Behind the Scenes with Keepers
Posted at 3:11 pm August 26, 2005 by Panda Research TeamI have been taking care of our pandas since the day they arrived from China in 1996. A lot has happened since that historic day when they arrived. Here we are on our third panda cub birth!
I have to say taking care of these wonderful animals has probably been the highlight of my keeper career. Each panda birth has been a unique experience. I remember how nervous we all were when Hua Mei was born. When I held her for the first time, I was so afraid I would drop her! Hua Mei taught us a lot about cub behavior and growth development and, on a side note, boy could she play hard with her keepers during our weekly exams with the vets!!!
Mei Sheng was very different; he was not as bold and adventuresome as Hua Mei. He seemed to be more cautious and sensitive in his surroundings. Hua Mei will always be our special first-born cub, but Mei Sheng has stolen the spotlight from his famous sister as being truly a people-oriented panda. He loves the attention he gets from his keepers, and will literally run over to the fenceline when he sees us.
So what is in store for us with this new baby girl? Time will tell. One of the common questions I get from San Diego Zoo guests is: Is the baby more like mom or dad? If I had to say with Hua Mei, she is more like her mom. Mei Sheng has a nice combination of his father and mother. With this new cub, we will have to wait and see. That is part of the fun of being her keeper, watching this little girl grow up and developing the same wonderful relationships we have had with our other panda cubs!
Kathy Hawk is a senior keeper on the Giant Panda Team.
View Bai Yun and her cub on Panda Cam
See our slideshow images of the second exam
See video of the cub’s second exam
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August 26th, 2005 at 3:36 pm
We cannot thank you enough for making the Panda cam available to us. We are Seniors, and cannot travel to the Zoo. And, we follow the blogs of the National Zoo, but on web tv we cannot get the Videos. So we can only read them. BUT, WE WANT TO SHARE THIS with you, the day of the birth in San Diego was on our 53rd. wedding Anniversary! That’s also the day they determined the sex of the boy at National Zoo! Sooo, after following all this for a few months, we were so thrilled! We went out for dinner, and when we checked in that night, here was the baby! We will always remember this! We have become Panda fanatics! They are so cute, and it is fascinating to learn from both zoos what they are all about! Again, THANK YOU ALL for all you do, and offer the public. Keep up the great work! We are now anxious to see them toddle, and get their sight, and names! Exciting!!!
August 26th, 2005 at 3:54 pm
One question my kids, and probably others, are asking is – what are the educational requirements for being a keeper at a zoo? Are there paths to working like this other than veterinary science – and if someone is interested in animal care such as your jobs, how do they prepare in high school and/or college. Thanks
August 26th, 2005 at 4:12 pm
I just would like to thank you and other staff. You guys are doing an excellent job!
August 26th, 2005 at 4:19 pm
It must be nice…being keepers to such wonderful animals…I’ve always wanted to be a keeper myself but I know you have to go to school and work hard. Maybe later in life i’ll get the chance and hopefully earn a job like you all there at the Zoo. Thank you for these blogs and updates. Many of us can’t be there to see what goes on but with your blogs we get a perfect idea of what it’s like. Thank you again.
August 26th, 2005 at 5:15 pm
Kathy yes you are truly lucky! Thank you for all the great footage and updates on the baby girl. She is truly a cutie pie. I’ve wanted to work at the Zoo for a very long time and I’m finally making that dream possible. Hope to see you soon!
August 26th, 2005 at 5:30 pm
I had a great chance to see Mei Sheng and he is the most beautiful panda in my opinion.
His face like Bai Yun and his fluffy fur and his small size , Gao Gao. So, I know that our baby girl will be very beautiful. Kathy, I can imagine how great it is doing your job, because the panda’s face and eyes make me smile, laugh and feel happy.It´s a wonderful moment watching them by panda cam. Elisa from Brazil
August 26th, 2005 at 7:02 pm
As a shut-in, I am grateful for the chance to watch both your Panda cam and the one at the National Zoo here on the east coast. It is amazing how the Panda mothers handle these tiny babies so gently, and how cooperative they are with their keepers. It speaks well of both Panda teams that these bears trust you so much. Thank you for the hard but wonderful work you do to keep these treasured animals healthy. And thank you for sharing your love of these beautiful creatures.
August 26th, 2005 at 7:10 pm
Im so happy for the new girl!!!!I cant wait to see her at the zoo!
August 26th, 2005 at 7:13 pm
You can not imagine how jealous I am of you all! I love all animals (except spiders and snakes!) and nothing is more precious than a baby. Especially when you can play with them and be close to them as you get to be. I am addicted to the cams and look forward to them each evening. Thanks for all of the notes on the Pandas and know that they are precious. It’s the next best thing to being there!!
August 26th, 2005 at 8:56 pm
Is Bai Yun losing a lot of weight? Or does she seem much thinner due to the camera angles? Has her normal appetite returned since the birth of our latest cub?
August 26th, 2005 at 9:51 pm
It´a girl. Congratulations !!!
August 27th, 2005 at 2:56 am
just to let you know that I love the cam, the several video’s, the weblogs from the pandacub, it’s amazing to see this, while I’m living in amsterdam, the netherlands.
August 27th, 2005 at 3:48 am
Thanks so very much for all the people who work so hard in taking care and doing all that you do to keep all this for the public. you make a dream come true for us old folks who can’t maybe get out and can have something to keep them interesting. not only do you have a great job to take care of the pandas but you also make alot of people happy to have this site and with that i thank you everyone for all your hard work getting up everyday and taking care of these animals it take a speical person who loves their job and you guys sure do we can see that. thanks patsy in lex,ky
August 27th, 2005 at 6:12 am
Thank you so much for sharing the experience of the bears with us via the webcams as we live in the UK my mother and I cannot see them in person yet (we hope to one day)and the panda cams are the highlight of our day.
We also wonder what this little girl will be like and we look forward to seeing her personality unfold. We used to call Mei Sheng the little professor as he used to look so concerned and studious as he got to know the world outside of the den.
We never had access to the internet when Hua Mei was born but it was fun catching up with all the pictures and info.
It is so nice to see this baby from the beginning and note all the progress she makes.
Best wishes.
August 27th, 2005 at 6:15 am
Hello! Thank you for sharing the Pandas with all of us. I have the Panda Cam installed on my Apple Computer Dashboard and view it throughout the day. I have had so much enjoyment simply observing the evolving relationship between Mom and Daughter. I do have a question though. The Panda Cam at one point gave us great close-up shots, but recently I’ve noticed that the Cam is only giving us a wider, distant view. Can you tell us why that is? Seeing the Pandas zoomed in is so much fun. If at all possible, I would love the occasional close-up view again. Thanks to the Panda team for all your efforts!
August 27th, 2005 at 7:03 am
Great to hear from Kathy who has had firsthand experience with all of Mama Bai’s cubs. How all we panda aficionados envy the keepers!
August 27th, 2005 at 7:31 am
It is so interesting to hear the differences in the personalities and behaviors of the pandas. We never tire from hearing of their antics. They are fortunate to have keepers as caring and devoted as Kathy and the others.
August 27th, 2005 at 7:44 am
Oh, Kathy, how wonderful for you to have been keeper to Bai Yun during the births of three cubs. I can’t imagine any job more exciting or fulfilling. My brothers and I are in the midst of arranging a trip to Baja in March for our 81-year-old parents, who spent 30 winters there. The other day my mother announced she’d like to go to the San Diego Zoo. Could have knocked me over with a feather, but she is determined to make the most of this trip. It is in celebration of their 60th wedding anniversary, and Mom is so excited you’d think it was a honeymoon rather than a trip with family members. And I’m excited because it means I’ll get to see the pandas. I’ve only been a panda-watcher since Mei Sheng’s birth, and am thrilled the new cub is a girl because I missed Hua Mei’s childhood. Thanks for having the Panda Blog. I love the Panda Cam, but the Blog is wonderfully informative.
August 27th, 2005 at 7:58 am
I just want to let you know I LOVE the new re-vamped SDZoo website with all the features it now has to offer, especially the weblogs. (Just enjoyed reading Mary Anne and Joe’s comment.) Being on the Panda site each day (a minimum of 6 times) gives me a lift for the day. I, also, give my co-workers an update on the cute pandas.
I’ve been viewing the Panda Cam since we got a computer and that was around the time Mei Sheng was born. The descriptions you give of each panda’s personality are wonderful to read. Keep up the wonderful work!!!
August 27th, 2005 at 11:18 am
I had to check on the pandas (SD & DC) one last time before I evacuate the path of Hurricane Katrina. Please pray for the people of New Orleans and southeast Louisiana. Thank you.
August 27th, 2005 at 1:03 pm
Bonjour de PARIS , FRANCE. Bienvenue au jeune panda !
Hello, there are many French people from Paris enjoying the Panda Cam. A question about Bai Yun: how measures the panda mother ?
Thank you for your wonderful job.
BRUNO
August 27th, 2005 at 2:17 pm
Thank you for everything! This is such a treat to be able to observe mom and baby. I was wondering what the temperature is in the den where they are and how does it compare to where the regular Pandas are housed?
You are all wonderful!
August 27th, 2005 at 2:54 pm
Kathy – I was interested in your remark about Mei Sheng liking people. I noticed that when he was younger, he’d run to the keepers who entered his area and want to play. On his recent birthday he rolled his ice cake down to the concrete wall below where the people walk, and I saw him standing on the cake trying to reach up to the people above. He’s adorable!!
August 27th, 2005 at 5:37 pm
Hello! I was wondering how come these pandas are called ‘Giant Pandas’? Are there some pandas that don’t carry the ‘Giant’ title, and are just ‘Pandas’? Thanks again for all your wonderful information! I really enjoy reading your postings.
August 28th, 2005 at 5:34 am
For Betty’s comments: I know Mei Sheng’s father, Gao Gao, has been very ” people friendly” since he was in China. Gao Gao is a wild panda. But he liked to search for food in a nearby village, without fear of human beings at all! Mei Sheng must inherit his father’s virtue! Miss Mei Sheng. Hope we can see more of his pictures.
August 28th, 2005 at 5:37 am
I also have an answer for Cristina’s question. yes, there is ” non-giant” bear. Chinese call it ” xiao xiong mao,” which means, little bear cat, the ” washing bear.”
August 28th, 2005 at 6:41 am
Congratualtions to Bai Yun on the birth of her new little girl. She is just so precious
and Bai Yun is such a terrific mother.
I have two questions. I purchased the video on Hue Mei’s first year, will there be a
video of Mei Sheng’s first year also? And the pictures of Mei Sheng’s 2nd birthday,
will they be available to purchase? They are so cute, I would love to have copies of
them. I just love Panda’s and you guys and gals are doing a terrific job. Love to be
in your shoes…Kay
August 28th, 2005 at 8:31 am
Just want to add some notes on Gao Gao’s ” people friendly” virtue. Gao Gao was a movie star in China. He was in a movie called ” going home” . the movie relates how Gao Gao was found in the wild, how he was trained with panda skills, and how he was returned to the wild. The voice-over of the film said,” now, Gao Gao varnishes in the forests, what will happen to him? Can he recognize his keepers ten years later.” What the Chines film people do not know is that Gao Gao ended up in America! Not only he returned from the wild to his Chinese villagers, but he made it to San Diego. So, that might give you some idea why his son, Mei Sheng, loves people too!!–From a Chinese panda-holic who read everything about panda.
August 28th, 2005 at 8:51 am
Thank you so much for all your hard work. Love watching mom and baby. Could we sometime have closer look at baby in mom’s arms. I have forwarded many postcards to friends and now they are hooked. Thanks again. Paula
August 28th, 2005 at 8:52 am
Thank you so much for all your hard work. Love watching mom and baby. Could we sometime have closer look at baby in mom’s arms. I have forwarded many postcards to friends and now they are hooked. Thanks again. Paula
August 28th, 2005 at 10:28 am
I enjoy my daily visits, via the pandacam,with the Pandas.Mei Sheng is still my very favorite. He seems to have personality to spare.I wasn’t watching when Hua Mei was little, but have enjoyed pictures & information that I have read about her. My oldest daughter has been a fanatic since Hua Mei was born.In fact my two oldest daughters & their husbands each made trips to California, last year, especially to see the Pandas.My travels have slowed down at my age, but that is why the Pandacam is so wonderful.You are blessed to be able to be with such wonderful animals on a daily basis…keep up the good work. Connie
August 28th, 2005 at 11:55 am
Are your blogs being censored? I know I read one yesterday referring to the DC Zoo’s baby pandas that died. It is not online anymore. It had significant information regarding the ” high maintenance” the infant pandas require and how well Bai Yun does in meeting those needs. I sincerely hope it wasn’t deleted and will be looking for it. I was living in the DC area when those infants were born and remember the trauma we all experienced at their failure to survive. That blog was very informative, and helped me (and others, I am sure), understand just how delicate these ” preemies” are. Shame on you if it isn’t returned!
August 28th, 2005 at 1:51 pm
Watching the Pandas is incredible! Getting a chance to see the cub grow up and watching them both interact is awesome too! To the couple in comment #1 and anyone else, you can see the cub at the National Zoo on Animal Planet’s website: animal.discovery.com if the National Zoo website doesn’t work for you. Thought I would share that infomation.
August 28th, 2005 at 3:15 pm
Kathleen, I also read that blog and found it to be very interesting also, and I have wondered why it isn’t there anymore. I’m glad you wrote–I didn’t think I could be the only one who saw it!
(Editor’s note: the blog was temporarily pulled so clarification could be made.)
August 28th, 2005 at 5:08 pm
Have you considered mating this adorable new baby girl panda with the handsome new baby boy panda in Washington D.C. when they are both old enough to mate? At what age can pandas mate and reproduce?
August 28th, 2005 at 10:55 pm
I live in Dubai. We are +- 12 hours ahead of you so I get to watch Bai Yun and her cub during your night time. I have really enjoyed the past few weeks watching the little one grow. Can’t believe how small she is compared to her mum. She is growing so quickly too. I watch every day and can’t wait to get into work in the mornings to see if there have been any new developments. I have one question though. The past few days (nights) I have noticed that you aren’t zooming in that much on Bai Yun and her cub. The web cam seems to stay zoomed out from above most of the time now, before, the shots were always close up. Has there been a change in the night shift or is there another reason that you aren’t zooming in anymore. It’s really hard to see the little one from that distance. Can we please have some more close ups? Thanks so much. Really looking forward to watching the little cub grow up.
August 29th, 2005 at 1:15 am
I know the answer for Cristina’s question. The name panda originally comes from ” red panda,” giant pandas were named ” giant” because they are so huge in size when comparing with red pandas. In the past, scientists thought that the two types of pandas came from the same ancestor.
August 29th, 2005 at 4:11 am
I am so surprised that your new panda is a female. Why, I am happy for you. I live in New Hampshire and elephants are my favorite animals in the world but learning about pandas is still something pretty new to me. I hope your panda gets plenty of love and attention just like your two other pandas Hua Mei and Mei Sheng did and now the new panda at the National Zoo.
September 3rd, 2005 at 8:39 am
Kathy, Now that Hua Mei is the mommy of twins, does that make you a ” grandma” ? You must be so proud of your girl. Will you get to go back to China and see her? Love, Diane and Family