Day 6: Panda Watching
Posted at 10:24 pm August 8, 2007 by Suzanne HallWhile we sit and watch Bai Yun during this postpartum period, the San Diego Zoo’s Giant Panda Conservation Unit behavior staff has many tasks to complete. For starters, we are collecting detailed behavioral data on the goings-on in the den. Our stopwatch is set to a 60-second countdown repeat, and each time it beeps at us we record a suite of information: the behavior and location of the dam, the behavior and location of the cub, the degree of exposure of the cub to the ambient environment, the amount and type of contact between infant and dam, and whether and how the cub is vocalizing. In between watch beeps, we record details on events such as nursing and grooming bouts.
In addition to the above data, we also maintain a “den departure log.” This detailed record documents Bai Yun’s every absence from the den, what she does while she is gone, how long she stays away, and how the cub responds to her absence. We have records of this sort for both the 2003 and 2005 birth windows, and these provide us with a quick reference guide to compare this and any future post-birth periods.
We have three cameras in the den (numbers 13, 14, and 21), and each of these cameras has a dedicated VCR currently recording 24 hours per day. Every two hours we change out the tapes and catalog them in our tape archive. These tapes may be used to extract further behavioral data, to allow the veterinarians and other staff to see images of the cub, and to allow staff to extract video and still shots from the den for you to see.
When we get the chance, we are summarizing our data in preparation for the data entry process. We pack boxes with recorded tapes to prepare them for storage. We are exchanging regular e-mails with progress reports about happenings in the den. We interface with the husbandry and veterinary staff for the same purpose. And we maintain the Panda Cam stream for the people who visit the Web site. We’ve become very good at multitasking!
And now for your panda news! At the moment, Bai Yun is in a holding pattern, repeating her nightly den departures while remaining denned up in the daytime. During her departures, she most likely is seeking water, but last night she defecated for the first time since she was in labor. Her body is slowly beginning to return to normal. It will be some time, however, before she resumes a behavior pattern more typical of a panda unencumbered by a neonate.
Suzanne Hall is a senior research technician with the Giant Panda Unit of Applied Animal Ecology/San Diego Zoo.
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August 9th, 2007 at 12:22 am
Did you not used to have sound for the Cam. Seems to me you did as I remember the babes squeals and stuff?
Moderator’s note: Panda Cam does not have sound, just the panda videos.
August 9th, 2007 at 12:59 am
Suzanne, all of you are certainly kept busy if you are doing that much data collecting! How many are on a ” shift” at a time? I hope it’s more than one!!!
Thanks for the hard work keeping up with the data. Also, thanks for sacrificing the sleep you and the other SDZ staff are missing to do the 24/7 recording and record keeping.
The cubby is showing growth already. He/she seems to have a full tummy when we get a glimpse. Must be all the good milk that Mama Bai Yun makes for the little one. There are a lot of us out here watching at all hours of the day and night and we’re emailing and blogging back-and-forth. What a wonderful group of folks panda lovers are!!!
Several people have mentioned the wonderful close-up camera shots we’re getting during this observation period. It’s nice to see both Bai Yun and Cubby, plus Su Lin and Mei Sheng. What a nice bonus for all of the panda friends out here!!!
August 9th, 2007 at 3:30 am
You mention having the ability to compare Bai Yun’s behavior at this point in the post-birth process with the Little One, and being able to compare it with the same stage in previous births.
Is she responding in a like fashion for the same period with previous births? I would imagine there might be some differences since she is also older than she was when she had her first baby. How do Bai Yun’s behavior patterns compare to other new female panda mothers at the same period post-birth?
Of course, I am sure things different from panda to panda and somewhat with each individual panda for subsequent births. It would be interesting to know your thoughts on this.
Thank you for the wonderful updates. I check them out several times a day and — of course — the panda birth den cam.
August 9th, 2007 at 6:36 am
Suzanne, thanks (as always) for the latest info. Sounds like you all have your hands full. I am at the point of waking up 2 and 3 times a night now to check on Bai and Babe. I feel as though I might as well be taking notes too!!! LOL Sure would love to be able to see the pandas (and all the rest of the animals) in person, but don’t see that happening. Last night (or early morning) I found myself humming the old ” Police” song with the lyrics…every breath you take, every move you make, I’ll be watching you. If Bai knew, she would probably report me to zoo security as a stalker. I LOVE OUR PANDAS!!!!
August 9th, 2007 at 7:42 am
It’s 7:35 a.m. San Diego time, and thanks to the great close-up camera shots, I saw a tiny paw and then what looked like quite a well-fed cub. It’s startling how much bigger the baby looks already.
I felt exhausted even reading Suzanne’s post this morning. With all the responsibilities the panda team has, it is miraculous that they have any time to keep us pandalovers posted so regularly and in such a detailed fashion. Thanks for all your efforts–they are much appreciated.
The shots of Mei Sheng yesterday were wonderful–what a handsome guy he is.
August 9th, 2007 at 7:50 am
Thank you Suzanne for all the great information! Wow, how many people does it take during one session of recording all these ‘moments’? Are there a lot of volunteers who help out with this? I would LOVE to do that, but I’m have a country away. When you mentioned the ‘60 second beep’ several messages ago, I was surprised, and at first thought that would be quite annoying (I can’t stand when heavy equipment backs up and beeps =-) but it one is constantly journalizing what is going on, you probably get used to it quite fast. Kudos to ALL of you. BTW, I noticed a couple days ago that they put Tian in with Mei at Washington Zoo. That seemed to cheer her up (I’m glad) because she has been very lethargic and sleeping a lot. Guess she knows she’s not getting a new cub. I wish Tai could have a play mate. I miss their (mom and cub) wild and wonderful play sessions. I HOPE Su and Mei Sheng can get together to play, too. Again, thanks for these wonderful messages and pictures.
August 9th, 2007 at 7:56 am
wolong showed newborn twins on it’s site. They were born on monday one small at 70 grms and one at 190 grma both are healthy. NOW the interesting part, today on cnn news I read an interesting story about the mother Jin Zhu. It seens that when she was born she was sexed as a male because of inconspicuous sex organs. She/He at breeding age was sent to breed at a zoo whith a male panda , when now interest was shown between the two they decided to use artifical insemination at which time they found there was no penis. There was quite a bit of speculation about what She/ He was. In early 2005 it was discovered that her ovaries were in the wrong position. After a 2hr surgery she was a normal girl and in March of this year mated which resulted in twins. I was wondering and curious if any one has ever heard anything like this.
August 9th, 2007 at 8:10 am
” …and we maintain the Panda Cam for all who visit our website” ….Thank you, thank you THANK you for going this extra mile so we all can enjoy this great pandaventure! You are SO appreciated!
August 9th, 2007 at 8:18 am
Suzanne, we all think you have a ” dream job” that we would love to have in order to interact with our precious pandas. But we can see that it is WORK! It is clear you are an educated, dedicated, and conscientious person who must pay attention to a lot of detail. Bless you and your colleagues. Thank you again for taking the time for a most informative update, and, I must say it again, for loving our pandas.
August 9th, 2007 at 8:20 am
Wow! You collect a lot of great information. Do the Chinese collect the same type of info for comparison? Will you forward all of your info to the Chinese when the loan period is up? (I am wondering since it is a research loan of the animals.)
I guess all y’all can’t plan on taking summer vacations?!!
I got to see our little ” Bright Star” shining when Bai Yun left the den last night. My non-pandaholic friends think the neonate cub is one ugly animal! I looked and thought how beautiful our cubmuffin is. I see the inner panda and am not concentrating on the external appearances.
Thanks for our daily update. I can now start my day knowing all is well in PandaLand.
Love, Joy
August 9th, 2007 at 9:30 am
Couldn’t sleep so I turned on pandacam past 12am hoping to get a peek at the cub. No mom and cub though but it was nice to see Su Lin at midnight awake, chomping away at her huge pile of bamboo. She seemed so hungry. What a treat to get to see her. Thanks so much for the periodic peeks at our other wonderful pandas.
August 9th, 2007 at 10:54 am
Here’s a great tip for all you fellow ” Pandaholics” –raise your right paw if you have gone to the new iZooFari Chats podcasts on the Panda web site and have listened entranced while Intrepid Interviewer, Debbie Andreen, asks Panda Guru, Suzanne Hall, all the latest questions we want answered. If you have NOT availed yourself of this wonderful new innovation, NO bamboo shoots for you today!! Of course, the iZooFari Chats will not always be about the Pandas but they will ALWAYS be a top-notch way to gain more knowledge about the ZOO and PARK. So amble over soon!
Moderator’s note:We’re glad you like them, Barbara D.! Blog readers can find our new iZoofari Chats at http://www.sandiegozoo.org/wordpress2/
August 9th, 2007 at 11:48 am
I’m never going to get any work done – NEVER! Between the blogs and the pandacam and watching Bai sleep (still haven’t gotten a glimpse of the fuzzy, wuzzy, chubby, cubby yet – except for the video) and the exceptionally cute shots of Mei and Su – I just can’t seem to get any work done – NONE! I suppose once my boss catches on – and takes away my laptop – I can just spend my days at the zoo – which would be OK really. I can then spend my days with my furry extended family. No really – I need to get back to work now – but thanks so much for all of the updates on mom and baby – and glimpses of big brother and sister – it’s all been so great – and I am so proud of everyone at the zoo for their dedication and hard work – you’re working much harder than me lately : ) Keep up the good work – and I promise to try and do the same – no, really I’ll try. Kisses to big mama – you’re the best Bai – keep our little one safe!
August 9th, 2007 at 12:26 pm
Thanks again, Suzanne, for the wonderful updates. Wow, how do you keep your tasks straight?!
The cub sure has one very devoted protective mom. Bai Yun is a pro at keeping the little one warm and secure. She has it so tightly held against her body, that it is nearly impossible to catch a glimpse unless she leaves to go into the bedroom.
Barbara, #7, thanks for the most interesting info about Jin Zhu. I’m glad they were able to surgically ” fix” the situation and enable her to produce twins a few months later. I have heard of that happening rarely in humans and in dogs, but not in pandas.
August 9th, 2007 at 12:50 pm
I am so excited!!! I finally got a good look at the ” baby” . BaiYun is such a good mom. The baby looked very comfortable and quiet in her arms.
I can’t stop watching this and like Cheryl said in post #13, I’m never gonna get my work done!!
August 9th, 2007 at 12:51 pm
FINALLY! I finally got to see Sweet Pea cradled in Bai Yun’s arms as she lounged on her back before mommie did one of her now famous rollovers. What a precious sight! Thanks again to SDZ for the wonderful PandaCam coverage and these bolgs to keep us coming back for more. Cheryl #13 is right – this sure makes it difficult to get any work done.
August 9th, 2007 at 1:05 pm
When I look back at the videos of Su Lin and Tai Shan’s 2nd birthday celebrations, I am struck by how different it was this year than last year. They both had their mothers with them last year, and it was the moms who instigated the investigation of the ” cakes.” Neither of them was overly excited about the ” cakes” this year and took their time investigating. They have come a long way, and are no longer ” cubs.” They are now very much adolescent-adult INDEPENDENT pandas.
As I look at the time-lapse videos of Bai Yun from last week in the days prior to the birth, I realize she was ” practicing” her delivery and postpartum behavior. If you watch her looking at her genitalia and licking that area, it is obvious that she was sensing something. She also was practicing getting into her round compact shape in her den. It is precious. She is definitely a PRO when it comes to delivering and raising healthy cubs. You
go girl!!!
Is the ” pile” of bamboo in the entrance to the den inside or outside the actual den space? Was it fresh bamboo she might have been stockpiling, or is it nesting material you provided? In the time-lapse pictures you can see that she was manipulating some large pieces of bamboo that appeared to be fresh. How much of her nest is made of fresh versus dried nesting materials? Or do you provide all fresh material as she would find in the forest and would bring with her into the den and it dries as time goes by?
I recall them using straw in the den with LunLun when Mei Lan was born. After a couple of weeks, they would supply a ” fresh” supply of hay/straw when Lun went to get a drink and left Mei Lan alone. They didn’t disturb Lun or Mei Lan until Lun Lun was gone for 10 minutes or more. I think I have read that SDZ follows a similar protocol, and that is when you are able to get a closer look at the neonate.
August 9th, 2007 at 2:27 pm
I am sooo jealous of Sandra and Cindy! I’ve been watching the cam periodically but haven’t been able to see the babe.
August 9th, 2007 at 2:53 pm
It’s about 2:52 California Time, Bai Yun is taking a nap. Her pose makes me think. Ok today I will tolerate you seeing MY baby. Isn’t it precious.
August 9th, 2007 at 3:40 pm
Suzanne, yesterday you said, ” 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….” I would like to suggest that this behavior might be evidence of her ability to learn from experience. Perhaps she remembers being surprised by Su Lin’s first venture into the great outdoors and is using the pile of bamboo as a baby gate. I know there’s a door frame that would stop the cub in the early days. Our first born climbed out of the crib long before we anticipated. So with our second child the baby gate went up way ahead of time.
August 9th, 2007 at 3:43 pm
My officemates and I have panda-fever once again. Throughout the day, you’ll hear cries of ” turn on panda cam!” in our office.
Thank you for Panda Cam!
August 9th, 2007 at 4:57 pm
Wow Suzanne – the staff certainly has its work cut out for them. But is assures if anything goes wrong in the den someone can be there immediately.
I was watching the Atlanta panda cam about 2pm and saw something fascinating. It must have a been a training session with one of the pandas. You could see a man sitting outside the mesh of a L shaped area. He’d move his arm one way and the panda would go that way, he’d move it the other way and sure enough the panda moved. Then somehow he got the panda to lay flat on the floor and roll over. Each time the panda got a treat. Atlanta has written about their traing sessions & how smart these pandas are – but it amazing to see.
I have the best luck seeing our newest cubbie at night – 10pm or so. Maybe Bai feels it’s safer to leave her cub when it’s dark. Looked like the cub is getting some fur & markings. Well, back to cam – thanks again for all you do.
August 9th, 2007 at 5:52 pm
HUGE THANKS TO WHOMEVER WAS IN CHARGE OF THE PANDA CAM AT 2:47 PM today!!!! The zoom in was fabulous and the close-up of little cub wiggling out from under Bai’s chin was spectacular Video!!!You could even see the toenails (claws) and you could see the area where the babies eyes are! The baby looks as if he/she has fur already! I swear I think the baby has doubled in size in one week! Thank You!!
Also, thank you for explaining why no sound on the Panda Cam and for giving the hyperlink to read the ‘why’, and the differences between Panda Cam SDZ and the other US Zoos. I do think that the SDZ cam is by far the most exciting and clear. The ability to send postcards is fabulous! Zoo Atlanta is a kick to watch, but there are so many times that I wish I could send a postcard from that site as well. You At SDZ have spoiled me! I’ll take the ’sound of silence’ because those photos are worth, as they say, 1000 words
Sincerely,
Bobbie Wood
August 9th, 2007 at 6:14 pm
To all the panda lovers – I just listened to the latest info from the SDZ – iZoofarichats about the pandas with Suzanne – it has answers to questions we all asked. It’s on the website – underneath the blogs area – just look for it. Wonderful – as if Suzanne doesn’t have enough to do. Many, many thanks
August 9th, 2007 at 7:17 pm
Hi, Suzanne and gang! Hope you all are really enjoying watching Bai and her baby! I’ve read your blogs about you and the staff going in on shifts to keep watch on Bai and baby 24/7, and also record all the info that will help the conservationists that are out there in China really working hard to save and keep these pandas going for future generations. That’s a lot of work and writing going on there, plus making sure that Gao Gao, Mei Sheng, and Su Lin get taken care of as well. Been seeing Su and Mei on the pandacam, too, and they are either sleeping or eating! Looking forward to seeing what you all will do for Mei Shang’s birthday coming up in a couple of weeks. We’ll all miss seeing him on the pandacam after he leaves for China in October! I did catch a very short look at Bai’s baby a couple of days ago when I noticed her licking his rear end to make sure the baby pees and poops properly. Does Bai Yun eat that pee and poop when she’s licking the baby? Just wondering about that! I was able to see the tiny hind feet and tail that time! By the way, thanks for putting a great pic of the baby on the website the other day! It is really amazing how tiny panda babies are and how fast they really grow in the first year! I’ve seen this 3 times with Su Lin, Tai Shan, and Mei Lan, and it still surprises me as to how fast they grow and develop during the first year. Panda babies are soooo cute to watch and learn alot from!!
Thanks for keeping us updated! Now, will you guys get some sleep??? You deserve it!!
Chari Mercier
St. Pete, FL
PS: I agree that the blog about Jin Zhu was very interesting. I’ve never heard of a panda having internal organ problems that developed from birth before, and I’m glad that the vets were able to correct the problem and she was able to have twins! That just adds one more piece of info to researchers about panda anatomy that was not known about before, and this will give them some very good insight as to why pandas are not recovering very fast in the wild along with the slow maternity rate and the almost 2 years that the mother panda has to raise her cub. This could give them something to go on as far as birth defects and other physical problems in pandas. Hope to hear and learn more about this part of the research as soon as they are able to get more data about this unusual panda physiology.
CM
August 9th, 2007 at 7:25 pm
I empathize with Cheryl (#13) trying to get work done and hoping the boss doesn’t catch her – went thru the same thing with Hua Mei. Luckily, my boss was fine with it and we used to make him look at the cam, too. My two friends and I would kill to shovel panda poop just to be near them. I haven’t been lucky enough to catch a glimpse of the cubmiffun (I love that nickame) yet. I did get to see a tiny paw, I THINK, tho. The Atlanta cub is at that adorable, roll around, jump on mom, tumble all over the place stage. I spend my time going between cams…do pandaholics have lives when there’s a baby to watch?? I’m pretty sure I don’t!
August 9th, 2007 at 8:49 pm
Lots of questions — so few answers. Please remember that the only reason the ” our” pandas are here is to watch, record, and learn from these winsome creatures what it is that they do. Even those of us who’ve had the opportunity to observe them over these many years are still often surprised and amazed. Each year, each cub, each day is diferent — and even during the most ” ordinary” weeks of 95% eating and sleeping, they still keep their own schedules and live their own lives. And once in a while, once in a while –they can still wow and amaze us!
That is what the research is all about…….
” Bear” with the staff as everyone tries to answer all queries — it’s always, still, all about the bears.
August 10th, 2007 at 6:52 am
Barbara#26 no I really don’t have a life either, My Boss also has been great, But I have to watch the Tech dept because some girls have caused certain things to be blocked. I could watch our baby and the others 24/7 if possible. They are heart melters and just plain addictive, but I love It
August 14th, 2007 at 5:19 pm
I was reading about Bai Yun and thought I saw that she is part of a loan? Does she have to go back to China next year? I hope not. She is such a great momma.