Working in Wolong
Posted at 4:35 pm October 19, 2007 by Suzanne Hall
Suzanne collects a panda scent mark sample for use in an experiment on the persistance of scent marks in the environment.Since Mei Sheng will soon be heading to the Wolong panda breeding center in China, the birthplace of his mother, Bai Yun, I wanted to provide you with a picture of what it was like for me to work in Wolong a few years back. The facility there changes rapidly, increasingly for the better, and some of my remembrance’s might be a bit outdated by now, but the general picture remains the same.
I first arrived in Wolong in August of 2000. The primary purpose of my visit was to conduct research, observing panda mothers with their newborns for our bear maternal care study. To that end I spent about four hours each day watching bears with names like Yue Yue, Ying Ying, Fei Fei, and others with their neonates. It was an excellent year for the study, because not only were 12 cubs born, but several were born to first-time mothers, an underrepresented group in our study.
Observations in Wolong were quite different from observing Bai Yun with Hua Mei, who had been born just the year before. Bai Yun was sequestered in a den that we observed via camera image. In Wolong, I sat quietly in a corner in a little room with the panda dam, who was typically nestled on a woven mat on a floor in the room. Though separated by bars, I was only about 10 feet (3 meters) from most of the pandas during my data collection sessions. For this reason, I put my stopwatch in my coat pocket to muffle the sound, sat still on a stool, and essentially did everything in my power to be as nonobtrusive as possible. It was an amazing experience to be so close to the dams with their infants, though at times it could be deafening: a panda cub’s cry can be very shrill and loud, and I did not have the option to turn down the microphone in this case!
In February 2002, I returned to Wolong to work on another aspect of panda biology: male reproductive behavior. I spent many hours each day watching the males as they reacted to the changing estrus status of the females housed near them. When mating introductions occurred, I filmed each copulation. This trip was exciting for me because I felt it really helped me flush out my understanding of the range of behavior seen in males and females. It was also the first time I met Gao Gao, who was being considered for replacing the San Diego male Shi Shi at the time.
With each of my trips, I stayed in Wolong a little over three months. I was amazed at the range in temperatures there: from -3 degrees Celsius (26 degrees Fahrenheit) to as warm as 28 degrees Celsius (82 degrees Fahrenheit). I saw snow, rain, fog, and wonderful sunshine. Eating in the hotel restaurant daily, I learned how to order my favorite Chinese staples, largely consisting of rice, eggs and tomatoes, soups, chicken and dumplings. I did innumerous loads of laundry in my bathroom sink, hanging the clothes to dry on a line I hung from my bedroom curtain to the heater that (usually!) kept the chill out of the room. On my first trip to Wolong, I was the only westerner at the breeding base from mid-October to the end of November, when I left. I didn’t speak a word of English during that time, which was a very odd feeling. The things I missed the most? Family and friends, of course, but also milk and my favorite pillow!
It was a very worthwhile sacrifice, however, because I learned and experienced so much while I was there. I made some good friends among the Wolong staff, and they were kind enough to take me out for Sichuan Hot Pot, a spicy local specialty that I still occasionally seek out at a restaurant here in San Diego. I collected a tremendous amount of data, and helped collect samples for other aspects of panda research: scent mark and urine samples for chemical analysis by our endocrinologists. I collected samples that were used in behavior experiments to determine the length of time panda signals persist in their environment. And I helped to invigorate and improve the enrichment program for the Wolong bears.
If offered the chance to go back, I would jump at it. Traveling to Wolong always opens up opportunities to learn something new about the pandas. And any future visits there would allow me the chance to check in with Hua Mei, our first born, and Mei Sheng, her “little” brother. I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to see them again!
Suzanne Hall is a senior research technician with the Giant Panda Unit of Applied Animal Ecology/CRES.
See Suzanne’s previous blog, Homeward Bound, Part 2.
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October 19th, 2007 at 5:20 pm
I’ve been a high school teacher for 34 years and I love, love, love it, but….YOU have the Best Job in the World! What great experiences you’ve had with the pandas, here and in China. Thanks for sharing them with us.
I hope you’ll have many more opportunities to visit China and send further reports of your adventures with these beautiful animals!
October 19th, 2007 at 6:47 pm
The part about Hua Mei and Mei Shang was beautiful, and brought tears to my eyes. Someday, I want to be the one traveling to Wolong to do behavorial studies on pandas. I have a long way to go, though. I am only 12 so at least 9 probably like 12 years. But, someday I know I will be there, and I have known for 2 years, scence Tia Shan and Su Lin were born. Scence then, I have witnessed: a birth in Atlanta, a misscarrage in Memphis, a false pregnancy in Washinton D.C. and a second birth in San Diego. Sheng is the first panda to leave scence I started watching. I know I will cry madly, but I know he is going to do great things for his speicies, and thats all I have to remember. Maybe someday, I will be training Sheng’s son or watching his daughter have a baby. Maybe someday……..
October 19th, 2007 at 9:29 pm
Suzanne,
Isn’t it hard to part from Wolong once you’ve been there? Do you see any trips for you in the near future? I am afraid that if I were to go there, I’d never leave! thanks again for the info.
Blessings to you all!
October 19th, 2007 at 11:52 pm
You washed your clothes by hand? Next time if you or anybody go there, don’t be shy to ask them to get a washing machine for you guys. I’m from panda’s hometown; every family actually has the washing machine, at that time. So let them know they should prepare some washing machines in the hotel. I love panda.
October 20th, 2007 at 1:13 am
Hello, Suzanne, thank you so much for your excellent report on Wolong which, I am sure, is a real eye-opener to all us pandaholics. I am certain that we are all feeling better now regarding Mei Sheng’s departure knowing what is going to await him in his future home. I am also quite certain that most of us are very jealous at your having been able to work with the pandas and being so close to them. I keep my fingers crossed that everything will be going alright with Mei Sheng’s departure. With your gained expertise we know that everything will be done to ease Mei Sheng’s journey, and ….our tears. We cannot thank you and all your co-workers enough for all your dedicated work! Bai’s cub is more than adorable and I love her to bits! ” Our” baby at the Vienna Zoo is also developping into a plump little boy (?), as the vet has assumed. We in Austria are now busy to vote for its name, Fu Long being the most favourite at this stage, i. e. more or less happy dragon.
October 20th, 2007 at 9:29 am
Dear Suzanne,
Please ask if you may accompany Mei Sheng to Wolong!
Gratefull to staff for Panda notes,
Sallyann
October 20th, 2007 at 12:17 pm
Thanks for sharing your wonderful memories with us Suzanne. I’m sure all your long hours observing the pandas have been helpful to the panda preservation cause. I just found a book yesterday entitled Giant Pandas put out by the Smithsonian that gives a lot of information about pandas both in the wild and here at the zoos. I was fascinated by the information about Wolong and the photos – Mei Sheng is going to a beautiful place. I hope you get to go back. Lots of people have asked – is it possible for us to get updates about Mei Sheng once he is in China? It would be nice to get photos of Shi Shi, Hua Mei and Mei Sheng once a year and a little update on what they are doing. Is that a possibility? Thanks!
October 20th, 2007 at 2:23 pm
#2 Emma, I hope you realize your dream. It is a worthy goal.
Thanks Suzanne for the updates. You must have had a wonderful, if busy, time. Hope you get to go back. From everything I’ve read and heard, Mei Sheng is going to a good place. I’m so glad that he can return to China to fulfill his destiny. May he and his offspring thrive.
October 20th, 2007 at 4:26 pm
Sharon #7,
If I’m correct, Shi Shi is not at Wolong, instead he is at the Guangzhou Zoo. Please correct me, Suzanne, if I’m wrong. The last I heard is that he is completely blind due to cataracts and they will not operate on a 33 year old bear. A lady who recently visited him in China told panda narrator, Kay and I regarding him last month.
As for Hua Mei, you can go to Wolongs own website to get updates and pictures on Hua Mei, as well as all the events happening there. Hope that helps.
Can’t help but think about Mei Sheng……love you much kiddo!
October 20th, 2007 at 6:14 pm
Wow, Suzanne – after all your dedication & hard work was delighted to read about your research at Wolong. You’ve been able to something most if us just dream about. Hope you’ll be able to go back again & check on ” Our Pandas” . Am sure the keeper that travels with Mei Sheng will have many wonderful stories to tell.
#5 Ruth -Glad to hear Vienna’s panda is healthy also – Fu Long (happy dragon) sounds like a great name for a male. Keep us posted on the name.
Maureen
October 20th, 2007 at 9:20 pm
Suzanne, you’re a good story-teller. I enjoy reading about your experiences. It is a great testiment to the cooperation between Americans and Chinese (and others) who can unite over the important issues, such as panda conservation. How awesome that you can be part of the research to help captive pandas and probably even the wild ones. I think we have come such a long way… and I’m looking forward to the possibilities for the future of panda-kind.
Hopefully some day there will be as many pandas as there are stars in the sky because of the efforts of all the people working together. That’s why I think ” Bright Star” is such a good name for the cub, to show how much we can accomplish when we work together. And, that there is hope for a future where pandas are not extinct.
Love, Joy
October 21st, 2007 at 4:57 am
#5 Ruth-Where do you go to vote for a name. I can’t find it anywhere!!!! Or does anyone else know (Suzanne?)?
October 21st, 2007 at 9:53 am
Has anyone heard how Hua Mei’s new cubs are doing? Are they healthy? I know she had at least one girl. Does anyone know the sex of the other cub?
October 21st, 2007 at 10:24 am
Susan #9 – Thanks for the info! Hopefully, we’ll be able to see Mei Sheng too.
October 21st, 2007 at 11:05 am
#10 Maureen, I shall certainly keep you posted. The baby will be given its name by the end of November. I am so excited. I am dying to go and have a look at it once it is out. But I guess there will be crowds of people in front of the panda house, so I would need a lot of patience and may be some Schnaps to keep me warm since we are approaching winter at this part of the world.. #12 Emma, in order to vote for a name, you need to go to Zoo Vienna’s Web site where you will be asked to vote for a name. Once you have voted you click ” abstimmen-vote” and you will be guided to the name where you can see the most favourite one. Fu Long so far is the domineering name for the panda baby. Emma, I did not know if you speak German, therefore the ” advice” how to get to the website.
October 21st, 2007 at 11:10 am
Suzanne- I was just reading that pandas are classified as ” Placental” mammals and it occurred to me that based on the delayed implantation in panda pregnancies, is the ultimate attachment through a placenta?
Thanks in advance-
October 21st, 2007 at 4:46 pm
Emma #12 – The vote is on the Zoo Austria website. Do a Google search for ” Tiergarten Schonbrunn” and go to their home site. This will be in German, but this is the place to vote. If you click on English, the voting option disappears. I’m not sure if they will count our vote, or if they will only allow the Deutsch vote (or if they will know the difference). ??
Thanks, Suzanne, for another very interesting report on Wolong. It does indeed seem like a good place for Mei Sheng–he would love a playmate, and of course he will be in panda heaven if he has lots of trees to climb. Only one more week for us to see him–Meerkats, please give us some great shots of him.
October 21st, 2007 at 5:18 pm
#12 Emma,
The Tiergarten Schonbrunn website is easy to google. The voting site is on the German version not the English one.
The German version is updated a bit more frequently than the English one, but the baby seems to be doing well and the caretakers suspect it is a boy. It has been interesting to see the two completely different approaches at both zoos. The Austrian panda (20 days younger than Ming Xing)has yet to be examined, they are completely ” hands off” there. A Woolong vet from a Chinese delegation visiting there said that he was astounded at the amount of time Yang Yang spends with the cub still. I noticed fairly early on that this cub is much lankier than Bright Star.
October 21st, 2007 at 5:27 pm
I so enjoy reading these blogs and watching Panda cam! Suzanne, reading about your filming in Wolong and meeting Gao Gao for the first time, made me wonder. Does our studmuffin Gao Gao have any cubs he fathered in Wolong before coming to San Diego?
October 21st, 2007 at 6:23 pm
I’ve watched all of Bai Yun’s cubs from birth on panda cam. Thank you so much Suzanne and all at SDZ. I will miss Mei Sheng’s so much — his ways and antics.
October 21st, 2007 at 6:33 pm
#5 Ruth – I found the web site to vote & did vote for FuLong-sounds like a great name & by far the favorite.
I found the website in English very informative (they post many updates – one I found interesting was when Mom went to get a drink of water she took the cub with her & held the cub in her paw while she drank-sounds like she didn’t leave it alone as often as Bai Yun does (because she’s a first time Mom, maybe). I am surprised at the hands off approach of the staff – but as cub seems to healthy & growing maybe that’s another way to go.
October 21st, 2007 at 6:48 pm
#15 Ruth – yes, you’ll need a lot of patience to see the pandas. We were in Washington, DC area when Ling Ling & Hsing Hsing were given to the US as a gift from the Chinese. We took my folks to the NZ one day to see them. We stood in line all day & never did get close to seeing them. As pandas seem to spend hours sleeping the line never moved as all waited to see them ” up & about” . But many zoos now have better ways of crowd control.
October 21st, 2007 at 8:16 pm
It’s 8 p.m. and Bai and her baby seem to have left the den for a while. Hope they are enjoying a pleasant evening. Thanks, Suzanne, for your detailed descriptions of Wolong–both the habitat and your personal experiences. It really helps when imagining what it will be like for Mei Sheng.
Re the Austrian zoo site–I love that the German term for the cub is ” das Pandababy.”
October 21st, 2007 at 10:25 pm
Hello,
I am not sure who the ” Meerkats” are and their pictures???? Can someone please clue me in? Thanks
Moderator’s note: You can read about the Meerkat volunteers in a blog Suzanne wrote last year: http://www.sandiegozoo.org/wordpress/default/pandas-and-meerkats-mix-well/
October 22nd, 2007 at 5:57 am
Suzanne,
Thank you for the updates and sharing with us your great experience in Wolong.
Mei Sheng are leaving but I’m sure he’ll live in the best place for pandas.
What a pity, Suzanne and Ellie w’ont be there, to report details about Mei Sheng’s new life.
Be happy, Mei Sheng, and you’ll be forever in my heart and thoughts, as the 1st. baby panda I’ve watched by
cam.
Thanks Lord, to give me the opportunity to meet him in person in april/2005.
What a sweet and beautiful bear you are.
Kisses and hugs, baby boy!
October 22nd, 2007 at 6:09 am
Suzanne, I envy you. What a great experience to be able to be in the pandas true home, the more I hear about wolong I feel a little less anxious about Mei Sheng’s trip. I still will miss seeing that smile and that grin.
October 22nd, 2007 at 7:37 am
I voted on the Vienna panda cub’s name
Well it’s my nearest cub and probably the one I’ll get to see. As they aren’t 100% certain it’s a boy I voted for ” Beautiful Music” ” Mei Yue”
I am suprised at the difference in the panda care between the US and Vienna. Not that either is lacking but I would have thought that keeping accurate records of the cubs is growth and health is quite important for the individual and pandas as a whole.
Is the male panda still in the same exhibit and could this be contributing to the dam spending so much time with the cub? Again a difference in husbandry as the US pandas were separated before birth and until weaning.
Back on topic SDZ baby ” Ming Xing” I’ve just been having a look at the cam and can’t see her or Bai Yun, I wonder if they’ve had another night under the stars. It’s 7.30 SDZ time. I did notice her trying her hardest to crawl yesterday. She looked like she was heading for the door.
.
October 22nd, 2007 at 9:23 am
Suzanne, is everyone at the zoo including the animals safe, I get very nervous with all the reports about the fires coming out of California. Is the fire close to you. Be safe
Moderator’s note: As of 10 a.m. Oct. 22, 2007, the San Diego Zoo has not been impacted by the fires sweeping through San Diego County, but animal care staff will continue to monitor the situation and make modifications to ensure animal health and safety as necessary.
October 22nd, 2007 at 9:37 am
#27 Celfyddydau, according to the panda keepers at Schoenbrunn Long Hui, Yang Yang’s ” husband” is quite eager to see his offspring. However, owing to the fact that male pandas might react in a rougher way to the baby Long Hui has been separated from both Yang Yang and the baby. I guess at a later stage, most probably when the baby will be presented to the public Long Hui might be able to greet his offspring ” personally” . I think it is amazing, in the first place, that before Yang Yang gave birth the male and female had been together all the time. Please, correct me, Suzanne, if I am wrong, but since they grew up together in Wolong and came to Schoenbrunn together it does not seem to be a problem to keep them in the same den. Two years ago when I paid them a visit they looked very happy with each other and played together. It was such a wonderful experience for me to be able to watch live pandas for the first time. They looked like huge teddy bears! Once the panda baby is out on exhibit I shall certainly make an effort to have a glimpse (if at all possible, regarding all the other curious visitors from the whole of Europe!) at it. Be sure that I am going to let all of you know
October 22nd, 2007 at 10:11 am
Panda Team, I was just wondering how you would evacuate Gao Gao, Bai Yun and her new baby girl as well as Mei Sheng and Su Lin if the fires were to close in?
I’m praying that everyone, zoo staff and all the zoo animals, will be safe and your homes will remain safe as well.
October 22nd, 2007 at 11:26 am
Hi! Got on the elephant page and read that the Wild Animal Park is closed today, 10/22/2007, due to the wildfire situation. Hopefully, all the elephants and other animals in that park are in safe places. Praying that this wildfire will get contained ASAP so that your work with the pandas and other animals at SDZ won’t be too disruptive. Having cats and dogs for most of life, I know that any unusual changes in routines will disrupt the animal’s since of normalcy, and they get a little bit nervous and skittish. Animals do have a sense when things are not right around them, and they will let you all know pretty quick. So, I really do hope that this fire situation will get taken care of real quick, and that your animals will be able to settle down as well as feel safe and secure. You all are doing a great job with this despite what’s been going on around you. Please stay safe and make sure that all of the animals are in good safe areas, ok? Love to Bai Yun and baby girl!
Chari Mercier
St. Pete, FL
Moderator’s note: Thank you for your kind thoughts, Chari! For updates on the fire as it applies to our facilities, please visit http://www.sandiegozoo.org/news/fire_updates.html
October 22nd, 2007 at 11:56 am
Suzanne, thanks for your marvelous account of your stays at Wolong. Sounds like you are obviously fluent in Chinese since you didn’t speak any English for 6 weeks. Are you the ” official” interpreter when your Chinese guests are at SDZ? Or do all of you that work with Wolong speak fluent Chinese? A lesson for Emma, the aspiring Panda researcher is to learn Chinese so she can communicate and get a job in her dream profession.
Have panda lovers noticed that Hua Mei is almost always mentioned in any photos that come out of Wolong? The website, and their annual photo opportunity at the 100 day naming ceremony, usually refer to Hua Mei’s twin or twins, except 2006 when she didn’t have any cubs. She is obviously a big celebrity at Wolong, and having 3 sets of twins in 4 years just made that even stronger.
It sounds like 2000 was a ” banner year” for cubs in Wolong, 12, like 2006 was, 16(?). So far 2007 doesn’t sound like as many cubs were born, maybe because there were fewer twin births???
Hopefully the lucky SDZ husbandry staff member(s) that accompany Mei Sheng will be kind enough to share their trip and experiences in Wolong with bloggers when they catch up upon their return. They can give a first-hand look into his journey, reaction, and reception at Wolong. And, if they are there long enough, they can share how he did on is formal introduction to the public after his month-long quarantine. (P.S. The Chinese news account tells when he will arrive, not when he is leaving the US – hence the US security precautions)
I just read a headline from an article in 2005 about ” Bamboo Shortage Threatens Pandas in China.” The article states, ” Giant pandas in western China could be at risk of starvation because the bamboo plants that they eat are beginning to die off in a cycle that happens about every 60 years… Workers at the Baishuijiang State Nature Preserve in the northwestern province of Gansu plan to monitor the 102 pandas in the preserve for signs of hunger…” Is this a widespread die-back, or just in the Gansu area? I know that SDZ and NZP are working with the Chinese on how to deal with the cyclical die-back of bamboo. Any news to share on this front? Most of the news we hear is about the breeding and births of pandas in captivity. However much of the ” loan” money also goes to working on conserving the pandas’ natural habitat in the reserves in China. How successful are these efforts so far?
October 22nd, 2007 at 12:12 pm
Thank you, Suzanne, for teling us about your time in Wolong with the pandas it’s such a beautiful place for the bears and also for people! I hope that we’ll be able to keep up with how Mei Sheng does when he moves to China. He has so many fans here, along with ” our” Hua Mei.
I just got back from teaching in a rural farm village in Shaanxi Province, in China. Unfortunately, there weren’t any pandas to visit there, but the Chinese villagers were friendly, warm and very kind. It’s a different pace in the villages, as compared to Beijing and Shanghai
I hope more of our panda fans get to go to Wolong and see what a nice habitat it is for the pandas.
Hope;fully, all the animals and birds at the Wild Animal Park will be okay. Keeping fingers and toes crossed.
October 22nd, 2007 at 12:43 pm
I would like to pesonally thank Paula and everyone else who donated a little something to the Oct wish list in honor of our special boy. I’m sure all the animals will enjoy all the treats that will be provided to them. We still have another week and I’m sure there will be a few more donations in honor of Mei Sheng, again a big Thank You
October 22nd, 2007 at 1:05 pm
Thank you so much for all the wonderful information you have shared! You are so fortunate to have these opportunities and experiences!! I hope you have another opportunity at some time to go back to Wolong!
I am just watching our big boy eat some bamboo and looking quite content. Thank you Mei Sheng for such a wonderful experience at the San Diego Zoo!! I was able to visit with you this summer and am so glad I did!! I was actually at SDZ when you were nothing but a twinkle in Bai Yun’s eyes!! Have a WONDERFUL life in Wolong and make more good baby pandas for all the world to enjoy!!
God Speed you on your journey to the homeland!!
October 22nd, 2007 at 1:47 pm
Barbara # 34–
What wish list are you referring to? I’d love to donate something in honor of our Big Boy. Please let me know if you could! Thanks!
Also, on a side note–I’m hoping for an end to the wind and the fires out there! STAY SAFE!!
Moderator’s note: Thank you, Kathi! The Zoo’s October Wish List can be found at http://www.sandiegozoo.org/adopt/adopt_wishlist.html
October 22nd, 2007 at 2:16 pm
What a wonderful view of Mei Sheng at 2:14 PM PDT. He is resting calmly, and smiling. The smoke from the fires near WAP doesn’t seem to be bothering him, so I guess it isn’t too bad in the area around the zoo for now.
Thanks, Meerkats!!!! I will keep his blissful pose in my mind permanently. What a fabulous way to remember him!
October 22nd, 2007 at 2:23 pm
More ” salad” greens on the way in honor of our soon to travel celebrity panda boy, Mei Sheng.
Moderator’s note: Thank you, Margaret!
October 22nd, 2007 at 3:34 pm
One Trick or Treat Salad in honor of Pooper the Panda Prince, coming up!
Moderator’s note: Thank you, Susan!
October 22nd, 2007 at 4:30 pm
I’m so worried about all of you. Please know that I am praying that every precious life there is safe. That certainly includes all the staff as well.
October 22nd, 2007 at 6:17 pm
I am so worried about our pandas and all of the other zoo animals due to the wildfires. I am checking the update page, but I am still very concerned. I just saw Bai Yun leave the den via the panda cam but haven’t seen her little girl. Hope they are both okay. Fire is so scary. I pray that all animals are doing well.
October 22nd, 2007 at 6:31 pm
A Trick or Treat salad will be served to our hoofed friends in honor of our beloved boy! Love you. Mei Sheng!
I’m thinking of everyone in San Diego today..Please, everyone take care–all the critters and humans alike..
P.S…Barbara, thank you for the link!
Moderator’s note: Thank you, Kathi!
October 22nd, 2007 at 6:51 pm
I just read the latest fire update – so far the zoo & wild life park are fine (though there was heavy smoke at the wild like park, the animals did not seem concerned) And when I saw the panda cam was still on I figured the SDZ staff feels they are safe. From what I saw on the panda cam Bright Star is not bothered at all – she was squirming all over, holding her head up & getting ready to go. To the staff, take care & thanks for your dedication during this trying time.
October 22nd, 2007 at 8:44 pm
I haven’t seen baby and/or Bai in the den all evening. I’m wondering if the pandas have been moved? I hope all is well….Take care everyone….
October 22nd, 2007 at 10:22 pm
I too am very worried about all at SDZ and the Wildlife park. Not so much that they are in danger of fire, but more for the poor quality of the air with all that smoke! Please let us know how you all are doing. I am keeping you in my thoughts and prayers!
October 22nd, 2007 at 11:20 pm
Today I saw the four names proposed for the SDZ baby panda on the Wolong Panda Club web site. Have they been announced here? Did I miss something?
Moderator’s note: We have not finalized a list of names yet.
October 23rd, 2007 at 5:57 am
Bai Yun was cleaning the cub in the den this morning at 5:45 AM, picking her up in her paws and turning her all around. She has gotten so big, that it is quite a ” paw-full” to hold her in this position and still get her licked clean. What a patient and thorough job Bai Yun does. She sure is a pro!
What a beautiful and peaceful scene to watch with the ” tender” interaction between dam and cub.
October 23rd, 2007 at 8:51 am
Regarding the Moderator’s comment to Barbara in Las Vegas #46, has there been any mention of when the finalized list of names will be posted for voting?
On a more serious and urgent note, while we all clearly want our chance to name our little girl, we here in panda fan land realize you all probably have way more serious matters to attend to right now. I echo the sentiments of other posters here when I say that you are all in our thoughts and that we will continue to pray for the safety of all at SDZ. I wish we could send you some of the rain we’re getting today in mid-Michigan.
Moderator’s note: We could use some of that rain, Cindy! And we’ll certainly let everyone know when the online naming poll is activated.
October 23rd, 2007 at 9:04 am
Thanks so much for posting updates about the fire situation! I can’t imagine evacuating condors… you can’t exactly stick those in a backpack and run with them.
I hope all SDZ folks and their homes are safe and well. What a frightening situation for all… sending many good hopes and wishes in your direction. Glad to see our panda friends look calm and happy and don’t seem to be disturbed by the smoke!
October 23rd, 2007 at 9:17 am
I was shocked when watching TV just now re: the blazing fires around San Diego. However, I am a bit relieved looking at your blogs and knowing that you and your animals are not affected. I keep my fingers crossed that it is going to stay that way and that the wild fire can be brought under control asap. Please take care and thank you all for still keeping us informed of the pandas even at this tough time.
October 23rd, 2007 at 9:21 am
Thank you for keeping everyone informed about the fires. I must add my hope to the many others that every person and animal remain unharmed during this disaster. Can’t imagine what it must be like for all of you who take such wonderful care of all the animals to worry about their safety. Our thoughts and prayers are with you.
October 23rd, 2007 at 9:27 am
God be with you all and all the animals during this horrible time!
Bless you all for your dedication to the animals both at the zoo and the WAP!! I wish there was something I could do to help, but all I can do is pray for everyone’s safety.
October 23rd, 2007 at 9:44 am
I KNOW THERE IS AN UPDATE ON THE MAIN PAGE, THEIR IS NO SMOKE DOWN YOUR WAY THAT WOULD HARM THE ANIMALS I KEEP CHECKING AND ALL SEEMS TO LOOK LIKE AN ORDINARY DAY. I HOPE THE WINDS DIE DOWN SOON AND HOPE ALL THE ANIMALS AT THE WILD PARK REMAIN OK.
October 23rd, 2007 at 10:14 am
Thank you for taking the time to post the fire updates at the Wild Animal Park website. Surely there are thousands of people around the country concerned about the well-being of animals and keepers alike. Will continue to keep you all in my thoughts and prayers and hoping your homes are safe, too. Big, big thanks to the dedicated staff members who are on the front lines out at the Park, putting out the spot fires and tending to the animals!
Fortunately, Bai and BaiBee and the other pandas seem blissfully unaware of it all! BaiBee gets very active and wiggly when Bai is cleaning her these days, it’s a lot of fun to watch. I expect our little one will be getting mobile soon. And does it look like her ears are starting to open up?
October 23rd, 2007 at 10:50 am
Hoping and praying that you all are safe, along with your treasured animals. Keep us posted and stay safe!
October 23rd, 2007 at 11:44 am
As mentioned by #54 Carol, as well as the welfare of the animals we are all very concerned about the families and homes of all who care for our beloved Pandas and all the animals at SDZ and the Wild life Park. We know that many roads are inaccessible and some of you may be unable to get home or still have a home. Our thoughts and prayers are with you all.
On a brighter note Mei Sheng’s goodbye gift from me will be two willow trees for the Milky Storks. Maybe his name can be incorporated when the trees are planted.
My first knowledge of Giant Pandas was in 1938, at the age of 3, when Ming arrived at London. Zoo. A plush Panda toy was a favorite and now my love of these animals is fulfilled by Panda Cams and this blog. If Ming is in the list of names for Bright Star you know my vote!
Moderator’s note: The milky storks thank you, Bernice!
October 23rd, 2007 at 12:10 pm
Is it possible that Mei Sheng’s departure might be delayed by the fires?
October 23rd, 2007 at 2:08 pm
I noticed on closeups in Time-lapse from the weekend that there is very little bedding in the den any more. Is this Bai Yun’s choice since the cub is much bigger now and has her own ” padding?” Or is it one of the things that you are working with to see if it is what was making her take the cub out of the den more often and for longer periods of time?
I ask because I remember how difficult it was for Mei Lan to get her legs under her last year when she was learning to crawl/walk. It looks like the den floor for Bai Yun is wood, so hopefully that is not as slippery as painted concrete was at ZA.
The flooring doesn’t seem to stob cubbette from scooching around and turning over, so it may not be a challenge when she starts to crawl or walk either.
Has anyone witnessed Bai Yun taking the cub out in the evening lately? I notice that they seem to leave in the early evening, because when I have checked around 7 PM PDT the den has been empty. However, when I check at 5-6 AM PDT they are back in the den, often asleep.
October 23rd, 2007 at 4:23 pm
Thanks Suzzane for provided us information about Wolong, I love pandas and it’s nice to know.
I love the idea of making a donation in honor of Mei Sheng, I will that soon,
About the terrible fire, for the well fair of the animals, all of you stayed. Thank you so much, you beautiful zoo-staff. Please let me know if something I can help, such as $ and where to send.
Moderator’s note: Thank you, AC! For information on helping the Wild Animal Park with a donation, please visit http://sandiegozoo.org/wpmu/fire/
October 23rd, 2007 at 4:29 pm
What a neat idea the wish list is! I get to donate to the zoo, earn points on my credit card and get a tax deduction. It’s a win/win situation.
October 23rd, 2007 at 7:56 pm
barbara #34 – sent this message last night but it never ” took” – thanks for passing on the plea for donations! The Zoo will need them more than ever now…along with possible medical attention…I am so sorry to hear about the devastating wildfires. Our prayers are with y’all that everyone makes it out of this tragedy with their house intact, pets safes, and Zoo creatures safe as well.
On a light note, my 10 and 12 year old sons thought it was a hoot that ” Arnold” ” The Terminator” was speaking in a news conference today. I keep telling him, yes he IS the ” governator” of California!
Stay safe there!!
Paula
October 23rd, 2007 at 8:36 pm
Dorothy #16,
Yes, the panda cub is attached to its mother in utero via a placenta.
Gail #19,
Though Gao Gao had a few breeding encounters with young females while in Wolong, no mating occurred. Our cubs are his only offspring.
Margaret #32,
Though I did pick up some Chinese while in Wolong, I am by no means fluent!
October 24th, 2007 at 9:44 am
I am glad that everyone and the animals are fine. Thank you for providing me a way to help; I donated last night.
In honor of Mei Sheng, I got the reptiles something.
Thank you again for giving me an opportunity to help and show a little appreciation.
Moderator’s note: Thank you, AC!
October 24th, 2007 at 11:18 am
Vickie, Kathi, Margaret, Susan O, Bernice and AC and any other special person I might have missed ,Thank You so much for your donations in Mei Shengs honor. I know our baby boy has a smile on his face because of all of you.
October 24th, 2007 at 12:18 pm
Suzanne, #62, it is amazing to me that Gao Gao is such a good natural mating male when he did not have previous ” experience” in Wolong. Presumably by ” breeding encounters with young females” you meant the ” practice” that others such as Tian Tian and Yang Yang tried to mate but were inexperienced and therefore inept. What is most amazing is that he arrived in SD after the long trip from Wolong and within days/weeks of coming out of his quarantine, he naturally mated with Bai Yun on the first attempt. Since she was also inexperienced because of her prior encounters (or lack of) with Shi Shi, they earned the title of ” super couple!”
October 24th, 2007 at 1:58 pm
Margaret #65
I read in one of the old blogs that Gao Gao’s first ” breeding encounter with a young female” was with a female named Guo Guo. (Funny how their names are the same except for one letter:) Apparently whenever Gao Gao tried to mount her she’d turn around and then they’d start to play. Reading this makes me feel hopeful that sometime Tian Tian, Le Le, and Yang Yang will figure out how to breed correctly.
October 25th, 2007 at 7:01 am
Laine and Margaret #65, 66:
Yes, Gao Gao was introduced to Guo Guo (an encounter which I watched) and another female. It was the first solid estrus for each female, and they were very inexperienced. I have always been struck by how successful Pan Pan is during breeding encounters, even with young females: he helps the females achieve the correct positioning for copulation. This is something Gao Gao did not know how to do in Wolong. What impressed me about him at the time was his tenacity: he never gave up trying. Even though Guo Guo kept turning towards him or rolling on her side or back to play with him, he kept at it.
When he was first introduced to Bai Yun, one thing that really helped was that she seemed to know how to achieve the correct mating posture, what we call ” lordosis” . How she knew to do this despite never having natural matings herself is beyond me. It wasn’t something she did immediately, but from the start she had the right idea: presenting her back end to Gao Gao. When he mounted she would drop her shoulders down and lift her tail as appropriate, all of which made it easier for him to figure things out, too. The combination of a mature, willing partner and a tenacious male made a huge difference in their success.
October 25th, 2007 at 9:45 am
I went to the Wish List 2 nights ago and got the Arctic Wolves something for Halloween in honor of our boy Mei Sheng. Thanks to all that care so much about the pandas and other animals. Blessings.
Suzanne, Will the fires delay Mei Sheng’s departure? It would be great if he could stay longer! Do you have any updates on that?
October 25th, 2007 at 10:53 am
Suzanne, it sounds as though you may have had a part in SDZ getting Gao Gao. Were you able to make a request? If so, good going, Suzanne!
October 25th, 2007 at 12:51 pm
Susan # 68 Thank you so much for the wish list donation. I know that this is going to be some kind of party and that everyone will be thanking our baby boy in his or her own way. Next week is not going to be a easy time for us, but at least we can celebrate the time that we were able to have him with us.
October 25th, 2007 at 3:39 pm
Barbara #70, I think that it’s been a roller coaster for me the last 4 weeks. I saw Mei Sheng 5 days in a row back in September and got some awefully cute and awesome pics of the boy. My house is full of Mei Sheng’s pictures from the time he was a cub until now. I’ve many of Hua Mei too, but Sheng is definitely the one I’ve bonded with. Just thinking about his pending departure makes me sad.
I am holding onto a glimmer of hope that his flight will be delayed for a while due to the fires…..
October 29th, 2007 at 6:46 am
Susan, how great that you were able get too see our boy in person and have all those pics to remember him by. I have been in tears all weekend and it’s not getting any better.
October 30th, 2007 at 2:19 pm
Suzanne, I wonder if the genetic bond between Pan Pan and Bai Yun had anything to do with her ” knowing” what to do to position herself? If I recall correctly, Pan Pan is her sire, and is also Tian Tian’s sire. He is a very dominant male at Wolong. His ability to help young females learn how to mate naturally must be a plus for their breeding program. The down side is that his genes may have become slightly over represented as a result.
Will they be likely to show Mei Sheng ” Panda Porn” when his turn comes, like they did for Hua Mei. I still think that is hilarious, but maybe it worked. Has she bred naturally as well as artificially like they do with most of their females in estrus?