A Bit About ” the Boys”
Posted at 11:54 am October 27, 2005 by Suzanne HallWith all of the attention focused on the new panda cub and her mother, Gao Gao and Mei Sheng may seem to be out of the spotlight. However, those of you who have visited us lately know that ” the boys” are our resident on-exhibit stars, entertaining our guests each day with their antics. For fans of our male pandas, I thought I could offer an update as to their activities.
Mei Sheng is a boisterous two year old who spends more of his days active and exploring than one would find with a more mature panda. He climbs high in his trees and climbing structures, all the better to get a vantage point for viewing the world around him. It is also true that younger pandas often seek refuge in these high places in order to be more secure, as the panda’s few natural predators are less able to grab a youngster when he is high off the ground.
Gao Gao, father to our cub, is doing fine in his space, spending most of his time enjoying his bamboo and resting atop the large den his enclosure is equipped with. Yesterday I observed him with an enrichment item- a large blue bobbin- as he turned the object repeatedly in his paws and bit the hard plastic playfully. I tried to capture this on the panda cam for you”¦ hopefully some of you got a chance to see it.
One source of excitement for both boys in the last month or so has been the open ” howdy gate” between them. There was a porous barrier through which they could see and smell each other if they chose to interact at the gate. As it turned out, Mei Sheng was very interested in this opportunity. After an encounter with Gao Gao, Mei Sheng began checking the gate several times each day hoping to find his daddy there, ready for a play bout. He clearly looked forward to seeing him. Gao Gao, for his part, was more interested in his bamboo, but did make time to interact with his firstborn from time to time. The interactions have been described as friendly and, according to some, sweet. Gao Gao was once noted as nibbling playfully on Mei Sheng’s coat through the barrier. No aggression was seen.
The howdy gate will need to be closed often now, as the facility is experiencing some minor renovations and adjustments in preparation for the eventual arrival of our new cub on exhibit. Visitors to the panda station may soon notice the development of a new outdoor lair in the area where Mei Sheng is currently exhibited. The lair will provide the bears with a new shelter for those windy, cold or rainy days when the trees aren’t quite adequate. We also hope to include more plantings in the enclosures to provide the bears with more natural items and substrates. We just hope Mei Sheng doesn’t get excited by all these changes and inflict a little pandemonium on the enclosures”¦ if he is like his mother, he’ll spend time redecorating, much to our chagrin. At least he’ll have fun doing it!
Suzanne Hall is the panda research technician for the San Diego Zoo’s Office of Giant Panda Conservation.
View Bai Yun and her cub, or one of ” the boys” on Panda Cam.
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October 27th, 2005 at 12:04 pm
Thank you for the update about ” the Boys” . I was also glad to hear that no aggression was seen when Mei Sheng and Gao Gao got together at the ” howdy gate.” I often wondered what the pandas would do if they got together. Thank you too, for all the work you do with the pandas! It is very clear how much you all care about the pandas. Keep up the good work as I know you will!
October 27th, 2005 at 12:21 pm
How fun to hear about what else is going on…although, it is difficult to take our eyes off that precious new cub! I love hearing about the Howdy Gate…and Suzanne, you make the reports interesting as well as informative! I can’t wait to learn the new name for our little girl! Also, I would love to hear more about Hua Mei and her two little ones! Thanks for all your hard work!
October 27th, 2005 at 12:22 pm
Thanks for the updates. I look forward to them because you always have something interesting to share. Would it be possible for us to see ” the Boys” a little more often? Baby Girl sleeps so much of the time right now, it would be nice to see ” how the other half lives!”
October 27th, 2005 at 12:51 pm
I thought you might be considering putting the boys in together. When Bai Yun and her cub go on exhibit, won’t one of the guys have to be put in the off exhibit area that Bai Yun currently inhabits?
October 27th, 2005 at 1:33 pm
Thanks for the update on the ” guys” . I did get a great view of Gao Gao and Mei Sheng on the cam yesterday. I hope to catch Gao Gao playing with his bobbin but I always see him with his bamboo. It seems that Gao is such a nice (and friendly) bear! He’s seems very social. I was sorry to hear Bai Yun rebuffed him but at least Mei will be nice to him! Thanks for taking such great care of Mei, Gao, Bai and the little girl. Every single one is very precious!
October 27th, 2005 at 2:02 pm
I just wanted to thank you for writing about ” the boys” . I have often wondered what they were up to. Please let everyone know that they are doing a great job taking care of the Pandas. I enjoy the blogs and the cam very much. Keep up the great work!!!
Barbara-Montgomery, AL
October 27th, 2005 at 2:42 pm
Thank you so much for the information. You are always so caring in letting us know what is going on. The panda cam is part of my daily routine and I love it. Take care.
October 27th, 2005 at 2:43 pm
Thanks for the update on the boys, Suzanne. Any chance of giving us the approximate times of the events you describe so we can check them out on the time-lapse video?
October 27th, 2005 at 2:52 pm
Despite the baby not gaining a lot of weight I can totally see that she is interacting more with mom and becoming more active. I have also noticed that Bai spends more time with her now and nurses her more often, so the baby may not be gaining a lot of weight but I think it’s because she’s using her energy towards growing. I see in her a petite healthy baby girl.
October 27th, 2005 at 3:35 pm
Thank you for the delightful update on the panda boys, Suzanne.
I was wondering if you would share with the panda fans your training background. Specifically, how you and the rest of the panda researchers came to your positions at the San Diego Zoo. I know we all love watching the cubbie grow, as well as the daily activities of the beloved adult pandas, but I am also interested in the people who dedicate themselves to the preservation of these gorgeous creatures and what it takes to have a career as a panda researcher. If you feel comfortable sharing – thanks and also thank you for those who maintain this site – it really makes my day! .
October 27th, 2005 at 3:55 pm
I am not sure whether this is just my perception. However, I always feel that this little girl looks feminine and elegant, and the little boy in DC looks naughty and boyish. Are pandas like humans? Can you tell panda girls from panda boys by looks?
October 27th, 2005 at 4:50 pm
LOVE your wonderful updates, Suzanne! Just want you to know how much all of us appreciate you taking time out of your busy schedule to keep us enlightened. It was great to hear about ‘the boys’ since they take a back seat whenever a new family member arrives! Each one is precious and we love them all!! I’m still a bit concerned after our baby still has not passed the 8 pound mark but she looks very active and healthy. I think she is just going to be a petite little girl. We know Bai and the staff watch over her and she is getting excellent care. It sounds like Tai Shan in DC is such a big boy that it makes our ‘Jiao Mei’ look even smaller. Thanks for putting up with all of us sideline mothers!
October 27th, 2005 at 5:20 pm
Thank you again Suzanne for your wonderful update on our boys! I was so excited to see Mei Sheng yesterday, and of course sent myself a postcard or two! Hearing about the ” howdy gate” experiences was so nice, I’m so glad that they enjoyed it. I swear to you it’s hard for me not to cry when I see these bears! I must get to the west coast to see them. When will new baby girl be on display? Have to plan accordingly!
October 27th, 2005 at 5:23 pm
Thank you Suzanne, you are really a great ” teacher” who takes care of the panda fanatics from time to time !
October 27th, 2005 at 5:28 pm
Bai Yun keeps trying to use the baby as her pillow.. unsuccesfully =) baby is not that small anymore.
October 27th, 2005 at 6:06 pm
Thank you, thank you, thank you for the update on our two sweet boys.
You must have read my mind!! I’d been dying to find out more about the howdy gate encounters, and considered posting the question. I’m so happy to hear that Gao Gao and Mei Sheng interact so playfully…it is indeed very, very sweet! They both have such lovely personalities… 
Reading about them brought tears to my eyes. Yes I love Bai Yun and her little girl, but these two guys (especially Mei Sheng) have very special places in my heart as well. Thank you so much Suzanne!
October 27th, 2005 at 7:33 pm
I hope you all realize the joy you bring to all of us. Despite some turmoil going on in my life I can always count on a smile or two coming here to visit. Thank you all so much. And I love reading the blog — keeping up with all the inside info.
October 28th, 2005 at 3:43 am
I love watching the little panda’s growth. I’ve been watching daily since she was born.
It is so exciting and fun. I tried to view the latest video clip of the exam on Oct. 26th but there is no picture, only sound. I don’t know if anyone else has had a problem. But at any rate, thank you so much for allowing us the chance to watch this gorgeous creature grow and thrive. I look forward to it everyday!
October 28th, 2005 at 5:38 am
Hi, thanks for the information. I had the chance to visit the Zoo and the Pandas twice last summer. One thing really strikes me: while all other animals, even like the cute Koala bears, have strong smell, the pandas have no smell at all!! I wonder if it is because they take better care of their hygiene. I was very impressed with their smell-free enclosure!!
Anyway, when we were there, Bai Yun was asleep on a structure. but we couldn’t see her face as she had her rear end pointing to the public and it seemed she would not change her position at all. But Gao Gao, on the other hand, walked down from the place where he was sleeping and lied down right in front of the crowds. It is apparent that he wants to be closer to people. It makes me think that Bai Yun must be an aloof panda. True or false??
)But I LOVE both pandas.
Jie from Houston
October 28th, 2005 at 7:16 am
With each blog you share, we learn more and more about the daily life of the wonderful, precious pandas at the Zoo. I thoroughly enjoyed this recent blog on father and son interactions at the ‘howdy gate’. Any chance of the cam focusing more on Mei Sheng and Gao Gao during the day? I log on from time to time at work but seem to miss ‘the boys’.
Thanks again for another great week of panda patter.
October 28th, 2005 at 7:19 am
Michelle (#11), I have been thinking the same thing! This cub just looks like a dainty, feminine little girl. Tai in D.C. looks masculine and ready for any scuffle at hand. I was wondering, too, if it was just me.
October 28th, 2005 at 7:23 am
Right now ” Girls Rule” but it was fun hearing about the boys.They are all wonderful animals. I know I spend too much time watching them, but then I don’t really have a lot of other things to do (older than dirt & a widow). Off hand I can’t think of a much better way to spend my time. Love the cam…love the blogs, and most of all I love the Pandas!! Keep up the good work of caring so lovingly for them.It breaks my heart that they grow up so fast (I guess Mei Sheng will always be my favorite). Connie Woods
October 28th, 2005 at 7:29 am
Thanks so much Suzanne for the great update on ” the boys” – they’re just too adorable for words. I have a quick question though, on the website Mei’s weight is 130 pounds – is he still at that weight, and is he full grown yet at just over 2 years old? I think he’s going to be a smaller bear like his daddy! Nothing wrong with that – good things come in small packages:o) Thanks for all you do!!!!
Jeannie
October 28th, 2005 at 7:33 am
Hello. Thanks for all the hard work and info.
Here is another question. It appears Mama likes to bring food (bamboo) into the den and zoo attendants periodically remove the leftovers. What would happen if the attendants do not remove the leftovers? Would Mama eventually clean out the detritus? Or would the cub get more exercise and play by navigating in the ” haystack” ? What really happens ” in the wild” ?
And yes. The cub’s features do conjure up the Chinese term ” jiao” , she’s so petite and delicate as compared with big cousin Taishan. He’s such a mountain (although the name still reminds me of Tarzan since Taishan is also Chinese for Tarzan)!
The pandas have some similarities to rabbits. When I used to raise rabbits, I also checked the babies for little fat bellies, since Mama-rabbit only visits/feeds them once or twice a day. This somehow seems good in God’s wisdom which is too mysterious for me to fathom.
October 28th, 2005 at 9:08 am
It was great to see the adults (and the two-year-old) this morning. You can sure tell Bai Yun from the boys when she is sitting down with her rear facing you. I know she isn’t fat, just wide:)
October 28th, 2005 at 9:37 am
any chance of switching panda cam to the boys at a certain time of day regularly? being in the uk we only get a chance to see bai yun and {as i voted} sui lin and if we get a glimpse of the boys it’s such a treat for us. thanks for the blogs and give the pandas a big hug from us.
October 28th, 2005 at 10:09 am
Rita (#25), thanks for the giggle. And I agree, Bai is a bit of a ” wide load” isn’t she – hee hee! But love her (and all of them) to pieces.
Jeannie
October 28th, 2005 at 10:25 am
Thank you so much for all the wonderful information you give us about these beautiful creatures. Also, thank you for all panda-cam activity this morning! Every time I looked there was a different bear–and they were all awake! Michelle’s observations (#11) about the precocious boy in DC were true. I’ve noticed him squirming like crazy when Mom tries to bathe him, and also hitting her on the nose. Mamma definitely has her hands full with that one! Bai Yun’s baby, however, seems to be the perfect little angel.
October 28th, 2005 at 10:30 am
Thank you for the update on the boys, Suzanne!
It’s great to read your insight and observations on them, since we don’t get much time to catch them on the pandacam. There was a fantastic view of Gao Gao lying in front of the camera this morning… he looked very peaceful. 
October 28th, 2005 at 2:26 pm
Thank you for the fantastic pandas’ breakfast slide-show this morning on Pandacam ! I too was wondering about the howdy gate experience. So I was happy to hear about that.
October 28th, 2005 at 2:49 pm
Regarding comment #11…I was thinking something similar as I was watching the cubs today. Tian Tian was looking and acting very boyish (sprawled out on his back scratchin’ an itch or wiggling around chewing on mom) but Bai Yun’s little girl always looks so petite and girly.
Thanks for always giving us interesting things to read about.
October 28th, 2005 at 3:28 pm
Thought you might be interested to know that I am reading the book The Lady and The Panda written by Vicki Constantine Cooke. Ruth Harkness brought back the first panda to the U.S. with the help of her guide Quentin Young whose wife’s name was Su Lin. Harkness named her panda after her. Found it funny one of the names for the new panda cub is Su Lin. Enjoy watching the cam and reading your comments. Also watch the National Zoo cam which we are members of FONZ. Have kept a book with pictures of Mei Sheng and would like to know if you could put on pictures of the new cub that could be printed out. Thanks for sharing your pandas with us and the world.
Yours Truly,
Anne Reimert – a panda lover in Pa.
October 28th, 2005 at 3:30 pm
For those who have been interested, I am at the helm of the Panda Cam on Friday mornings between 0800-1000 (Pacific time). I generally try to surf our camera system to get the most interesting video of the moment on the Panda Cam during those hours. That is one good time to get a look at the boys and other areas outside of the den. Other observers may do this during their shifts, and keepers may do so as well throughout the day.
October 28th, 2005 at 6:38 pm
For one who watched Mei Sheng from birth I was so glad to hear about him. I’ve been lucky enough to have been down to the zoo three times recently. Each time I’ve gone straight to Panda Central. I love watching Mei Sheng ” live” . He is such a character. I loved watching him play around with his bamboo and climbing around. I’m glad that you have the ” howdy gate” and it was interesting to hear about the reaction of this for the ” guys” . Would you ever put the two together. I can hardly wait for ” precious treasure” to be on exhibit. I’ll have to get ” sick” so that I can travel down to see her and her wonderful mother.
Thanks to all of you for the love and caring you show these animals.
October 28th, 2005 at 7:27 pm
Re: comment #19 – No no, Bai Yun isn’t an aloof panda at all! ^^ I’ve watched her for so long…this is just one of her favourite sleeping poses!
Bai Yun’s such a fun-loving gal…she’s adorable even when she sleeps! And sometimes, when she’s in her bedroom…I think I see her daydreaming. 
(Just sitting there with her head on her paws, looking around…)
October 28th, 2005 at 7:37 pm
Re: comment#11 – Hey I was thinking the same thing too! Tai Shan looks like a tough li’l guy…scruffy ‘n cute.
Little girlie here looks petite and delicate, so pretty! It’s very endearing to observe these two cubs’ different qualities…and their loving mommies too! I think both Bai Yun and Mei Xiang are wonderful moms. They do things differently but they’re both doing fabulous jobs! 
October 29th, 2005 at 6:18 am
Hi Suzanne-re 33- as a Panda Cam viewer from the days of our beloved Hua Mei I was pleasantly surprised to see your expert camera skills put to good use on Friday morning! When I see Gao Gao sitting munching his bamboo I visualize the day I first glimpsed his lovely face when he arrived in transit by a fork lift truck – I find it still very relaxing when I see his face.
Mei Sheng is growing into a large boy- when I saw Bai Yun on one of your ’shots’ C15/17 – I recall it was there where he commenced his climbing prowess – happy days.
I find Bai Yun the same capable laid back, supple bodied mom as she has always been, Bai has the most lovely Panda big butt in the world!
Bai’s latest girl cub has the advantage of a very experienced mom and is following a similar pattern in her development as Hua Mei and Mei Sheng – like human babies they are all different and develop at different rates and abilities.
Whatever name you choose for her she will always be ’simply the best’ – on her special naming day please give her plenty of PandaCam publicity.
kind regards……..Hazel
October 29th, 2005 at 7:14 am
Regarding comments made by # 11 and 36, I would love to agree with you but psychologically we’re making an attribution. Even with human babies it is hard to tell without the necessary accoutrements of a blue this or pink that. Some of the big names in giant panda research (George Shaller, Pan Wenshi and Don Lindburg) I’ve read only mention their sexual organs as the best way of knowing their sex. Hence we had to wait for the veternarian check ups for both cubs in DC and in San Diego before knowing. But what makes these two cubs so special is that they are such a beautiful species in the first place! Both sexes are equally cute and wonderful in every way. Their respective moms and dads have such wonderful personalities and are healthy bears. They just have the best opportunities on top of which, a staff like Sandiegoozoo, well, need I say more. We are just lucky to be able to see these special cubs grow up and learn from people like Suzanne who will tell us about their personalities and distinctive behavior. I have to admit, I keep getting impatient! Can’t wait to see her when she starts following Bai Yun around to learn the mating dance to being a mother one day.
October 29th, 2005 at 7:57 am
I just wanted to add to my comment regarding telling the sexes appart, we might need help but the bears don’t have a problem. Their highly developed sense of smell lets them know whose who, age, health and reproductive status. But it still takes getting to know one as Wolong still has to put two bears together to test out whether there’s chemistry in the two to get along. Some things still never change in the animal kingdom.
October 29th, 2005 at 4:38 pm
And to think I always thought that all pandas looked alike! Is it me or do Mei Sheng’s ears seem to be set a bit higher and a bit smaller… giving a ” sewn on” look? Or is it because he has a very regal and large head?
I enjoy seeing the videos of the new panda cub’s checkups. Sometimes she looks so all alone and relatively immobile a lot of the time. It’s good to see that she is actually a lot larger than she appears next to her mother.
October 30th, 2005 at 3:18 pm
Thank You so much for the update on the boys. I get so focused on Bai Yun & her baby (Bao Bai, I hope), that it’s good to know that they are also doing great. God Bless you and all down there, we appreciate you!
October 31st, 2005 at 7:30 am
I’m sitting here thinking how much love we have for these babies and their kin. I have been a Cam Mother from when Hua Mei was born. I, like others, get weepy when I see such beauty. Not just in the pandas, but ALL the fantastic animals across the world. We all need to do everything we can to be certain our grandchildren and their grandchildren will be able to feel that overwhelming love. Please, please, please can someone give us ANY information on Shi Shi? He never seemed like a very happy fellow and I hope in his senior years he is content.
October 31st, 2005 at 9:33 am
Thanks for this update. I enjoy all the different camera views. I have to say that Gao Gao does seem to be the bamboo eating machine. Every time I see him he is munching away. But he definitely is a handsome boy!
November 2nd, 2005 at 5:41 am
Am catching up on blogs after a few days away. It is so interesting to read of all the Pandas. My favorite will always be Mei Sheng…as he was the first newborn Panda I had seen (didn’t have a computer when Hua was born. I, of course, am now in love with the little girl cub, and feel that Bai Yun is an outstanding Mum to her babies.
I just want to thank each and every one of you who take care of these beautiful creatures. Being able to watch them is a joy..thank you so very much.
November 2nd, 2005 at 8:39 pm
Comment#38 – I agree with you; we can’t know a panda cub’s sex just based on size or ‘demeanor’. What I meant in my previous message is just that it’s such a coincidence Tai Shan is so ‘boyish’ and this little girlie is so dainty.
They’re both beautiful in their own ways.