Fall is in the Air
Posted at 2:38 pm August 31, 2005 by Kay FergusonI’m ready for a change in the weather, how about you? We are at the end of summer and Nighttime Zoo is winding down. The crowds are still excited about the new baby panda, coming in to see her here at the station. They are disappointed when they find she is not out. Of course they don’t realize that she is only 34 ounces (964 grams) and not quite ready for all the fanfair she will receive.
So when will she come out for us to lavish her with our love? The Giant Panda Team will make sure she is ready. We are all anxious to just watch her as she grows. I want to remind you that when the time comes for her to be out, make sure you bring a snack and lots of water and most of all your panda patience because the lines will be long!
Right now Mei Sheng is in the spotlight. Just turning two on August 19, he is the center of attention for visitors to the Giant Panda Research Station. With the warm weather he has slept most of the afternoons away waiting for the cool of the evening to play and eat. Panda activities during the warm weather vary, so you just have to visit often. He has been so cute the past few nights, climbing high in the tree looking for his keeper in hopes of an extra snack or two. He sure loves his snack: it could be an apple ” popsicle” or some vegetables in ice, honey on a rock, extra bamboo, or just a burlap sack full of grass. He is enjoyable to watch always, even when he sleeps.
As we move into fall the nights will grow shorter and so will viewing hours, the bears are ready and so are most of our guests, commenting that school is here and kids are going back after the last holiday of the summer. So we are looking forward to pumpkins, colored leaves, fog in the mornings? In San Diego we don’t get the changes that you do in the East but we feel the time change. Do the bears feel the change? I don’t know, but they sense some type of change.
Many of our guests come daily: it’s a great place to walk with lots of hills to climb and the grounds are beautiful. I hope you will come and visit the pandas. We have a large monitor here at the Station to watch mom and baby girl. She is growing fast and China will name her when she turns a 100 days old (we have a few more months to call her baby girl). She is healthy and Bai Yun is such a caring mother. Chat with you soon.
Kay Ferguson is a panda narrator at the San Diego Zoo’s Giant Panda Research Station.
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August 31st, 2005 at 2:57 pm
I love my daily dose of Bai Yun and her baby girl. With so much tragedy in today’s world, this brings a small ray of sunshine. Thank you. One question, I was watching the Washington Panda Cam and they mentioned Mei Xiang has been put back in training. Will Bai Yun need to do the same?
August 31st, 2005 at 3:04 pm
MAYBE WE CAN RENAME THE ZOO…” THE PANDA ZOO” …. OPEN 24HRS A DAY!!!!!!!!
August 31st, 2005 at 4:26 pm
Oh my, I haven’t been able to get by without checking in every day and before I go to bed at night. I have my own name for baby in my mind, and talk to others and refer to her by it. I am absolutely smitten with Mum and baby. Thanks once again for enabling us here in the UK to be a part of all of this. Valerie xx
August 31st, 2005 at 4:27 pm
Really appreciate what you guys are doing. I’d really like to see the video of Mei Sheng’s birthday, but the link was wrongly connected as the cub’s first examination. I wrote to you a week ago, but nobody replied and it hasn’t fixed
Editor’s note: The link is now fixed!
August 31st, 2005 at 5:18 pm
It’s so wonderful to hear about my dear little Mei Sheng.
He’s such an adorable baby (in my mind, he’s always a huge cub)! I just love his playfulness and affectionate nature… I hope to visit the pandas someday soon! Love from Toronto~
August 31st, 2005 at 7:05 pm
Enjoyed another beautiful review of the going ons at the Panda Compound. So wonderfully descriptive I can imagine myself being there again (first visit was in April). It would be wonderful to view a little of ‘our little youngster’, Mei Sheng, on the Panda Cam.
Thank you, again, for putting a little black and white joy in my life.
August 31st, 2005 at 9:02 pm
your blog is intelligent, humorous, personable, with great technical skill and scientific value, have I said enough great things? As always can’t wait for the next edition, thanks so much, carole
August 31st, 2005 at 10:02 pm
Mei Sheng has really grown the past few months. I’m glad they updated his picture on the panda cam web page.
I went to the Wolong Panda Club web site to see what they had to say about Hua Mei and noticed one heading in English ” Train the panda to be docile to keepers” . That would be an interesting topic to hear more about. I know in watching the caretakers with Mei Sheng, they always seemed to treat him with calm respect. Their part in his upbringing must have a lot to do with the sweet guy he is now.
August 31st, 2005 at 10:21 pm
I am really enjoy to watch the panda web cam! However, it would be better if we could hear the vocal from the cam so that we could know more about the behavior of the panda and cub. ^_^
September 1st, 2005 at 5:09 am
I was wondering if these pandas that are being born, are they being raised to be returned to the wild or are they being raised to live in the zoos/centers? Love my Panda Cam, it’s on all the time at work here!!
September 1st, 2005 at 5:47 am
Hi Kay,
Thank you for giving us great news about the adorable Mei Sheng with heartfelt observations. You might be the sweet person who I met in April when I stayed here at Giant Panda Station, visiting Mei Sheng. Please, send many kisses for him.
Elisa from Brazil
September 1st, 2005 at 6:29 am
Aloha and thanks for allowing all of us to share in the panda experience!
Clyde Kunimura
September 1st, 2005 at 6:31 am
I just wanted to tell you how much I have enjoyed seeing your website ever since Hua Mei
was born. I find the narratives very interesting, and try to check in often.
I have always wondered when the Pandas are bigger, if they are dangerous to humans?
I suppose this could be different from those born in the wild to those born and raised at the zoo. Thank you.
September 1st, 2005 at 7:03 am
Dear Kay:
I really enjoyed reading your update blog. Thank you so much for all the updates and all the info that you share with us. You folks are really dedicated and caring individuals! I live in VA and to be able to get a glimpse into the panda life is simply amazing!
Again, thanks to each of you at the Panda Research Station for all the efforts in sharing things with all the Panda lovers like myself.
Have a great day in San Diego! p.s. I really envy the zoo keeper that carried the baby in and out for the 3rd exam. How she keeps from hugging and kissing it to pieces is beyond me….
September 1st, 2005 at 8:04 am
Just visited the zoo on Aug. 20 to wish Mei Sheng a happy birthday. He was adorable, resting in his tree, reaching down to retrieve & munch on his bamboo, even climbing & running around his space. And dad Gao Gao is such a handsome fellow. The PandaCam is great, but seeing the pandas in person is very special.
September 1st, 2005 at 9:05 am
I was curious to know the involvement that China has when a new baby panda is born here at the San Diego Zoo. How and when are they contacted? How do they communicate with the S.D. Zoo regarding the development of the panda? Do they have opinions about how things are conducted regarding the pandas, the baby panda in particular?
I enjoy your website (especially the panda cam!)
Casey Westcott
September 1st, 2005 at 9:16 am
Dear Kay, It is so wonderful to be able to watch mommy and baby. Mommy is so gentle and loving to her cub that it brings tears to my eyes. I loved seeing the difference in the baby’s face from the first exam to now, what a change, she is adorable. I am grateful to you and everyone else involved in their care and for allowing us to enjoy with you.
September 1st, 2005 at 11:20 am
I just wanted to thank you for giving the ” panda fans” updates on the pandas. I have enjoyed watching the pandas grow up and especially now with the Katrina tragedy it’s nice to have these beautiful animals to watch instead of the news (because I’m so heartbroken over the situation in the gulf)…Thanks for everything you guys do to save the Giant Panda. Bai Yun and the little girl help cheer me up!
September 1st, 2005 at 11:24 am
Hi. I too enjoy my daily dose of panda cam. It is neat to be able to watch this new baby panda girl grow and be a part of the milestones as she grows. I also watch the panda cam from the national zoo. The other day I had both cams on at the same time and it was neat to see the differences in the development of these too cute babies. Thanks
September 1st, 2005 at 11:33 am
Dear Panda Team, Oh my! what a marvelous, exciting time for all of you who have worked so hard for so many years. Baby bears popping up all over the place. What a great feeling it must be to know you have had an important part in saving this delightful species for future generations to enjoy. Thank you.
September 1st, 2005 at 12:11 pm
Hi! I am planning a holiday to San Diego next January, will I be able to see the baby girl or is it too soon? love from England
September 1st, 2005 at 2:17 pm
I have been enjoying the cam since Mei Sheng was born. It is so awesome to be able to watch the babies and moms. I have Mei Sheng’s pictures that have been in the paper all over my CPU at work. It’s funny to see other people consider him ‘my panda boy’ and the new one ‘our little girl’. It brings a lot of joy to people all over the world. Thanks for the great opportunity to be a part of this.
September 1st, 2005 at 3:42 pm
It is true there are big difference between the pandas born in the wild with those born and raised at the zoo. I had read the book written by George Schaller, and seen on TV a documentary interview of a San Diego Zoo researcher, he said he had worked for three years in the field work of studying wild pandas, but he had met only one panda in the wild, he felt frustrated . The wild pandas would run away before you can see them. Pandas are not predators, they are not interested in encountering with other creatures.
September 1st, 2005 at 4:06 pm
It is so much fun watching your baby and also the one in Washington but I just read something in the San Diego newspaper (on line) that really upset me. It said that Hua Mei has rejected her cubs and then later in the article they said that she is taking care of one and the other is in the nursery. What is the real story ?? I have also noticed that your little girl seems to be much more active than the Washington boy was at that age. Is she just an over active little girl or is he just a laid back little boy ?? I sure do envy you all with the job you have !!! Lucky you.
September 1st, 2005 at 6:43 pm
I love watching the baby panda everyday. I’ve been wondering how much weight the mother has lost since she gave birth?
September 1st, 2005 at 6:47 pm
Do you know if there’s a zoo in New Orleans? Any information about the welfare of the animals or staff?
September 2nd, 2005 at 5:34 am
For those interested, NBC 4 in Washington DC, has some pictures of Hua Mei and her cub. There are pictures of an older cub and it is unclear if they are pictures of Hua Mei as a cub or perhaps pictures of her first twins.
September 2nd, 2005 at 9:59 am
I love to visit the Panda Cam several times each day for a glimpse of our new baby girl. It renews my faith in the goodness of the world. I too am worried about all the animals in the hurricane struck areas. May God watch over every animal in this world.
September 2nd, 2005 at 10:09 am
In response to the post by Donna…in the wild, pandas that have twins often reject one and only care for one cub. In captivity, zookeepers often switch the cubs, so each cub gets part time care from mother and part time care from the zookeepers.
I too wondered about a zoo in New Orleans. I found a web site for their zoo, but it just says that it is closed due to the hurricane. Any info our SD zookeepers can pass on to us would be appreciated.
Editor’s note: News regarding the effects of the hurricane on the Audubon Zoo and Aquarium of the Americas in New Orleans is still sketchy. Initial indications are that both facilities feel they have food and power enough to get them through the next day or two but they are currently in areas which are not accessible. In keeping with its collaborative work with other organizations, the Zoological Society of San Diego has added its name to a list of accredited zoos and aquariums who have volunteered support for these and other Gulf Coast animal care facilities. This list and future assistance is being coordinated through the American Zoo and Aquarium Association (AZA). At this time AZA does not have information about what these two facilities will need in the future but they will let us know as more information becomes available. For more information about AZA and their efforts please see their Web site at http://www.aza.org” >http://www.aza.org.
September 2nd, 2005 at 10:22 am
I am a true Panda Fanatic. I have spent so many hours looking at the panda cam, my family knows to look first at the PC to find me. We will be at the Zoo on Sept. 6, and can’t wait to see Mei Sheng in person. We missed seeing him because of the fires in 2003. Congratulations to Hua Mei on her new family. Thanks for the Panda Cam and the Weblogs, the information is fascinating. You lucky panda handlers. I have joined the Panda Team and will continue to support your work with these darling animals. See you Sept. 6th.
September 2nd, 2005 at 12:57 pm
I just want to wish the precious little girl a happy (one month) birthday today!! I send praise to Bai Yun for being such an exceptional mother. Thanks for letting us see Mei Sheng this morning. I can’t believe how he has grown! He’s so beautiful!