Comments on: Bai Yun, World Champion http://blogs.sandiegozoo.org/blog/2007/04/25/bai-yun-world-champion/ Sat, 21 Nov 2009 16:31:43 -0800 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Margaret http://blogs.sandiegozoo.org/blog/2007/04/25/bai-yun-world-champion/comment-page-2/#comment-40597 Margaret Mon, 14 May 2007 13:33:54 +0000 http://www.sandiegozoo.org/wordpress/default/bai-yun-world-champion/#comment-40597 Time will tell whether Mei Sheng has his father's " ability" or not. He is the first son of a wild born Panda, raised in captivity in US, to become of breeding age in China in a year or so. If he inherited his father's great stud qualities, he may be ready to start " his job" in the breeding season next year or the year after. It will be interesting to read about his adventures when he goes to China, and is able to smell all the lovely young female pandas as they come into estrus. Did Mei Sheng show any signs at all during the breeding season this year, or do the panda males hormonal instincts just suddenly " kick in" when they are 5-6 years of age? Previously information was shared about Mei Sheng being able to hear the breeding of his parents, but not being able to see it. Has anyone documented any research on what pandas learn from hearing and smelling, but not seeing? Time will tell whether Mei Sheng has his father’s ” ability” or not. He is the first son of a wild born Panda, raised in captivity in US, to become of breeding age in China in a year or so. If he inherited his father’s great stud qualities, he may be ready to start ” his job” in the breeding season next year or the year after. It will be interesting to read about his adventures when he goes to China, and is able to smell all the lovely young female pandas as they come into estrus.

Did Mei Sheng show any signs at all during the breeding season this year, or do the panda males hormonal instincts just suddenly ” kick in” when they are 5-6 years of age?

Previously information was shared about Mei Sheng being able to hear the breeding of his parents, but not being able to see it. Has anyone documented any research on what pandas learn from hearing and smelling, but not seeing?

]]> By: Maureen http://blogs.sandiegozoo.org/blog/2007/04/25/bai-yun-world-champion/comment-page-2/#comment-40307 Maureen Fri, 11 May 2007 04:17:45 +0000 http://www.sandiegozoo.org/wordpress/default/bai-yun-world-champion/#comment-40307 After reading all the info about our beloved pandas -my question is why do the males seem to be so dumb when it comes to mating. Any other species, the male does his job. Is the fact that GAO was born in the wild have anything to do with the fact that he was able to " do the job" I just read that LeLe at the Memphis Zoo bumbled his opporunity. Does this mean all the cubs born in capitivty have no idea of natural behavior. Maureen After reading all the info about our beloved pandas -my question is why do the males seem to be so dumb when it comes to mating. Any other species, the male does his job. Is the fact that GAO was born in the wild have anything to do with the fact that he was able to ” do the job” I just read that LeLe at the Memphis Zoo bumbled his opporunity. Does this mean all the cubs born in capitivty have no idea of natural behavior.
Maureen

]]> By: Ruth http://blogs.sandiegozoo.org/blog/2007/04/25/bai-yun-world-champion/comment-page-2/#comment-39747 Ruth Mon, 07 May 2007 06:55:49 +0000 http://www.sandiegozoo.org/wordpress/default/bai-yun-world-champion/#comment-39747 #68 Rose, Many thanks for your good wishes, I am truly looking forward to seeing the pandas " face to face" at the Vienna Zoo again soon. I am glad I could share the news with you on Google Alert, which is quite informative. #70, Laine, Thanks for enlightening me on the subject. This would explain a lot! #71 Maureen, It truly looks as if 2007 is going to be the " Year of the Panda" ! Isn't it exciting? #68 Rose, Many thanks for your good wishes, I am truly looking forward to seeing the pandas ” face to face” at the Vienna Zoo again soon. I am glad I could share the news with you on Google Alert, which is quite informative.

#70, Laine, Thanks for enlightening me on the subject. This would explain a lot!

#71 Maureen, It truly looks as if 2007 is going to be the ” Year of the Panda” ! Isn’t it exciting?

]]> By: Lisa Anderson http://blogs.sandiegozoo.org/blog/2007/04/25/bai-yun-world-champion/comment-page-2/#comment-39700 Lisa Anderson Sun, 06 May 2007 20:46:00 +0000 http://www.sandiegozoo.org/wordpress/default/bai-yun-world-champion/#comment-39700 Laine, I believe you are right. That delay is why a panda pregnancy can last anywhere from 3 to 6 months. Sure am glad humans don't have that kind of variation in pregnancy length; what havoc that would cause! Laine, I believe you are right. That delay is why a panda pregnancy can last anywhere from 3 to 6 months. Sure am glad humans don’t have that kind of variation in pregnancy length; what havoc that would cause!

]]> By: Maureen http://blogs.sandiegozoo.org/blog/2007/04/25/bai-yun-world-champion/comment-page-2/#comment-39624 Maureen Sun, 06 May 2007 01:34:36 +0000 http://www.sandiegozoo.org/wordpress/default/bai-yun-world-champion/#comment-39624 Thanks Ruth #55 for google alert info - also I just read that the Memphis Zoo is on a panda watch as their female panda is showing signs of emminent birth. Let's hope for another healthy cub - I'll just be stuck in front of the computer watching all the fun. Thanks for all you do. Maureen Thanks Ruth #55 for google alert info – also I just read that the Memphis Zoo is on a panda watch as their female panda is showing signs of emminent birth. Let’s hope for another healthy cub – I’ll just be stuck in front of the computer watching all the fun. Thanks for all you do.
Maureen

]]> By: Laine http://blogs.sandiegozoo.org/blog/2007/04/25/bai-yun-world-champion/comment-page-2/#comment-39609 Laine Sat, 05 May 2007 23:07:33 +0000 http://www.sandiegozoo.org/wordpress/default/bai-yun-world-champion/#comment-39609 #67 Ruth From what I know pandas have something called a delayed implantation, which is where the fertilized egg can float around in the uterus for several weeks before implanting into the uterine wall and start developing. That's about as much as I know about it. #67 Ruth
From what I know pandas have something called a delayed implantation, which is where the fertilized egg can float around in the uterus for several weeks before implanting into the uterine wall and start developing. That’s about as much as I know about it.

]]> By: Margaret http://blogs.sandiegozoo.org/blog/2007/04/25/bai-yun-world-champion/comment-page-2/#comment-39597 Margaret Sat, 05 May 2007 21:14:45 +0000 http://www.sandiegozoo.org/wordpress/default/bai-yun-world-champion/#comment-39597 Mei Sheng must have gotten a sniffer full of new Daddy-o scent when he returned to Exhibit 2. Did he seem to enjoy being back in his old haunt? I was familiar to him, I am sure, but it has been 2 months since he was there and there has been lots of scent marking in his absence. Any news on possible plans to let Mei Sheng and Su Lin interact in " person?" Or, have you decided not to pursue that activity pending his departure for China in the next few weeks/months? Will he be able stay here until he is actually 4 years old like Tai Shan and Mei Lan, or will he be leaving prior to his 4th birthday in August? It seems a shame to send the youngsters to China before they are actually of breeding age, since Wolong is so pressed for space with so many cubs in the past two years and the new breeding age cubs from prior years, like Hua Mei. Mei seems to be quite comfortable and is having a nice afternoon nap. Mei Sheng must have gotten a sniffer full of new Daddy-o scent when he returned to Exhibit 2. Did he seem to enjoy being back in his old haunt? I was familiar to him, I am sure, but it has been 2 months since he was there and there has been lots of scent marking in his absence.

Any news on possible plans to let Mei Sheng and Su Lin interact in ” person?” Or, have you decided not to pursue that activity pending his departure for China in the next few weeks/months? Will he be able stay here until he is actually 4 years old like Tai Shan and Mei Lan, or will he be leaving prior to his 4th birthday in August? It seems a shame to send the youngsters to China before they are actually of breeding age, since Wolong is so pressed for space with so many cubs in the past two years and the new breeding age cubs from prior years, like Hua Mei.

Mei seems to be quite comfortable and is having a nice afternoon nap.

]]> By: Rose N. http://blogs.sandiegozoo.org/blog/2007/04/25/bai-yun-world-champion/comment-page-2/#comment-39578 Rose N. Sat, 05 May 2007 17:27:51 +0000 http://www.sandiegozoo.org/wordpress/default/bai-yun-world-champion/#comment-39578 Many thanks to you Ruth #55, I also registered for google " panda" alerts. I just received my first alert stating that that the Memphis Zoo panda may be pregnant! They have started a 24-hour watch on its female giant panda YaYa. " YaYa has been more restless and irritable than usual. Plus, her appetite has decreased, and she has spent more time in seclusion." The article also mentioned that it could still be a pseudopregnancy. The zoo performed artificial insemination in January, using sperm from 8-year-old male LeLe. " It has been 110 days since the insemination on YaYa, and, on average, a cub is born on day 133." So, now we wait, hope and pray for future baby pandas. Good Luck to you Ruth and thanks again for sharing. Many thanks to you Ruth #55, I also registered for google ” panda” alerts. I just received my first alert stating that that the Memphis Zoo panda may be pregnant! They have started a 24-hour watch on its female giant panda YaYa. ” YaYa has been more restless and irritable than usual. Plus, her appetite has decreased, and she has spent more time in seclusion.” The article also mentioned that it could still be a pseudopregnancy. The zoo performed artificial insemination in January, using sperm from 8-year-old male LeLe. ” It has been 110 days since the insemination on YaYa, and, on average, a cub is born on day 133.” So, now we wait, hope and pray for future baby pandas. Good Luck to you Ruth and thanks again for sharing.

]]> By: Ruth http://blogs.sandiegozoo.org/blog/2007/04/25/bai-yun-world-champion/comment-page-2/#comment-39550 Ruth Sat, 05 May 2007 11:17:25 +0000 http://www.sandiegozoo.org/wordpress/default/bai-yun-world-champion/#comment-39550 Lisa #63 I will certainly keep you and all the other pandaholics updated regarding the panda couple in Vienna. Unfortunately this zoo does not yet have a live panda web cam (you guys in the US are so fortunate!) but now and then there are news on their website. When going and visiting the zoo I shall try and get as much info as possible on Yang Yang and Long Hui from their respective keepers and will keep sending you blogs on their progress. May be I could suggest to them to install a live web cam. I shall try my very best!!! Margaret #61 you are so right! When are we going to get some work done? Suzanne, it was mentioned that a foetus can be traced through scanning only a few weeks before the actual birth. Being aware that the cub is minute when being born why is it that the time of gestation is three to six months? When does the embryo actually start to develop, immediately after fertilization or very much later? Your reply is very much appreciated, thank you. Lisa #63 I will certainly keep you and all the other pandaholics updated regarding the panda couple in Vienna. Unfortunately this zoo does not yet have a live panda web cam (you guys in the US are so fortunate!) but now and then there are news on their website. When going and visiting the zoo I shall try and get as much info as possible on Yang Yang and Long Hui from their respective keepers and will keep sending you blogs on their progress. May be I could suggest to them to install a live web cam. I shall try my very best!!!
Margaret #61 you are so right! When are we going to get some work done?
Suzanne, it was mentioned that a foetus can be traced through scanning only a few weeks before the actual birth. Being aware that the cub is minute when being born why is it that the time of gestation is three to six months? When does the embryo actually start to develop, immediately after fertilization or very much later? Your reply is very much appreciated, thank you.

]]> By: Suzanne http://blogs.sandiegozoo.org/blog/2007/04/25/bai-yun-world-champion/comment-page-2/#comment-39522 Suzanne Sat, 05 May 2007 04:53:59 +0000 http://www.sandiegozoo.org/wordpress/default/bai-yun-world-champion/#comment-39522 Suzanne, Thanks so much for your on-going updates, and answers to all of our questions. This might be another record breaking panda baby year in the making (both in the US and in China!). I, for one, think that there has been enough excitement in Panda Canyon to last a few weeks! Let's give the polar and brown bears their chance for some enjoyment now. I also love the smile on Bai's face in the picture from the record breaking day - can't blame her at all - she sure made Gao Gao's wait worth his while! the other Suzanne Suzanne,

Thanks so much for your on-going updates, and answers to all of our questions. This might be another record breaking panda baby year in the making (both in the US and in China!).

I, for one, think that there has been enough excitement in Panda Canyon to last a few weeks! Let’s give the polar and brown bears their chance for some enjoyment now.

I also love the smile on Bai’s face in the picture from the record breaking day – can’t blame her at all – she sure made Gao Gao’s wait worth his while!

the other Suzanne

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