Day 5: So Far, So Good
Posted at 8:27 am August 8, 2007 by Suzanne HallAugust 7, 9:45 p.m.
Not much change inside the den today. Bai Yun must have had her fill of water yesterday during her four den departures, because she remained sequestered inside the den for about 23 consecutive hours since that last trip out. She finally came out again about 6:15 and 9:30 tonight, again to drink.
During those departures, we got another good look at the cub. It still appears full-bellied and vigorous. Although continuing to be on the quiet side, we are hearing occasional strong squawking sounds. These are all positive indicators that the cub is doing well.
On some camera views, you can see that Bai Yun has piled a large quantity of bamboo at the mouth of the den. She did this before birth. We don’t know if she did this to increase her sense of seclusion, or if she was trying to improve the insulation of the den to warm it up. Or perhaps she did it by accident, just haphazardly dropping the bamboo there and never quite getting around to tidying it up before she went into labor. Although she has brought some large quantities of bamboo in to build her nest before, none of us can recall seeing such a mound at the den opening before.
For the first time, we have a temperature monitor in the den this year. Last night, her den temperature in the early evening seemed to stay constant at about 75 degrees Fahrenheit (23.8 degrees Celsius). Nice and comfortable. There are some crevices in the den through which air can escape, and a fan is installed at the top of the den to pull air in from the adjacent bedroom. The bedroom itself has air conditioning, so cool air is available to circulate into the den. This will be especially important if San Diego should experience a Santa Ana weather pattern, when the temperature can rise to the 90-degree mark.
Suzanne Hall is a senior research technician with the Giant Panda Unit of Applied Animal Ecology/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.
August 8th, 2007 at 9:19 am
Thanks Suzanne for keeping us up-to-date on the WORLD’S BEST REALITY SHOW. I mean, everytime I think I see a glimpse of the cub, I celebrate here by my computer. My family and friends may be sick of my obsession, but it does keep me off the streets at night! (LOL) And it truly is better to watch than what’s on TV.
I am looking forward to Mei Sheng’s Birthday Celebration tomorrow. It’s hard to believe that it was only 4 years ago that he was the size of his new sibling. And, wow, Su Lin sure has grown in 2 years! They grow up soooo fast… That’s why I appreciate your daily updates. And, thanks to the Meerkats for the constant video! All of you are doing a great job! THANK YOU !
And, blessings to the little ” Bright Star” cub and MommaSan Bai Yun,
Love, Joy
Moderator’s note: Mei Sheng’s birthday is August 19.
August 8th, 2007 at 11:09 am
August 3, 2007
Folks “round the whole world waited. E-mails sped around the earth.
“The pandacam’s gone off the air! We think Bai’s giving birth!”
And while we speculated, our Bai Yun, Queen Panda Mom,
Calmly held Cub Number Four cradled in her palm.
Now there’s milk and warmth and love and quiet in the den.
A tiny Panda life’s begun and Hope is born again.
The Hope that we can somehow keep these precious bears alive.
That Man will somehow come to see that our world can not thrive
Unless we give all life on earth the room and things they need,
That our earth is a space ship and it carries precious seeds.
That we are also passengers, not captains, and not kings.
That we are not the masters of all these living things.
So watch, but do so humbly. To see Bai and her child
Speaks to each human on this world of what we owe the wild:
To keep it safe. To leave it be. If we destroy their home
Please, everyone, can you not see that we destroy our own?
Rejoice with laughter and with tears. The cycle starts anew.
And pray we have the wisdom to protect these precious few.
And now, a word to Gao Gao: Studmuffin, there’s no doubt
That when it comes to making bears, you know what you’re about!
So thank you, little Big Big bear, for our third cub from you
And now there is just one more thing I hope you let me do.
If our precious newborn babe is girl cub number three
I hope that you don’t mind if I nickname her our Sweetpea.
But if our big fat lively cub is boy cub number two
I’d really like to call him our Cubmuffin, after you!
August 8th, 2007 at 10:18 am
THANK YOU soooo much for the Panda Cam as well as the Blog entries! I am ” obsessed” with Bai Yun and her cub and look every minute I get a chance. Thank you also for what appears to be the newer camera angle…closer to the floor of the den……I think there are better glimpses this way….I am looking forward to seeing the cubs progress….
Thank you again…and again….and again!!!
August 8th, 2007 at 11:04 am
Bai Yun is napping on a pile of bamboo. Has she taken the cub outside the round den that we see on the webcam or left the baby alone in the den. Can’t get enough of the new baby and mom. Thanks SDZ for allowing us to view this wonderful event.
August 8th, 2007 at 11:12 am
What a beautiful name that would make. ” Bright Star”
August 8th, 2007 at 11:52 am
Wow, great poem there Pamela. Panda’s weren’t even on my radar until quite by accident, I stumbled upon the Atlanta Zoo pandacam right after Mei Lan was born. I became totally enthralled by these bears. There is something almost ” other worldly” about them. They are very special creatures, and I almost feel like they have been put on this earth to teach us something…not sure what, but I feel they are here for a higher purpose. Other than that, they’re so damn cute, you just can’t stand it!! I know all the scientist and such look at them as just an animal, but I just don’t see them that way. They probably think we’re all nuts for being so crazy over them, but like I said, from my perspective, they are very special creatures.
Anyway, now I’m nuts for these beautiful bears and the only Pandas I haven’t seen in the U.S. are in San Diego, so guess where my next trip out of town will be???? Kudos to Bai and Gao for getting the job done with NO help, and what a gem Bai is…a mother for the 4th time!! And such a good one at that!
And much thanks to SDZ for all you do. You guys are great! Hope to see you soon!
August 8th, 2007 at 12:37 pm
Thanks Suzanne for the updates, and Pamela G for the wonderful poem. Sweetpea and Cubmuffin are adorable names for a precious little cub. Bright Star would make a fabulous lifetime name, especially since this cub may be Bai Yun’s last one. I think one of the potential names for either Mei Lan or Tai Shan had Bright Star in it.
This is the brightest panda star on the US panda family horizon this year. After two disappointments, it is great to know that GaoGao’s personal ” touch” produced his third, Bai Yun’s fourth, and the only US cub of 2007.
We look forward to future glimpses of the growing babe. I got a very brief view of the cub at about 11 PM PDT last night when Bai Yun went into her rythem, and gave it a good bath. She has a huge tongue!
August 8th, 2007 at 12:40 pm
Janet, I agree Bright Star is a great name. As I recall, one of the names in the running for Mei Lan last year was Ming Yue, Bright Moon. I think, don’t quote me, Bright Star may have been a contender as well. If memory serves right, that would be Ming Ling. Anyone here knowing Chinese, feel free to correct me if that is wrong!
August 8th, 2007 at 12:46 pm
I agree, ” Bright Star” would be a great name for either a boy or girl!
August 8th, 2007 at 12:51 pm
Pamela G. I thank God everyday for the little things in life, seeing a new baby born and one more person realizing just how delicate the balance of nature is and that they could do something about it. you poem is absolutely beautiful, you speak from a golden heart. Our cubby is so precious but I have a feeling that it’s going to be cubmuffin. Pamela thank you again for those words they mean so much.
August 8th, 2007 at 1:47 pm
Your poem, Pamela, is gorgeous. Thank you. Like Barbara (#10), I have a hunch we have a little cubmuffin. Actually, a chubby cubmuffin!
Thanks, Suzanne, for your nightly updates. And just in case you feel alone during the later hours of the evening, don’t worry. There are bunches of pandalovers observing right along with you.
August 8th, 2007 at 2:20 pm
Pamela, thank you for sharing such a touching poem not only about our precious pandas, but the world as well; you are truly a gifted writer!
I just got another glimpse of Bright Star or Cubmuffin; personally, I think it is the latter, but only time will tell!
It is such a privilege to be able to see Bai Yun caring for her little cub, secure in her den, not knowing the joy she is bringing to pandaholics all over the world! We are so grateful to the SDZ for allowing this momentous event to once again become part of our everyday lives!
August 8th, 2007 at 3:15 pm
Oh Pamela, that last line was SO funny I had to LOL! The rest of what you wrote about is so true. We HAVE to take care of every creature and our lands. Why doesn’t everyone get that?
My first instinct was that we had another little girl because they say she is so quiet. Mei Sheng and Tai Shan were both more demanding and vocal. However, for some reason I’ve been slowly tipping towards a boy. We should know the answer in 2 weeks or so.
It’s so nice to know that I’m not the only obsessed one out here. It’a a good thing the video is not available where I work or I’d be FIRED!
August 8th, 2007 at 3:54 pm
Well, I’m still waiting for my first glimpse of the cub on pandacam, since I just get to pop in a few times each day. But I am patient, knowing how these panda moms keep the cubbie cuddled in their big protective paws. Haven’t been lucky enough to catch Bai when she leaves him alone to take her water break.
For my fellow pandaholics, you just have to take a look at the Wolong panda club website. There are pics of the panda who gave birth to twins 8/6 that you must see. Someone asked about the size of twins the other day. One was less than half the size of the other. That is the one they chose to hand raise in the nursery first. Also a pic of the newborn cub in mom’s mouth is just amazing.
Pamela G, your poem is lovely and exactly my sentiments about the relationship of humans and animals and the planet we share. SDZ, if there is going to be a naming contest for this cub, maybe you could consider Bright Star as representing the bloggers entry.
August 8th, 2007 at 3:57 pm
How exciting to follow another panda cub on its journey to becoming a giant panda. I have been watching Mei Lan at Zoo Atlanta in Georgia since her birth in Sept 2006 she will be celebrating her one year in 28 days! Also Tai Shan at the Washington DC zoo. He just had his birthday! he is now two.
I am a lover of panda bears. They are the most beautiful animals!! And smart too! I am hooked on the webcams! much better then watching TV!. I look forward to watching the new baby grow. Thanks for the webcam & thanks to everyone at the zoo for doing a wonderful job with all the animals!
Blessings
August 8th, 2007 at 4:05 pm
I couldn’t agree with Pamela G more. Beautiful poems. Not just for pandas but for all the creatures on this earth as well. I just read a sad story that the Yangtze River dolphin in Chian is now almost certainly extinct, making it the first dolphin that humans drove to extinction. As a native Chinese, I grew up knowing that Yangtze River dolphin is live-fossil that has been living on earth for over 20 million years. It persisted through the most drastic changes in our planet. Now it is almost certain that it is gone. How sad it is to lose such a precious creature. We definitely want to see to it that this doesn’t happen to Pandas. Blessed are those who dedicate their lives and efforts to ensure this never happens to other lives than our own species.
August 8th, 2007 at 4:54 pm
Time passes by …. I am in awe, once again, with the precious baby panda being cared for by beautiful Bai Yun! I have followed the panda cam since it began. Thank you to everyone at the San Diego Zoo for all the work you do!
August 8th, 2007 at 5:57 pm
I also like the name ” Bright Star” ! What a great name for either sex. Many of us here at Yale are enjoying the Panda cam and catching a glimpse of the new cub! Bai is a natural! Thank you SDZ for allowing us to share in your success and joy!
August 8th, 2007 at 6:04 pm
Beatiful poem, Pamela. I was trying to explain to a friend how I feel about the birth of a panda cub being a great sign of hope, and your poem really put the words to my thoughts so wonderfully.
I think Bright Star is such a great name for a cub that brings hope that the species will survive. Yes, One of Mei Lan’s name options was Bright Star (Ming Shing– I think)
Yun Wen (#16) it is sad about the dolphin.
When I was in San Diego last month, I went to the San Diego Zoo’s Wild Animal Park and there they have a White Rhino species that will probably go extinct in our lifetime. The tour guide said, ” You may be looking at the last Of this species.” And I was sooooo sad. And then I went back to the Zoo, and saw Su Lin and Mei Sheng and rejoiced that it seems we have figured out how to help the pandas not go extinct… That there is HOPE!
And, there I am back to my name for this cub– Bright Star that brings us Hope for the species survival.
PS I’m soooo embarrassed that I had Mei Sheng’s Birthday wrong. Oops! Well, around here we celebrate birthdays all month long, so I am already celebrating ” the bear that is Sheng” . Love, Joy
August 8th, 2007 at 6:43 pm
Pamela you certainly have a way with words – that is 3 or 4th poem of yours I’ve read. It’s about 9:40 eastern time I think I can our little cubby -nursing maybe(?) I have watched Tai & Mei since they day they were born – now have another one to watch.
I notice that Mei Xiang & Tian Tian (Washngton) are back in the same enclosure. A fall mating maybe.
Thanks to all the SDZ staff for keeping us pandaholics updated.
August 8th, 2007 at 7:24 pm
Yun Wen (16) I read about your homeland’s dolphin today. Very tragic!
Sharon (14) I sw that very tiny twin on te Wolong ssite also. I sure hope it will be OK. It was SO small.
Great job with the camera tonight on Mei Sheng! What a handsome young man! Those young panda girls in China are going to swoon when they see our young American Studmuffin!
August 8th, 2007 at 7:30 pm
I’m watching our little Sheng now. He’s growing up to be one handsome boy!
August 8th, 2007 at 8:06 pm
I have seen our latest cub alone several times tongiht & watched Bai circle around very carefully & slowly before picking it back up. She is a great mother (along with our first time moms in Washington & Atlanta).
August 8th, 2007 at 9:02 pm
Wish we could hear the baby vocalizing. Also, why no videos of the cub. I was lucky to be online and saw it, but I am sure many in the east missed it due to the time difference.
August 8th, 2007 at 9:15 pm
8 # Lisa Anderson, I am a Chinese from HK. Bright Star in Chinese (Mandarin) could be Ming Xin (sounds like sin). Xin (star) is usually used for boy but its ok for girl. Bright Moon (Ming Yue) is rather a girl’s name. Both names have an implication of quiet, gentle, elegrance and cleanness and are commonly used in China.
I took a brief view of Bai’s cub at about 8pm, Aug 8 and am very glad that the baby looks growing well and bigger. Thanks for the hard work of SDZ panda team.
August 8th, 2007 at 10:18 pm
This will be the fifth baby panda that I am blessed to watch growing up. It started with Hua Mei all those years ago (or so it now seems). She was followed by her brother, then Tai Shan in DC, quickly followed by Su Lin, the female at Atlanta, and now this newest one at SDZ. Each one has been a breathtaking adventure and opportunity of a lifetime. It is still a life’s dream to go to China on a ” panda volunteer” vacation. Don’t know if I’ll ever make it, but just this opportunity to watch yet another one of these beautiful bears enter the world and grow is a blessing.
Does anyone have a link to a website for any of the Chinese Panda Research Centers? I’ve looked in vain for any links to Wolong and have batted zero so far.
August 8th, 2007 at 11:38 pm
8 # 25# Sorry for mistake made. It should be Ming Xing instead of Ming Xin for the Chinese name of Bright Star.
August 9th, 2007 at 5:03 am
Beautiful poem, Pamela. You are so good at putting into words what the rest of us can only think about. You really should consider putting this and all your other exquisite writings into a book. We, the pandaholics of the world, would stand in line, if need be, to purchase copies…I checked back in a blog about Mei Lan’s naming choices and Bright Star was listed as Ming Xing, very close to what #25 Y. H. Ng said. That is a wonderful possibility for a name for our newest panda in the U.S….Saw the baby just a couple of times overnight. It’s such a fun game trying to spot when the little sprout might pop out an extremity or its head. Already there are dark marks on the head. I think they were ears rather than eyes…
August 9th, 2007 at 5:42 am
Chinese Panda Research Centers?
Search Google: Kepu pandacam wolong
User name: guest
Password: guest
August 9th, 2007 at 8:08 am
Helen #26 — You can Google ” Wolong Research Center” and then choose ” Wolong Panda Club.” That will get you there.
Diane #24 — Just click on ” videos” on the panda cam site, and follow directions to streaming video portal, then choose ” pandas.” There is one video of the cub; you can hear it–and there will be more videos as the cub becomes more visible.
Pamela G. — your poem is beautiful–brought tears to my eyes.
August 9th, 2007 at 9:00 am
to #26, Helen, there are two chinese panda research centers. I think it’s not good to post the direct links here. You can google wolong panda club and chengdu panda research, the 1st results are the correct links.