything to hurt “our” sweet baby. I know “made to bounce”! but IMHO there’s no way it doesn’t hurt when he hits the ground.
Our “little” baby looks like he grows a lot every day. That’s Great he is SO healthy♥
When are they moving to the next enclosure??
Thanks~~
puppygirl
Even among us humans there are different levels of pain respondse, we just have to hope that it is the same for different breeds. Bai’s first boy, I am told, hardly ever left her left hip, Yunz was more brave, but not like our WuZi. He is a bundle of energy, and sometimes it takes a bit longer to “shake off” than others, but you see him act like nothing happened, or give himself a shake, let out some air, then go right back to where he got in trouble. If you need to know if he retains his sweetness just ask his Nannys who have gotten him used to more human touch, or look at his sweet little face, and melt. Love grammmie
Anastasia, thank you so much for the fascinating insight into panda behavior. I too thought they were catching the scent of other animals nearby … never associated it with the changing weather.
I’ve posted 3 videos today, 2 from yesterday afternoon, and one from this morning that shows Xiao Liwu’s reaction to the downpour. All have wonderful closeups of Xiao Liwu
2013-03-07 Snuggles, Snoozes and Supper for Xiao Liwu
http://youtu.be/lk4PkJHfB1U
2013-03-07 Easily Amused, our Xiao Liwu
http://youtu.be/FvmQqwD5SbI
2013-03-08 Xiao Liwu and Bai Yun: Naps Interrupted
http://youtu.be/CMQZLrxyX28
Lots of people wondered where Xiao Liwu went during the heaviest of downpours this morning. While mother Bai Yun took refuge in the mini-Keebler (smart!), Xiao Liwu went down to the moat’s far right corner out of camera view where I suspect he’s found shelter before.
DoxieMom~~
Thanks for the videos!
They are Terrific and Greatly Appreciated!!
Li Wu Wu is such a darling ♥
Sooo Funny and love how he can entertain himself !
Bless his heart♥ He could come sit on my lap and I’d protect him from the rain.
I L.O.V.E. YOU, sweet baby Wu Wuuu♥~~
puppygirl
My young relatives use a word in Finnish that’s something like ‘cuting’ in English. Every time Mr. Wu is rolling on his back somewhere it comes to my mind he’s cuting again. And he can really do it very well!
What??? No singing in the rain??? Love grammmie
After watching the third video, mix in his straw chewing cow boy stuff, then he will write a little music called “My Mama Is A Bridge…..”……l.well you get the idea…….love grammmie
p.s. The Panda Grrrrls will sing it.
Whewww!!! Just saw that Sweet Darlin’ ♥♥
Thank you, Camera Person!! ♥
puppygirl
I once had a very wise Norweigan tell me that my skin was air-tight. Meaning, it wasn’t going to hurt me to go out in the rain. And I, too, have had the urge to roll around in the mud after a rain. OK, maybe not “roll” but definitely play in – but NOT to “scent” myself. But maybe I should reconsider that thought!!!!!!
Thank you for the post. It was fun.
Liwu must have stayed out in the rain today and played when Bai and Gao took shelter.. Nothing will stop him seek adventures! Saw him this morning in the platform playing and dirty. Now he is in the garden room in the afternoon… still dirty… But still ever so adorable!
Gao Gao: Rain or shine, it’s all good in the manda cave. Just leave me some custom cut bamboo and boo beer please.
DoxieMom, I was watching baby darling Liwu, I did see him go down to the moat, it was pouring rain, there is NO shelter there, and I wondered where the panda darling cub went??? His Mom looked like she was concerned also…….Bai Yun found some shelter, I don’t think her cub did…….It’s really a concern where the baby went during the down pour today…….???????? Is the baby cub panda Liwu okay?????????? A concerned fan of the pandas……….
Moderator’s note: Of course he is! Panda cubs are not wimps.
As much as we don’t like seeing them in the rain, in the wild it is a much colder climate and rains often. They’re o.k
Ytun Zi found his own special hide outs against the rain.He knew his garden and outdoor areas very well. And he had his tree and his hammock
Baby Wu has spent most of his life so far outdoors, and in the moat.Free spirit? Yunni not fond of water regardless from where.
Nitey Nite, Sweet little baby Wu~~
Sweet Dreams
I L.O.V.E. YOU ♥
puppygirl
Just catching up on the videos from DoxieMom. Thank you very much for such entertaining and memorable captures! I wish I could just scoop up the little tyke and cradle him.. dirt and all
.
Now watching the live toddler cam in explore.org.. Panda heaven.. 4 toddlers! I wish I knew which one is Sulin’s cubbie, Yun Hui, is. She was my first cub to see and seeing her baby makes me feel closer to her … I do miss our little Princess very much!
There is a post about LinHui and I cannot remember where but I know someone(s) will know.It explained where he was playing and which one he was. I have the pcs of him at 6 months and a later one, and he and Su Lin alone(Su happy eating sprawled out and dirty.Is that our princess clean??
Really cute one..
Yes, I know but unfortunately forgot which blog it is.. Someone posted the video link and pointed out Su’s boy and was so happy playing in the swing. The blog at explore.org mentioned Su’s boy is the smallest with white toes.. So I have been trying to figure which one he is. They all look so playful, chubby, and happy… and seems to be always clean. The keeper wipes them clean after they have their milk in the nice silver bowls.
I have some pics of the baby and Su Lin together too. If you have a way so that I can fax you the pics, I can send them to you. I have some others but these two are adorable, and I put them onto a page each. I tried before to send their pics I had first but they couldnt be sent. So i printed these and maybe it would be possible. let me know please.Anyway, I could try. I bugged people everywhere for pics and news and the name etc. Drove people nuts. Baby is Yun Hui- I call him Lin Hui-baby and my dear girl together.
Would love to see these pictures since Su-Lin was named after my mom and the family hasn’t seen recent photos.
I have printed two copies out in case someone else would like them.I can fax from my computer and the faxes come out well. I was devastated when I couldnt get news of Su and her “castaway” so i know how that feels. Please let me know what to do. I could send them to the Zoo c/a someone group.They are too adorable not to be seen.
virginia
Bless your heart, Virginia! Thank you so very, very much for your kind sharing!
I spent some time searching for Yun Hui and Su Lin and found a video from Jusy of Yun Hui ( http://blogs.sandiegozoo.org/2012/11/19/panda-monium-2013/) and saw his marking with white toes.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/pandalover19/8188481542/
You cannot miss it. Now I know what to look for when I see the panda toddlers in explore.org.. He is a charming cubby!
Thank you again, Virginia, for responding and sharing!
And thank you Bill for that video. I think, predjudiced, that Yun Hui looks just like his mama as a toddler. There are a few pics of her.Maybe we can put them in a group of our Zoo pics of the children of our Pandas. We have one, oh joy, and Zhennie will have,,and Hua mei has many. What a blessing for us tohave them all.
Huey is truy adorable. His pic is baby time- about 6 months or so.
I can print tens of them but I need soemwhere to send them or somehow to,get them to all of you.
If they are pictures you took, I believe you can submit it at http://sdzoo.tumblr.com/submit ( without having an account) or maybe Flickr (though you need to have an account I think). If not your own pics, due to copyrights, perhaps you can show us the links/source if you have them still available. Thank you so much in advance.
Those who watched Sulin and the other cubs would be delighted to see how they are now. It is hard to find pictures once they go back to China. I cannot even imagine for those of us who watch Yunnie and Wu Zi not to see them often or rarely once they go back to their homelands. The last 2 being close to our hearts since maybe they might be the last of Bai’s and Gao’s ( I hope not.. but with Bai’s age, maybe we should be happy for her and the Gaoster to “retire” in comfort).
Thank you Doxiemom for the good videos, mr woo sure wanted mom to wake up. He is quite the little boy, like all other panda fans, lol
lu
He is hungry! He has very short nursing sessions.,Time him and you will see. He cannot get sustenance from boo. Regardless of how he tries.
Bai pushes hi m away very soon and no matter how he tries she drops him .She has little to feed him? Seems that way to me. Ihave notes from her feeding for yun Zi. He (WU) needs additional milk.time. Bai is elderly after all.When a child is hungry they get pains in their stomachs. Same forBears?
If you don’t get the Giant Panda Zoo newsletter, I highly recommend it. After seeing the clip of the 2 pandas (Mei Bang and Yong Bang moved from their birthtown Wakayama to Chengdu on February 26, 2013), it’s hard to believe these are solitary animals. They were enjoying playing with each other soooo much, it was so cute to see.
Here is the link for the newsletter and the short video of the two playing.
www (dot) giantpandazoo.com/panda/news/mei-bang-yong-bang-moved-from-wakayama-to-chengdu
There is also a short story about Gao Gao and mating season and about how they use and keep panda semen samples.
I tried watching the video, and while it was on I thought of why these particular two play together. First is their age, the good feelings diminish over time. In the wild twins do not survive except in the very rarest of cases, twins seem to have closer bonds, and born in zoos have a good rate of survival. That might influence things we see, if housed together since about 6 months of age they would get along together more naturally for longer.
I did have a problem with the newsletter when I tried to sign up for it. It told me (more than once) that my only email address, used for 10 years, is not valid. It gets my email to me so I am a little confused how they find it invalid. Thank you for posting the link, I can keep up that way, somebody usually posts a link to it about once a month…love grammmie
Hey Pam S~~
Thanks for the link.
What did you click on on it to read the short story about Gao Gao??
Thanks~~
puppygirl
Here is the link for the newsletter
www (dot) giantpandazoo (dot) com/panda/
There is an area where you can sign up for it. I think it’s monthly, but this is the first one I’ve gotten, so I’m not sure. It’s pretty informative, tho.
I’m excited that pandas are coming to Toronto Zoo. I live in Michigan and it is actually possible for me to go there!
Thank you, Pam S~~
puppygirl
How often is the newsletter? weekly? monthly? ??
They come whenever the editor has news to share.
One more video from Friday afternoon … wonder what a wet, dirty Xiao Liwu smells like after a rain and a roll in the mud?
2013-03-08 Oh No you Don’t, Xiao Liwu!
http://youtu.be/xWKLokX06m8
This video picks up after he left the platform with his mother’s help
Did I mess a video of mom helping Mr. Wu off the platform? Can’t seem to find it.
I think I have figured Xiao Liwu out on this video. He just wants to share his dirt with Bai Yun. He doesn’t want to get past her and insists on rubbing his dirty body all over her. I thing he has heard BY’s reputation of being clean and he wants to mess her up a bit.
Doxie, you really do not want to know, The wet, muddy one that sat on my lap in China smelled to high heaven! The dry ones smell great.
If anybodies managed to watch the cam at Edinburgh Zoo, it looks as though (fingers crossed) Sunshine and Sweetie could about to get it together. It looks as though, true to form, scent marking is taking place and also stopping to listen sweeties calls. Hopefully they’ll make good use of this unique, albeit very brief mating period. Fingers Crossed!
I will definitely see if I can find them. With names like that , whom can resisit.Thanks for the post.
Andy I hope you are right about Lady McBear and Lord McBear ant they will do Scotland proud this breeding season. She likes being referred to as Lady McBear, but only calls him Lord McBear during breeding season, that is until he scent marks her face, then she doesn’t even want to know he is in Scotland. These female bears can be very picky, perhaps H I H Empress Bai Yun should give her a call to explain that if she wants little cute pandas to play with she has to be ice to her hubby for a couple of days, but then she is on her own, he doesn’t know the first thing about helping with the little ones…love grammmie
7:30 san diego time……fluff butt appears to be away with the fairies {dreamland} this morning….playing in that straw….
To moderator :
Xiao Liwu looked really dirty yesterday .. today his clean is it all Bai bathing him or do the panda team help clean him up?
Moderator’s note: We let Bai Yun handle all cub-bathing duties.
Panda cubs absolutely love to roll around in the mud. Their hair is also not as thick as moms yet so it does tend to keep some dirt in there. As they get older their coats become much thicker and dust rolling is still very prominent. Bai Yun will sometimes brush him off when he’s a little dirty, but I don’t think she’s as worried about it.
Being a panda fan, I must tell a cute story. I have been on the cam since Yun-Zi was born and have a 7yr old that watches as well. She has really enjoyed watching Liwu and she takes lots of pictures of him and Bai. So yesterday she brings home a book called “Little Panda” and was so excited to show me all the pictures of this adorable panda. She was flipping through the pages quickly, like young ones do, pointing at this and that and I had to ask her for the book. At that moment all I could do was smile and giggle. I realized the book was about Hua Mei, Bai Yuns first born. So I told her who the mom was in the book and she was just beside herself. After all that, she went to the panda cam with the book and a big smile and enjoyed the rest of the night comparing little pandas. Thank you for all you do with/for these wonderful bears (and kids/adults too).
that is a sweet story.
Michelle,
I’m a 4th grade teacher in CA. We have that exact same book in our school library! I put the live panda cam on my classroom computer projector several times a day, and my students and I love seeing Xiao Liwu and Momma and their antics. Several students discovered that book (and other references) and are so excited to make the connection–Hua Mai and “our” little panda have the same mom. We are ALL (parents, teachers, daughters, sons, students, grandparents, grandkids, baby pandas) learning and loving life. Isn’t it wonderful? Thanks for sharing this sweet story… How great your family already made an early connection with Yun-Zi. Xiao Liwu is our first, and I’m a bit sad about him growing up so fast, but hope he’ll be at SDZ for a long time (maybe a dad someday?)
Michelle
That is such a cute story that it made my eyes well up.
Thank you and glad she gets so much enjoyment out of the pandas!
Really enjoyed watching the keepers clean the den. And looking at Bai know that hey it’s lunch time!!! It’s a cool job to clean out the den. I would volunteer any time!! Haha …..Awesome job keepers
Is Poppy Gao okay??
Have never seen him lay down like he is now.
WOW!! What a close-up picture of his feet!!!
Makes me really realize how huge they are!
puppygirl
Is it my imagination or Bai a bit more rough with this cub then previous ones? She just picked him up and dropped him off their sleep platform.. Maybe it needs to be bigger since she seems to not want to share it with him at times.
Hey Donna~~
I was watching also when Bai picked up our little darling and dropped him off the platform
It hurts my heart and makes me feel so sorry for our baby when she does that. Makes me wish he could do that to her!!
Li Wu Wu wouldn’t do that though cos he is So sweet and wouldn’t do something like that. ♥
puppygirl
The cub that got the most roughhousing was definitely Yun Zi. Yun Zi was very good at pushing Mom to that breaking point and would start little spats that he could never finish. This cub is honestly so mellow, and when he does play a little rough with Mom, he is not vocalizing that she is playing too hard at all. Really nothing to worry about.
Just watching our little guy and mom. He climbed up on the platforn and Bai took ahold of him and he fell off the platform. Wu climbed back up with his ears back and then climbed over her. Poor little guy. He looked soooo sad. I don’t think Bai did it on purpose but he must have done something she didn’t like. He is sleeping behind her now. He is a dirty little boy. Maybe that is why she is upset with him?
Are You absolutely sure that he looked sad and not stubborn. Because that’s what he seems to be, a real little Panda Bear!
Bai does seem to love to sleep with her head hanging down. Like the moderator told someone else, it must just feel good!
I’d wake up with a sore head and neck
It is a Panda Beauty Secret…..helps keep the wrinkles from the neck and face. I am surprised the moderator didn’t know this, but they do try not to get too caught up in our foolishness…….but they are good sports. Love grammmie
One video from Saturday, and it is a lot of fun to watch! The Panda Cam switched to the Garden Room and Bai Yun was anointing herself with something on the platform, and Xiao Liwu was caught up in his mother’s antics!!
2013-03-09 Bai Yun & Xiao Liwu: Rockin’ & a Rollin’
http://youtu.be/JKbjK0E1NBw
Love watching Bai Yun ~ she’s like a cub herself when she has the right enrichment (besides Xiao Liwu
)!
Wuuu does copy everything he sees his mother doing,
I had thought at first that she just wet the platform like she does some times but that wouldn’t be what she enjoys rolling in!
I wonder what she smells other than urine?
Did the keepers put something there for her?
Moderators and Panda Team….nobody is listening, so feel free to talk about this. When Mr. Wu was born he seemed perfectly normal, in fact he seems incredibly normal, unless we watch close to see his strength and smarts. As time goes on there is one thing that is not keeping up with t he rest of him…..his TAIL ! Sometimes it seems to almost disappear ! Is it exceptionally small, normal but on the small scale, or just needs some rest to be able to grow ? A few weeks ago the blog comment section discussed Panda tail function, why it is so fluffy and of rather large size. Bai even wrote me a note, personally, in the comments telling me it was their cushion to have with them so there was always something soft to sit on, and that made perfect sense to me. Are us Aunties and Unkas going to have to make a bunch of tiny silken cushions for Mr. Wu, and put them up in the trees and other places around the enclosure for his tiny bottom? And what about Bai–will she try to appropriate all of the tiny cushions like she does with other little toys and equipment made for his size? This is weighing heavy on some of us, even if it might seem trivial to others, he will be a cranky baby if he has a sore bottom much of the time.
I know you are busy, so I will check back for an answer from time to time…love grammmie
Panda Team responds: Mr. Wu’s tail is of normal length and size for his body. You might not be noticing his tail as much as the other pandas because he is the only one without a black spot on the end of it. Giant panda tails are small and hardly noticeable unless they are defecating, because they keep them tucked.
Thank you panda team, tail tucking was something ZZ did a lot of, he seems to take after her with the dangerous moves, hanging by the toes upside down, I have seen him doing all of those things so far, and he isn’t in the bigger enclosure yet. He not only seem to follow in her physical paw prints, but in her mental ones too. I am including a link for a favorite photo of ZZ “hanging out” for the weekend. That way you can let me know if he does something like this when I and photographers miss it. Thank you…love grammmie. This is not what I am looking for for our Puppy, go R to L
http://www.flickr.com/photos/ritapetita/4507114224/in/set-72157623697624447 And bottom to top.
Found this one, thought it cute view of ZZ………
http://www.flickr.com/photos/ritapetita/2279739580/in/photostream
Mei Sheng’s first snow day, riding on his momma…………
http://www.flickr.com/photos/ritapetita/2836359218/in/photostream
How good this one is considering what ZZ has been up to with two beaus!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/ritapetita/2845252170/in/photostream
ZZ Sings…….
http://www.flickr.com/photos/ritapetita/3314276156/in/photostream
In case you see more about Brad’s shoe………………
http://www.flickr.com/photos/ritapetita/4299341790/in/photostream
It looks like enough for one post, so I will add more later
Love grammmie
Next time I will include Brad and ZZ together, Yun Zi accepting the family Quest…love grammmie
Being rather new at the Panda cam, I was wondering if someone could help me identify between Gao Gao and Yun Zi when they are eating. Is Gao Gao the one that has long, almost grey like fur on his front inside paws? Thanks for anyone who can help! xx
Moderator’s note: Yes. They are referred to as his “slippers.”
The Moderator said it all…..the slippers always tell, but sometimes you cannot see the bottom of his fluffy, furry sexie feetsies. I see the long hair more as brown, but we all see things a little different. If you can see his whole head, left side is very important, you will see his left ear is missing about 2/3rds of itself from a pre rescue injury when he was around a year old, and alone. His head is a rounder shape than any seen in San Diego so far and his cheek hair does not look like he just came from the men’s spa to have it sculpted. The fur on the top of his feet is black, but it is also long and heavy enough to almost completely cover his claws. When on display you will learn to get some clues from his yard too, but you have to catch a really good look when they are bedding the baby down for the night, or very early in the San Diego morning. The next step is to do a little enjoyable study! There are often links in our comment section to some great photos and/or videos that will give you a chance to find and remember the differences. After a while you will find you will instinctively know which panda you are looking at. I highly recommend Flickr, Rita Petita—her photos go back to Shi Shi and Hua Mei, first husband and daughter of Bai Yun. Then Gao Gao came on the scene…..they have met 6 times resulting in 5 cubs and cubbettes…….3 ladies, I man, and 2 little boys. (this inclues Hua Mei in Bai’s perfect 6 pack.) If you stick with it you will find that you will get to pick out Bai Yun and Mr. Wu, even our half grown Yun Zi. I understand from photog Rita that the finest Flickr photos of The Gaoster’s are from NekoMama7—she says he poses for Neko more than he does for Rita, and Rita seemed to have the best. There are plenty of other greats out there, Rita just happens to be my favorite (so we hope lots of you will send your recommendations too) maybe you will find your own favorite. For videos we have our Doxiemom, but there are some new ones coming along that are making some nice ones too. The rest is the commenters, always ready to help if they can, and the Moderators are on hand to catch any mistakes we might make.
So Debi it is great to have you in The Gaoster’s fan club, as long as you remember….after Bai Yun, he is MINE ! Love grammmie
lol Well, thank you for the info! I appreciate it.I am pretty good at identifying the enclosures and gardens, and the bears when they are out on it. I just wanted to make sure I wasn’t confusing Gao Gao with Yun Zi, though now I know exactly what to look for when the camera is up close. I started watching just before Yun Zi was born, and am a huge lover of polar bears, so since the camera is off them a lot right now due to breeding, I switched views for a bit! Mr Wu is absolutely pure adorableness. Yun Zi cracks me up when he gets all spicy and starts running around, playing about. Bai is bright and lovely and an amazing Mommy, though I want to say to her when she pushes her cub away, please let me play with him for a while!!! And Gao Gao…he gets little credit for all he has done, lives the quiet bachelor life munching away, dozing away, rather Winnie the Pooh like and all bear and probably equally philosophical!
Dear Kathi
I swore to never try to go over the blog with over 600 comments, but did. I was skimming mostly, near the end I found an entry you made for me telling me to try google using “panda themed hotel” to see the sights. Thank. You, I am going to do that…..love grammmie
Kathi…..the I fell asleep for a bit……my eyes are heavy again….love grammmie
.
I’d like to share a panda cam video of Mr. Wu living dangerously.
This morning, 3-9-2013, he climbed to the highest branch on a tree. Mr. Wu
then moved onto an even thinner branch. He is fearless! I hope your enjoy it.
http://youtu.be/-4LTM-V-fRA
oh my can’t watch. He sure is a brave little panda bear. Now I guess I have to go back and watch him.
Hey Rose~~
Thanks for your video
lol Li Wu Wu really is a “pistol ball” isn’t he?!!
For some reason (lol) he seems to like going up there! Makes me nervous for him!
Let’s just hope those little branches keep holding him. Please, Please Please!
Thanks again~~
puppygirl
OMG…I’m glad I wasn’t watching…I’d have had a heart attack. But since you posted the video (and I saw Mr. Wu this morning) I know that nothing bad happened to him. Phew!
Thank You for the link.
I managed to record the same incident, and I was horrified when watching. Usually I’m not afraid for him, because I have learned to trust his climbing skills, but the part where the branch broke under him was almost too much. Well, end is well, all is well.
Thanks Rose. My heart was in my throat!! Just like a todler isn’t he?
I, too, was a bit horrified, even knowing the outcome would be okay. After “The Big Break” I began to notice many more similar branches as the cam got closer to the trunk. I thought, too, about older sisters Su Lin and Zhen Zhen known for their love of holding on to overhead branches, then bouncing as hard as they could, until the lower branch would break. Perhaps we have a new “decorating diva” in the making. Their motto was, if it can be ripped, broken or otherwise destroyed just do it!!! Call it redecorating so everyone will think it’s cute.
At the very beginning of the video, to the upper left of the picture, I saw something that looked like a black and white occupier of a tree in another enclosure, oddly panda shaped. Did anyone else think we saw Yun Zi ???
I am glad you guys caught the action…..as soon as I turned on my tablet I tried to get my reading started, but I fell asleep, I may have to stop again, my eyelids are getting heavy…we will see how it goes……love grammmie
Congrats and thank you to the Cam Operator this morning!!!!, what wonderful viewings of Wu Wu climbing on the tree and going into the nest to play with the bedding, he is so cute, just want to tickle behind his ears and cuddle him!!!
Have there been any more updates on the size and weight of Xiao Liwu? He appears pretty small, to me, at least (not that I’m any kind of an expert!).
The last one I read within the last week was 24 lbs. and still growing. Some of us hope he stays small like his daddy and deceased maternal grandmother Dong Dong too, to value their contribution made to him. Maternal grandpa Pan Pan is 29, and last I heard was 300 huge pounds in his prime. I would love to see a photo of him, if somebody has a link I would love to look him up. Love grammmie
Dear Grammie,
Found some photos and a video of Pan Pan the Great from a visitor taken in September 2012. I’ll link you to the page and you can find him there – two other pandas also there.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/30122602@N00/sets/72157632258783853/
Thank you Kathy……..I will be spending some time with Pan Pan. Were you born in Toronto? I was in 1946……moved to the greater San Diego area in 1957….when 16 and under could get into the zoo for free. Many of us had a great place to go with friends, or dates on weekends. I almost feel like a native, living most of my life here, and loving our pandas. I feel like they are extra grandchildren. That is great…..maybe they will all come over to my house and bring me cuppy cakes. We could play in my yard all afternoon, and I have tall Cypress trees for Yunz and Mr. Wu to climb while Bai and Gao look on indulgently. There is a nice pool in our park if anybody needs to cool off. I just hope they show up with plenty of “Boo”, I don’t have any here to serve them…..love grammmie
I looked at all of the photos and videos. Thee is not a lot of explanation so I don’t know who the other pandas are, relatives, wives, etc. there is one named Zi Yun…..how is that for coincidence? There is also one with a back leg shorter than the others, does anyone know if this is a birth defect or result of injury? When I get a bit more energy to get my laptop out I will look for their names and connection, if any, to Pan Pan. I am especially interested in the one named Zi Yun!……..love grammmie
No wonder Wu looks like he does. Pan Pan is hansome.
Dear Grammmie,
According to Your request of the weekly link to my Flickr-site under the previous blog: I’m very flattered to be asked. So here is the link of this week:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kristina_a/8545470722/in/photostream
As You see, Bai was my favorite this time, although there are other pictures, too. I hope You enjoy it!
Well goodness….what a nice gallery of photos…and thanks so much for sharing!!
I love the Bai photo……I was watching something like that the other day, I think Mr. Wu was on her chest and belly getting a bite to eat. All of the photos are great, and I appreciate the reminder. I bet other folks will write to tell you the same thing………..love grammmie
Kristina – Do you take these photos you post on Flickr or do you get them off the Panda cam? They are so beautiful!
I agree they are wonderful, but she gets them from the web cam, since she lives in Finland, and I don’t think there are lenses that big…love grammmie
Love the Bai pose! Thanks for capturing the moment!
I’m not fortunate enough to take photos in SDZ (I’m here in Finland
) but I take them via the live camera with my screen capture program. That’s why the technical quality isn’t what I’d hope.
The live camera really is a wonderful thing for us far away from pandas and other animals, too. Im very grateful to the Zoo for it.
It’s very nice to hear you liked them!
I see you are gathering some more fans, and they don’t live in Finland ! ! !
Love grammmie
I imagine pandas have their own tastes & favorite treats, but was wondering what the SDZ pandas love the most. I know the NZ has given its pandas fruitsicles and they love them!
Moderator’s note: They love apples, applesauce, honey, and fruitsicles.
Who told Mama Bai to set her pandawatch forward for PDT? She has been pacing for lunch for over half an hour based on the new time! Did they set their clocks forward and then go to bed an hour early last night? They were out early today.
My two dogs get confused by our time changes. They expect dinner at a certain time. I do wonder what it does to the zoo animals.
Its not bad when we spring forward but they dont’ like it when we set the clocks back!
Is it clock changing time again? With automatic clocks, refusal to use alarm cloch unless I have a Dr. Appointment, I loose track of these things.
But have you noticed what the extra walking is doing for her lovely, big old bottom ? ? ? You might think she was getting ready for a Spring Salsa with Gao Gao this year instead of next, if ever again. Love grammmie
The time change caught up to Bsby Wu this am. He slept on the hammock, and when mama came up, he moved to the mimi keebler, rubbed his eyes, and buried his head in the bamboo filling. Doesn’t look like he wants to see his visitors yet.
A few minutes ago Li Wu was playing in the bushes. Is he still there?
That sweet little darlin’ is so good at entertaining himself !
Would Love to see him ! (hint hint)
Thanks~~
puppygirl
I L.O.V.E. YOU, Li Wuuuu♥~~
When I was new to the Panda Blog I asked a question about how they learn to play…..a wise longtime commenter told me that Pandas are born KNOWING how to play. I think that wise person was right, but they never told me that even when they get on nears with cubs and cubbettes of their own that thy are still big kids….like our lovely Bai Yun sitting in the donut, and that tiny box in the pool. You can tell by the look on her face that she is loving playing like a baby even though he is dunking her sixth baby in the pool…love grammmie
Hey Grammmie~~
Love to you too♥
Thanks for your post
Yep, I think that wise person was right also!
Sure seems our Precious baby Wu Wu was born knowing that ! He is such a darling♥
As long as he doesn’t fall or get thrown or pushed by his mom I Love watching him climb and twirl around the trees. It tickles me how he twirl and twist every which way (even upside down!)!! lol I am holding my breath sometimes at his antics but as long as he is okay, I’m okay!
Golly, I LOVE him SO much♥♥♥ He totally lives in my heart♥ He’s right in there with my Precious, Sweet puppy (who is 8 yrs. old). ♥♥♥
Not meaning to sound Too whatever word anyone wants to use? I just feel this for him and guess my feelings came pouring out. At least writing it on here, I Know everybody here Loves him too♥
Wish I could cuddle and (((((HUG))))) that Precious Baby♥
Hope you have a Great Day!!
Didn’t mean to sound too “sappy”. Just feeling the Love Sweet Li Wu Wu brings out~~
puppygirl
You can see even more of his antics when seeing his sister ZZ, even more than brother Yunz. I could hardly believe my eyes seeing him use his back legs and a “V” in a tree branch, exactly like ZZ did all the time. Find a group of photos in Rita’s photostream of ZZ, especially exercising or aerobics routines and you will see she uses this same method a whole lot more than Yunz does….love grammmie
Hey Grammmie~~
Thank you for your post
Do you have a link to Rita’s pictures? I’ve seen them but didn’t keep the link. DUH!!!
Would love to go there.
Thanks so much much.
I’ve read what’s been written about ZZ’s climbing and antics and would love to see!
Thanks again~~
puppygirl
Dear Camera Person~
Can we pls see Li Wu Wu??
Wonder what our sweet baby is doing??
Thanks so much
puppygirl
Dear Camera Person~~
Thank you ♥
Greatly Appreciate!!
puppygirl
Ooohhhh!! Such a Sweet, Precious little Angel ♥♥
I have been happily watching Mr. Wu for more than a 1/2 hour, and want to thank the cam operator on duty for the lovely close ups. He sure has gotten himself to some great positions…..love grammmie
Well I went back to the cam, Mr. Wu was in his garden room tree, then gone, and while the cam was hunting for him Gao Gao’s enclosure came on the web cam, I guess it is bedtime for Pandas. I enjoyed him while the show lastered, thanks for the view…..love grammmie
Little Gift was so cute this evening playing on the triangle part of the tree structure. He held onto the branches with his feet and dangled upside down! Sure enough he fell but luckily his pillow was beneath him and softened his fall. He’s so cute when he lays back, sometimes with a piece of bamboo, and seems to be saying,” look at me, I’m so cute!!” “or life is good!” What a joy he is!
Watched Wunior in the garden room earlier while he was up in his favorite “hang-out” branch. WHEN DID THIS GROWTH SPURT HAPPEN? I usually catch him when he is with his Mom in the classroom but he looked always like a wee little one beside her.. I wish he could stay this size just a bit longer
. TOO FAST for me!
Anyway, I was searching for photos of Yun Hui, son of Su Lin. I found one in
http://www.flickr.com/photos/30122602@N00/8267938299/
Lovely white toes.
In the process, I found a picture of the Qinling panda, a subspecies of the giant panda prevalent in the Qinling Mountains. They are dark brown and light brown or some sites say just brown and white and smaller than a giant panda almost like a sepia version of the giant panda. At first I thought it is an albino when I first saw the image. I never knew about this till today.. Maybe other people know about it already and glad to learn about this. You can google it and there are images that are so beautiful. There are only reported about 200-300 of them in the wild. Interesting.
Here is a picture of Famous Brown Giant Panda DAN DAN at Xi’an Zoo, Shaanxi Province, China who passed away in September 7, 2000.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/52791693@N04/5077683967/
I also finished viewing a documentary of San Diego Zoo done back in 1997, “Nature: San Diego Zoo” which I rented from NetFlix. Since it is an old film, Bai was 5 yrs and this is the first time I saw Shi Shi in “motion”, father of Hua Mei. Bai looked so playful even back then and Shi Shi looked like a reserved, handsome fellow. If that was the Panda Canyon at that time, We are so lucky that it has improved quite a bit. There are many behind the scene footages of how dedicated the Zoo keepers are and the vets that help take care of them.. Bonus features on the polar bear plunge where the polars looked like they were still cubs.
Thank you SDZ for all you do! This is a zoo that one will be so happy to make contributions to for all their efforts in conserving and helping many animals!
I went to the link and found the photo adorable. On the right upper side of page there are usually five photos, the one you are looking at in the middle, sometimes gives you a hint of what else you might like to see. Just above those “thumbprint” photos it has the photog’s name and the word “photostream”. When you click on it it takes you to a page with several photos, telling you which page you are on, and the first and last pages. Groups are found on page one. When I got there it was page 14 and I saw some cute ones, but I really want to find the guy in this photo……..(link at end)……he got very up close and almost personal…..I would love to see how his picture came out. The photo Bill and Lil found shows a great deal of Yun Hui’s actual looks, if not for the left ear we might think we were seeing a fine shot of a youn Gao Gao. That was my first impression, then I had to stop and think, Hua Mei was Shi Shi’s…wait that is Su Lin’s cub, therefore the Gaoster’s first natural grandson. I have heard that Su Lin looks a lot like Gao, but I am more familiar with Yun Zi, Gao, Bai, and Mr. Wu, since I only started watching with Yunior’s birth.
Anyway I plan to cruise some more of the pages, since they are not at almost 400 like Rita’s……..but Rita’s are for the long evening when you cuddle up with your tablet. It will be interesting to see what else this stream contains. Also I need to give you the link to the photo with a photographer in it…….love grammmie
http://www.flickr.com/photos/30122602@N00/8233818996/in/photostream
Thanks for the tips, Grammie.
When I saw Yun Hui, I thought she looked like Bai with almost rounded ears
. The genes are good and passing along! But what toesis he has!
I thought Su Lin’s son was the survivor of her twin birth, and that it was the female who died….moderator and other commenters we need clarification please. Love grammmie
And the toesis are the mosist. Must be channelling a bit of Fo Long.
Sorry Grammie, my pronoun was incorrect. Yun Hui is a boy cubbie.
The tips I discovered accidentally, which seems to be my method. I thought everybody knew or I would have tipped sooner. We have many new cam and blog watchers and contributors so I thought I would try to help with some stuff, someone is always helping me find out things…love grammmie
I just went through the whole photo stream where you found Dan Dan the brown and white Panda. I see it more as a golden color, but seeing it I feel better about the Panda that got called “Oreo”, I thought a name like that should be saved for what I imagined a Brown and white Panda would be…..just like our Pandas, only chocolate brown and white. If the black and whites are “Giant”, the reds “Lesser” is the golden brown and white the “Medium”??? Hey it is late on a sleepy Sunday, the jokes are never good then! Love grammmie
p.s. the stream is not long, but throughout has some incredibly lovely photos of ancient temples and monuments, well worth your time.
A photog told me the color of Dan Dan may be caused by lighting rather than actually being so light golden colored, maybe others can contribute links for other photos that might give us a good idea of what they actually look like. Whatever the color is pretty, and so was
an Dan.
I found some Grammie. Seems to be taken 10/2012 so it cannot be Dan Dan I think. Some pictures even look more like a stuff teddy bear
doyledan (dot) travellerspoint.com/20/
Get ready for it—–wait for it——P O W. Would Dan Dan be considered the BLONDE of the family. All joking aside. She’s beautiful. Does anyone know how many of these bears are alive?
Apparently, some websites said around 200-300 only in the wild, even less than the giant panda that is black and white… or maybe, they are even harder to find… I read one where the parents are from a black and white giant panda and a Qinling panda. They had an offspring that was born black and white and later when it grew older, the offspring turned into the Qinling colors. The latter looks to me like giant teddy bears as we mostly see brown stuff teddies
And Grammie, it does seem to have the large, medium, and small version of “pandas”… They sure do have the “Cuteness factor”.
I would also like to know if they have soft fur….I looks soft and not so “hard” as Giant Pandas. I bet it is hard to get information about that. Love grammmie
Qinling Mountain Range is located south of Xi’an, capital of Shaanxi Province. In 1950s, villagers first reported presence of Qinling giant pandas to a Chinese zoologist, Instead of black/white fur, these pandas are dark brown/light brown (or brown/white). They have smaller skulls, more roundish faces, larger teeth and smaller statures. They probably diverged from their black/white brethren, about 12,000 years ago. Since 2006, they are now recognized as a sub-species, Ailuopoda melanoleuca qinlingenesis.
At last count, there are about 273 Qinling pandas, whose survival is threatened by habitat fragmentation. Assisted by World Wildlife Fund, Chinese zoologists and forestry experts are attempting to establish corridors between 5 enlarged natural preserves in Qinling area; so as to facilitate panda movement, and lessen chance of inbreeding.
Thank you, Al, I knew there was every chance that I was working with older information. It is good to get the correct information….love grammmie
I read there are 300 to 400 in the wild, apparently none in breeding centers or zoos. Dan Dan has passed away. They are beautiful. When I first heard about them I assumed they were giant pandas with a odd gene in the mix, but from what I read they are a separate species. At 3 to 400 left the best that could be done would be preserve sperm and eggs with a goal of implanting them in the future. They have saved a Asian Ox species exactly that way. With 3 to 400 there is barely enough to save them if they were gathered into a breeding center. I don’ know who makes those kind of decisions, and, of course, there is the money. I like to think they are just like our Giant Pandas (as we see them….cute, cuddly, fun,……well you know how we feel) but maybe they are so different we would not see them as pandas. I am sure that is not the part of the criteria for deciding to try to save them, we’ll it shouldn’t be. They are lovely to look at….lets all search some out and share our sources, we can get an idea what they are like……love grammmie
Anastasia your panda smells are very well timed. Been observing the other zoos pandas leaving their marks and smelling!
This morning 6am PT time at the Edinburgh Zoo Yang Gruag was eating bamboo outdoors in a snow storm. Wow!
Moderator, good morning! when the snow will be delivered for the pandas where do they put it?????? I mean, Is it going to be in the pond most likely???? I’m only guessing that would be the best place!!!!!!! The pandas will certainly have a fun time, Darling little Liwu will have some surprise!!!!!! Thank you moderator for all your work and the Keepers of the pandas, All of you take such good care of Gao Gao, Yun Zi, Bai Yun and the 7 months fearless adorable panda cub Liwu……….
Moderator’s note: We’ll just have to wait and see where it snows.
Lucky you, I went looking for a few snow pics to give you an idea, and found a couple of new photos of Yunior, then one of Bai and Mr. Wu playing. I see that our moderator wants to surprise you, so to stay in good standing I think I best just give these two and leave you to your own devises to find snow photos. love grammmie. The first one shows Yunz’s Gao Gao looks…..
http://www.flickr.com/photos/ritapetita/8546338095/in/photostream
This seconds shows Wu enjoying tummy raspberries from momma…
http://www.flickr.com/photos/ritapetita/8543874016/in/photostream
Everybody enjoy ! ! !
In the first one Yun Zi seems to meditate the meaning of the life. Wonder if he found it.
great pics grammie. thanks.
I love how the baby just goes to sleep in whatever position he’s in when he is overcome by sleep. My legs would go to sleep, but it doesn’t seem to bother him. Of course, I’m sure he’s made of bean bag material.
Hey SA Wallick~~
hehe!! Love your description! Bean Bag Material ! LOLLOL
I asked the question the other day if Pandas are doubled jointed the way Li Wuuu can twirl and twist around ??!!!!
BTW~~are you making ♥♥ yet??
puppygirl
Moderator’s note: Pandas are not unique in the bear world with respect to flexibility.
Hey Moderator~~
Thanks for your reply
I Appreciate the info. Ya’ll always tell us such interesting things about them
Sweet Li Wu Wuuu is the first bear I have ever watched on a Live Cam so I’m not up on all the “ins and outs” of how they do.
Especially “our” Sweet and Cute
This is Great learning about them
Li Wu Wuuu !!
If I’m going to learn, can’t think of a better subject than “our” Precious little cubbie!
Thanks again~~
puppygirl
He is a lot like daddy in that respect………. Opefulli it will help in leading the cheers for big siter. Love grammmie
After tuning in this morning, first thing I was greeted with was a view of Bai’s large rump sitting on the mini hammock. It made me smile. What a great way to start the day
Such little things these panda’s do can really brighten the spirits. She’s just sitting there and I feel happy. Animals really are theraputic 
Hey Daisy~~
I 100% agree that Animals really are theraputic!!
Have a Great Day!!
puppygirl
Daisy, I agree with you “animals are theraputic”!!!!!! It looks like cuteness Liwu is very tired this morning, he has been sleeping on the tree stump a long time……every now and then he changes position the darling 7 months old baby panda Liwu….I Love him♥
Just uploaded 2 Sunday videos: The 1st shows just a bit of Xiao Liwu climbing very early in the morning, the 1st day of Daylight Savings Time. Then Bai Yun visits him in the Keebler, to roust him? And some cute footage of him enjoying the exhibit greenery. The 2nd shows just a bit of a nursing session, and then Xiao Liwu contorting himself into different positions as he enjoyed his climbing strucutre.
2013-03-10 Xiao Liwu: Confidence, Company and Curiousity
http://youtu.be/6CGNe2Y4usI
2013-03-10 Cared for and Cute, Life is Good for Xiao Liwu
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4AvGpCKx06U
Woozy is turning into an accomplished contortionist… Perhaps Cirque de Soleil will hire him?
Hey DoxieMom~~
Thanks for these videos
Both are Super!
Shame on Mom Bai (in the first one) that she made him fall after waking and making him get “out of bed”
Bless his heart♥ He was trying to get down!
I don’t move quickly when I first wake up either!
Wonder how swift Bai is?!!!
Thanks for the videos, DoxieMom! Liwu is so entertaining. He is really getting stronger, agile, and cuter everyday…
OH My!! Just checked Li Wu and Had to take his picture!
That is SO Cool and I Love being able to get Wu Wu’s picture with it 
and Thanks to the Camera Person for letting us see him
Thank you, Panda Keepers and SDZ for your postcard camera ♥
Is his position now So Precious or what??!!♥ With his little chin resting on those 2 little front feet♥
Super picture!!
Thanks for the camera
like that
puppygirl
What is the postcard camera?
Hi Nikki,
It’s the middle icon when you’re viewing the panda cam. It has a picture of a camera on it. By clicking on it, it allows you to snap a photo and send it to someone or to your own email. Be warned, it’s addictive! LOL!
I have tried using the camera but everytime I do It doesn’t work . Do you or anyone out there, know what i am doing wrong.? Please help.
Moderator’s note: What happens when you click on the camera icon? Do you get an error message?
Elvis has left the building!
Li Wu Wu has left the keebler!!
Don’t know why I wrote that? hehe! Just being silly I guess!
Please over-look!!
puppygirl
3-11, waatched the baby wake up from nap in hallowed out tree stump and start down and cameraman must be asleep,missing all the antics I am sure he is doing!
Either my cam is stuck or I’m watching a fake tree grow! hahahhaaaaaaa
Did the Pandas and keepers or other zoo animals feel all the Earthquake swarms today? Wow 4.7 last one 2.8
Empty Panda Cam right now 1:16pm Pacific time
Hugs to You All
I hate Earthquakes !
Moderator’s note: No obvious changes were documented in the animals in our care.
saronlower…….I felt the quake……I felt only one, but we have had worse ones while I was watching live panda cam, and saw no reaction from the pandas at all. To tell the truth I react much more strongly than they do. I hate quakes too. Love grammmie
I am along the coast and didn’t feel a thing. Nor did my dogs.
Now the Easter quake we had a couple of years ago might have startled a lot of animals but anything under a 6 is no big deal.
Is there a shortage of of camera operators today? At first all we saw was an empty Keebler tree for the longest time, then the side of the pool as the caretakers were freshening up the exhibit for Mama & Mr. Wu. Now we are looking at Gao Gao’s exhibit for the longest time and he is sleeping and obscured from our perspective. Hopefully all is well. Thanks again for all the hard work.
Moderator’s note: Yes, we have a gap in our Panda Cam shift today.
I love the panda cam, watch it religiously, especially when I should actually be working. If I may make a suggestion, maybe the volunteers manning the cameras could not zoom in so tight when Mr. Wu is climbing and contorting. We lose his head and/or feet. It’s much more fun to see all the body parts working rather than a headless panda. When he’s climbing up or down, don’t follow him and lose part of the body, just zoom out. Thank you so much!
This means more stand by volunteers with the time, love and proper equipment on hand need to contact the zoo about volunteering for Panda cams, and I think the other cams too. It might give a nice break to some of the long term volunteers, we don’t wear them out……love grammmie
I VOLUNTEER!!!! I accept the mission!! I’ll give notice here at work and we can all do it in shifts! I’d be happy to take the first 2 weeks…. WooHoo Mr. Wu here I come!
[That would be a job I would relish in Grammie!!] XXOO
OOPS! They just went back to Mama eating her boo. Just the same it has been odd for the last couple of days, where the cameras are concerned. Just wondering.
Now here is an odd one……..I first went to the live web cam, and immediately knew we were looking at Yun Zi’s enclosure, that is supposed to be empty for another about another 2 weeks while his new tree structure is fabricated, built and tested to be sure it is Yunior proof. I guess somebody is having fun with our cams. Love grammmie. (I knew it was his because his hammock was in the picture. I hope he gets a new hammock in a dark color to not show dirt so fast.)
Don’t’ forget they have a standard sunny shot of the green hammock that is put up day or night when no cameras are working.
I think its just a frozen picture.
That is when I check out the koala’s or other cams.
Thank you, I will try to remember that in the future!
Please tell me Wu Wu is OK he took such a tumble off the platform, Mummy tried to grab him but he fell, and the camera stopped so did my heart !!!!!!!!! Please when you get a moment let me now he is allright! Just adore him!
Don’t worry, Lindsay, the platform is not so high up pandafalls would be dangerous. He has done it several times before.
thank you I have to say it did look pretty dramatic!!!! But all is well!!
OK MY PANIC IS OVER, HE IS NOW WITH HIS MUMMY, PROBABLY OVER REACTED BUT I DID GET A FRIGHT!!!
Panda cubs can fall over 40 ft without getting hurt. Since they are born at 3 to 6 ounces their bones are very soft. As they get older their bones are still relatively soft, and there is now a good layer of fat and thick fur. They also learn to go completely limp and just roll into the fall. I have seen the last 5 cubs fall from extremely high branches and they are just fine. Really no need for anyone to worry about the cub, he’s in good paws and hands
I understand that koalas fall out of huge euc trees down under and that folks have to be careful about finding them on the roads.
I’ll never forget the fall that Lin Ping took when she was a baby. That was one very tall tree… Then Lin Hui drug her in for the keepers to check LP over… and she was fine.
But she told her panda cousins all about it. She got a “sharpie”which is panda baby talk for an injection, to keep her still in her ride in the ambulance where she had an MRI. The kids talked about the situation through some “stories”, but they found no damage and she is fine. Of course pandas are a it goofy, so how could you tell the difference…..love grammmie
6:10 pm – long nursing session and then a nap. He seems content
Anybody seeing the beautiful site of Bai’s face and Liwu’s face together as their sleeping. So so precious.♥♥♥
Bai is a beautiful bear and so is her son Mr Wu. They always look so content when they are both sleeping together. love them both.
Bai and Wu on the platform sleeping together. Such a sweet moment !! He looked so small next to his beautiful momma.. It was so beautiful to see
I can’t recall Bai Yun pushing her youngsters off as much as she does Litte Liwu…..Poor little guy, he sure gets pushed off a lot…..And he is so nice this little panda, he always returns , he doesn’t give up….I sure don’t recall Bai Yun being like that with the other five cubs she had……
Moderator’s note: We’ve never had such fine views of our pandas in HD before.
Thank you Moderator, it’s good to remember that, sometime we forget……
Bai Yun is a beautiful loving Mom to her babies, sometime our human feelings gets in the way compare to the animals….Bai Yun is still training her cub fearless adorable Liwu, she knows what’s best and we must remember this……….
The best thing is to think positive that darling cutness little Liwu is going to bounce back quickly…….I LOVE that baby cub 7 months old panda Liwu………
i gree. She never was that mean to Yunnie. And he still ran off when he could. He was pretty easy going, not an acrobat.He had long nursing sessions at Wu’s age Bai came to find him too.I can find no reason why she does that pushing him off all the time. It has become (to me) excessiv.She has no reason, he is not in her way, she is in his.
I promise that this cub does not get more than he can handle, and I KNOW that he doesn’t get it more than any other cub.
See the size of trees YZ was climbing about the same age as Wu was when he started on the tall one, and it was raining!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/ritapetita/4336718860/in/set-72157623243918649
The tree never stood a chance, I only wish I could find the photo where the tree was so slim that when his weight bent it in half YZ’s head top almost reached the ground—-it is still raining in this set.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/ritapetita/4335991153/in/set-72157623243918649
A message from YZ himself….
http://www.flickr.com/photos/ritapetita/4348062328/in/set-72157623243918649/
This is not YZ or Wu, but too cute to miss……
http://www.flickr.com/photos/ritapetita/4248422610/in/set-72157623124265794
As you can see in this one, YZ was much closer in shade to mama than Wu…..
http://www.flickr.com/photos/ritapetita/4305875436/in/set-72157623277462816/
And this is what 21/2 year olds do with their spare time and spare tires …………PRESENTING ZZ…………
http://www.flickr.com/photos/ritapetita/sets/72157623928520521/
While still cruising around looking for a photo came across this one, you’ll love it.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/ritapetita/5373018578/in/photostream
Working left we have a series of 3 BAFF photos w/ Yun Zi and Bai Yun.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/ritapetita/5369636335/in/photostream
Here is our Gao Gao-look at hair on top of paws, so thick you can’t see his claws!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/ritapetita/5279863471/in/photostream
This is enough for one session, so we will call it “All’s Well That Ends Well” at ten!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/ritapetita/5363428225/in/photostream
Thanks for the picture show, Grammmie! I appreciate the time you take to find just the right pictures to amuse us.
Hey Grammmie~~
Thanks for posting the pictures.
You did such a Good job!
The pictures are Super!!
puppygirl
Thanks for the pics Grammie. They’re adorable!
Puppy, with the instructions you are getting on the comments, and a bit of practice you will be able to access any public part of any photostream you have a link on, or the name of a photog to put into the search box. I used to wander around a lot before I was so yaketty on the comments, and rereading them, etc., that is how I learned most of my tips….accidentally. I can wander sometimes and end up on a different photostream that might show me some things from China….that was how I saw a lovely portrait of Hao Hao, Yun Zi’s neice, older by one month. She was the 4th pregnancy for Hua Mei , and first single birth. Hua Mei had 3 twin pregnancies, all surviving, before Hao Hao. Of course they are all grandchildren to Bai and Gao….we don’t tell Gao, and Shi Shi has passed on, so we keep a united family. Some of Hau Mei’s babies are in other breeding centers around the world like ours, when they start having babies Bai will be a great grandma. In the wild it is hard to reach being a grandparent since life expectancy is about 20 years…..in managed care they live to be as much as 30, Basi we talked about a few blogs back is 32 and the first female to visit San Diego Zoo, and Pan Pan, Bai Yun’s father is still alive at 29. Sadly her mother Dong Dong passed away, I am not sure how long ago…love grammmie
Hey Grammmie~~
Good Grief! LOL The Gao family is So Big, I don’t know how you keep them all straight !
lol Sometimes I can’t remember what I ate for dinner last night so don’t think I would pass the quiz on all these kids and grandkids!!
WOW!!! What a family of darlings! ♥
Grammmie, you’re doing Great with it
puppygirl
I have been reading old blogs, including comment sections, and asked an awful lot of questions. It is hard for some folks that get tired of hearing the same things, asked and answered over three cubs and three cubettes. I learned by reading, asking, driving folks to distraction, but sometimes we have to be willing to hear and see repetition, since our asking is how we learned in the first place. Of course I have only been around for two births, maybe at six I might feel the same way. I think in regular life I should have been a teacher because I love helping people to information, and teaching them how to find it on their own if there is not anybody available. I know a bit more about ZZ and Su Lin because they were here for a year after YZ’s birth. We didn’t get to see lots of them, since the cam was on BY and YZ almost any moment they might be seen, but I fell in with my wonderful photographer who gave us new photos almost every week, and at some times the enclosures were open to all of the family, except for one. That was fun for everybody. And Rita Petita was the nicest photog I could be introduced to at the time.
So when I am gone somebody(s) needs to jump in and help the folks that work all day, and have 3 kids and a household to run, and don’t have the time for study of old blogs.
At the end of this I am going to give you a link to a person who adds things to, and doctors up some photos so you can wonder around and enjoy yourselves. I got to it accidentally, and think you guys will like it too. Love grammmie
http://www.flickr.com/search/?q=marcia4tai
p.s. I know that I have run into other photo-fix ups different than these, but that was over two years ago and I cannot remember who’s or where I saw them, so if you know of any links or names please bring them to our attention in a new comment so we all enjoy them. I have seen Tai (from DC before going to China) in huge sunglasses, party hats, and other panda photos they get permission to mess with. Love g. c.
thankfully. I do it for enjoyment, so if you enjoy it we all win. Love grammmie
Much appreciated–thanks Grammmie!!
Thank You, Grammmie. The pictures were great.
Yeah, I read about that SoCal earthquake tonite myself! I’m pretty sure that San Diego felt this one because the epicenter was not that far from you all. Pandas and other animals–they just ignored the moving earth and went about their business!
Read the article about pandas in the rain. They do love being in the rain because I think they like the way the rain cleans them off of the dirt that accumulates on their furry bodies. Plus, rain makes their boo taste better when they eat it!
Chari Mercier
St. Pete, FL
Does anyone have the link to Rita’s pictures where I can see ZZ’s climbing?
Thanks So much! Really would like to see them!
Thanks~~
puppygirl
Search for Flickr (yes that is correct spelling. Once you get to flicker, use the search box and find photographer’s name in search. (I would use Rita Petita but you can use anyone. One at page one of the account use the groups on right hand side of page and look for Zhen Zhen up to year 2010—- that was when ZZ and Su Lin left for China. If the group is not on page one click on “more groups” at bottom of page one list. Find one for Zhen Zhen and start enjoying yourself.
Or start here, then enjoy whatever you want. When you click on a group there are sets of photos within each group.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/ritapetita/2873815173/in/set-72157607400364284
She is still with momma, but find after weaning photos are even more exciting!
Love grammmie
Thank You, Grammmie~~
I will definately check this out !
Do you know if their are any YT videos of ZZ climbing?
Will try to pull those up using the search box.
Will write in the full name and not just ZZ.
Hope it works.
Thanks again~~
puppygirl
I don’t know the video situation, best hope is somebody knowing where they have some stored reads this and respond. As it was I spent 1 1/2 hours looking up the links I did send. The reason I knew where to look is because I have personally spent hours going through Rita’s photostream on many days to see what was available, I knew she started photographing first when Shi Shi was here and Hua Mei was born…..that gives us (I think) about 16 years of photos to enjoy. Often I simply pass on links that are new, occasionally I find some things while I am looking for something else, like the “end” link in the series of ten yesterday, I still needed numbers 8 and 9 but knew you guys would enjoy having that one In it’s place. I am glad you enjoyed the stuff I sent, but sometimes you need to figure out (or ask) dates to look for, then go through pages until you hit that area. Be sure to read a “Lil and Bill” answer from me telling how to get into the “stream” on any flickr account, it is either above here on this page, or the comments section from the previous blog. l would look it up for you but am a little worn, so I am trying to help you learn how to do it, so you can do lots more yourself, and later on help somebody else. There are new folks around all the time…..love grammmie
P.s. I just checked above to see if the info for Flickr is on this page…..it is! Some where between 22 and 26 color changes above here are some instructions for flickr accounts that I assumed that everybody knew, but we never know. I found my info by luck when clicking where I didn’t mean to, and all kinds of stuff. As you click on a page with small photos over the whole page, scroll down to the bottom and there will be numbers. The page you are on is highlighted, you pick to go higher, lower (older photos are bigger numbers on most accounts) and if you want groups go to page one, be sure to click more at the bottom of the choices for groups. I like helping out because somebody seemed to always been helping me, so be sure to pass on what you are taught, but also what you learn on your own, since somebody working with you may not know everything you do. Of course add a link whenever you can so people don’t have to spend too much time looking. Let me know how you do, I check back in case there is more than a response than the first one or two, maybe a day or two after.
Hey Grammmie~~
Thank You So Much!!!
I Really do Appreciate your help finding these adorable pictures
I had more fun last night looking at pictures and YT videos of ZZ and Yun Zi.
I put Zhen Zhen’s name in the search bar on YT and LOTS of videos came up for her.
I posted the YT links for her a little bit down from this post (at 7:26 PM and 7:46 PM).
You are SO Right about passing on help if someone asks for it. Needless to say, I am no “techie” but love my computer. Others have sure helped me and I Thank You for your help with this!
I looked at darling Li Wu Wu before writing. Couldn’t believe he looks like he is sleeping not only up High but upside down!!!!!!!
Better go check on that Precious baby!♥
Thanks again
puppygirl
Hey Grammmie~~
Thank you for Rita’s pictures of ZZ
Thank you, Rita
Your pictures are Terrific !
ZZ is SO cute and pretty!!
With her climbing antics, I’m sure she is entertaining them in China!
puppygirl
Good Morning Sweet Li Wu !
When I see YOU, the sunshine will be up♥
Have a Terrific Day!!
I L.O.V.E. YOU♥♥♥
puppygirl
Here’s the link to a series of photos of Tian Tian and Yang Guang at the Edinburgh Zoo.
They are both 8 yrs. old.
Super Pictures!
http://news.yahoo.com/photos/photos-of-the-day-1340925511-slideshow/
Says they arrived there Dec. 04, 2012, and will be there for 10 yrs.
At 9:55 Am, pandas are not yet on the cam.. Maybe SDZ is short of cam operators? I hope we get to see Liwu soon
.. Thanks Cam Operator in advance 
There are some nice pics of Liwu
http://www.flickr.com/photos/9535341@N04/8541864944/in/photostream
and you can find more in
http://www.flickr.com/photos/9535341@N04/with/8541864680/#photo_8541864680
I followed this link through SDZ tumblr http://sdzoo.tumblr.com/
What an adorable picture of Bai Yun and her 7 months old cub together……We sure did have a few cold days and rain….Now the weather is beautiful again……..
I went farther than just the photos you shared…..I did check up to page 11,,,,, there were some incredible photos. To be fair I have not seen all of them, but the ones of things besides pandas are incredible. The colors are bright, a feast for your eyes. Thank you for thinking of us when you saw them…love grammmie
I just checked the panda cam, everybody is napping, Bai at the top of the climbing structure, and Mr Wu on his special hammock. It is warm and they are taking the opportunity to have a lovely sunbath. I wonder if we will hear soon about the Lady Panda Spa Weekend, I wonder if the rumors are true, or if any Panda Lady will tell. If I get any behind the scenes information I will let you know….love grammmie
2 videos from Monday afternoon. Please do not watch them if you have an issue with Xiao Liwu falling.
2013-03-11 Bai Yun & Xiao Liwu: Garden Room, Part 1
http://youtu.be/3X728cQ0vSI
2013-03-11 Bai Yun & Xiao Liwu: Garden Room, Part 2
http://youtu.be/egh9JRWRX70
Thanks for the warning DoxieMom- I will not be watching these videos- just cannot handle his falls – soft bones/lots of fur not withstanding.
Ha ha, I don’t know who deserves who the most, mama Bai throwing the kid off her sleeping perch, or the little one climbing all over Bai and annoying her while she’s trying to nap! He went on and on and finally wore mom down, I shuddered when he clamped onto her paw with his teeth and she pulled him up onto the perch that way! It’s pure fun to me, they seem to be playing and he’s a very happy Little Gift. The only thing that grossed me out was that little brown thing Xiao picked up and was playing with…please tell me that was a bamboo burrito?
Nope, it was what you thought it was….LOL
DoxieMom~~
Thank you for letting us know there are “falls” in these.
Can’t watch cos I can’t handle those.
Thanks again~~
puppygirl
Thanks for the video, DoxieMom. I know there was a warning but I did not want to miss the nice moments, too, which there were some nice ones in part 2 especially… though it is always hard to see the fall when he is sleeping
The other day when I turned on the panda cam, all I saw was Bai Yun’s rump sitting on the mini hammock taking up pretty much all of the screen… Never was a rump more beautiful than her “SNOW WHITE” rump.
Does Shi Shi, Gao Gao, or any of her cubs have fur as white as hers?
Shi Shi was first husband, and father of Hua Mei by artificial Insemination.
Gao Gao is second husband, father by natural breedingh of Mei Sheng, m, Su Lin, F, Zhen Zhen, F, all in China breeding, and Yun Zi, M, and our little gift born about seven months ago, M.
The ones returned to China are making everybody proud, making more babies that we hope some will be returned to the wild. Love grammmie
The closest cub to white fur is Yun Zi, but I only started viewing th day he was born. Lov grammmie
at the moment it looks like a lesson from Mum to Cubbie on how to strip and eat bamboo, guess its Bamboo 101!
Just checked the cam and found King Fluffy Butt was occupying a new throne in the moat. So all is well in panda land….love grammie
Here are new photos to enjoy…….
http://www.flickr.com/photos/ritapetita/8552155788/in/photostream
http://www.flickr.com/photos/ritapetita/8552150462/in/photostream
http://www.flickr.com/photos/ritapetita/8552133656/in/photostream
Thre is your Yun Zi fix for th ay.
Thank you, Grammmie for showing these to us!
These pictures of Yun Zi are Beautiful
Thank you, Rita~~
You do Terrific work!
puppygirl
Thanks for the links Grammie. I miss Yun Zi and his cinnamon antics. Thanks also to Rita Petita for the super photos.
I have noticed Momma Panda is becoming more aggressive with Baby Xiao Liwu. Is that normal?
Moderator’s note: We are lucky to witness an experienced mother bear care for her cub. She is not doing anything out of the ordinary.
The Toyko zoo pandas mate ..The female Shin Shin and her companion Ri Ri were put in a private enclosure on Monday evening after keepers at Ueno Zoo in Tokyo noticed they were ready to mate.
They mated on Monday evening and Tuesday morning, RiRi was the panda whose cub died of pneumonia last year.
Awwww, Love seeing “our” Precious baby sleeping peacefully on his pillow! ♥
Puppy, wag you tail, I just hit a group of photos and found some of Zhen Zhen being her aireal self, I have a link that takes you to the first photo, just click on the thumbnail photo immediately to the right to see the rest of the group. Love grammmie
http://www.flickr.com/photos/ritapetita/4593577658/in/set-72157624027457976
Enjoy!!!
Hey Grammmie~~
Whewww!!
Checked on “our” Precious baby♥
He has made that spot up high a home seems like! Wonder if b/c Bai hasn’t been up there after him and pushed him off??!!
He really had a time for a minute turning over. Thought he was going to lose it but got it done and is fine
Anyway, these pictures of ZZ are Unreal !!!!!! Wonder how in the world can she do what she does?!!!!! A Very talented girl !!!!!!
Loved seeing them♥
Thanks for posting them~~
puppygirl
OH Grammmie~~
HOLY SMOKES!!!!!!!!! HEHEHE!!!!!!! These are unbelievable!!!!!!!!!
Pretty girl, ZZ, is Really something!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I was practically in shock after seeing these pictures!!!!!!!!!!!!!
They (the pictures) and ZZ are Fantastic!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Thank You!!!!!!!
Rita~~
Thank You for sharing these with us ♥
Your pictures are BEAUTIFUL!!!!!!!!!
puppygirl
Wow, that was really something! Thank You for the link!
Here are 2 videos from today that everyone should enjoy
In the 1st, we can see that Bai Yun is rather warm, so she decides that Xiao Liwu would enjoy a dip in the pool. And in the 2nd, Xiao Liwu joins Bai Yun on the Garden Room platform before she’s even finished her leafeater biscuits. He was rather well behaved, amusing himself while his mother ate her culm.
2013-03-12 Let’s Cool off in the Pool, Xiao Liwu
http://youtu.be/BjY76q-6Bvo
2013-03-12 Bai Yun and her Mini-Me
http://youtu.be/C1qHQNgbkeM
I actually saw some of that live. Thank you for posting videos so that I don’t miss anything.
Wonderful video as always. The pool scenes have us laughing out loud.
lessons from Bai…swimming 101, bamboo eating and falling off the platform
He’s learning well 
It seemed to me that 1/2 way through the second one he was using mama’s foot like a pillow, then gave the fans a couple of waves—- both videos were great, and when I watch the others they will be too, I just haven’t fortified myself for them yet…..love grammmie
Liwu sure does not like the water! Pity, he kept getting dragged into it. Was there ever a cubby of Bai’s that liked the water? Is it because they do not feed on fish like brown bears and polar bears?
Loved the videos… thank you once again… Just love that little tyke.
I enjoyed the first video. it is funny to see Xiao Li Wu running away from a baff. I expected him to even run down into the moat. at this rate, I do not know whether Xiao Li Wu will carry on the teflon panda tradition.
Thanks for the videos. Wu sure doens’t like the water. I think it is funny when Bai chases Wu around to put him in the water. She is one determined MOM.
Howcome Mr Wu likes the water in the fountain but not in the pool? Just like an ornery kid.
Mr Wu’s sleeping blissfully on his pillow/sack. FAB!
Every time I see that jagged branch I worry about Mr. Wu being impaled as he tumbles from above ;(
Poor Liwu was sleeping on his pillow when Mama went up and rattled his sleep … For a while he was ok until Bai wanted to go down… poor baby got squeezed like she was trying to get him out of the way.. He looked like he was struggling. That little one is so feisty
He is as determined now as she is.She taught him a lesson he could,have done without. Poor little guy. He wants love so badly and she constantly pushed him away. Patience does not come with old age-I know.
He needs all the love you can send him. Love is always felt among species. So give WuWu all the love you can muster. He will feel,it.He needs it right now.
Hey Virginia~~
I agree with you 100% !
I LOVE darling Li Wu Wu more than he or anyone will ever know♥
He is SO Precious♥
It hurts my heart when I see his mom deliberately push or throw him and make him fall
I know “hooman feelings” but Li Wu Wu has feelings plus he’s a Baby.
Even though he may “bounce” when he falls, I just can’t believe that
doesn’t hurt when he hits the ground.
I noticed in the ZZ and Yun Zi videos I have seen, she didn’t treat them like she treats our little darling Wu Wu.
I just don’t understand it and prolly never will. One thing for sure, I don’t like it !
Hope you don’t mind me venting in my reply to your post.
♥
puppygirl
Even I try to think “Bears will be bears and all these are lessons for the cub’s survival”, it does still make me wonder how these falls affect the growth while Liwu is sleeping even whn we see he is thriving and growing to be a strong cubbie, it still is an uneasy feeling. Perhaps Liwu sometimes thinks it is play, but I do wonder about the harshness sometimes if it will carry on in his overall growth, like when a dog gets abused by his owner, somehow it affects the dog and shy away from human beings. I hope Liwu will grow to be a happy, well-grounded and adventurous and playful bear and take these falls as a strength builder
Hey Lil & Bill~~
Off the platform he flew! 
I’ve wondered the same thing.
The last time we saw Li Wu yesterday they were on the platform.
Li Wu had been sleeping So good for a while by himself.
Bai came back, reached around and pulled him in front of herself, then to the right of her.
Then WHACK!!
I was stunned and Precious Li Wu for sure was!! I swear my heart
skipped two beats.
There he was on the ground just sitting very still like he was trying to figure out where he was. Bai came down and walked off and Li Wu got up and VERY slowly walked, stopped for a minute just looking around. He proceeded to get over a log to where his pillow was.
He sure didn’t go over to his mother. I was crying. I hurt SO bad for him♥ It was like he was really sad and was trying to hide from her. Went through my mind that he was afraid of her. So Sad
IMHO, The only lesson in this behavior from her is to teach him to fear her and stay away from her. It’s too bad he has to depend on her for his food.
I, want him to be the sweet, happy, playful and adventurous little cubbie we Love and Adore♥ This will never change for me. I just LOVE him SO much. I don’t want him to be afraid. Certainly not of his mother!
I thought about this event while I was getting my coffe this morning and started to cry. The tape of this keeps playing in my mind. I wanted to reach through the computer screen and hold and comfort him♥
I will Always L.O.V.E. You, Li Wu Wu.♥ You Are SO Precious♥
puppygirl
Liwu NEEDS to be feisty, with that mother !
Perhaps that is the meaning of Bais treatment of him, to make him feisty. Although we know he’ll not have to fight with other pandas in future, Bais instincts tell her that a panda cub must grow up feisty to cope.
The dance that took place this afternoon between Bai and Xiao Liwu was a sight for the eyes. She was determined to get down from the tree anyway she could and guess who was in the way. He hung on and they did the dance around the branches until she finally got down, but Xiao Liwi wouldn’t let her push him off. He’s growing into a strong, confident little bear. She’s a great Mom.
This link is an entire YT page of Zhen Zhen !
Some of them are of climbing!!
http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=zhen+zhen+panda&oq=Zhen+Zhen&gs_l=youtube.1.1.0l10.31432.39864.0.45661.9.8.0.1.1.0.120.661.7j1.8.0…0.0…1ac.1.jekiGM5SyBw
OH My Goodness!
In this one ZZ shows us her climbing act!
She is “Really Something”
hehe! She even gets a Mozart “Overture” with her video!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wYcheWf-cz4
Thank you, Grammmie, for telling us about her♥
Really enjoyed watching her
puppygirl
Sweetie, lots of our commenters knew about ZZ, you would have heard about her and her antics. I just happen to be a yakitty yacker who mentions tings fast.
Hey Grammmie~~
I Love your posts! ♥ and pls keep telling us things whenever you feel like it!
Don’t know how to tell you how VERY Much I enjoyed ZZ’s pictures and videos♥ She made me LOLLOLLOL and cry, cry, cry
Many Many Thanks! ♥
puppygirl
Thank You for the link. She was really marvellous. The music of the king of composers was well earned.
Came across this Yun Zi and Bai YT video!
SO Cute and Sweet !!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IuB3jaFedA4&feature=endscreen&NR=1
OMG! Poor baby Wu! He was sleeping avay on his pillow and here comes Bai and she wants his pillow and she is sitting on him smashing him. She tries to move him and he is not going to have it. Round one for Mr Wu! LOL
New photos of newest Takin born in the Panda-Asian area. Mr. Wu will have two playmates near his age. http://www.flickr.com/photos/ritapetita/page1/
This is a YT video of ZZ doing climbing tricks made by DoxieMom
hehe!! ZZ is better than any high-wire act !!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ryGnd31JExw
IMHO~~she and Li Wu Wu could teach a climbing class!!
For me and Bill, of all the cubs, it seems Zhennie was the most adventurous up in the trees. While Mei Sheng loved to climb so high in the trees I heard, ZZ seemed to be so at home high up there gracefully climbing each limb. Su was our demure Princess and Zhennie was to us our very playful cubbie. She could get so amused with that little birthday box just like Liwu. If I have a chance, I will look for it.. She was just too hilarious, a real show person! Liwu for me is the closest to her personality as Sulin is Yunzi’s personality to me. Though I think the girls were not as “naughty” as the boys
Hey Lil & Bill~~
Loved watching Li Wu with that box! LOL! Made me think of a little kid who gets a gift we think he is really going to like. Then he has more fun playing with the box it came in!
Am going to see if I can find videos of Mei Sheng and Sulin on YT. Haven’t seen either of them. If I do, I will post the links.
LOL!!! ZZ was a “regular riot”!!
“Our” Sweet Wu Wu totally has my heart♥ Such a little Sweetheart♥
hehe!! Love your description “naughty”!!!
puppygirl
Please excuse my “so many posts” !
This one is of Bai Yun and Zhen Zhen.
It is SO Beautiful and Sweet♥
Dang! It had me in tears but would be sorry if I had missed it♥
http://www.youtube.com/watch?NR=1&v=GPuqmJNT58o&feature=endscreen
puppygirl
puppy girl thks for video………it was beautiful……..my tears are still falling
Oh, it’s Kleenex time all right! Thanks for the memories
Puppy, with lovely little gifts you send who could think you post too much. There will come days that you don’t post and lots of folks will ask “where is the Puppy”. Remember the only dumb question is the one we don’t ask. Love grammmie
Hey Grammmie~~
Thank you
I Really Appreciate your post ! That’s so sweet.
Didn’t go to bed last night. Was too busy “Pandaing” looking at pictures and videos of them, such Fun! (and posting!)! hehe!! After I posted them, I thought Geezzz, don’t want to be a “Panda Post Hog”! I just enjoyed them SO much and thought (hoped) ya’ll would too!
hehe!! Know ya’ll LOVE these Sweet babies!♥♥♥
Thanks also about the ?????????
♥
Well Puppygirl – I now have tears on my keyboard. And being new to the pandacam, I didn’t even know Zhen Zhen! I’m off for more Kleenex.
Darlene you sound very much like me. I knew ZZ better than I knew Su Lin, but the day they left together for China I cried all day just as if I knew them like I do Yunz and Mr. Wu. Su Lin is a mother now, and they are waiting to see if ZZ is too. She did her part…..now we wait……love grammmie
Thank you puppy for the video, I too am sitting here bawling my eyes out, I can’t imagine what I’ll be like when Liwu has to leave her.
Oohhhh, am SO glad all of you watched this♥
Don’t believe anyone could watch and it not get to their heart♥
SO Beautiful !
Really made me believe (hooman or not) Pandas do have feelings and Do feel LOVE♥
puppygirl
Thanks PuppyGirl… Saw this one maybe 2x in the past, and the 2nd time hard to finish cause it was so sweet and at the same time sad… Then this post, I thought I could start and finish it but everytime you hear that music with Zhoomie playing with Mama, it is still just as hard to watch.. I am just a softy
! There was one on SuLin by KJDrill (???) I think.. that was nice tribute to Su, but a little teary to watch as well..
Thanks again!
Hey Lil & Bill~~
You’re welcome. I understand what you’re saying.
I am a true “softy” when it comes to animals.♥ My Sweet, Precious puppy dog has me Very well trained! hehe Just ask her!!!
That’s okay. I Love it and she gives me unconditional Love♥
Am going to try to find videos of SuLin on YT. If I do, I’ll post the link.
Thank you~~
puppygirl
Hi PuppyGirl.
As promised this is the video I like of ZZ playing in the box..
http://youtu.be/XYLYe6bG0yQ
And I found others showing how she entertains everyone
Zhen Zhen’s 3rd Birthday
http://youtu.be/E2Kiht1hwM8
http://youtu.be/cS7GuWpYVAY
.. and of course, as you know too well, you can go deep into the videos and end up where you did not start
Found some videos of her in China.. You can see the China zoo has some lovely scenic scenes of panda displays
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qK8UruuhJug&feature=share&list=PLACEF927909E3F11B
http://youtu.be/K9GB63kUlJ4
Zhen Zhen, Min Min and Ge Ge in Emeishan {Mt Emei}
http://youtu.be/A4ETtS8ENSc
Enjoy!
Oh that is sad
Thank You, Puppygirl,
That was sweet, but I’m not so sure about the texts. Did I see a little reflection of human feelings?
To me it seemed Bai was sometimes a bit impatient with the young one.
Watchin Bai and Liwu sleeping in the platform at 6:29 PST, so calming. I am so comfortable when he is snuggled way in the corner and not at any of the edge of the platform where he can easily fall out of it
. I sure hope the evening ends this way… calm 
!
Dear puppygirl … thank you for re-posting … no shame in tears of joy and sadness.
For those that missed Xiao Liwu sleeping on his pillow atop the climbing structure Tuesday afternoon … and then being visited by Bai Yun, here’s the video:
2013-03-12 Xiao Liwu: “MY Pillow, MY Spot Mommie!”
http://youtu.be/UGPgmAo5Li0
Oh my….how greedy can Bai get. She has to have everything that Xiao Liwu has. LOL, I am happy he stood his ground with her. She tried all she could to get him off that pillow, even sit on our poor baby. I would love to see him push her around someday. I root for him to bite her tush or anything he can get hold of every chance I get, even though she doesn’t feel it with those tiny teefies. Oh how I love him!
That stretch and yawn was too cute for words!! Thanks for your video’s DoxieMom. I show them to my boyfriend to keep him up to speed on what he missed
It is very common in our culture to make children into saints and mothers into villains. We tend to sympathize more with youth and male creatures. It is troubling to see this thinking get applied by those watching the pandas. Here’s hoping any of you with children do not have them return your discipline to you as you age, as is hoped for here!
that was funny. it almost seemed like Bai tried to pull Xiao Li Wu off with her teeth (!?). she is such a big kid. then it’s kind of a surprise ending.
I thought it was a shame, at the end, after all was said and done, that he fell, but the pillow stayed aloft. Love grammie.
It almost looked like Bai saw him having so much fun rolling around on the pillow, and she wanted to have a chance to sit on it too — just like when she took over his little tube and decided to sit in it. I also think she likes to find different ways to challenge him — just like when she pushes him off the ledge — or throws him in the pool — the more she does it, the more confidence he seems to get. Thank you Doxiemom — what a treat to get to see this one for sure!
Am wondering if Sweet Li Wu Wu is asleep while sitting so high up on those branches??!!
If you are, Li Wuuuu, pls be careful when you wake!
You are mighty high up up there, little sweet baby♥
I L.O.V.E. YOU♥♥♥
puppygirl
It looked like he was Puppygirl! I don’t know how he could hold on, he was upside down at one point.
Hey Daisy~~
hehe!! I don’t know either! What made me wonder if he was sleeping b/c he sat there like that for quite some time and never moved! lol I posted to him to be careful when he wakes!
Our Li Wu is Really something, isn’t he?!!
I made a “postcard picture” when he was upside down up there. SO Funny!!
What a Precious Baby! ♥
Hope you have a Great Day, Daisy!
I L.O.V.E. YOU, darlin’ Wu Wu♥♥♥
puppygirl
Thanks Puppy girl, you too.
P.S those post card pictures are addictive- beware!
Daisy~~
hehe!! Yep, they are
That’s such a Cool feature!
lol I even have a separate folder for them. Does that tell you anything?!!!!
Morning all, I have a quick question in regard to Mama Bai and weaning her cubs. Does Bai show any emotion when you separate her from her cub? Does she honk or show any reaction to them going? Does she get depressed or have any change in her behavior at all? It seems like they have a pretty strong bond while with her, so I thought she might react to them going. Thank you in advance for you response.
Moderator’s note: Sophia, you might enjoy reading this excellent explanation of the gradual weaning process.
very interesting, thank you
That is so informative and reassuring. As usual, Mother Nature (or Mother Panda) knows best.
Thank you for your speedy and informative response. It is hard for us as humans to imagine chasing your flesh & blood away and not wanting to feed them. But these are bears and they must do what bears do to survive.
Yes….I agree with all of you. Maybe Mama Bai Yun has begun the process of weaning. But it IS hard to watch at times. We have to stop making pandas into little humans.
Moderator’s note: Weaning won’t begin until Xiao Liwu is 17 or 18 months old.
Question for moderator: I am new to this website and blog. Was Bai Yun as rough with previous cubs as she is with Xiao Liwu? Or is this something that is not known?
Moderator’s note: Welcome, Barbara. This is typical mother bear behavior. To learn more, please read Through the Bear Lens.
never know what to expect on this cam in the mornings. will it be Xiao Li Wu, the Sire of Most High Cuteness in Napping or will it be the Brave Knight battling the thinnest branches?
Just saw Mom push baby off of platform, camera has not moved to see what is happening, is baby alright????
Moderator’s note: He’s fine, Cindy.
Here we go! We’re ‘en route’ outta the moat. It’s a steep ascent but Wu got it all undercontrol. And no, given Wu’s liking for water…we won’t he stopping for a bath when we’ve reach the pool.
Bai Yun seemed a little more gentle with her other cubs, she’s a little rough with little Mr. Wu
nope. she dropped them all equally
If you think Bai is rough, watch videos of Lun Lun with her cubs at Zoo Atlanta. She didn’t earn her nickname “Da Mommy Monster” for nothing!
I came across some You Tube videos of Yun Zi as a cub. Such a joy to watch. Some of his moves were very similar to his feisty little brother. I continue to learn so much about panda behavior and can “brush off” all the falls or disciplining (i.e. pushes…shoves) by Mom. I used to worry…not so anymore. Hopefully that will be the case for others as well.
Much thanks, again, to our wonderful moderators for all their kindness and patience!
Moderator’s note: You’re very welcome, Kim M.
I for my part have begun to enjoy their confrontations more and more as Mr. Wu has learned to take his stand against mommie. It’s so lovely when he persistently takes what he thinks is his own as in DoxieMoms latest video.
Bai Yun really needs to have her own sleep area off exhibit.. she pushed the cub off again and he wasn’t even doing anything but laying there.. Do not understand her need to have the whole platform to herself..
Panda lesson # 2, what is Bai’s is Bai’s. Not to big on sharing sometimes
To be fair before I went off the bed UK time Bai was trying to sleep and Wu was trying to bite her feet and climb all over her. I think she does show amazing patience at times! Maybe she sees it as payback for when he will not let her sleep. I suppose we have to remember they are bears. I am sure they have their reasons.
OMGOODNESS!!!!! Bai Yun just “whacked” lil wu right off the platform as he was sound asleep!!!!!!!!!!!
wu: “awwwwww mom..i wuv u but this is becoming a lil annoying! That hurts!!!:’(”
is he ok????? I hope so!!!!
Moderator’s note: Yep!
Thank you!
Wu just always just shakes it off from falling or “being pushed” . It still scares me to see him falling I know moderator you say that he relaxes when he falls. Bai still always looks down when she does push him off the platform. He is becoming a very strong little bear. I like when he was on his pillow and wouldn’t let mom take it or use it. even when she sat on him. A very independent little bear. that is part of her training him, right? thanks SDZ and all the cam people for sharing this little guy’s life. They make my day. Are they still doing exams on him? If so I wish that they would show them or at least tell us how much he weighs now. thanks
Moderator’s note: He weighs 24 pounds, and an occasional quick exam is done.
Thanks for the info on our little guy. He is getting cutier by the mintue. I am glad he is doing well.
Kathy, the other night when I was looking through photos to find a special one, I saw a photo of Bai sitting on Yunz when she decided one thing and he decided he knew better………I don’t remember the circumstances, but it is a training device. She does not plant all of her weight, since that would kill them……love grammmie
Thanks grammie. I couldn’t imagine Bai sitting with all her weight. she is a very big momma
Definitely an issue with Bai’s left teat….Have been watching the past few nights when hes nursing, and each time he goes for that left upper side, she pushes him away from it. It must be sore for her.
Panda Team responds: We have checked on Bai Yun and all her teats and even had her lay down for us. We have not seen any significant differences in any of them. We have tested for sensitivity in all of them, especially her upper left one, with no reaction from her. It just might be her preference or that she is aware that she might not be producing enough milk in that one.
Someone brought this up the other day and I think the moderator was going to have handlers check Bai Yun out.
I noticed that behavior w/ Bai’s upper left teat as well. Like you, I thought it must either be sore or that it is not filling with milk. I did read somewhere that nursing mothers will push the baby away from an empty one.
Thank you so much to the Panda team for the response, and to know that all is well with Bai Yun. For the first time, I was really concerned for her. We don’t want Liwu’s mommie in any discomfort or pain. Regardless of what is said on this blog, by me as well, we all LOVE Bai, she is a beautiful and well taken care of panda, and a very patient mother with Liwu, especially during nursing. Thank you all for the great job, and for listening to us crazy bloggers when we think something is wrong. You are all exceptional and special people. ♥♥♥
thank you panda team.. so interesting. his 24lbs so his nursing and getting bigger. his just so adorable.
Mr Wu is so adorable when he squiggles on his pillow. That was the best gift the Keepers could have given him!
When is YUNNIE coming back????? It’s been SOOOOOO long…we NEED to see him!!!
Moderator’s note: Not until his tree is finished and dry. It will be some time after snow day, March 19.
Hey Poppy Gao~~
You have such a Beautiful family
Please forgive me cos I can’t remember all their names or their order (my Bad!)!
hehe!! You Studmuffin
I Love You♥~~
puppygirl
Hey Puppygirl,
Thanks for all your kind greetings. My wifey had Hua Mei with her first beau Mr. Shi Shi. Then we hooked up and we had Mei Sheng, Su Lin, Zhen Zhen, Yun Zi and Xiao Li Wu in that order. All our cubbies have been a blessing. As you know Hua Mei is a hero mama. Su Lin has had one cubby. And Bai and I are crossing all our fingers for Sheng and ZZ.
Panda Peace,
GG
Hey Poppy Gao~~
We all Love hearing from you!
Thank you for writing to me
WOW!! You really are a blessed family.
Wish you would write and tell us about Hua Mei, your hero mama daughter
Your Li Wu Wu is such a Darling! I LOVE him SO much!♥A friend of mine told me about Wu Wu and the Panda Cam at the SDZ so he is the first cubbie I’ve watched.
From writings, he sure Loves you and loves riding in your Zippy car!
Love reading about ya’ll’s adventures!!!
Hope your dental work is doing Great for you
You are So Sweet♥
Have a Super Day
I Love You♥~~
puppygirl
Hey Precious Li WuWu~~
I see you! hehe!! Are you playing “peek-a-boo” with us, you little darlin’?!!
Hope you have had a Good day and you are okay.
Going back to see you now.:)
I L.O.V.E. YOU, Sweet Baby♥♥♥
puppygirl
Hi! Just watched little Xiao on the pandacam! He was climbing down a log pretty slowly, then he went into a room after he was on the ground. That’s probably where his mom is at right now.
My latest Pandas International email newsletter didn’t have too much news to it other than to mention about Tai Shan being moved to Lover’s Lane at Bifengxia. They are hoping that he will have some fun with a young lady panda and be a daddy soon! Should be getting an update about that soon from PI. I’m also checking the NZ panda page for any news about Mei Xiang and her upcoming estrus cycle this spring. No new updates yet, but will keep checking in. Will also check in on Lun Lun in Atlanta and Le Le in Memphis.
Gonna get back on the pandacam to see where little Xiao is at now! Later!!
Chari Mercier
St. Pete, FL
Gao Gao’s Big Day Out with the boys Part 1
My missus is always on my case about spending time with the boys, bonding with them, being a good role model, being a hands on father…..and I love her for caring. Hey I want to set the record straight. I love my cubbies. Papa would sacrifice anything for them….well,…OK, anything even boo.
So the other day, the wife wanted to spend the weekend at some Mama spa so being the supportive hubby I am, I drive her there, give her a hug and kiss, and I promised to look after the two youngsters.
As you have read Yunnie’s blog, we went kite flying on the first day. Wu Wu had so much fun and I had a chance to do something I had never had, a chance to play. Many of you have read I was wild born. I got into a scrape and lost part of my left ear. I thank the Panda God the hoomans took me in and looked after me.
Anyway, in the evening after kite flyinf, me and the boys had a bbq in the yard. we rented a couple of cartoons for Wu Wu. He really liked the one with the zoo animals in Africa and the one set in the ancient past with lots of cold ice. Brrrrr, give me something set in the tropics. Yunnie found an old classic and hey that Jessica Lapin has not aged.
We also played some board games. That Yunnie is good at Twister. Wu Wu didn’t want to go to bed and so I let him stay up with Yunnie. They went star gazing. I camped out in my pool to keep them company.
Gao Gao’s Big Day Out with the Boys Part 2
On Sunday morning, all the zoo babies meet to play and some of the mamas and papas take turns to do simple activities and tell stories. I brought Wu Wu there and he made friends really fast. He climbed all over the jungle gym. He loved the see saw.
Mrs Cheetah taught some craft work and Wu Wu made a windmill for his Mama. Very pretty and he glued sparkles on it and some beads. My boy is artistic. Yunior? He slept in.
Then Mrs Ellie told a story and let the newest babies slide down her trunk. Soon all the kiddies wanted to do that. They were laughing and giggling. Wu Wu wanted to touch her eyes. He was awed.
When we got home, Yunior had prepared some pancakes for breakfast. Nice with some boo jam and syrup. Yum. Yunnie is gonna make some panda lass a happy gal. He takes after his papa, hee hee hee.
The boys wanted to go to the beach. Yunior wanted to show Wu Wu how to surf. I know I know, Bai would have a fit if she knew. But she was happily having a massage and with Lunnie and the gals, she wont be calling me soon.
At the beach, the boys played on the beach first. Then Yunnie brought Wu Wu out. My heart was in my mouth but would you know it, my baby is FEARLESS. He was steady and he was able to balance with his brother. He is an athlete!
And he wasn’t even tired in the afternoon. So we did go to the mall fyor some belated ice cream. Yunnie is growing up to be a handsome dude like Sheng. Many of the panda lassies at the mall were eyeing him. Thank goodness he is too young to apreciate all the looks. But this Papa felt chuffed that his boy was getting the attention. Hey, he is a chip off the old block.
That night when I got the wifey, she was impressed that I got both kids in bed early. They were like out for the count. I got them cleaning the home and washing all the dishes and we even did a last minute dash for groceries so that the fridge was full stocked.
So I have a happy lady and two very happy kids and that makes me the Happiest Papa.
What a time you and the boys had. Glad you got the time to spend with the boys. I bet Bai couldn’t figure out why “you” were so tired. What a time to be had by you and your cute boys. thanks Gao Gao for sharing with all your Panda fans. Love you and your whole family.
The Gaoster’s is very popular among the panda Aunties. I bet if you had called for a bit of help the cooking and dishes would have seemed like they had done themselves. I think some would be quick to join you in the pool, and others would have joined the boys viewing the stars. It sounds like you guys had a lovely weekend, too. Love grammmie
Love it when we find out what goes on behind the scenes when the NannyKeepers are not in yet, or everybody is involved on a sunny Sunday morning. Bless the elephant, I hope some of the larger kids were not the ones that made use of the Ellie’s trunk. Love grammmie
Follow up on earlier comments on Qinling pandas, Ailuopoda melanoleuca qinlingenesis, a sub-species; here are materials for further reading:-
1) ‘Giant panda has a new subspecies’, 1/13/2006, English.peopledaily.com.cn.
2) ‘Sepia giant panda’, www (dot) messybeast.com/entinct/sepia-giant-panda.htm.
3) ‘Qinling giant panda focal project’, World Wildlife Fund China.
4) Science News, Volume 182(#13), 12/29/2012.
5) ‘Qinling wildlife and habitat’, www (dot) wildgiantpanda.com/qinling.htm.
6) ‘A new subspecies of giant panda from Shaanxi, China’, Journal of Mammalogy, Volume 86(2), pages 397-402, 2005.
Thank you Al, you have given us all some good stuff to study, learn, and share.
‘Hello, Mrs Gao, how lovely to see you again! Your cubby is sooooo sweet. All of us at the spa follow him on Panda Cam. Here let me take your bags,’ cooed Olivia the Orang Utan as Bai Yun waves good bye to her hubby.
‘Have a nice boo shake to cool off. Your girlfriends have all arrived. They are freshening up in their cabanas. Mrs Yang said that they will meet you by the pool at 10, here you are,’ offers Olivia as Frannie the Famingo brings a tray of drinks.
Bai flops on the bed in her cabana. She closes her eyes in bliss. No cubby wanting to play, feed and…..oh, oh, she was missing Wu Wu!! He was most likely her last and she wanted to savour his cubby-hood. Thanks to Auntie Weeta and other aunties, she had many marvellous photos of her Snugglepuff. She loved it when he wants to cuddle and play.
Anyway, GG has given her this weekend as a Valentine’s present. Bai jumped up and put on her neon pink and green swimsuit, got out her floral floppy hat, sunnies and sandals, and she was ready for the pool.
Lunnie, Ye Ye and Mei had staked out a corner of the pool. They had set up a table so they could play mah jongg. All the 3 are Mamas-in-Waiting.
‘Hey, girls, guess who is here!’ yells Bai as she joins them.
‘Honey, motherhood becomes you, I swear you are looking as fresh as a daisy in a meadow of dew,’ smiled Ye Ye who proffered a plate of cuppy cakes.
‘Well, who has had a successful ‘ahem’ dance? I saw the videos!!’ teased Bai.
All the ladies giggled. Mei Xiang turns to Lunnie, ‘If you have a girl what would you call her?’
Lun Lun grins, ‘Mei Lan?’ The ladies all collaspe in fits of laughter. ‘OK OK, seriously, Yang and I have not really been thinking too hard. We have thought of the usual Xiang Yun, Mei Ye, Mei Yun….’
After some swimming and sun, the ladies had lunch at the new Asian restaurant. They feasted on Thai and Indonesian dishes. Lunnie loved the vegeterian pad thai. Ye Ye chowed down on the tom yum soup as it reminded her of creole food. Bai Yun nibbled on some toh fu squares. Mei Xiang noticed this, ‘Sweetie, are you sick? Eat up!’
‘Some of the hoomans say I have an extra fluffy butt. SIGH!’ said Bai Yun wistfully. I thought I would start a diet.
Lunnie stands up, ‘Girlfriends, we are staging an intervention!!! Bai Yun our dearest Da Jie, we have admired you all these years because you have trotted to the sound of your own drummer. You raised 6 gorgeous cubbies, ignoring all the naysayers and critics. In fact I wear my Mommy Moster nic with pride because of you. We love you, all of you!’
Mei Xiang got up and ordered several appetisers for Bai.
After lunch, the ladies retired for a nap. Bai Yun had a great one cos she knew she was with her real friends who loved her.
The afternoon was devoted to a special massage package. All 4 were so blissed out they felt like they were walking on air. Bai arranged for dinner to be served in her cabana so the ladies could dine in privacy. With all the pandarazzi frenzy over which panda mama was with child, there were quite a few staking out the spa.
What was fun was Bai arranged for a private mixologist who happily created drinks for the ladies. Lucy Lion was one of the best in the world. She twirled and tossed and poured. In the cabana was a top of the line entertainment system. Soon the ladies were leting their fur down and dancing up a storm to retro 80s and 90s dance music.
At 3 am, Lucy left the cabana discreetly as the 4 friends called up room service and chatted till the sun rose.
we like to call our own fluffy butts voluptuous.
Gee I am glad you have shared your great day at the spa with all you Ladies friends Bai. What a great day you all had. Bai you don’t need to start a diet,Your fulffy butt is beautiful !!!!!
Dearest Bai Yun, when we mention your lovely fluffy butt we are saying it with admiration, glad that you are who you are, and not judging yourself all the time like silly Hoomans do. Hooman ladies with six cubbys do not look so well conditioned like you do, in fact your’s is a little wrinkly when you let your weight drop too low. We are jealous that you have everything where it belongs. I noticed in one of the D-Mom videos below that you have started encouraging Mr. Wu to try the head hanging over an edge beauty tips for unwrinkled cheeks, neck and face. He did not stay very long, but it is the same way when our cubbys are young, until they are about 18-20 years old. They never listen to us until about 25 or so, then they wonder how we suddenly get so smart.
I am so happy you and the girls had a lovely time at the spa, day two should be out of this world. I also think this is the year all 3 of them get to have cubbys. But if they don’t there is always next year. I am also hoping that Lady and Lord McBear in Scotland have a little one too. If we could top that off with ZZ having one….or two, well what could be better.??? Mr. Wu seems to take to DareDevilling a lot like her….people have been asking for photos of her antics since he does so many things like she did. Did she start DareDevilling as young as Wu???
Well between advice to new mothers, or ones that haven’t had one for a few years you will be busy giving advice, helping a daughter (your girls seem to catch on to baby making early) and still raising Wu Wu —– well I don’t know how I could handle so much coming up this Spring and Summer. So you rest up and hope that on the anniversary of Wu’s conception you get another spa weekend from the Gaoster, or maybe your beloved Yunz.
Thanks, Ladies. Appreciate all the support from my hooman girlfriends.
Love,
Missy Bai
Hold on to you breakfast—Mr. Wu is DareDevilling again. Near the top, the good view from the research area window he broke another branch, and at one point hanging just by his front paws, I was sure a fall was coming, then I saw the small branch under his bottom. He was daring, and mde me hold me breath!
Hello,
These ones are not from today but yesterday, but pretty terrifying, too.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kristina_a/8556934733/in/photostream
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kristina_a/8556935561/in/photostream
And I looked at my old pictures and found this one of Bai, which I like very much myself.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kristina_a/8485493187/in/photostream
Kristina it is a good thing I was getting ready to go to sleep for most of the day (up most of night), and that I would not eat that early. My heart really was in my throat watching it live. I was just sure a fall was coming, good thing it did not catch up….love grammmie
Hey Grammmie~~
OH, Lawdy! I saw that too!! Made me gasp!!!! Geezzz he was up SO high!!!
Bless his heart ♥ Sweet Baby. He seems to love it up there!
Good morning everyone,
Thanks to the moderator, SDZ team and keepers, and all the blogger contributors. I just quickly glanced through the new contributions …. much video to catch up on, stories from the Panda family, new searches/readings for the Qinling/brown pandas, and much more… Today is a good day to learn more new things! ‘Just love this site!
Thanks everyone and have a wonderful day!
And you guys are so nice to share what you find, there are so many things I would not even get near except that they are posted by nice people like you. I take it you guys are retired? If not you should be to have more time with the pandas…..love grammmie
Hi Grammie,
Don’t I wish Bill and I are retired! Perhaps if we win the lottery
. Then we will spend more time at the SDZ zoos and other zoos 
!!!
I love this site. Bill and I are so enamored with the pandas and we learn a lot about them here and see wonderful videos and pictures.. and meet wonderful new people like you
… and get to see pandas in other parts of the world!
Just posted 2 videos from Wednesday: the 1st shows a very patient Bai Yun as Xiao Liwu climbed over her no less than 6 times and nibbled on her toes until he was ready to nurse. The 2nd shows a very close up scene of Xiao Liwu sleeping on the platform, and Bai Yun joins him to give him a very thorough grooming.
2013-03-13 Mr. Wu Went Over the Mountain … to Seek out his Dinner!
http://youtu.be/aRO0OZaf7rM
2013-03-13 Grooming and Snuggling a Sleepy Xiao Liwu
http://youtu.be/XwzxhV-RJJU
On the second film of grooming: Little Liwu is so precious when he is sleeping and tries to cover his eyes with his little paws. And then he wakes up and stretches! Cuteness to the max!
Oh my goodness, watching Liwu try over and over to sit on the green mirror object hanging from the tree. He is a persistent little thing. I am laughing so hard. Bai came by and gently pulled him off and he went right back to it. He needs Yunnies big surfer disk swing, he could sit on that and have a ball.
Just saw Bai sitting on liwu’s hammock, he came to play with her and she picked him up in her teeth and threw him off down to the ground. Nasty, nasty, momma! He went back up and I’m sitting here begging him not to go near her. Sad to say.
Oh I DO SO hope Doxiemom got that to share later. If it weren’t for Doxiemom I’d be plastered to my PC 14 hours a day and never get any work done.
Totally understand!!!
After seeing him play on that green toy hanging from the tree today, it seems like Mr Wu is ready for a swing like Yun Zi had!
Great news!!!! The Toronto Zoo is getting two Giant Pandas, 1 male & 1 female that they are hoping will mate. Hopefully they will have a Panda cam too. They will arrive on March 25th.
GREAT NEWS, Now I shall be able to go see Live Pandas, but to be honest my heart belongs to Wu Wu!
Can’t wait to meet our pandas in Toronto. It will be so nice to have them within a day’s visit!!
But….my heart will always belon to Yun Zi
Don’t thnk there will be a cam since Toronto to my knowledge doesn’t have any cams for any of their animals.
I keep hearing that they can’t afford to improve this or that yet obviously they can afford pandas.
I hope the ellies they are suppose to be sending to PAWS leave this spring with no more delays
Time for our Canadians to try to gather the funds, or approach places that make cams, contact other zoos to find out how they get their cams….there are many resources that get used. Look how quickly we gathered funds for our snow days, you, of course don’t have to do that. As a Canadian who lives a half hour fron SDZoo I would try to donate what I could. Get into other blogs and conversations to find out what to do. For two years Mr. Wu’s cousin in Tailand, Princess Lin Ping, had a 24 hour a day television channel. Get together with some friends and get something started. Be sure to let me know if your zoo allows for you to get cams, gather your friends and start something. Love grammmie
p. s. Find out when, where, how San Diego Zoo got started with their cams, then work your way through the other zoos and get their info. I was not familiar .wih any of it until Yunior was born. At first I was full of amazement and did not explore the blog for probably 2 months, so I cannot help you there. Ther are nice people everywhere who will help, you just need to ask. I only remember visiting the Toronto Zoo once before moving to San Diego. It seems to me that all were caged with iron bars, hopefully that has changed, it was more than 50 years ago.
Our little gladiator won. Mom had to get down from the branches without being able to throw his off. Another lesson learned. Head for the ground when Mom comes calling high up on the branches.
I that Bai Yun isn’t being mean to Mr. Wu, but why does she throw him off of limbs and then when he is on the ground walk over to him and push him over? I always feel so sad for sweet Wu when she does this.
When Bai goes off exhibit around noon, is it for her lunch, and how long does she stay in?
Moderator’s note: The exhibit closes at noon, but Bai Yun and cub usually stay there through mid-afternoon.
Yes, I realize that, but i mean when Xiao Liwu is out by himself and you guys call Bai in. Is it for her lunch?
Deb, she goes in, and he is allowed to stay out, (until he is too large, and/or aggressive to handle) they clean up the yard, gather bamboo for weighing, and checking for which species was favored, and to hide the snackies that he gets a few minutes head start with. When they have done that they let Bai out to eat, but if Snuggle Puff is smart he will only chew on mommie’s feet………love grammmie
Thank you sweet grammmie : )
Yous is welcome Debi-pooh!
Bai Yun is sure pushing her cub snugglefuff Liwu away a lot today…..Poor baby,!!!!! Love that little guy, he wasn’t doing anything except minding his own business……
I know!, I know! you are going to tell me, it’s normal!!!!!! I still feel bad for the little almost seven and a half months old cuteness, panda Liwu….I L O V E Baby panda Liwu as so many of us do!!!!!!!!! We don’t want him pushed around……
It occurs to me after watching yet another fit of impatience by Bai, there is no place of refuge from her that Little Wu can run to be safe from her ‘tough love.’ Someplace that he will fit into and which will block good ole mom. As it is right now, she can follow up and down trees, chase him on the ground and do her ‘mom thing’ on him. I want to grab and protect him until she gets over it!
He has appeared in some branches so thin she could only wait to ambush him coming down. I think she would stick with it a lot less than she. On a hot day, at her age, he should get into a high nest with a mister close by, and not try to play when Bai is hot and tired.
I have been watching the bears today and Bai and Little Gift have been having so much fun. I know it looks like Bai is pushing him around a lot but he runs right back for more so I know he loves it. He is a male bear and would need to be strong in the wild so this is good for him. He isn’t afraid of falling is he??? He goes on the swing and falls and runs right back for more. I noticed he would run over for his mommy to shove him around more as well. If little gift is happy so am I.
Moderator…I forgot to ask…first when will Yunnie’s tree be finished and will they make a big deal out of if for us? I hope we get to know when to watch him see it the first time. Next question is…what was the smoke today in Bai and Liwu’s exhibit for?
Thanks
Moderator’s note: I have no answer to either question, sorry.
Tanda, i don’t think it was smoke, I think it was a water-mister with a fan blowing it through the exhibit for the bears to say cool.
Tanda, the moderators said that the tree wouldn’t be ready until after the snow day on the 19th of this month. Hope that helps. There is an earlier question regarding the tree and that is what they answered.
Oh Little Wu, when will you learn? Biting Mama while she is sleeping is a big no-no. Best to go play with your boo. (I didn’t let my babies bite me either)
My children learned very young to NEVER touch my feet, and taught their kids young that it was a serious thing about “Don’t EVER touch Grammies feet”, I feel for Bai on that score. Perhaps we should clue Wu in about some grammmie’s feet. It might save him a bashing sometimes….love grammmie
Bai is a grammmie after all!
In the wild, pandas have to defend themselves, against members of their own species and other animals. What Bai Yun is showing Xiao Liwu (just like his older siblings), are survival skills, including swim lessons. As he grows, mom will engage him in advanced play fighting, and teach him how to eat bamboo. It is giant panda mom’s way of rearing her cubs, analogous to ‘Chinese tiger moms’!
i finally saw bai push fluff butt right off their platform……….fluffy took it all in stride and picked up bais boo…..its just too bad that fluffy can not eat the boo yet….i was thinking that would be a good thing t get bai back for knocking him off the platform…..however i do not want fluffy to grow up any faster then he already is…….
Or mean to those in who’s keeping he will be for many years.
So it’s about 3:02 pm Thursday 3/14, and Bai just flipped Lil Wu off that resting platform they seem to be on about this time of day…………. takes my breath away when that happens……….but I have seen him be persistent and just keep coming back for more…….know per posts normal behavior….but still takes my breath away. Still amazing we get to watch them. They were really playful earlier today too. Glad Lil Wu seems to be so bounceable, every so often though he does shake his head after a fall…..wonder if he ever “sees stars”???? He is adorable!
I could be wrong but I think the ‘smoke’ is actually water from a mist system, keeps the furry ones a little cooler.
Hi all, I thought it was smoke and then my husband said that it was probably mist sprayers to keep the bears cool. I sure hope so. It didn’t seem to bother Mr. Wu as he kept right on sleeping on his hammock. Cutie Pie that he is.
Definitely misters, we broke a ten degree reading for the hottest day ever on this date.
Dear Camera Person~~
Sorry to bother you but can we please see Sweet Li Wu Wu??
Need to see that baby!
Thanks so much~~
puppygirl
Awwww~~There he is!!
what a Sweet little Darlin’ ! ♥
Thanks Camera Person♥
puppygirl
I have a question….After the zoo closes, what does Bai Yun and Xiao Liwu do to occupy themselves all night long. I see that they are sleeping on the garden room platform now, 6:35pm SD time, but when they awake and it’s dark out what do the two of them do for the rest of the night. They can’t possibly sleep for 12 hours could they?
Moderator’s note: We can’t say for sure, of course, but they most likely play, rest, and nurse.
It’s 7:43 and at least one of them is sitting with a pile of bamboo chomping away happily!
Thank you so much for the quick response. Can you imagine that little bugger pestering Bai all night long….LOL I really loved watching him play today with the green mirror enrichment. He loved swinging on it.
They do all of that, I witnessed that staying awake all night most nights. When they are in the next enclosure, and the time comes that they get to stay up later, then once in a while a cam got left on in unusual place (including the garden room one night) or lights are being used unusually, or don’t turn off when they are supposed to, or we get some lucky bright moonlight, I could watch BY and YZ play at night exactly the way they played in the daytime. The picture won’t be real clear, or in color, but with some luck you can still enjoy it…..love grammmie
The NZ have 24 cam with some light and one could see Tai and MeiXiang playing in the wee hours of the morning
We watch Dancing with the Stars, Survivor and Top Chef. Wu Wu likes Veggie Tales so we sometimes watch the videos. And like every family, we go the animal friendly malls or catch a movie.
Love,
Missy Bai
Now why didn’t I remember that. Some of the bigger pet stores sell Boo Juice after Dark, and then the guys we love swing from the chandeliers. The sample packs near the store front make great little snack packs for the little guys, so the momma’s can gather for a chat, the boys for Beer Boo next door. The babies watch so in a very few years they know what is expected of them after dark. It is hard to tell who is serving things, I think it may be zebras–they are hard to see because of their color breakup…..does anybody else remember??? After a while the age groups settle in….the really young ones seeking out mama every couple of hours, adult males next door for beer, mommas having to sit quietly nursing every couple of hours, but the teens have the stud books so they might recommend a particularly nice looking guy or panda cutie to their mamas. It is true mama has the last word, but who doesn’t want a sweet good natured one for a daughter or son-in-law??? It is their baby who gets to live with their precious, and all Pandas want all Pandas, and every other animal to be happy. I am sure I do not know how the store gets cleaned before the first crew comes in…..the Panda mamas have their mouths full of sleepy baby pandas, on their way home to rest….leaving the keepers to wonder how they are so tired every morning, not knowing the rich social life they lead in the evenings. Can you imagine the little stories the babies tell each other about who they will be??? And the moms telling each other what their children (large or small) will be??? The boys—-well they are like teen boys everywhere—-enough said about them!!! The Poppas just do normal poppa bragging…….about their lovely wives, and fantastic children. It is a good thing there is a nighttime every 24 hours or they would wear themselves out. Well happy nighttime to all of our Panda buddies, and the tales we have to tell for them……love grammmie
Thank you… thank you… thank you… Panda, Polar and Koala bears galore. The webcam operator tonight was outstanding!!!
I can’t wait for Wu to be weaned so we can enjoy the pandas and enjoy the community here without being exposed to so much irrational mass hysteria about Bai Yun’s behaviour. I take solace in knowing that the pandas will never have any understanding of the odd stereotypes and humanistic emotional conventions that are attributed to them. Bai Yun will thankfully never know what is said here, and therefore never care. As a panda she could not “care” as such.
If people are interested in thinking about the human/animal divide, one might consider the concept of “projection” — that we project onto animals and other people what we find anxious or lacking in ourselves. A great author who writes about how we project our anxieties onto children is a writer named Lee Edelman. He suggests that when we become obsessed with protecting children, we actually do them a great harm and actually just enjoy feeling affronted.
As the advertisement used to say, the more you know!
OMG = weaning. Can you imagine. Bai will more maligned than ever. Treating her son that way. Panda Bear behavior 101. Six cubs all treated equally
Good remarks. Thanks !
Thank you for the wise and informed post, LukeyPook. Sometimes I just have to give up on reading these posts because of the misinformed panda lovers going on and on about how “mean” Bai Yun is. No one else in the world knows how to raise a panda cub any better than Bai Yun does. She is an expert and I have great respect for her as a mother panda. She is raising a panda cub, not a human child.
Irrational Mass Hysteria..LOL…that’s a little overboard don’t you think.
Moderator, Just want to thank you for taking care of the camera so we can see the pandas…..Without the webcam we would be up a creek!!!!! without a paddle!!!!!
Yes, it’s heartbreaking to see the baby panda darling Liwu fall, but you over there at the panda kingdom know what’s best for those lovely beautiful animals…..I guess, it best to just hold our breath when sweet cutie snugglepuff Liwu falls…I’m sure glad that he is padded like you all said!!!!!!!!!!! Love that baby panda Liwu!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
And with any new panda babies next time I’ll have to get used to the baby falling all over again and steel myself for the mom/baby relationship and keeping the baby safe again for by then I’ll have forgotten! Xiao Liwu seems so strong now, I remember Bai removing him in the nite from the nest the first time and wanting to call the zoo and report her! Is she allowed to do that? ha ha, that was an extra specially fun time for me to experience it all new!
That’s really funny, Sheryl, that you wanted to call the zoo and report her. Made me laugh out loud.
The post about half way up, that had the photos with the “Alls well that ends well”, with Bai Yun and Yun Zi’s bottoms going through the door for lunch to be fixed, if you scroll up to there there is one more photo added by itself, so you might enjoy the page. They are special added to photos….love grammmie
http://www.flickr.com/photos/55531662@N00/4289918617/
One to wet your appetite………….I found the site by accident, clicked wrong spot!
Here is a page of five new photos taken last weekend….enjoy…love grammmie
http://www.flickr.com/photos/ritapetita/page1/
Thanks Grammie… The pictures are just too adorable… I will never tire of looking at his perfect face and picures! Thanks Rita for sharing with us!
Also, if you look at the highest resolution of each picture, you can see “The Cuteness to the MAX”.. Simply beautiful!
Here are 2 videos from Thursday, and I’m working on a third … The 1st shows a very tenacious Xiao Liwu trying to climb onto the green mirrored drum. Not real sure what was going on in the 2nd … lots of different comments with different interpretations have been posted … I’ll let you see for yourself.
2013-03-14 Xiao Liwu Tackles the Swinging Green Drum
http://youtu.be/3v_t3wOOXqM
2013-03-14 Bai Yun & Mr. Wu: Failed Negotiations
http://youtu.be/jiXWhqVw6v4
I’ll post the other link when I get it uploaded. Have a great Friday everyone!!!
Here’s the link for the 3rd video … this picks up where “Failed Negotiations” left off and shows highlights from 3pm – 6:30pm Thursday as Xiao Liwu spent time alone and with Bai Yun on the platform … enjoy!
2013-03-14 Beloved Moments with Bai Yun & Xiao Liwu
http://youtu.be/kORmXLe_-2E
Thank you, Doxie Mom, for always posting such great videos. It gives us a chance to see what we missed when not glued to the panda cam. You are a “little gift” — make that a big gift! — to us.
Doxie – all your videos are terrific. So just have to comment on a couple cutenesses in this one. SInce I’ve recently developed an overwhelming affection for WuWu’s footsies, I nearly swooned about 3:10 into this video. Those little paw pads!! ♥♥♥ And then about 7:00, that has to be the cutest, BIG yawn — why you can almost see his tonsils! lol Thank you again!
Excellent title. Wonder if Bai knows how precious those moments with our little one’s are?
Oh my gosh DoxieMom. You’ve captured some fabulous video there. I hope the zoo has that and want to sell it. It’s a wonderful remembrance of Xiao Liwu’s early days. Loved it when Bai came over and took him off. So cute.
Thanks for another set of splendid videos, DoxieMom! I loved Liwu’s persistence with the green drum and figuring out how to play with the enrichment toy. Reminds me of how Yunzi loves his swing. Perhaps, someday Liwu will enjoy Yunzi’s toy as well.
Even Mama Bai dropped him off the platform in the 2nd video, it was funny how Liwu landed on the ground and managed to rock himself almost into a ball which made me actually think he did not mind being dropped and tool the opportunity to make it a play.
The 3rd had great closeups of him! Just wanted to reach out and scoop him up and cradle him.. That would be wishful thinking
!
Thanks again!
If Bai wants to have peace, she just needs to stay in the center of the pond. He doesn’t like to go in there and she doesn’t like to sit in the water but on her pool float.
i love his determination with the green drum. He finally gets to ride it and she pulls him off!
He does need a tire ring to swing on now!
Bai Yun is a great Giant Panda mother. You shouldnt judge her behavior on what a human mom does or doesn’t do.
Just back from SDZ and I have been so, so lucky.
Yunnie was up in a tree and smiling down sweetly as I waited to see Bai and Mr Wu, an unexpected bonus I’d never have known to look out for without advice from Rita right here.
I cannot possibly describe the delight of seeing the beautiful Missy Bai and her adorable cub. Bai is a beautiful, beautiful panda, just seeing her up close made me want to cry. So much bigger than Tian Tian and Yang Guang in Edinburgh, and her face is gorgeous, I couldn’t stop looking at the way her ears wiggle when she eats and the puzzled way she sometimes looks at Xiao Liwu.
Our boy Wu Wu? What can I say, panda friends. Try to the chubby boy in the fur if you possibly can. I was so lucky, he was very active during my time at SDZ and the little tyke really did seem to be posing in the cutest ways for his adoring public. He’s a bright little thing, full of beans, and utterly adorable. Everything about him is cuteness to the max, way he trots about after Bai is just the cutest thing, but the way he seems to be awake – then instantly asleep – is also really adorable.
The noises – I hadn’t expected those. You don’t hear them in Edinburgh because the bears are behind glass, but at SDZ you hear bleats and grunts and chomping of bamboo. I LOVED this part!
Papa Gao was my first love on Panda cam, and having seen him in the fur, heard him chomping his bamboo, looked into his beautiful eyes and seen his sweet, sweet face I am more in love than ever.
The rest of the zoo is just BRILLIANT too, everything is done to make it a wonderful visitor experience and the staff are just amazing, so knowledgeable,
I will never forget my time communing with the Gao family. A privilege and an honour that I will remember for the rest of my days.
Moderator’s note: Thank you for visiting us and sharing your experience with panda fans, Cara!
Sounds like you had a wonderful time Cara. So glad for you!
I can’t wait to visit someday as well
Thank you for sharing your experience. It was a wonderful account! My first time at the Panda Canyon and thereafter, it was always like magic! It is almost like entering a fantasy place away from the rest of the sounds of the zoo.. the only thing I could hear were the motions of the panda, from chewing, from picking up the bamboo and making their sounds.. It is almost spiritual if you can relate to that!
I am glad you got to see the entire family on your visit! .. and Liwu did give you his special “Welcome Auntie Cara”
! .. Just like all the cubbies from Mei Sheng, Sulin, to ZZ, to Yunzi (except the latter always greeted me with his cute little bum 
) on our past visits.
I am sooooooooooooooooo jealous!!! But you have had a wonderful time, and I can only imagine seeing our panda Family in the FUR, also to have been so close to our cubbie must have been wonderful, he is such a sweetie! Thank you for sharing your visit!
Cara, so glad you had such a brilliant time at SDZ. I knew you would love it. Totally agree with most of your comparisons with Edinburgh Zoo. Visited today again and, contrary to what you said, could actually hear, through the glass, the snapping of the massive pieces of bamboo that Yang Guang was eating. He never stopped eating as he is preparing for the breeding season very shortly. Zoo staff are estimating around Easter. Exciting stuff here in Scotland too. Enjoy SDZ and say hi to everyone for me.
Ah Lynn, give my love to Yang Guang. I’ll be back to see him very soon. Now that I’ve seen Xiao Liwu, the thought of a cubbie less than 30 moles from home….well, I’d have to give up my job!
can’t wait to fly home this year and get to Edinburgh Zoo!!!!!
Cara, I am so happy for you. Had I said before you left to come here what I hoped your visit it would be exactly like what you have described. To come all this way it would be scandalous if you had missed any part of your Panda visit. Was I right telling you this zoo is not like others? The wonderful care of the resident animals is not second to visitor comfort, but visitors are also well taken care of. I hope you will post a million photos from the three million you probably took. So nice you got advice from Rita, you couldn’t ask for better panda direction…….Yunniie seeks her out and may have been there because she was. I hope you get to come back again, but if not you have had a g reat visit, and I bet you were smiling a lot when you were posting about your trip to us…….love grammmie
Yes Grammie, you were quite right. SDZ is a fabulous place, and we were knocked out by the friendliness and the warm welcome we recieved from just about everyone we met in Sandiego (airport security was the exception!)
You guys should come over to visit in Edinburgh if we’re lucky with a cub for TT and YG – Edinburgh is a beautiful zoo set on a hill just outside one of the loveliest cities in Europe, and on a very human scale, always something new to see. The Pandas have completely captured the hearts of people in scotland and throughout the UK – they’re our only Pandas – and like Bai and Gao are beautiful bears, with very distinct personalities. Tian Tian is quite ladylike and something of a diva, according to her keepers, (which is why her silly antics with a snowman and a ball were such a surprise) and Yang is much more laid back and very friendly, a bit of a comedian.
Next stop, China. I’m saving hard!
Thank you Cara for a wonderfully descriptive report. I read through with a big smile on my face, it was almost as if I were there with you as your excitement shows through. I was surprised to read that the pandas in SDZ are bigger than Yang Guang and Tian Tian here in Scotland as Yang Guang really is a big boy. What a bonus to see Yun Zi – I am really missing that guy, and Bid Daddy Gao Gao. And what a delight for you to see Baby Wu in the fur, I’m so glad he didn’t sleep through your visit. I’m sure WHEN not IF we have a panda cub in Edinburgh we will all be camped out for the duration – I already get very little done due to enjoying Mr Wu and his family! Thanks to all at SDZ for sharing this special family with us.
Did he ever stay on the green drum? It was not for lack of trying. Figured out pretty fast that he could not climb up onto it and might have more success climbing down to it. That is one smart and stubborn little bear!! Just love it – what a great watch! Thanks DM.
I, too, have observed his smarts. I just wish he had not gone to ZZ’s school of daredevelling. He sometimes makes it hard to watch him live. At least for a video most everybody tells us if he will make us loose our lunch, I think we have been spoiled! Love grammmie
Yes he did and he was magnificent in getting there. He quickly figured out that bumm first was the way to go. Try and try again, and he concurred. Smart little Panda. He has a smart Mom and an adorable Dad.
I have heard big sister Su Lin is a great puzzle solver. As we see each of hist talents reveal themselves we refer back to one of his older siblings that has the same talent. Perhaps he is the best of everything he can be, but don’t tell him that….we might have a vain baby panda on our hands! It would be with good reason. I can hardly wait to see what comes next. Love grammmie
I wonder if it would be fair to consider our adorable Mr. Wu as going through his “terrible twos”? He is cute beyond compare, but he is a handful and after seeing the video DoxieMom captured, she was more than patient with him! She wanted to eat, he wanted to feed. She gave him plenty of opportunity, but apparently he really wasn’t that hungry and chose to climb her instead! After several times when he could of fed and didn’t, she chose to nap. He would not settle down. She was tired, he wanted to play, climb, bite her. Hence the tossing off! Do something else kid! And he did! First on his back he played immediately with the door hinge and then on to the boo, not the least bit upset, but it does seem he got the message. He didn’t go right back up there again! She isn’t being mean, she is teaching him Beardom!!!!
Here is a cute video of another black and white animal that seem to tumble a lot…
news (dot) yahoo.com/blogs/sideshow/penguins-tumble-spy-huddle-outtakes-223601822.html
Okay I need help at around 1:30 p.m.. Is the Master Of The Moat trying to eat a piece of bamboo, or is it a twig??? He appeared to be stripping like all good little Pandas would but it is so brown it would be hard to call it bamboo. Love grammmie
Hi Grammie,
Lil Wunior dragged a big piece of long bamboo from the pool into his moat. He was playing with it and then picked a brown piece of wood which may be part of the bamboo.. Now he is still there picking on his “stash”.
Thanks Cam operator for zooming in on him with his playful self from the pool to the moat.
I hope DoxieMom captured it.. Will wait later
I hope so too as I missed him in the pool! Last I saw he was like a little kitten not wanted to get his little paws wet!
I missed him in the pool, The Master of The Moat was in a close up shot, with that brown thing, so, Deborah – N. Calif. we both hope somebody caught it on tape, in photos or anything to help us out! Love grammmie. Thanks for your help, Lil and Bill.
Fabulous camera work today, and bonus time out in the North Exhibit too! Here are 2 videos from today: The 1st shows Xiao Liwu taking a piece of bamboo down to the moat as Lil & Bill mentioned. The 2nd is a short video showing Xiao Liwu enjoying himself in and out of a box
2013-03-15 Mission Accomplished! Mr. Wu takes Boo to his Moat
http://youtu.be/kM5z-VYx1FQ
2013-03-15 Xiao Liwu and the Box
http://youtu.be/Am7FRdrxK5E
Xiao Liwu should sleep well tonight as he’s been a very busy panda cub today!
Our “Little Gift” is smart and sneaky. What a precious little man. Thanks Doxie, I missed this.
Great videos as usual, but I was sleeping through them and would not have seem Mr. Tenatious do his thing with the swing. Each time he tried something just a tad different, but only one with his cute little bottom first. I would have expected him to redo mistakes, but not Smarty Pants. I know the NannyKeepers have to change enrichment often to keep our favorite black and whites from being bored, but I hope that two or three times a week they would let us see him have some kind of swing. I am just astounded, but think Bai was going to try to take over the swing soon. The box was cute, channelling Yun Zi trying to make his turtle shell, but the “swing” was just too much, it overshadows all done by him so far. Thank you for catching it…..love grammmie
The video with the box reminds me of all toddlers…you can give them all the gifts you want, but they like the box best. Just adorable. Thanks!
Dear DoxieMom~~
Thank You for showing us Li Wu Wu getting his boo down in the moat
Bless his heart♥ Sweet, Precious Baby worked SO hard getting it down to his special safe place!
Love your videos♥
puppygirl
Debbie in Pa and Sophia…Sorry it has taken me so long to reply a thank you for the answers you gave me on the post about the smoke and tree. That was very thoughtful of you.
I can hardly wait to watch the snow day! How fun for the bears.
Awww, Gao Gao has just the sweetest round little face. He’s so cute sitting there happily munching away, happy as ever as long as he has bamboo. What a sweetheart. Love these bears ♥
Bai Yun’s Big Spa Weekend Adventure Part 2
Bai woke to the gentle tapping on her door. Her 3 friends had ordered breakfast and were bringing it to her so she could have breakfast in bed. The 4 friends were noshing down on lovely boo scrambled eggs, salads, juices and spring rolls.
Ye Ye turns to Bai grinning, ‘We thought it would be a treat for you so we have booked you on a paragliding lesson with a very cute and hunky instructor and then we all are going on a hot air balloon ride.’
Bai’s jaw dropped. Paragliding! Well, ZZ and Wu Wu got their daredevil genes from her side of the family. Bai laughed and said, ‘Make sure you gals take lots of photos cos Gao is not going to believe it. And have you checked? Do they have a big enough harness?’
Lunnie replies, ‘The humky instructor, by the way his name is Lenny, says that last year he brought up Mrs Edna Ellie and she had the time of her life. Woo Hoo!’
‘Well, what are we waiting for?’ says Bai as she jumps out of bed and gets ready. The four friends troop to the beach where Lenny who is from Woolong was waiting.
‘Zhao an xiao jies [Good Morning, Misses]‘ greets the hunky instructor. The ladies giggle at being called a Miss. Ye Ye flutters her eyelashes at him and asks, ‘Please make sure our dear Jie Jie is safe.’
‘No worries, Ma’am. I will protect her as if she was my on sister. Are you ready Miss Bai? Come with me and I will put the harness on you.’ And Lenny gets Bai ready very competently. It is a double harness set up so Bai as trapped to Lenny. The boat man was ready and then they were off.
‘Wheeeeeeee!’ yelled Bai as she lifted off. Her friends waved and soon became small dots. Bai enjoyed the view. It was so peaceful up there in the sky. She waved to some gulls who were surprised to meet two flying pandas. Soon Lenny pointed to the spot where they would land and she braced herself. They landed well to the applause of the 3 panda ladies and some bystanders. Lenny presented Bai with a certificate to say she has accomplished her first paragliding session.
As the four friends went for some refreshments, Mei Xiang laughingly said, ‘Did you see his 6 pack?’ Ye Ye nodded. Bai paused, ‘No but he had strong arms. Almost as strong as Gao Gao’s.’ After a refreshing drink, our ladies went to the field for a hot air balloon ride over the countryside.
‘My look over here, there are so many small vineyards!’ ‘Hey is that that famous village?’ The ladies enjoyed themselves wafting over the landscape.
‘So what are we doing after lunch, ladies?’ asked Bai.
Lunnie replies. ‘We have arranged for us to do an art session. You and Mei are booked for painting, Ye and I are doing some pottery.’
Bai laughed, ‘You remembered!’
Mei Xiang replied, ‘Yes, you were quite famous as a teen artist. I guess with the kids and all, you have stopped painting.’
Bai smiled, ‘Yes, in fact even Gao Gao does not know this part of my past. Mama used to hang my paintings in her den. Papa said he kept them all. I was voted the Most Promising Young Artist of the region. Those were the days, my friends…’
‘No wonder your kids are all soooo artistic!! Mine follow their Papa and are demolition experts,’ laughs Lunnie.
Ye Ye points to a banner, ‘Hey they have a special buffet on the Terrace. Shall we eat al fresco?’
‘Hun, what a lovely suggestion, girlfriend,’ agrees Bai, ‘Last one there buys drinks!’ And what a sight to see 4 panda ladies running on their Mahnolo Bearninks to the Buffet.
To be Completed.
Am I allowed to post this? The last pic is halarious. It’s panda pics.
Check out the last pic of pandas on this site…funny.
cheezburger (dot) com/28933
I tried it, waited a while, then figured it was because I am using my tablet—it won’t work for everything…love grammmie
This little cub is absolutely fearless! He just fell from a high distance right on top of Bai who was sitting munching her bamboo. I cringed in horror for both of them. But have no fear! Little Wu was up and right back to climbing all over again!!
As for poor Bai, she seemed a bit startled and in shock, but otherwise o.k
DoxieMom, you’re the best, hank you for the wonderful videos taken of the cuteness, adorable Liwu getting that big piece of bamboo “his treasure” down to his moat!!!!!! This darling snugglepuff Liwu is so smart…..he just amazes me!!!!!!! I love him dearly and his family…….
DoxieMom, Thank you…….
The sleepy XIAO Liwu is hanging on a couple of small branches for his morning snooze. Darn if he wasn’t tapping his foot just like his Mom right before he dozed off. He is getting to be a really grown up like Panda, sleeping on those high branches like that.
7:05 am: Lil Wu is out and up in the tree.
Lil Wu: I herd the hooman say that the “early bird catches the worm”.So I got out here early and up to the top of the tree. What is a worm? Mama hasn’t told me about worms yet. My mom, Gao Bai Yun, is still teaching me to tuck and roll, when she is going to fling me from the tree. We practice almost every day. I don’t cry when she throws me off. I will just take a little nap while I am here and wait for Auntie Weeta. She likes to take my picture, so I want to wave to her today.
: ) : ) : )
to moderator…
How different is Xiao Liwu from other cubs?
Were all the other cubs sleeping high on the tree like he does?
Is Bai a little less patient with him or is she the same with all other 5?
Thank you for answering
Moderator’s note: Each cub has its own personality, of course, but all cubs spend a great deal of time high in a tree at this point of their life. In the wild, that’s the safest place for them while Mom looks for food.) Our keepers have not noticed any change in Bai Yun’s cub care. You might enjoy reading previous panda blogs to compare for yourself. Yun Zi was this age in March 2010, Zhen Zhen in 2008, and Su Lin in 2006.
He is having another productive and busy day! While Bai makes the rounds he is up in the branches sliding, climbing, slithering, slipping, catching, and nibbling his toes. What a happy boy he is!
I see on the Cam that Master Wu has a stash of boo stalks hidden in his moat! congratulations on getting them away from Mommy Bai, Wu!
never a dull moment with Xiao Li Wu. if he’s not rolling around with a ball in the moat, mouthing sticks and bamboo, then he may be practicing for the flying trapeze. he has an adventurous spirit.
How wonderful to see the gorgeous, gentle Gao Gao.
I am quite excited about going to see Bai Yun and Xiao Liwu on Tuesday playing with their snow. My hope is that Liwu will be so excited that he won’t sleep the whole 3 hours he is on exhibit. with the change in time the past week, he seems to nap during most of the 9:00 – Noon time span. I so want to see him awake and having a good time.
I meant to ask: anyone that has been on this site long enough to remember when past little ones had their snow day, do you remember if they were awake for it?
It’s now 6:50 PM baby panda sweetness was taking a nice nap for a while and his mom came up on the platform where her cub is sleeping and she woke him up tried to push him off the platform and on the second try she did , poor baby!!!! here he was sound asleep and his mom comes along knocks him off his place where he is napping…..The poor darling landed down and slowly headed to one of the rooms…..As soon as Bai Yun pushed her son off the platform she left…..I am wondering if in panda world is that the way she trains her young one to go to another place??????? I don’t know!!!!!!!
I saw the same thing and thought the same thing as well. When they showed Liwu going into the next room Bai was already in there waiting for him, so maybe it was her saying “come on son lets go”.
Only one new Wu today, but cute!!!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/ritapetita/8561522032/in/photostream
I hope you enjoy it too, I certainly did. Love grammmie
Oh my gosh Grammie. These were so precious. This woman knows how to use a camera and her eye’s vision to a tee. Thanks for taking the time to provide the link. I’m clueless about getting links.
Dearest SA, I simply go to the link, copy it, then go to where I am telling you guys about it, and paste it. If you do not know copy and paste ask a child (they teach as if we are their age–what I need sometimes), your guru, friend, relative neighbor, whomever can teach you the simplest way, and enjoy….love grammmie
While looking for another spot, where I have been gathering a bunch of links, that I keep having trouble finding I stumbled upon this. I know you don’t all have young kids, but I have not explored the rest of the page-but figured you could enjoy doing that if you like.
http://search (dot) yahoo (dot) com/tablet/s?p=page+for+pandas&fr=ipad
If there are any answers to questions I have asked, or if you are waiting for answers, try them again on the next blog. The count on this is over 300 now and I keep falling asleep if I read too long. Thanks for understanding, love grammmie
I was wrong—–I clicked on the one with images, and after 16 pages I stopped hitting more images. There are actual photos of pandas, figures of the animals in Kung Fu Panda II, and on most photos when clicked on there are more photos when you use the right and left arrows, you all are going to be busy, but it could be a pleasant way to await another blog…..love grammmie
OH Boy~~6:30 AM San Diego time and breakfast!
Poppy Gao is awake and up waiting on the “chuck wagon”!!
Have a Terrific Day, Sweet Man♥
I LOVE YOU♥♥♥
puppygirl
Here’s an entire page of Mei Sheng YT videos!
Hope you enjoy!
http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=Mei+Sheng+Panda&oq=Mei+Sheng+Panda&gs_l=youtube.12…4889.29344.0.32770.15.15.0.0.0.0.93.1080.15.15.0…0.0…1ac.1.BPCyrYYQAXI
Lil & Bill~~
Sorry I’m late with this
puppygirl
Thanks PuppyGirl! It was fun watching the videos… and more… it took us to many other videos especially watching Mei Sheng’s training as well as Sulin’s in China. Though, for some reason, Bill and I felt more comfortable when they got the training when the SDZ keepers seem to be more in the protected enclosure and Mei Sheng is on the other side having access to his more natural environment with the garden, trees, etc. Looking at Mei Sheng and Sulin behind the vertical bars as if in the cage made Bill and me a little sad cause it seems more natural for them to be out with nature. We know The China reserves take care of them but it feels easier on me and Bill to see them outside. Just our thoughts maybe cause we were used to seeing them roaming around in their garden at SDZ.
This is the Link to some YT videos of Su Lin
http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=Sulin+panda&oq=Sulin+panda&gs_l=youtube.12…20260.36459.0.39821.22.16.1.0.0.3.79.964.14.14.0…0.0…1ac.1.PAVAvL1-eic
Am late with these too. Sorry
Hope you enjoy
puppygirl
Fine Snow video, Puppy, anyone wondering if they enjoy the snow, Su Lin had not been to China when this had been shot-she had only been “snowed on” through artificial means….love grammmie
Is there any documentation of how Panda’s have evolved over the years?
Panda Team responds: There are several records of bear evolution, and how pandas fit into the picture. You can start here: Brother Bear: Ursidae Family Tree.
YAY!!!!!!!!!!! Darling Wu Wu is out and about!
Starting his exploring for the day!
SO Sweet♥
Li Wu Wu~~
Seeing you has made the sun shine for me!:)
I L.O.V.E. YOU, Sweet little Guy♥
puppygirl
Ok can someone explain how the “snow day” works? do they just dump truck full of snow in the exhibits? are all the panda’s getting the snow?..cant wait to watch, probably like my dogs when it snows here for the first time of the year, curious then they love playing in it..
All Pandas in residence get snow, no one is left out. I imagine the snow is made and deposited much like they do in ski country, just on a very much smaller scale. The only other way would be to make it at the snow company, and truck it to the zoo for depositing in much of the yard. The pandas come from 4000 ft+ mountain ranges where pandas live their lives, and they instinctly love it. The younger ones may not seem to enjoy it at first, but they learn to love it. I was gathering some photos yesterday, but managed to hide them without even trying. If you see my name with a green link in it click quick, it might be snow photos. I had come across a great snow photo of Mei Xaing in DC, showing great joy, and was busy collecting others when I managed to loose it. We will try again…..love grammmie
Moderator’s note: The snow is blown in from a truck. Huge ice blocks are feed into a chipper of sorts and “snow” comes out. The snow will be blown wherever the truck and blower can reach.
Wow! – what did Bai & WuWu have for breakfast this morning! Have not seen a play & wrestling session like that between them in a long time. Too bad most of it was hidden by that tall stump, but I did use my imagination to the max.
Next WuWu was hanging around the edge of the pool & now followed Mommie into the tree structure. He loves all the attention today. Those are going to be two very pooped pandas soon. z-z-z-z lol
Wow, DoxieMom’s video of Lil Wu taking the boo to the moat was incredible! Busy little guy for sure! Debi asked if he’s in the terrible twos I’d have to say yes! One of the recent videos showed them in the garden room, Mr Wu climbed over and over Bai, she was so patient, she offered herself up for nursing, he turned that down, he climbed on her back and bit her while she tried to sleep, she finally sent him to the floor and I can’t blame her, a mom can only take so much! But then this am I saw Bail pick up and chew on him, she picked up almost 30 pounds like he was a feather! Such love!
Mr Wu is cracking me up! This morning he seems to be trying to master the elegant “Bear Drape” over the branches to get into a comfy sleeping/resting mode. It doesn’t seem to be quite working. Legs probably going numb, a few wedgies, branches just a bit too high or too far apart, but he is determined to master this! Adorable!!
Boy Howdy! What a Picture!!
Sweet Li Wu looks like he has gone to sleep in the Really High branches with his back legs dangling!!!!!!
Hope his feet don’t “go to sleep” !!!!!
Be careful up there little darlin’ ♥
YOU are in my heart♥♥♥
puppygirl
It was nice to see early this morning to see Bai and Wu playing together was so cute. And the video of Wu with his box was great! And the boo that he took to his moat that was great without even falling down the hill. LOL Just love him.
it was fun to see Bai following Xiao Li Wu around the climbing structure, trying to give him a baff this morning (north exhibit). I could hear him protesting, “No Mom, I ish too big and brave to get a baff. Help!”
Unfortunately, the chase and fun ended at the mini-hammock, when Bai tried to pick up XLW repeatedly and he kept fighting free, until he was hanging on a corner and slipped off. in this case, I will have to side with Bai. if XLW gave into a baff for several minutes, he probably would not have fallen. maybe he’s in his rebellious years.
Had a busy Saturday, so just now uploaded 3 videos from Saturday, and one from very early Sunday morning!!
The 1st shows a mixture of cute and amazing footage from Saturday in the North Exhibit. The 2nd shows Xiao Liwu playing with bamboo, his pillow, and his mother’s feet
The 3rd shows Xiao Liwu, who was obviously not sleepy, joining Bai Yun on the platform.
This morning Xiao Liwu broke from his normal routine of climbing trees and exploring his exhibit … he wanted to play with Bai Yun, and she obliged off and on over a 2 hour period ~ that’s the 4th video
2013-03-16 Xiao Liwu’s Sunny Saturday Highlight Reel
http://youtu.be/tNyOQ0XlI-Y
2013-03-16 Time to Settle Down, Xiao Liwu!
http://youtu.be/98KQ-nPtS_s
2013-03-16 Garden Room Antics courtesy of Xiao Liwu
http://youtu.be/rK8Tt8NZRPI
2013-03-17 Xiao Liwu Plays (early!) on St Paddy’s Day
http://youtu.be/xY25bhsbFb8
Thank you all for your comments, and especially thank you to the SDZ personnel and volunteers that make this educational (and entertaining) experience possible every day.
One more video from Sunday: From taking another piece of Bai Yun’s bamboo down into the moat, to playing with the bushes and grass (as well as a box and a log) at the end of the day out in the North Exhibit, you never know what Xiao Liwu will be exploring next
2013-03-17 A Green Day for Xiao Liwu
http://youtu.be/2fFTKmCVJ38
Aw sitting here and checking on Gao Gao all covered up in his boo. He is just so cute! Just have to love him.
Moderator,
Is Gao Gao suppose to eliminate what appears to be diarrhea this late afternoon early evening??? he was going to stretch out on a large rock just before it happened, and you could see the yellowish very thick marking that was left on the rock!!!!!! Did anyone else see this???? I’m calling it a large rock, maybe there is another name for that place!!!!!!
Is Gao Gao alright?????? I hope he doesn’t have a tummy ache!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Moderator’s note: Pandas pass different “types” of feces depending on diet and mucous build up. No need to worry, though, as our keepers are aware of everything that “passes”!
what great videos. Thanks. Happy St Paddy’s to everyone. Wonder if MR Wu knows if it is St Patrick’s Day? Maybe he and his mom will go and see if they can find the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow? Looking forward to the Snow Day.
As I logged on I found an interesting blog name there was a photo of a Panda, and was called Panda Keeper Day. I figured if I read it I might see that they arrive early, work hard, and play with any baby pandas in residence every chance they can get their hands on it. But in my mind, I saw the keepers in lawn chairs in their comfy summer clothing, feet in the pool, an iced drink in their hands, boom box playing lovely music. Now for the Pandas…..Bai in her prettiest apron, Gao in a tux, and Yun Zi in the pool giving feet massages whenever needed, and the keepers trying very hard to get to hold WuZi for more than five minutes at a time. Does that sound like more fun than the truth? If you want every word you type for a blog to come out accurate you best have moderator Debbie as a special guest for the day….perhaps Mr. Wu will be able to sing his song for her this time. It must be a dream job to work with the Pandas, especially ours….love grammmie
P.S. I bet Mr. Wu will even show off for Debbie by swimming laps I in the pool. Would we like to see a panda keeper day every month??? During cool weather Goa, Bai and Yunz will cuddle with you to keep you warm, as wil WuZi.
Bai Yun’s BIg Spa Weekend Part 3
‘Ooooooh, I wonder why I took that last cuppy cake. I am going to burst out of my fur, ‘ groans Ye Ye as she licks her lips.
‘I am still thinking of whether I should have one more slice of that coconut pie,’ muses Mei Xiang.
‘Go for it, girl friend!’ cheers on Lunnie who is reaching for another slice of the ‘Death by Boo Chocolate’ cake. Bai beats her to it. Lunnie pouts for a nanosecond and reaches for a chocolate covered truffle.
There as a lovely silence as the ladies sipped tea and finished theirnjust desserts.
‘Sweethearts, I think it is time to do some serious shopping!’ declares Ye Ye, ‘I need a new Summer wardrobe.’
‘I need to get something for Wu Wu. He called me last night. He was missing me but he was trying to be a brave strong boy. Such a sweetie.’
‘My, the Mummy Monster is losing her mojo,’ teases Mei, ‘ but we all know she is a big marshmallow. OK, let’s all go do some serious retail workout.’
A new shopping mall had come up since they were last at the spa. When they emerged from the underground link, the ladies gasped. Every single shop they love was represented.
Lunnie took stock and declared, ‘Ladies, divide and conquer. Let the games begin!’
When Gao Gao came to pick up Bai, his eyes widened in fear. ‘How many extra bags have you got there, darl?’
‘Don’t worry, the girls bought Yunnie and Wu Wu presents. And some for you too.’
‘They shouldn’t have. I have all I need….[He moves in to hug her.] You are all I need.’
‘Oh Gao, you are God sent.’
‘Hun, what’s this?’
‘Its a painting. A portrait of you. I did it in art class yesterday.’
Gao holds it up. Bai is quite talented. The Gaoness of Gao was well captured.
‘My wife is a painter! Wooo Hooo, who knew? Thanks, doll face. Hey not every guy gets his portrait done my the wife. I shall call it ‘A study in black and white’ hee hee hee.’
‘Missed me?’
‘All the time. Kids and I had a lovely time. Wu Wu is growing so fast.’
‘Yes, isn’t he? Quite a pawful isn’t he?’
‘Really, didn’t noticed. Lots of energy like ZZ. Boy, had to work hard getting him to sleep.’
‘And Yunz?’
‘Growing up into a young man we can be so proud of. He is so well mannered and good looking. Like his Pa.’
‘If you say so,’ smiles Bai as she places a paw gently on her husband’s cheek.
The End.
It’s 11:32 am, and Wuwu is asleep up in the tree, looks like he’s dreaming of his snow day tomorrow. Can’t wait to watch the fun. Do we know what time it will start? thank you.
Moderator’s note: You may want to tune in around 8:30 a.m. for snow day fun.
At 8:48 AM PST, Liwu is sleeping in his favorite spot at the elm tree, contorted to some weird position. Must be comfortable for him!!! He is so cute, fluffy, and getting big now. Can’t wait for his thrill in snow day tomorrow!
Hi! Just got some news from the National Zoo panda keepers about Mei Xiang this past week. The keepers and vets are on estrus cycle watch on Mei Xiang so that they can catch her on the day or days that she is in the estrus cycle for either putting her and Tian Tian together for mating or doing a couple of AI procedures. Her hormones are still baseline but are hopeful that they will begin to go up that will let them know that Mei is in her cycle. Keep fingers crossed, ok? Mei was able to have a cub last year, so I am hoping, as well as all of us, that she will get pregnant again and have a very healthy cub later on this year.
Just saw little Xiao on his platform. He was napping then just woke up and sniffing his platform for some good smells. Still a very cute adorable cubbie!
Gonna go for now. Will keep checking on NZ, AZ, and MZ on all of the lady pandas for estrus cycle news.
Chari Mercier
St. Pete, FL
Wonderful site. Plenty of useful information here. I’m sending it to several buddies ans also sharing in delicious. And naturally, thanks to your effort!