The Panda Decade, Part 3
Posted at 3:10 pm November 29, 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 2.
It was mid-August, 1999, at the Giant Panda Research Station at the San Diego Zoo and staff was keeping a close eye on Bai Yun since her artificial insemination in April. There were subtle behavioral changes and hormonal shifts, but would this be a pseudopregnancy or the real deal? Veterinarians had used ultrasound procedures to attempt to determine pregnancy, but in those early days of research no one could be absolutely sure. For those of us outside the Station, little things hinted that it could get very exciting very quickly: panda narrators were called into individual, closed-door meetings before our respective shifts. No one would speak of the subject of these meetings, but each narrator emerged, in turn, wearing a broad grin! Panda Canyon was blocked off to all traffic, even foot traffic; and construction on the nearby Owens Rain Forest Aviary project came to a halt. And we waited.
Saturday morning, August 21, was a busy one for the Education Department. There were panda narrators posted to answer questions and additional staff gathered to give tours of the Zoo, one for a group of over 200 guests. Just before we went out to meet this large group, the news was announced: Bai Yun had given birth and so far everything looked fine! Some of us cried, some of us cheered, some of us whooped, but we couldn’t say a word to our guests until the official announcement later that afternoon! Needless to say, as soon as the signs were posted announcing the birth, everyone took great pains to spread the news within the Zoo and all over the world! News station trucks were parked at the front of the Zoo as far as could be seen around the parking lot and the tiny cub became an international sensation.
Those early weeks were challenging, as research staff observed mother and cub around the clock via cameras located in the den Bai Yun had chosen. (Bai Yun is pictured above with her Hua Mei at 20 days old.) The Panda Canyon remained blocked off for weeks, as absolute quiet was maintained to allow Bai and the cub to bond. But the excitement generated by the cub’s arrival continued to build. By the next morning, visitors were racing down to meet the Zoo’s newest arrival, but, alas, it was not to be for quite a while. Mother and baby remained in seclusion, in the den, as is typical for pandas at these stages of their lives, and we marveled at the tender, competent care Bai Yun gave to her thriving infant
Little by little, however, the staff was able to remove the cub from the den as Bai Yun left it briefly to eat or drink. Photos emerged as the tiny cub was weighed, measured, and carefully checked. These physicals became a weekly routine and San Diegans quickly learned that Wednesday was panda cub physical day, and there’d be new pictures of the cub on the evening news! The cub developed the characteristic black markings by about two weeks of age, grew larger and rounder at an amazing rate, and into the second month it was confirmed that ” it” was a ” she.” While still off exhibit with her mother, on her 100th day of life, she was named by the Chinese ambassador at a memorable ceremony here at the Zoo. And so she became Hua Mei, ” China-USA,” in tribute to the cooperative effort of the two countries that helped bring her into being.
Her stardom only increased, and soon enough the research cameras that had been set up to allow researchers to observe without disturbing Bai and Mei were to become part of this Web site as Panda Cam. It was a little overwhelming to us at first as the interest only seemed to increase with time, and still the cub and mother remained out of actual view. It was not until mid-February that Hua Mei made her public debut.
Ellie Rosenbaum is a panda narrator at the San Diego Zoo.
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November 29th, 2006 at 6:28 pm
Thanks Ellie, for reliving this most momentous occasion. I have tears in my eyes and a lump in my throat as I remember. It was such a time of excitement but also caution as I remembered all too well the fate of the previous cubs born in the US. I happened to be watching the pandaCAM about the time Hua Mei was born. I didn’t ” see” anything but it is fun for me to think about it.
So, thank you for guiding this part of the Trip Down Memory Lane.
November 29th, 2006 at 7:57 pm
Thanks for the memories, Ellie! Those were such exciting times, and I remember so clearly when we actually had our first glimpse of our new treasure. It was wonderful!! And now Hua Mei is a mother twice over – twins both times – and Bai Yun is a grandmother, hopefully still to be a mother again. She’s one in a million!
November 29th, 2006 at 8:35 pm
Thank you, Ellie, for continuing the saga of the SDZ panda family. It’s very exciting to read–especially for someone like me, who was not tuned in to the circumstances surrounding Hua Mei’s birth. I love learning all about beautiful Bai Yun and her firstborn. It’s interesting that, if I’m reading correctly, it took longer to determine the sex of the cub, and Hua Mei met her adoring public later than her siblings.
November 30th, 2006 at 5:50 am
Thank you Ellie for the wonderful memories your story brought back. When Hua Mei was born, I held my breath and cried. You see, I live in Washington, D.C. and our giant pandas back then, Ling Ling and Hsing Hsing, had five panda cubs born and die within days of birth.
So I held my breath, and when that sweet little girl made it to two weeks old, I was so excited. My husband & I planned a trip in 2000 to see the precious baby, and we were not disappointed. I remember thinking how precious she was when we finally saw her at the zoo. We were fortunate enough to make it back to San Diego to see her a second time before she returned to her China homeland.
Thanks again for bringing back such wonderful memories!!
November 30th, 2006 at 8:27 am
Ellie thank you for this wonderful blog, it brought back some special memories, I remember the day that they announced that a panda baby had been born, all the country was a buzz. I cried at seeing Hua Mei being held up as she was given her name and cried the day she left us. I cried when she had her babies and now to see this picture of her and Bai it brought a smile to my face and a tear. I don’t know that I would have been able to contain myself in front of all the people . Her birth has brought us so much knowledge and taught us all so much about these beautiful animals . This will truly bring these bears back from near extinction. please keep up your amazing stories they mean so much.
November 30th, 2006 at 8:36 am
Wow! Thanks, Ellie! Hua Mei is quite a girl with a long history behind her, and also a long one in front of her hopefully. Has anyone heard anything about her two sets of cubs lately? I have seen several pictures with pairs of cubs identified as being her first or second set of cubs. Was she able to breed naturally like Bai Yun with GaoGao, or were the cubs a product of artificial insemmination as she herself was?
Your style of writing makes me feel like I am right there as a firsthand witness. It is hard to believe that it was 7 years ago already! What a terrific recall you have.
Thanks, and keep the memories coming. They help to ” fill in the gaps” and keep us better educated about the conservation efforts. I got the Nature video that is all about Hua Mei’s birth, and your renditions help make it feel more like I was there.
November 30th, 2006 at 11:32 am
Hi, my name is Louise and I’m a pandaholic. It all started with Hua Mei (my favorite, because she was the first) and my life hasn’t been the same since. It’s better! Thanks for all that you do.
November 30th, 2006 at 12:01 pm
From the moment I saw the picture and read the first line of your blog – my eyes welled with tears and I got a lump in my throat – still do. I remember how excited I was to hear about Hua Mei’s birth, and was captivated whenever any news or pictures of her were broadcast. And then – the Panda Cam! It’s hard to believe that was 7 years ago – and look where everyone is now. Hua Mei has had lots of babies – and has 2 siblings. What a wonderful story – and I’m sure it’s not complete yet. Congratulations to everyone who made this possible – you are amazing – and big kisses to the pandas – I love you all!
December 1st, 2006 at 8:58 am
Thank you for sharing your memories. Your beautifully sculpted sentences helps us to recall those initial days with almost more emotion now than seven years ago! Thankfully the story isn’t over and I hope it never ends. Our pandas are precious and meaningful to our world.
December 1st, 2006 at 9:02 pm
My husband and I spent a short vacation in San Diego this week and I was finally able to see the pandas. We arrived early and worked our way to the viewing area. Ellie was there to greet us (what a treat that was!). We were the only visitors. Bai was on the large rock in the middle of her enclosure and Su was up in the tree nearby. Gao (it was his week for viewing) was asleep behind a rock and never moved. Occasionally, Bai would reposition her head. She was magnificent! She has always been my favorite and she did not disappoint. She was so much larger and more stunning than in her pandacam pictures. And I could not believe how close we were able to get. It was as if we were in the enclosures with the bears. Ellie patiently answered so many of my questions. It was the first time that I could carry on a conversation about the pandas without everybody around me thinking I was nuts. If you have not already been to this zoo, you need to plan a trip. In fact, if you have already been, you should plan another trip. I know I will. Again, Ellie, thanks for putting up with all my questions and the wonderful panda chat!
December 4th, 2006 at 1:49 pm
I remember the birth of Hua Mei vividly. I had gone on a once-in-a-lifetime trip to California and was looking forward to seeing live pandas.
I was disappointed that the exhibt was closed as I had not heard the news of the cub’s birth until after I arrived at the zoo.
I have logged into the panda cam on a daily basis ever since and enjoy all the glimpses of pandas.
December 4th, 2006 at 4:53 pm
I loved reading of the birth of our lovely Hua Mei! After all the years of heartbreak at our National Zoo losing all their cubs, it was finally time for a HUGE celebration! I’ve been head over heels crazy for pandas ever since. Thanks so much for such a detailed account of the event, Ellie! Each birth in our zoos is just as exciting. We are only days away from learning the name of the little princess in Atlanta. Can’t wait!!! Hopefully next year will bring cubs in San Diego, DC and Memphis!!!
December 5th, 2006 at 10:57 am
Thank you Ellie, for recounting the suspense, the worry, and the absolute joy surrounding Hua Mei’s birth. You write beautifully!
December 8th, 2006 at 11:01 am
When I visit the Giant Panda station, I come across some visitors looking for Hua Mei. For many, panda (cub) = Hua Mei. You may not know the name of the mom, but you know Hua Mei. You don’t have to be particularly interested in giant pandas to know her name. She was and still is the super star.
A year ago yesterday (12/7/05), Bai Yun took Su Lin out for a brief ” walk” on exhibit. Bai took Su out again on 12/8/05. She was so tiny and wobbly. We tend to think of her as tiny, but compared to how she was back then, she’s gotten so big and strong. OK, she still sleeps most of the day…
December 8th, 2006 at 11:51 am
Thanks again for the update and walk down memory lane. Can we get an update on Su Lin: how much she weighs? I know it is hard to keep her on the ground, but an update would be greatly appreciated.