The Panda Decade, Part 2
Posted at 10:28 am November 17, 2006 by Ellie RosenbaumEllie recalls the first 10 years of giant pandas at the San Diego Zoo. Read her previous blog, The Panda Decade, Part 1.
Late 1996 and early 1997 were instructive days. We learned how much time a panda could spend in a tree, how quickly they could stop eating and fall asleep, and those rainstorms that were problematic for humans were no bother to pandas. They’d just shake their thick, coarse coats and stay dry underneath. In those early days, in fact, given the option to go into their bedrooms or stay out in a downpour, the downpour was generally preferred, especially by Bai Yun. (She has, with time – and age? – chosen to shelter more often, if given the option.)
Shi Shi was more of a mellow fellow. It quickly became apparent that he enjoyed a regular routine of ” on exhibit, off exhibit, eat, sleep.” As an older animal, Shi Shi (whose name translates to ” Rock Rock,” or ” Rocky” to me) was less energetic than the younger Bai Yun. He was even described as a ” tweed jacket with leather patches” kind of guy. A guest once asked of the napping Shi Shi, ” At what time will the bear awaken and romp?” and was met with giggles, since ” romp” and ” Shi Shi” had never before been used in the same sentence! Imagine my surprise one January day when a sudden, unexpected storm dropped the temperature sharply and sleet began to plop into the exhibit on Shi Shi. He awoke with enthusiasm and began to, well, ROMP around the exhibit for the duration! It lasted for less than an hour, but was certainly memorable for those few of us who were there to see it.
As winter ended and spring began, Bai Yun’s behavior began to change in ways we now know signal hormone shifts and an upcoming breeding season: a decrease in appetite and increases in activity, restlessness, scent-marking, vocalizing, and excitement on the part of the staff and guests. Careful introductions were made, allowing each bear to be in the others’ space to smell and scent mark, visual and auditory introductions through physical barriers. When it became clear to the researchers and animal care staff that it was in fact that time of the year, Bai Yun was allowed to enter Shi Shi’s out-of-view back exercise yard, the area we now know as the current viewing area. Narrators were equipped with a control panel in the main viewing area so guests could watch the activity on the monitors as breeding season progressed.
Alas, in spite of Bai Yun’s persistence and enthusiasm, mating did not take place. Shi Shi rebuffed all her advances (they are pictured above), moving away, seeking to enter his bedroom, barking and chasing her off, much to our dismay. Again and again she approached; again and again he rejected her advances. Subsequent testing indicated that while Bai was sending out all the appropriate signals, Shi Shi may have been unable to receive the all-important olfactory markers due to the injuries to his nose, preceding his rescue in 1992. Subsequent breeding attempts would be by artificial insemination.
Ellie Rosenbaum is a panda narrator at the San Diego Zoo.
You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Scroll to the end to leave a comment. Pinging is not allowed.
November 17th, 2006 at 10:51 am
Never had the pleasure of meeting Shi Shi, so thanks for the info. How much did Shi Shi weigh? I would love more pictures and info about the early years of the panda decade. Thanks!
November 17th, 2006 at 1:47 pm
Thanks for Part 2, Ellie. It is great to hear more details of the background of Shi Shi and Bai Yun. It is sad that her early, more lively years were spent with an unresponsive older companion. Now she has a true romeo who knows what to do and when, and they can enjoy their breeding encounters. I look forward to seeing the larger Bai Yun with her smaller grand romeo in the Spring. Mei Sheng will probably be gone by then so he won’t get his ” sex education” in San Diego. He will have to learn it in China like his sister Hua Mei did when she went to ” China Panda Home.”
November 17th, 2006 at 1:48 pm
P.S. It is good to know that ShiShi’s rebuffing of BaiYun did not permanently put her off of breeding. When GaoGao entered her life, she quickly knew what to do and they were successful both times.
November 18th, 2006 at 3:54 pm
Ellie, the decision to write about the past decade is inspired. Many of us were not logging on back then, and even those in close touch with the bears in SD most surely know more now–and value your stories here all the more in retrospect, in the context of all we know now.
I loved reading every word of this blog! What could be better than imagining the actual activities of our special friends?! From Shi Shi and the word ” romp” to the injury to Shi Shi’s nose explaining his failure to mate naturally–you’re issuing forth a gold mine, Ellie! Please, please continue in the great possible detail, even if it means you spend a month or so on the first year! We’ll savor it!
I really think you have the makings of a book here, one that we’ll buy up in quantities sufficient to help finance the loan of future pandas! This is simply excellent material, and your writing style shows clearly just how fondly you remember it!
Thanks!
November 20th, 2006 at 12:07 pm
Ditto Christine #4. Panda mania with US-born cubs would feed a pipeline for all 4 zoos to help fund the extension of the Pandas visits. The more we know about them individually and collectively, the more we are engrossed and empassioned to help their survival and conservation.
It is safe to say that all pandaholics in the US would love for their visit to be extended.
November 20th, 2006 at 12:40 pm
Ellie, thank you for the blog on the early panda years! It’s very interesting and I can relate to how Shi Shi felt as he got excited about the sleet storm (Texas winters are way too mild). Did the keepers tape his little escapade? I would really love to see some of the pandas’ antics from back then… I have a DVD with some video of Shi Shi before Hua Mei was born (” The Panda Baby” ). Perhaps you guys can create a DVD/VHS with panda highlights for us. Maybe a video of Mei Sheng and Su Lin?!!! I would love to buy it and as Christine said we could help pay for the pandas to stay with us in the U.S. longer….I could tell my sisters to buy it for me for XMAS (hint, hint!).
Keep up the great work with your ” Panda Decade” blog…I’m really enjoying it!
November 21st, 2006 at 9:33 pm
Ellie – GREAT information!! I too love hearing about the early days with Shi Shi. Like mentioned above, BLOG AWAY!!!
November 22nd, 2006 at 6:35 am
Wishing everyone at SDZ a Happy Thanksgiving. I’m very grateful for the unstinting care and love you give to the Panda Family, who bring so much fun to my day. Thank you, too, for always taking the time to share fascinating information about these magnificent animals.
November 22nd, 2006 at 7:20 am
On this thanksgiving eve I would like to say a few special words.” In the end we will conserve only what we love, we will love only what we understand, we will understand only what we are taught . These words are from the great naturalist Dioum. To all the keepers, staff and everyone who has taught us so much and made us want to learn more and made us love thes wonderful amazing bears ‘our babies’ To you I am thankful . Happy Thanksgiving to all.
November 22nd, 2006 at 7:26 am
This is my second special saying ” When the last individual of a race of living beings breathes no more another heaven and another earth must pass before such a one can be again.” These words are from William Beebe. Please be thankful for what we have and do all you can to save it. Happy thanksgiving to all the pandaholics.
November 22nd, 2006 at 9:30 am
Ellie, Christine (#4) is absolutely right. Thank you so much for your memories of the early Panda years. You have a treasure trove of information that explains so much and is fascinating, and you share it beautifully.
May all of you at the SDZ, and all of the wonderful creatures in your care, have a happy and peaceful Thanksgiving. And I wish my fellow bloggers a lovely Holiday. I give thanks for you all.
November 22nd, 2006 at 6:50 pm
Amen, Barbara. Well said! Well quoted!