The Perfect Patient
Posted at 9:38 am September 26, 2005 by Beth BickneseSeptember 21 was the sixth weekly veterinary examination of the giant panda cub. She again has grown an impressive amount: she is over 2 kilograms ( 2,458 grams) or 5.4 pounds. Her abdomen has become so round I can no longer encircle her belly with my hands! Her eye slits are opening, with the left eye opening faster. The eyes will not focus effectively at first, but in a short time she will be focusing on Bai Yun and everything in her environment. So far, there is only one tooth just above the gum line (the left upper lateral incisor tooth). Humans would call it a ‘front tooth.’ Several other teeth are close to erupting, so next week there will probably be more dental arrivals.
She again was a perfect patient, very calm and mellow. Based on the other two panda cubs born at the San Diego Zoo, this will probably not be the case for long, now that her eyes are opening! But for now it was fun to enjoy a sleepy, pudgy baby panda while actually doing my job and collecting developmental data.
Beth Bicknese, DVM, is an associate veterinarian at the San Diego Zoo.
View Bai Yun and her cub on Panda Cam
See our slideshow images of the cub’s latest exam
See video of the cub’s exams.
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September 26th, 2005 at 6:21 pm
I have been one of those obsessed panda fans who will sometimes sit and watch the Panda Cam for more time that I want to admit to going way back to Bai Yun and Hua Mei. I have one question that I have always been curious about. What kind of material is used inside the panda den that Bai Yun and baby sleep on? Is it soft and comfy?
Thanks,
Carole
September 26th, 2005 at 8:26 pm
Give her a squeeze from all of us who peek in on her daily. Bai is such a caring mother and it shows.
September 26th, 2005 at 9:55 pm
i’ve been watching both baby pandas and was wondering if there is any kind of chart available that shows what milestones can be expected at certain weeks/months of age. i love them both!
September 26th, 2005 at 11:04 pm
Is there a contest going on to name the girl cub? If so is a website available? Thank you.
She sure is a sweet cub. Your Cam brings much joy watching mother and cub in their daily
Panda Bear way of living. Thanks.
September 27th, 2005 at 3:51 am
Thank you for your comments. They are both clear and informative. So, we from the audience are able to understand better the development of this marvelous little girl. Each morning at breakfast I check the panda cam and the blog in order to learn more about pandas. I admire your work. Thank you! Rosalia, Paris (France)
September 27th, 2005 at 5:49 am
Now that your little panda’s teeth are beginning to erupt, is there any evidence that animals suffer teething pains? Human babies make their feelings known (loudly) but I haven’t seen any equivalent behaviour from either Bai Yun’s cub or Mei Xiang’s.
Thank you for continuing to share all the news from the den…
September 27th, 2005 at 9:21 am
Dear Beth,
Thank you so much for the latest information. I love your description of babygirl – a sleepy, pudgy baby. Aaww !! Silly question I suppose now. When babygirls’ teeth start to come through properly, will it be extremely painful for her, as with human babies? Or will she have a higher tolerance to this type of pain? I know you won’t know not actually being a panda, but in the main do the babies seem to cope better than human babies whilst going through this? If she goes through a lot of pain, I think I am glad there is no sound from her den, it would surely break my heart hee hee !! Luv to all.
Valerie Warburton – UK.
September 27th, 2005 at 9:30 am
Always a pleasure to read your blogs, thank you. Just took a peak in the den and saw how big the little cub has grown. Compared to the male cub in DC, how fast is she growing? Her belly has gotten so big too! Both mother and cub sleeping, so cute!
Could you please tell us a little more about Mei Sheng and Gao Gao? Gao Gao being an adult male knows how to eat without losing energy. Mei Sheng looks as if he is still a little clumsy but from your observation, do you think he’ll take after his mom or his dad? Also does Mei Sheng, like Bai Yun, seem to favour sleeping up on the trees? Does he seem like he loves climbing? Also any comments on Bai Yun’s behavior and I also wanted to know what you mean when you say she is unpredictable?
Thank you again,
Jules
September 27th, 2005 at 9:40 am
I learned from a documentary produced in 1994 in which the Chinese scientists followed the first year of a wild born panda cub, and they also very briefly introduced the breeding centre in China. Before the early 90’s , the survival rate of captive born panda babies was about 40 % ! Thank to the hard work of all scientists concerned, I don’t know the survival rate of newborn babies of Wolong nowadays, but SDZ keeps a 100% survival rate, that’s a great job.
September 27th, 2005 at 10:44 am
My friend and I while talking on IM watch the baby panda.This was not my first panda watching from the San Diego Zoo. We enjoy every minute of watching the little baby. I just want to squeeze her she is so darling. I keep up with her during the day and early morning hours. I have named her Miss Wigglyworm. I think it fits her to a tee! Thank you for letting us peek into the lives of these beautiful pandas. Keep up the good work!
September 27th, 2005 at 11:08 am
Just want to say that Bai Yun is such a great mommy… I think she looks more comfortable with the baby than the other panda mom in the NZ. Maybe it is due to the way the den is designed that allows closer contact between mom and baby?
September 27th, 2005 at 12:11 pm
I’ve noticed the cam zooming in on the cub’s feet lately, are you looking for something specific?
September 27th, 2005 at 1:25 pm
Can you give us some ballpark time as to when the new cub will go on exhibit? I would like to plan a trip to San Diego with hopes of being able to see the baby panda. Thanks!
September 27th, 2005 at 2:57 pm
I am hooked on pandas. I have been watching baby girl and she is the cutiest thing. Can you tell me what panda fur feels like, they just look so soft.
September 27th, 2005 at 5:30 pm
an answer to Jo’s quesiton: panda fur feels very coarse. They look cuddly, but their fur is not soft at all. but when you hold a panda baby, it will grab your arm, very sweet.
September 27th, 2005 at 7:09 pm
Babygirl is so cute! Bai is such a good mom, too! Have you heard anything about Hua Mei and her twins? Do you have any pix of them?
September 27th, 2005 at 7:49 pm
I was wondering how long the exams take. I would also like to know do you take the baby when Bai Yun is not around or does Bai Yun let you take the baby? When you bring the baby back, does Bai Yun fuss over her to see where she has been or does mama go right back to snuggling with her? I love hearing about all the updates on the baby. Pandas have always been my favorite animal since I was a child. My first teddy bear was a panda bear.
September 28th, 2005 at 1:06 am
Hi, I just want to say that it is wonderful that you are letting us share in Baby Girl’s development! The webcam and pictures and filmclips with all your info makes us all feel like we are included in her precious little life! I started a chart to keep her statistics and Baby Boy’s (at NZ) compared. She seems to be developing at a faster rate than he is–might it be that she will be a bigger bear? Or is it like humans–that some girls develop faster than boys? She has teeth erupting already and his aren’t. I know they have a common grandfather–they seem to be taking after him.
September 28th, 2005 at 7:45 am
When I watched the panda cam this morning , the babygirl was crouching alone. I think of the funny terms used by NZ bloggers – pear-shaped body, a fat, striped caterpillar….which are quite vivid. ^^
September 28th, 2005 at 8:16 am
NOT SINCE THE BIRTH OF MY DAUGHTER HAVE I BEEN SO DRAWN TO THE NEW BABY PANDAS. I AM ALWAYS LOOKING IN ON BOTH PANDAS, I CAN NOT GET ENOUGH OF MOTHERS’S LOVE.
September 28th, 2005 at 8:56 am
I am very concerned–esp. yesterday & today that the baby panda might fall off the platform she sleeps on. She has been very close to the edge and was leaning past the edge yesterday. Is there any way she can be placed on the floor, like the panda at the National Zoo? I watch both pandas daily. Thank you for the cam, your great updates–everything!!!
September 28th, 2005 at 6:57 pm
Barbara,
FYI there is no platform in the den. The floor of the den is elevated above the floor of the bedroom by about half an inch.
September 29th, 2005 at 7:13 am
Barbara — I don’t think the den is on a platform. I have seen Bai Yun go into the den from her bedroom. I think it is a rounded area with a rim around it, but it is on the floor. I am sure the Panda Team is taking every precaution possible for the safety of these precious cubs (see the latest blog).