What’s New with Su Lin?
Posted at 12:33 pm June 21, 2007 by Panda Research Team
Su Lin has reached a milestone this week: she now weighs 50.1 kilograms, which is around 110 pounds! Since her move back into the public eye in late May, our girl is adjusting very well back on exhibit, learning “the routine” down at the San Diego Zoo’s Giant Panda Research Station.
In the mornings, you will usually find her by the fence line waiting for a keeper to come down and give her a “breakfast” feeding. Su Lin shifts into her bedroom for a treat, and then we move her behind the exhibit to get a current weight on her. Then it’s back into her bedroom for a light bamboo feeding while we clean and get her exhibit ready for panda observations. Su Lin enjoys getting enrichment items; some of her favorites include pine shavings, a large gray crate she loves to crawl in, and a frozen apple treat!
Currently, we are working on the basics of operant conditioning training with her. The most important behavior we are working on with her is to call her into her bedroom several times a day. Su Lin is very smart and, for the most part, has done very well with this behavior. However, as a “teenager,” she does have moments of wanting only her way and has, on occasions, chosen to remain up in her tree on exhibit and not come in.
Future behaviors we would like to work with her include training for procedures in the squeeze cage. This will involve training for blood draws, ultrasound, and vaginal swabbings.
All in all, Su Lin is learning to live life as an adult panda, and she is doing great!
Posted by the San Diego Zoo’s giant panda keepers.
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June 21st, 2007 at 12:54 pm
Thank you so much for the update on Princess Su. We all appreciate everything that you do to care for these beautiful creatures. Can you please post a new picture of our baby? I say our baby, because I believe everyone who is as obsessed with all of them as I am, can say that. Thanks again!
June 21st, 2007 at 2:05 pm
Thanks for the update. Princess is a great word to describe such a beautiful young female panda. She definitely resembles her mother when she is out on exhibit munching away on bamboo, or resting in one of her favorite spots. She seems to be totally relaxed and happy back in familiar surroundings but now in her own world. It is hard to believe the maturity and growth both physical, emotional, and mental that both she and Tai Shan have experienced in their solitary life. It has only been 4 months, but seems more like a year. They are both getting up their in weight and filling out nicely. When viewing distant camera shots it is hard to distinquish them from their mothers as they both have markings more similar to their mother than their father.
Great work meerkats in keeping up with all the bears as they go about their daily lives eating, discovering, and resting. They look so peaceful and content.
June 21st, 2007 at 3:03 pm
Thanks for the update on Su Lin. Maybe it’s because she was the first baby panda I followed from birth, but I am crazy about her! I fondly remember the milestones of her life. She always seemed so smart and self-possessed, even as a small cub, and so gentle, too. And now she’s a beautiful adult (almost) bear. Thanks for the close-ups of her round fluffy cheeks and bright observant eyes. It’s so heartwarming to watch her grow and mature.
June 22nd, 2007 at 1:18 am
Su Lin is the first cub that I’ve watched for almost all of her life. What a pleasure it’s been to see her grow and change from a tiny cub. I was so happy to see her at the Zoo on June 13 when we were there. She and Mei Sheng are doing so well under your very good care!
I’m sorry that Mei Sheng will have to leave us soon, but he’ll be a valuable addition to the gene pool and hopefully will have many cubs to contribute to the survival of Giant Pandas. We’ll look for updates about him from time to time, if you are able to get them for all his fans.
June 22nd, 2007 at 7:13 am
I am also crazy about Su Lin. I have fallowed her, Tai Shan, and Mei Lan sence birth. I feel connected to those pandas than to Su’s brother and sister, because I did not even know they were born untill Su Lin was born.
She does seem like a very smart bear. I have always been amazed on how they learn. I am only in 7th grade and hope to be a zoologist when I grow up. The animal I would like to work with is a giant panda. I hope to be in a zoo with pandas one day.
June 22nd, 2007 at 8:09 am
Been an absolute joy to be able to watch Su Lin on cam. She is so beautiful and I get a kick out of her! Thanks meerkats for the great closeups of her beautiful face. I do get a laugh when she is up in the trees trying to spot her through the leaves.
June 22nd, 2007 at 10:11 am
Has Bai Yun ever had a pseudo pregnancy? And, if so, how was her behavior different from when she was actually pregnant? Also, can you tell if a panda has a preference for one enclosure over another?
June 22nd, 2007 at 11:11 am
Hi! Thanks for your update about Su Lin. I know that you all have enjoyed having her there and have loved to watch her grow since she was born. One question I would like to ask you all about Bai Yun. What’s the latest on the pregnancy watch on her? We would love to see more updates on her possible pregnancy because I’m pretty sure that you all are fairly close to seeing something happening with Bai in the next couple of weeks. Got updates on the other 2 female pandas this month. Ya Ya, the female panda at the Memphis Zoo, had a miscarriage. That’s a huge disappointment for them, but they will try again in spring, 2008. At National Zoo, signs are pointing to a possible pregnancy with Mei Xiang. They have had her on pregnancy watch since she was artificially inseminated back in April. They will keep checking her regularly and let everyone know what’s going on. So, please give us more regular updates about Bai Yun’s possible pregnancy as much as possible, ok? Will keep checking your website to read what’s going on.
Thanks,
Chari Mercier
St. Pete, FL
June 22nd, 2007 at 5:00 pm
Thank you, SDZ, for helping me solve the New York Times crossword puzzle today. One clue was ” Birthplace of the first giant panda in North America to survive to adulthood.” And, of course, you were the answer–which is something I wouldn’t have known without pandacam and all the information you provide.
June 22nd, 2007 at 5:35 pm
Emma, #5 – I hope your wish to become a zoologist and work with giant pandas comes true. You have a good start by watching the pandas now and reading the blogs here! Good luck to you!!!
June 22nd, 2007 at 10:35 pm
They grow up sooooooooo fast!!!
Thanks for the update on Su Lin. She definitely lives up to her name: a little bit of something very cute. She sure is soooo VERY cute! I especially like the way she manipulates her bamboo.
I just got back from visiting her cousin at the National Zoo.
When you’ve watched the adults and studied how they do things, it is so cute to see a smaller version like Su Lin doing the same things. It’s like Mini-Me.
Thanks for all your work bringing the pandas to us. — Auntie Joy
June 23rd, 2007 at 1:27 pm
Cathy G.(#10)-Thank you!
June 23rd, 2007 at 4:48 pm
I really enjoyed seeing both youngsters when I arrived at the zoo on Monday, June 18 when the gates opened. The last time I had seen Su Lin in person was the week she was weaned, and i was amazed how much she has grown in that short time. Mei Sheng was his usual happy-go-lucky self, and a joy to watch play once he finally became wide awake (obviously not a morning panda!). I was struck by how much both Su Lin and Mei Sheng are aware of the people watching them. When I quietly spoke to Su Lin she stopped munching her bamboo, seemingly struck a pose for a photo, and then smiled. Needless to say the photos are priceless. Mei Sheng seemed to listen closely as well, and I swear he cocked his head to listen when i spoke his name. Have there been any formal studies done on any of the US pandas to see how much awareness they have of their zoo visitors?
June 25th, 2007 at 12:04 pm
Thank you for the update, I have a question maybe you have answered before so forgive me if it is asked again in trainging the pandas if Su Lin doesnt want to come in will she be left outside all night??? I have been to the SDZ and I know it is a very secure area, I just wondered if they are allowed to wander in and out??
June 26th, 2007 at 7:59 pm
#13
I’m interested in learning about how much aware Pandas are of their vistors too! I too had called softly and kept smiling at Mei Sheng when he was eating bamboo. To my surprise he moved his bamboo and cocked his head and smiled back at me, I actually felt the hairs on my arms raise because it was like he looked right through me. I received the cutest picture of Mei when he did that and I was so happy. I just kept smiling and thanked him and he continued to eat his bamboo. It was like he knew I adored him. I also remember reading in one other blog, that smells affect the Pandas and at one time a Panda was sniffing and seemed upset until whoever had that smell finally left. There’s still so much to lean, and THANKS TO EVERYONE WHO KEEPS EDUCATING US.
June 27th, 2007 at 5:04 am
Hello,
I just wondering whether there’s any opportunity to have Su Lin and Tai Shan to be a partnership living together instead send back to mainland China at their 2 years old or above. Cheers.
June 28th, 2007 at 8:47 am
Meerkats, thanks for the pandacam closeups this week. Su Lin is so beautiful whether she’s lounging on a tree branch or munching bamboo. Bruce in KC, it was fun chatting with you at SDZ on June 18!
June 28th, 2007 at 10:33 am
Is it me or Su Lin has grown to look more and more like her dad Gao Gao? Her facial features seems to resemble more of him as she matures.
June 28th, 2007 at 11:20 am
Michelle, thanks for sharing your time with Mei Sheng. He is a very special young lad, and I would have been thrilled to pieces to receive his attention, as you did!
June 28th, 2007 at 11:24 am
Grace, I see both Bai and Gao in Su’s features, and I do think she will be on the smaller side like her daddy.
Funny how both Su and Tai seem to be taking after their fathers in the weight category!
June 29th, 2007 at 11:11 am
I’m wondering what special things will need to be done with Mei Sheng when it comes time to fly him to Wolong. I’m guessing that there will be a quarantine period, but are there any othe considerations, like temporary diet changes?
Susan it was great meeting you at the zoo too!
July 1st, 2007 at 5:32 am
Irene (#16)- Su and Tai are half-cousins, so they would be messing with the gene pool to have them mate. It was a good thought, though!
July 1st, 2007 at 6:43 pm
I love taking photos of all four pandas at the San Diego Zoo, and also atthe Chinese National Zoo in Beijing. I love the layout of the panda exhibits at the SDZ, it feels like i’m right inside the enclosure with the pandas! On my recent visit a couple weeks ago i was able to take some great photos, and would like to share them with all of the other panda lovers that read this blog. They’re at flickr. The Beijing pandas are there too. I think it’s important for the zoos to have such good access, and for the fans to share their love of the pandas, so that the public is aware of their situation in the wild. Maybe then more people would contribute to panda conservation efforts. A whole bunch of cute panda cubs does not hurt either!
July 1st, 2007 at 9:01 pm
Thanks for the update on Su Lin. She is becoming a beautiful adult Panda. She captured my heart from the first time I saw her pictures on the webcam and it will continues as she matures into an adult. I enjoy reading how she is making the transition into the beautiful adult and the skills she is learning.
July 20th, 2007 at 2:52 pm
Su Lin is so much fun to watch but lately all I ever see her doing in laying down on that table sleeping. Is everything okay with her?