Wide Open Spaces
Posted at 9:21 am October 26, 2007 by Suzanne HallFor the first time since prior to the birth of this cub, Bai Yun was given access to her classroom exhibit last Friday morning (October 19). She was ready to have a little more space and took advantage of her opportunity to explore a new area. After finishing her bamboo breakfast in the garden room, she nonchalantly meandered through the tunnel, stopping occasionally to sniff at the walls or ground. When she stepped into the lush space of the classroom, she paused briefly to take it all in.
The classroom was once the exhibit space Bai Yun greeted her public in. Exhibits are kept trimmed and tidy to ensure the public has good visual access to the animals. Since the classroom became an off-exhibit space during our facility remodel several years ago, the area has generally been left to grow wild with vegetation. The Photinia and Chinese elm have done well in this space and provide Bai Yun with cover and environmental texture. There is a lot of shade and long grass. And as it is off exhibit, it is a quiet place to rest. High up in the climbing structure central to the enclosure, Bai Yun must feel particularly secure, an important consideration for a female caring for a young cub.
I was surprised to see how little investigating Bai Yun did after re-entering her classroom on Friday. She didn’t stop every two feet to sniff everything in her path, as Gao Gao might have done. Instead, she ambled directly to the climbing structure, hauled her 97-kilogram (214-pound) frame up the deadwood and settled into a nap about 8 feet (2.4 meters) above ground. Occasionally, she lifted her head and looked around or sniffed the air with her eyes closed. It reminded me of someone coming home after a long time away: she seemed to be saying, “ahhhh. Home.”
As of yesterday (October 25), Bai Yun will have access to this space on a daily basis, enjoying the fresh air and sunshine while her keepers are on duty. At times, she will be unsupervised, as staff is busy and no one is watching her constantly. It is possible that she may take the cub out into the classroom with her once in a while. She has done this with past youngsters, as if to show off the place to her offspring. It’s not of great concern if she does this, since even if she puts the cub down and walks away, the little one is in no danger out there with momma. Without the legs to propel itself yet, the infant can’t get itself into too much trouble. Here again, we have learned to trust Bai Yun.
Watch for Bai Yun resting and enjoying a little free time in the classroom. Though she is about 30 panda body lengths from her cub while she is out there, she can still hear the youngster if she squawks loudly and repeatedly (hey, we can hear that from just about anywhere in the facility!). She always maintains access to her infant, and can choose to return at any time. In the meantime, she is taking advantage of this phase in which the cub is generally very inert as it pours all of its energy into growth. In the not-too-distant future, she will be fending off an exuberant youngster who wants to bite her and climb on her and steal her bamboo. Enjoy it now while you can, Bai Yun!
Suzanne Hall is a senior research technician with the Giant Panda Unit of Applied Animal Ecology/CRES.
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October 26th, 2007 at 2:27 pm
Thank you Suzanne for keeping us inform. I am glad to know that momma Bai has more space. Wow, panda cam just zoom in to princess butterball, I have to touch the computer screen again. She is so cute, so precious!
October 26th, 2007 at 5:51 pm
It’s great that Bai has some new space to investigate! Is the smoke out of the air there yet?? I am so happy to hear the Zoo was spared in the horrific wildfires. I also loved the newest video of little Bright Star – she’s a darling! Peace and rain for all this fall….
Paula
October 26th, 2007 at 8:25 pm
Thanks, Suzanne for the update on where Bai Yun may be going in the daytime when she is away from the den. Where does she go in the evening, when the keepers are gone? This seems to be when she is taking the cub outside of the den most often.
October 28th, 2007 at 6:13 pm
Thanks for the update. It seems the bears keep the researchers and keepers on their toes with their unpredictable behaviors, especially from one cub to the next. Bai is an amazing mom and it’s an honor to have watched her with her cubs.
October 29th, 2007 at 11:39 am
When do we start voting on names for the cubette??
October 29th, 2007 at 3:52 pm
Wow! I was out on one of my little adventure this weekend, without access to a computer and when I returned today, I was shocked at how big she is. Its incredible how fast she’s growing. Now if only I could learn how make being uncoordinated look so cute…
October 29th, 2007 at 4:54 pm
Did one of the cubs make its debut in this room? I remember several years ago seeing a cub in an indoor exhibit featured on the news. It had to have been Hua Mei or Mei Sheng. I have never seen this room on Panda Cam. It would be great if the zoo would post a detailed illustration of the panda habitat showing all the different yards and rooms.
October 29th, 2007 at 6:12 pm
I’ve been curious about why that space is called the ” classroom.” Is it where training has gone on or????? It’s nice to know that you can give Bai Yun choices, as she would have in the wild. At times, she seems to like to take a nap away from the den, but it’s close enough to hear the little one.
Great cam work on the close-ups lately! It’s fun to see the pandas when someone is able to take the time to do it. Thank you!!!
I hope things are returning to normal for everyone now. It’s sad to know that some of the keepers and other staff have suffered losses. Our thoughts are with all of you as you try to sort things out.
October 30th, 2007 at 7:28 am
Paula #2,
The air at the zoo is great now!
Deb #7,
Hua Mei was first on exhibit in the space that is now the classroom.
Cathy #8,
It’s now called the classroom because, though it is off exhibit, it can be used to host small viewing groups. This occurrs frequently with education programs like Zoo Corps, Zoo InternQuest, and summer school groups as well as field trips by classes throughout the year. It’s also located in the back of our panda discovery center, the panda education part of the facility.
October 30th, 2007 at 4:18 pm
I agree with Deb #7 that it would be great to be able to understand the layout of the habitat. Is that Bai Yun I’ve been seeing on C4 today basking on the rock? Discovering panda cam and watching Bai Yun and the cutest little cubette in the whole wide world has been such a gift. Thank you, keepers, vets, et al for keeping all well and happy.
October 31st, 2007 at 8:49 am
Deb #7 and Frances #10 — I second that recommendation (and third it?) I would really like to see a map showing the different rooms that each panda has access to. It sounds like a very big house
November 1st, 2007 at 10:58 am
Marie #11 i would also like to see a map of the layout of the panda research station. Being disabled and living in the UK i cannot get to visit these beautiful pandas, so to see a map would be a real help to understand exactly where Bai Yun goes when she leaves her beautiful baby cub.
I’ve noticed baby cub being called Bright Star, who gave her that name or how did it come about that she is called that?
I’m new to all this as i’m not computer literate but i found out how to leave a comment and i really feel part of you all.
Moderator’s note: Welcome, Sammi! Bright Star is a nickname some of our blog readers currently use to refer to the cub. We will have an online naming poll for her soon and you can place your vote.
November 1st, 2007 at 11:28 am
Sammi #12 welcome to our world, hope to hear more from you.
November 1st, 2007 at 11:32 am
Sammi #11 – Welcome! I was in San Francisco during the fires – but I’m glad to be home – and relieved to know that everyone is safe – and that the Wild Animal Park was spared from more significant damages. I am so proud of everyone here in San Diego. Everyone pulled together and helped where needed – saving both animals and property – sometimes at the risk of their own safety – and not knowing if their own homes were in danger. We live in a truly amazing place. I want to thank everyone at the SD Zoo and WAP for all of their efforts, dedication to the animals and love of our city. You are the best!
November 2nd, 2007 at 7:11 pm
Thank you Moderator, Barbara #13 and Cheryl #14 for welcoming me glad to meet you all. I’ve just been watching the video they’ve put together of handsome Mei Sheng’s first 4 years. I’m not afraid to admit i’ve cried he is as they call him a silly sweet boy. I really thought that he was going to fall when he was playing in the tree but then i laughed when he used his two back legs to dangle. He really is quite a character. I bet the keepers will shed some tears for him when he goes as we all will.
Take care everyone
November 9th, 2007 at 9:11 am
It is so much fun to watch Miss Fluffy Butt go through her physical exam. Who likes needles anyway. Who likes vaccinations.
I bet she was saying: Where is my chin-rubbing? Where is my massage. Don’t I get anything after this? Not even a bamboo? She sure is one assertive panda, and very intelligent too.
November 23rd, 2007 at 2:44 pm
As we get close to the naming of the cub, we’re seeing Bai Yun and Gao Gao pop up in the news with greater frequency. What will the name be? We at Daylife can’t until Monday! Good luck to both Swaisgood, Hall, Gao Gao, Bai Yun, and the staff — and the cub!
– Matt
November 27th, 2007 at 6:14 am
I was so excited to get to know the name was choosen for the new born Giant Panda , Happy for San Diego Zoo for the efforts.
All the Success.
Tracy ho