Baby Proofing
Posted at 3:54 pm September 28, 2005 by Suzanne HallOur baby pandas are quite special and unique creatures, and as you can imagine, the staff here are very concerned with their safety and well being. When a new cub is expected, there are a few changes made to life around the facility that are specifically designed with the welfare of a new cub in mind. Once the cub is born and is in Bai Yun’s furry arms, we continue to make changes throughout the facility to safeguard our new arrival.
Before birth, one of the biggest changes we make is to develop a “quiet zone” in the area around the panda facility. The staff places a moratorium on noise-making activities within a certain radius around the building, so that Bai Yun is not disturbed or startled by any sudden or unusual sounds. We even put a halt to routine noises, such as the sound of the street sweeper that usually passes by several times each morning, because we are aware that our female panda may be particularly sensitive around the time of birth.
After birth, the quiet zone remains for a period of time to ensure Bai Yun can recover well from the birth experience and that she does not feel any stress while attending to her new and fragile cub. Once Bai Yun returns to her normal routine of interacting with keepers, feeding regularly, and making long trips from the den, we lift the quiet zone and allow regular activities around the facility to resume.
As the cub ages, we begin to address other things that may be necessary to safeguard the cub. For example, we limit the type of enrichment items we give Bai Yun. We may not give her a very large object to play with, to ensure it doesn’t wind up (accidentally!) on top of the cub. In our old exhibit spaces, we cushioned the moat in the front of the area with hay to ensure that if Hua Mei slipped down she would have a soft place to land (but since our new exhibit spaces don’t have moats, this isn’t necessary). We also reduce or eliminate the water in the pool areas to prevent any swimming fiascos.
I am sure that many of you have children of your own and can understand the importance of baby proofing your living space. Rest assured that the San Diego Zoo’s animal staff is also concerned with such things to protect the animal “children” we are charged with caring for!
Suzanne Hall is the panda research technician for the San Diego Zoo’s Office of Giant Panda Conservation.
View Bai Yun and her cub on Panda Cam
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September 28th, 2005 at 4:11 pm
I never doubted for a minute that our little baby pandas would be safe and secure in their new environments. I just took a look at the latest pictures of baby girl’s exam today – and she got BIG since the last one. It also looks like both of her eyes are wide open. Very, very cute – I just love her!! I especially love watching her and mom napping together – usually using each other for pillows!! Boy how I envy you guys – and what I wouldn’t give to trade jobs with you for a day. Keep up the amazing work and fascinating updates… they really are incredible insights to such beautiful animals. XXOO little one!
September 28th, 2005 at 5:29 pm
Thanks so much for this information. Looks like the cub and her mom is very well taken care of.
September 28th, 2005 at 6:07 pm
Hi Suzanne,
It’s amazing to know how the staff is concerned about every detail to raising the babies. Congratulations.
Thank you for sharing the great experiences with all of us (pandamaniacs). I wait every day to read a new report. Can you tell us somenthing about the behavioral differences between Mei Sheng (my favorite peaceful baby boy), Hua Mei and our baby girl at her age?
I’m proud to be a SDZoo member. Elisa from Brazil
September 28th, 2005 at 9:03 pm
i VERY MUCH ENJOY WATCHING PANDA CAM AND THE NEW CUB – I COMPARE HER PROGRESS TO THE CUB IN WASHINGTON (AS WELL AS MOM’S BEHAVIOR) AND I AM AMAZED AT HOW ALIKE THEY REALLY ARE. LIKE THE MASSES, I AM MESMERIZED BY THEM AND KEEP THEM ON SCREEN A GOOD PORTION OF THE DAY! I HAVE BEEN TO YOUR FACILITY MANY TIMES AND WAS MOST IMPRESSED WITH THE PANDA’S QUARTERS.
September 28th, 2005 at 9:29 pm
I would love to put a ” quite zone” around my house sometimes. It’s great to know that our Pandas are in such good hands and that you are on top of making things as comfortable for them as you can. Keep up the great work!!!
Chris
September 29th, 2005 at 5:51 am
I saw the DC big baby boy trying to stand up , now. How cute. Our smart baby girl, with a lot of energy, will walk soon. Both babies are a blessed gift to me.
It has been great to watch Mei Sheng , every Friday morning. I miss him.
Elisa ( from Brazil)
September 29th, 2005 at 10:27 am
Last night I was watching the last checkup of our baby panda and I was really taken back when I heard her cry and the vet talked to her and she cried again. What an awsone feeling that was to see and hear her. Would it ever be possible to record the vocal interaction between mother and cub? Thanks for such a great site and info center. Carol
September 29th, 2005 at 10:39 am
It’s great to learn about the extra precautions the keepers are taking to ensure the safety of the growing baby girl! Thank you for taking such good care of these amazing animals! And thanks again for the updates.
September 29th, 2005 at 10:50 am
You guys are awesome! I’m so thankful that we have caring, concerned human beings taking care of these precious animals. Not only the pandas, but all the animals at the zoo. I have never been to San Diego Zoo but I have a strong suspicion that all the animals are well looked after and loved. Thanks for being animal lovers like my family!
September 29th, 2005 at 11:02 am
Sweet baby girl practiced her walking this morning – err…..going around in circles that is…then went promptly to sleep from the effort. The front legs are working pretty good. The left leg with stronger pushes, therefore the going around in circles. The front legs are working pretty good but the back legs still outstretched behind her body.
September 29th, 2005 at 11:22 am
I just want to thank everyone on the ” Panda Team” for taking such wonderful care of these most precious animals. I was reading a blog on the new tiger cubs and the ” Tiger Team” had to put up a temporary fence around their moat so the babies wouldn’t accidentally roll down in it and get stuck while playing! Your zoo is the best in the nation and apparently other exhibit teams baby proof as well! I’m so glad your zoo is a representative of how a PROPER zoo should be managed. I’ve seen horrible pictures of how zoo exhibits were created in the past (or those managed currently in poorer/less fortunate countries) and I’m greatful that AZA zoos consider the animals’ natural habitat instead of putting the animals on exhibit in cages AND provide enrichment for the animals to keep them active and to avoid boredom. Thank you everyone for your care and concern for the Giant Pandas!!!! I hope to visit very soon because it’s a joy to see well cared for animals! You guys rock!!
September 29th, 2005 at 12:34 pm
It is so nice to be able to see the baby learning to walk, she seems more awake since she opened her eyes, I love to see her little head turning to look around. She’s just a sweet little girl. Love her!
September 29th, 2005 at 1:46 pm
It’s 2:45 pm and Bai Yun took the baby out of the den for a few seconds.. how interesting.. is she going to start taking the baby out of the den now? Is it safe for the baby to do that??
September 29th, 2005 at 2:02 pm
I saw the panda mother take the baby out of the den today for a few moments then brought her back carrying her in her mouth like a cat mother. Is this unusual? The baby is working very hard to get those back legs under her. How long till she’s expected to start wobbling around?
September 29th, 2005 at 2:02 pm
Bai Yun just carried the cub outside the den for a few seconds, then came back into the den. Not sure what that was about. Wish you would keep the night vision lighting on. It is often too dark to see what is going on.
It is cute to see the cub lying on her side and pressing her legs into her mom’s arm. Like she is practicing walking. I know we all need to be patient, as it will be a while before she starts to walk.
Do you know why pandas often put one arm over their eyes when they are trying to sleep? I read where they cover their eyes to prevent other pandas from thinking they are staring at them and trying to intimidate them, but I’m not sure if this applies to when they are sleeping.
You might consider having a FAQ web page for your pandas. I know there are a lot of questions you get asked over and over.
September 29th, 2005 at 3:32 pm
How large is the birthing den? It looks like Bai Yun and the baby sleep on a large, round piece of wood. It looks a little strange in there, like a very small space. The webcam can only show so much.
Thanks,
Ellie and Kellie
Kellie and Ellie
September 29th, 2005 at 4:43 pm
A friend just e-mailed an interesting article from a newspaper in Mexico City. They have a female panda, Shawn Shawn, whom they sent to Tokyo to mate with Ling Ling. Unfortunately Ling Ling was not in a romantic mood and artificial insemination did not work either so Shawn Shawn is back in Mexico City.
September 29th, 2005 at 4:52 pm
Thank you – is the circle that they are on elevated? It looks to me as if Mom climbs up to get on a platform – Can the baby fall out and down?
September 29th, 2005 at 6:02 pm
I love watching and reading about the pandas; it’s fun to see the baby grow so fast, and fascinating to watch Bai Yun and her cub interact, especially now that the baby is getting more active. I’ve been wondering about Bai Yun bringing bamboo into the den – some of them have been so bushy they almost hide the pandas from the camera. Is she introducing the cub to her future food, or just bringing in a snack for herself, or is there some other reason she brings in the bamboo? Thanks for the great work you are doing.
September 30th, 2005 at 4:53 am
Re messag 15- Rita, I wondered this too! I saw an excellent documentary called ” Pandas – A Giant Leap Forward” about Wolong, where Bai Yun was born and Hua Mei now resides. The researchers there said they believe pandas may cover their eyes when they sleep as an instinctive defence against leeches – eugh!! They seem to be figuring out more and more about pandas all the time, so this is probably a ‘latest theory’ that may change. Interesting, though…
September 30th, 2005 at 7:50 am
Thanks for the information. Would like to hear a description of how the pandas are shipped and cared for in transit to China. Keep up the great work
September 30th, 2005 at 1:55 pm
Once again thank you so much for the latest information. I have just had a fit of giggles. I looked in at 10.45 pm UK/2.45 US time, and it looked like babygirl was trying to do a headstand. Hee hee !! Superb. I will be gone now for 2 weeks and won’t have access to a pc so I will miss Mum and babygirl. How on earth will I get by? Knowing they are so well loved and adored makes it easier for me to go away. I saw Mei Sheng this morning, so my last look for a while made it all so sweet. Aaahhh !! I’ll really miss them all. I’ll miss all of the fabulous staff too. Valerie Warburton – UK.
September 30th, 2005 at 3:17 pm
They are just like children huh? It’s so nice to hear that they take such special care of that little chub chub –what a cutie she is and bigger every day ! Is it almost a 100 days yet? I can’t wait to see what her name will be! Carol
September 30th, 2005 at 4:55 pm
Reponse to comment 21: pandas are transported to U.S. in ” panda one” (think of air force 1″ ; or ” panda express.”
They deserve special treatment!
October 1st, 2005 at 6:46 am
Hello! I´m writing from Sweden and I have been captured by the panda cubs and their mothers in America. I really enjoy watching these sites and I wan´t to thank the staff in San Diego and Washington for providing them. /Elin
October 1st, 2005 at 3:47 pm
Hi
Yesterday afternoon, Bai Yun took baby away from den.
She was back with baby soon.
It took about a minute.
Why? Is there any reason for baby or Bai Yun?
This is 3rd time I saw on Panda Cam.
Thank you.
October 1st, 2005 at 3:49 pm
I have been watching the Pandacam (in the UK) for about 2 weeks now, after finding it by accident! What a sweet little cub! I am overwhelmed by the dedication and care I see from Bai Yun: Her snuggles and ‘juggles’ with baby! Seeing baby splayed out all flat like a ‘handless’ glove puppet only to see it wriggle around on it’s tummy while Mum’s away. It’s compulsive viewing and I have recommended this site to many friends. Baby pandas have always been shrouded in an air of mystery, particularly here in the UK where they don’t always make news. This site really does give an insight into the programs which are in place to conserve such a wonderful creature. I hope it can serve as a useful tool in education of our own young for the future. Well done San Diego Zoo and thankyou China! Keep up the good work.
October 1st, 2005 at 6:08 pm
I am not generally a web watcher but I have been captured by the Pandas. lt makes you want to sit and hold them, even though I know that’s not right. You are doing a wonderful job with the darling bears, and causing me to lose a lot of sleep. I can’t seem to go by the computer without checking to see if the cub is ok. Keep up the good work. Marguerite Bayle
October 2nd, 2005 at 8:10 am
Just a comment about Ellen’s comment. Although it was failed this time unfortunately, the experiment was very important for the japanese community. Because now only Ling Ling is a Japanese panda, means, gifted from China officially. Other eight pandas in Japan are all visitors from China. But japanese researchers seem not to give up yet to have a baby of Ling Ling, and I really hope that too.
I thank the staff in SDZ for this fantastic panda cam and blog, and please keep the great works.
October 2nd, 2005 at 11:46 am
Now that Mama is out and away from Baby so much, how can you be sure Baby is getting enough milk? I rarely see her nursing.
October 2nd, 2005 at 1:22 pm
We watch the babies at both zoos every day!!! We are amazed at the sleep that seems to be required. At what age do the babies begin to become more mobile? Also, do pandas hibernate like other bears?
October 2nd, 2005 at 6:34 pm
How lucky for the pandas to have nice/knowledgeable people to take care of them!
We are so thankful that there are pandacams. The baby pandas are just adorable.
It seems many visitors here also check the NZ panda boy frequently. (They both are our prince and princess.) I just can’t stop smiling while watching those photos taken at his last two exams: he sat in the basket, he rested his head on the table, … so innocent, a little lazy, so cute.
October 3rd, 2005 at 6:27 am
Ellen,
The fact that our cub is going for longer stretches between nursing bouts is an expected change in the maternal relationship. We saw this with both Mei Sheng and Hua Mei. The two measures of whether or not the cub is getting enough milk? 1- Her weight continues to increase at a rate consistant with other cubs, and 2- she isnt complaining!
October 3rd, 2005 at 11:36 am
I have seen both panda moms giving their ” young ‘uns” what I call ” licky-baths” in the past week or so. Both of them have squirmed around a lot and seemed to be throwing little tantrums about it. It was pretty funny to watch and I wonder what, if any, vocalizations the cubs made. Reminds me of a human mother saying to her child, ” Let me wipe your face; you’re a mess!”
October 23rd, 2005 at 2:33 pm
Watching the pandacam, I worry when I see the baby spending so much time alone.