Bear Awareness Days
Posted at 9:38 am May 1, 2008 by Pamela Crowe
It’s time to celebrate bears! The San Diego Zoo’s annual Bear Awareness Days event will be held May 8 to 11, 2008. If you’re not familiar with this event, it’s a fun way for us to bring awareness to our guests about bears and their conservation needs. We are extremely lucky here at the San Diego Zoo to have 5 of the 8 bear species in our collection, and we invite you to learn more about them by joining us for bear talks and other bear activities that we have scheduled for this year’s event.
Each year for this event, the San Diego Zoo tries to come up with fun and interesting auction items that the public can bid on. All of the money that we raise with these items goes towards supporting bear conservation. Auction items included bear paw prints and behind-the-scenes tours here at the Zoo. The auction begins on Monday, May 5.
So, have you ever wondered what goes on behind the scenes at the Giant Panda Research Station? For this year’s event, we’re auctioning off a one-of-a-kind experience: a behind-the-scenes tour of the Panda Station. If you’re the highest bidder, you’ll meet with a panda keeper and get to tour our state-of-the-art research facility. You’ll learn all about how we care for our pandas, and you might even get to have a private viewing with one of them. During the tour, you’ll learn all about our ongoing research projects and how our research efforts are helping the conservation of this highly endangered species. A behind-the-scenes tour of Polar Bear Plunge is also being offered for auction!
So please come join us here at the San Diego Zoo during our Bear Awareness Days. It’s sure to be an exciting event with lots of fun opportunities to learn about bears and ways that you can help support their conservation needs. And be sure to check out this year’s auction items. If you’re a panda fan, I’d highly recommend bidding on the behind-the-scenes tour of the Panda Research Station or Polar Bear Plunge. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity!
Pamela Crowe is a research technician for the San Diego Zoo.
Listen to iZoofari chats with our bear keepers and researchers…
Help the Zoo’s bears and bear research in the wild by donating to our May 2008 Bear Wish List.
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May 1st, 2008 at 9:55 am
My husband said myself and my daughter could go on the polar and panda bear breakfast in July – but of course they were gone in an instant. Oh well, I can dream. We will all be looking in at the auction though.
Moderator’s note: We just started taking reservations for Pandas, Polars, and Pancakes and there is still space available. Visit http://www.sandiegozoo.org/calendar/zoo_bear_breakfast.html
May 1st, 2008 at 12:09 pm
3:06 E.S.T. the handsome gao man is kneeling ,presumably praying for more snow!
joan
painted post, n.y.
May 1st, 2008 at 2:38 pm
Oh, what I wouldn’t give for ” a behind the scenes tour” of the panda research station – with the possibilty of seeing a panda up close. Hey, Bobbie Wood, you go to the SDZ all the time – you could bid on it & tell us all about the experience.
Maureen
May 1st, 2008 at 3:27 pm
The link where you click to sign up is disabled. Perhaps that is why Susan thought the reservations were all gone.
Moderator’s note: Good point! We’ll fix it.
May 1st, 2008 at 3:41 pm
Could you just imagine??? Being there with the bears and their keepers and being able to ask questions, and seeing the bears up close and personal?? I wish…… Speaking of bears though, can anyone tell me if the SDZ offers or knows of tours to Wolong? I thought I had read it on here once, but can’t seem to find any info. I have found tours from China, but would like to have info from here if there is any available. I live in Wstn Canada, but San Diego is only a few hour flight…
Hmmm, are any of the auction items going to be available online to bid??? sorry just had to ask….
What glorious snow day pic’s…. The video is just priceless… Thankyou so much….
Moderator’s note: We do offer trips to Wolong and other panda areas through our WorldWild Tours division. There were two such trips that left in April. For information about future trips, call (619) 231-1515, ext. 4245.
As for the auction, it will be offered online beginning May 5.
May 1st, 2008 at 3:50 pm
What a Fine place to simply have a grand time! Today, the Kaolas were wide awake and eating breakfast! Gao Gao is now on exhibit in a trade-off with Su Lin. Naturally he was sitting in a pile of bamboo and eating breakfast when we got there. Bai and Zhen were napping…Those bears! We saw the polar bears awake and eating carrots…And! while at the Polar exhibit, I got to meet Suzanne Hall who was monitoring the polar behavior!!! What a total treat that moment was!!!She visited with us for a while and discussed the Polar Bears. The gorillas were sound asleep but the Orangatans were up and flinging themselves around! There were several youngsters watching the antics and squealing in total delight! The Flamingo nests are even taller, but no new babies yet. One of the peacocks was strutting around inside the flamingo exhibit and the flamingos had all retreated to a different area of their lagoon. I went in to look at the snakes this time. A huge Yellow and White python was wide awake and slithering along the edge of the glass flicking his toungue at the visitors! We saw 30 inch long Koi in their lagoon being fed breakfast! The keeper feeding them said that Koi could live 30 years! We saw the elephants again, and the tour bus came by and the moderator on the bus told the visitors to notice that two of the elephants were Aisan elephants and to notice that their ears are much smaller and also their tusks are very small. The third elephant in the exhibit is an African elephant….big ears, long tusks! We saw the Giraffes and got to watch their keepers feed them a snack of carrots up-close-and-personal! In the Pygmy Hippo exhibit we got to see 2 crocodiles. One went swimming for us! And, of course we saw the wild and crazy MeerKats….this exhibit is right across the road from the elephants. One tiny meerkat dug a hole for the visitors! We went back to the Pandas and this time, Gao wandered around for his fans…I love his paws! he has more fur on them and they look like the 70’s bell-bottom jeans with frayed edges. Bai was doing her ‘I need my lunch walk’ around and around. Zhen was awake but sitting in her tree watching her Mom. We saw a wild momma duck and at least 8 of her babies walking across the walkway…carefully! The SDZ is simply the most amazing experience ever! Oh! Inside the hut in Bai and Zhen’s exhibit on the ground, there is still SNOW left over from Sunday! Sout and Montana were also awake and peering from a cave at their fans! A Big Black bear was swimming in his lagoon! Total Treats everywhere at the SDZ
Moderator’s note: Bobbie, how do you fit it all in in one day?! And that big black bear is Blackie, our Manchurian brown bear, recently back from a long-term loan. You can listen to an iZoofari Chat with Blackie’s keeper at http://www.sandiegozoo.org/wordpress2/2008/uncategorized/izoofari-chat-bear-awareness-days-manchurian-brown-bear/ and/or read a blog about him at http://www.sandiegozoo.org/wordpress/default/brown-bear-welcomed/
May 1st, 2008 at 4:08 pm
Susan # 1 — I’m excited for you and your daughter — please promise to write a blog about your adventures — don’t miss any details — I (and I’m sure the other readers) want to her everything. Have fun!!
May 1st, 2008 at 4:32 pm
Dear Moderator
Today was the 6th trip to the SDZ in 2008….We have finally figured out our routes and really, each visit has been about 9:15 to 12:45. We stop at the exhibits and I take photos and video and my companion chats with other visitors as we watch the gorgeous animals. Each Visit Has been Remarkable
Thank goodness, we can get down to the SDZ every couple of weeks and when knees say ‘time to go’ we do and then relive the day on the way home and plan which animals we will visit next time 
Blessed! Yes! Thank you for correcting my bear to the brown bear and thank you for the links!
You’re very welcome!
May 1st, 2008 at 5:09 pm
Dear Maureen in Michigan #3
Would that be a total TREAT? YES!!!! Lotto hopeful, I shall become! I am ‘retired’ 2 years ahead of that nifty age of 65 and therefore, budget for the coming years does have some dumb priorities….or does it????
The opportunity of a lifetime is for certain!!!! There is not one Pandaholic who would give as much as possible for the chance
To all Pandafans: I keep forgetting to tell you all that I did order the book: The Panda who would not eat.
I have received my copies and want to let you all know that the story is adorable (about Shi Shi when he came to SDZ) and the illustrations are grand. If you have children or grandchildren in the first grade, they could read it, and if you have younger little ones, you will delight in reading it to them! It’s a ‘keeper’ and a gift of lotsafun for children of all ages….including grown-up panda fans
Moderator’s note: The author will be at the Zoo on Friday, May 9, to read and sign her book. Here’s a link to the book, available at ShopZoo.com http://www.shopzoo.com/shopzoo.cgi?cmd=item&query_cat=Books&id=1599604
May 1st, 2008 at 6:37 pm
Bobbie – once again thanks for your great description of your latest trip to the zoo – I get tired just reading about your adventures – you have quite a way with words.
May 1st, 2008 at 10:03 pm
Bobbie Wood….you are so lucky! I am so so SO jealous. Here I sit, literally the whole way across the country….my chances of visiting the San Diego Zoo even once are slim to none. Thank you for letting me visit ” vicariously” through you. And thanks to the staff for the great reports – reading them enables me to see all those wonderful panda moments in my mind!
May 1st, 2008 at 11:25 pm
Hi panda lovers. Just want to alert you to a couple of recent videos of Tai Shan that you must not miss. It seems our ”panda prince charming’ had himself a great romp around his indoor enclosure, playing with all his toys, splashing in his pool, in the very early hours of May 1st (almost as if he knew about May Day or someone put coffee in his water bowl). Search for ” Tai’s Late Night Party” on youtube. It’s a bit grainy because at that time of day, only the infrared camera is on. But boy, is he having a party!!
The other clip is called ” Don’t Let That Tail Get Away.” In this clip, Tai demonstrates how pandas chase their tails – you will have a great laugh watching this one.
Enjoy, everyone!!
May 2nd, 2008 at 1:59 am
I have just watched the video of Zhen Zhen and her first snow day!. How funny, she really did enjoy it. Made me laugh when she was sliding and gamboling. How i wish it could be snow day again very soon.
How about snow day for Zhen Zhens first birthday?
May 2nd, 2008 at 2:48 am
I am eagerly awaiting Bear Week. I enjoyed looking at the Wish List of items and am thrilled that so many are already provided. All of the bears will have a great time!
Love, Joy
May 2nd, 2008 at 5:53 am
Bobbie, yet again a beautiful tale of your visit to SDZ. Maybe I’ll see you there someday soon. Kris, thanks for discovering that the link to sign up for the breakfast trip was down – usually when the link disappears it means ‘all gone’. However, SDZ kindly e-mailed me (11pm!! – just on my way to bed) telling me it was still available and later today when you all wake up we will be ringing up (link has totally gone) to see if we can go. If not, we have decided that my daughter and myself will still go sometime this summer and spend a week visiting the zoo. It will be my trip of a lifetime. Bit nervous about it just being me and my daughter – never travelled like this on my own. Luckily my daughter goes on lots of school trips – she’s been to Sugarloaf twice and just come back from Spain so she’s quite happy with airports!
I have decided that I HAVE to do this – I’ve fallen in love with SDZ and the pandas, polars and everything else and it’s something I really want to do. Last went to USA in 1982!!
Anyone here know the best and nearest hotel to stay? We’ve got one in mind but would like to know if any of you out there can help. It has to be as near as possible as I don’t drive, so it’ll be cabs or buses!
Do you think Bai would rent out one of her little hidey holes? We don’t take up much room!!
Moderator’s note: The link to register online for the Pandas, Polars, and Pancakes event is not ready yet, but reservations can be made through the phone number provided. http://www.sandiegozoo.org/calendar/zoo_bear_breakfast.html
There are several hotels that partner with the San Diego Zoo and offer discount packages. You can get more information at http://www.sandiegozoo.org/tickets/index.html
May 2nd, 2008 at 7:04 am
I just heard about panda Ling Ling’s death in Japan.
Very sad. I hope they will be able to get another panda from the Chinese government.
May 2nd, 2008 at 9:36 am
Wow, Bobbie Wood! You get to see a lot in 3 hours. It helps to ” learn the ropes” and know your way around. Too bad you didn’t get to see one of the elephants painting. I remember reading a blog last year about their artistic talents. Maybe on a future trip during elephant appreciation week or during an enrichment weekend?
Were the Asian and African elephants in the same physical exhibit? I am surprised if they were, because NZP found out after the tragic death of their female elephant calf that African elephants carry a disease that is fatal to Asian elephant calves. Apparently it doesn’t strike African elephants, just Asian. It causes a necrosis of their heart. By the time they figured it out they had already lost their special little girl. The elephants at SDZ are older, and therefore not likely to give birth, so that may explain why it is safe to have them on exhibit together. However, I believe that is one of the reasons for separating Asian and African elephant herds at WAP.
It is such a great experience when one gets to see all the animals one wants to see in limited time, and when they are awake and lively. We had to keep going back to exhibits two or three times last Saturday at NZP to see the newest addition, 10 month old Red Panda brother and sister. Like your recent heat wave, it was way too hot for them to be out on exhibit during the mid-afternoon. But the wait was worth it, because when they did appear they delighted us with their beauty and their activity.
Moderator’s note: Currently, the Zoo’s three elephants (two Asian and one African) live in the same exhibit space.
May 2nd, 2008 at 10:24 am
Good news everyone. We’ve managed to sign up for the panda/polar/pancake breakfast. It hasn’t sunk in yet. Can’t believe it!!! Watch out, SDZ, your gift shops will be empty by the time I’ve been through them!
Going to watch the pandas now. I’m so excited.
May 2nd, 2008 at 10:40 am
Bobbie Wood # 8 — So, what is the fastest/best route to the pandas? What is your preferred route around the zoo?
We usually go through the Monkey Trails (sometimes we stop by the Oragatuns and sometimes we just do the shortcut past the bearded pigs), down Tiger River (tapirs & tigers) and through Ituri Forest (okapi & hippos) to get to Panda Canyon. That is almost always our first shot.
Then usually my son wants to hop on the Express Bus for a ride. The bus goes up Sun Bear Forest (we saw two grizzlies wrestling in their pond and a lion peering out from his cave) to the elephants and giraffes (the giraffes look happy in their new exhibit space) past the camels and kangaroos over to the meerkats in Kopje and then down Cat Canyon. We got off again in Panda Canyon and headed up the people mover to get over to the polar bears. On the way we saw the construction of the new elephant mesa–it is going to be amazing! From the polar bears we took SkyFari back to the front where we had a snack and watched the flamingos. Those nests are somthing else! The good thing about this route is that you get some sitting time for the kidos while you still enjoy the animals. The problem is you miss the gorillas except from what you can see from the SkyFari.
We really enjoyed seeing the pandas enjoying the snow this past Sunday. When we were there Su Lin was licking the snow between chowing down on her pile of bamboo. Bai Yun was reclining in the snow on her hut peeling and enjoying the largest stock of bamboo I’ve seen. Bai is one amazingly beautiful and LARGE bear. Zhen Zhen was asleep in the tree. On our second trip through she had her face resting in a crook of the tree facing the viewing area. She looked angelic! After going through the main exhibit area we went around to and peeked through a knothole to catch just a glimpse of Gao enjoying his bamboo in the classroom.
A fun day and we were done by just about noon!
May 2nd, 2008 at 10:41 am
With ZZ showing such interest in bamboo and the ” eating” thereof, have you noticed any evidence in her poop that she has actually been eating it? She seems so precocious. Just curious. Thanks for any info.
May 2nd, 2008 at 11:44 am
Susan #18 – Congratulations on coming to SD to have breakfast with the bears — I’m very excited for you. There is a very charming hotel within walking distance of Balboa Park and the SD Zoo. It’s called the Balboa Park Inn. Some of the rooms are suites – with kitchens, some with fireplaces — and all of the rooms are themed. I think you would really like the area — since there are lots of places to walk to in Hillcrest — and of course in Balboa Park (museums, restaurants, etc.) Have fun — and please, please don’t forget to report back!!
May 2nd, 2008 at 1:30 pm
#12 Pandafan – you’re right Tai was certainly revved up & here we thought pandas slept all night.
Lani (ZA) was also on a teat this afternoon – running, sommersaulting, climbing & having a ball.
#18 Sammi – am so happy for you -
May 2nd, 2008 at 2:15 pm
What a thrill to be able to watch Gao Gao on the Panda Cam, when I was there last fall Mei Sheng and Su Lin were out on exhibit… He is a gorgeous looking bear and a joy to watch.
Susan you must know we will all be waiting to hear all about your adventure to the SDZ…. Have your camera ready, as when you walk into the Panda exhibit ” your breath will be taken away” …. to watch on the cam and then to see these precious animals is amazing. The gift shop is great, I have ” my Panda” sitting on a little stool in my bedroom. Be sure to take the time to read all the info boards that are there as well as they give lots of tidbits of info.
Thanks moderator for the info on tours to Wolong… I’m hoping the Fall of 2009……
May 2nd, 2008 at 2:33 pm
Maureen #22, wish it was me! But yes Susan #18 i am also happy for you and look forward to reading all about your trip and the pancake breakfast with the bears. I really envy you. When are you actually going?
When you do get to see our pandas, please send them a big kiss from a fellow UKer.
Am i correct in thinking that Ling Ling was once at SDZ or am i getting things mixed up?
Is there still no news on Mei Sheng?
May 2nd, 2008 at 4:36 pm
Dear Lisa #19,
We have found that the quickest way to Those Intrepid Pandas is by heading down past the Koalas to the top of Bear Canyon and then down hill. We’ve tried the steps near the bus ride area, however, each time we’ve done that we’ve gotten ‘lost’ in the Ituri Forest
One trip that route took over an hour not only because we were lost but because there is so much to see 
If you go down Bear Canyon you can see the Little Grizzlies, the lions, the Manchurian Brown Bear, The Red River Hogs with their new babies in addition to the Pandas. Plus, then you can hike up to the Polar Bears. You can then come back down from the Polars, head back up the canyon and check on the Pandas, keep going a bit further and you can either walk upstairs or take the moving stairway (I recommend) to the Ituri Forest.
There is so much to see 
Then after the forest, you can go all the way to the top level and go back to see elephant mesa and then head back down Bear Canyon to take a third check on the Pandas. Then you can again go up the moving stairway and follow the signs for the Gorillas. Then head back up to the entry level and see the Children’s Zoo
Susan (UK): Oh!!! You are going to Love The Zoo! And the shops!! How wonderful that you get to head to San Diego!!!
May 2nd, 2008 at 8:08 pm
The fastest route to the pandas is through Fern Canyon, then left on Bear Canyon. I can guarantee it — I have tried them all.
May 2nd, 2008 at 9:04 pm
Susan, do I read right? You get to come all the way from the UK to visit the SDZ and partake of the Panda’s, Polars and Pancakes too? You are one very lucky lady! I am green with envy! I hope everyone puts on a great show and makes it worth your while. I don’t live so far away (Utah) and have been twice in the last year (May 2007 & Jan 2008). Got to see ZZ but she was just a fluffy spec asleep up in the tree. I wish you better luck. You will love the zoo. It is the best. Please let us bloggers know all about your trip!
May 2nd, 2008 at 11:59 pm
Thank you everyone for your good wishes and advice. Darlene – I’m going off now to check out the Balboa Park Inn – I was hoping for something that would be within walking distance (I’m not a bus or cab lover – and after more than 10 hours in a plane I certainly need to get some exercise). At least I know what to expect at the Zoo – lots and lots and lots of walking, and steep bits too. It helps with the packing. Sammi – we’ve booked for the 12th July (Sunday). We plan to fly over on Friday, rest and get ourselves sorted on Saturday, and then the rest of the week – WOW. I could hardly sleep last night, and it’s still months away yet. Bobbie – I shall watch out for those peacocks and if you see two totally mad people, one tall (not me) and one small (that’s me!) with English accents, say Hi.
Back to the cams. Doesn’t Su Lin look just like Gao Gao sitting there eating? I do hope she won’t miss playing to her people. I keep playing the ZZ snow video. It’s just wonderful.
May 3rd, 2008 at 6:19 am
Sammi, #24 — I think you are thinking of Ling Ling & Hsing Hsing, the pandas that were at the National Zoo back in the 1980s. Ling Ling was the female who had several cubs that didn’t survive.
Maureen #22 — I have read that the eat and sleep cycle of the pandas goes ’round the clock, so they are up and eating (and in Tai’s case, playing) during the night. Isn’t he something? If anyone thinks animals don’t have personalities, they are wrong.
I envy all of you who are making plans to go to the SDZ, especially anyone from as far away as the UK. Such an exciting trip for you. I am stuck in the middle of the country, but I did see Bai Yun and Hua Mei back in 2000. What a joy! What gorgeous bears.
May 3rd, 2008 at 8:54 am
Pandafan #12, thanks for the tip about the great new Tai videos! Of course, as with any visit to Youtube, I ended up watching a few more — I never realized there were videos out there of his awful fall and the aftermath, although I remember very well the sick feeling I had when it happened. Still hard to watch.
One other not-to-be-missed gem is ” Tai & Mei – What the HECK?!!” — Tai is actually standing on Mei’s shoulders, as she is standing on two feet and, as usual, trying to break through a door. Hilarious! Tai sure has provided us all with endless hours of spectacular entertainment, as well as some tense moments. Good to know he’s still got that joie de vivre!
May 3rd, 2008 at 1:01 pm
Happy 9 Month birthday little (or not so little) ZZ!!! When I peeked in today, you were on the ground, in the shade of gently waving trees playing with bamboo (or something)! What a cute picture, what a lovely, lovely life you have! Enjoy, and thanks for the smiles you bring (and your family too!)
May 3rd, 2008 at 5:36 pm
# 9 Bobbie – thanks for the info about the ” Bear That Wouldn’t Eat” book – at age almost 65 & after 15 years of marriage our son & daughter-in-law are expecting our first grandchild in July. One of the items they asked for the baby shower were books for the baby. One is never too young to become a panda lover so ordered the book for our grandson. I’ll read it over & over to him.
May 3rd, 2008 at 5:37 pm
I highly recommend the Westin in San Diego. I am coming to SD in June and then again in September.
May 4th, 2008 at 12:38 am
12.30am SDZ time and you can just about see Gao Gao doing what he does best – eating! I can see the bamboo swishing about. Did everyone see the little one irritating her poor Mum again on Saturday? Her face said it all: ” Oh please go away and let me eat in peace.” I felt so sorry for Bai, but as usual she never stopped eating her bamboo.
May 4th, 2008 at 3:22 am
Bobbie, thanks for this brilliant description of SDZ, I felt like being with you on this tour! I am very envious that you are able to visit SDZ regularly. The variety of animals is quite something. As you might have noticed I am living not far away from Vienna Zoo where I am able to visit the panda couple and their baby Fu Long, so I must not be ungrateful. Susan, I hope you have a great time at SDZ. I feel there is nothing cuter than a panda baby!
So, enjoy, it will be an experience of a life time!
Something funny for all you panda lovers! Since being so thrilled by panda bears I started ” saving” these poor ” creatures” out of dirty banana boxes on our frequent visits to local flee markets. By now I have got a collection of 20 different plush ones, big and small, and believe me they all have got a different facial expression. I just cannot resist whenever coming across a new one, crazy me! If I carry on like this we need to put on an extra room!
May 4th, 2008 at 8:59 pm
Whenever I’ve gone to visit the SDZ I have stayed in the Days Inn at Hotel Circle. They have a free shuttle to the Zoo that runs everyday. I know, because I spent a whole 9 days going every day to the Zoo.
And if you ask, the shuttle will take you to other San Diego locations also.
Also, another tip is to get a Zoo membership which gives you free admission to the Zoo and WAP. The past 2 summers, I’ve gotten coupons for others to use for admission and tour bus rides when I joined on site at the Zoo. It’s a great value as a visitor and it’s a wonderful way to help the parks meet their financial needs.
Then, you also get a subscription for the magazine with updates and photos about all the animals and plants… and many times it features the cutest animals (the giant pandas) –What a great deal!!!
My other advice is to get off at bus stop 5 to see the pandas, instead of getting off at stop 2 and walking UP-HILL (ie the Zoo’s mountain) Stop 5 is right by the panda food and gift shop pavilion.
I hope all of you planning trips to SDZ have beautiful weather, playful pandas and feet free from blisters.
Love, Joy
Moderator’s note: Here’s more information about Zoo membership: http://www.sandiegozoo.org/membership/index.html
May 5th, 2008 at 8:54 am
Bobbie Wood – Thanks for telling us the book is about Shi Shi. The original write-up said it was a cute story written about a live bear at SDZ, but I did not realize that it was about Shi Shi. That simple fact will help me, and others, decide to purchase the book for young friends who are interested in Pandas.
May 5th, 2008 at 1:34 pm
I was wondering if there is a link for the on-line auction….I would like to look at some of the art work by the ” residents” !!
Here’s the auction page: http://www.sandiegozoo.org/calendar/zoo_bear_week_auction.html
May 5th, 2008 at 9:11 pm
#26-Carol – that’s the way we were told by the gentleman in the information booth and sure enough, you’re at the pandas in no time. I liked going through Fern Canyon – quiet and shady.
#30-Carole – glad you enjoyed Tai’s recent ” party” . Did you see ” Don’t Let That Tail Get Away?” I still chuckle when I think of it. Yes, indeed, youtube is a treasure trove of panda videos – Ocean Park in Hongkong, Chiang Mai in Thailand, Fu Long in Austria, lots from Wolong and Chengdu, and the twins in Japan.
#35-Ruth Renz – I, too, am building up quite a collection of plush pandas – it’s fun, isn’t it? You can find quite a lot of them on eBay, too. My latest discovery is called the Fur Real Panda made by Hasbro. It looks so real, and on top of that it makes panda sounds when you hug it, giggles when you press his left foot, plays peek-a-boo, raises its arms to give you a hug, makes sucking sounds when you put your finger in its mouth, hic-cups, and burps, and, when you don’t touch it for a bit, it starts to snore!! Oh, I’m having so much fun with it, my dear husband thinks I’ve entered my second childhood!!
#28-Susan (UK) – I am so happy for you that you are able to make it across the ocean to visit the pandas. You will have a wonderful time. When we were there in March this year, we stayed at the Hotel Sofia – a great European style hotel in downtown San Diego, with super-helpful staff. They give you maps, and good directions, and even walked with us to the bus stop!! We took the bus to the zoo and back everyday. The bus stops were each half-a-block from the hotel and we had no trouble finding our way whatsoever. The hotel is also close to the Gas Lamp district which is choc-a-bloc full of restaurant choices. Have a great time with your daughter!! Be careful not to sit under the tree where the peacocks like to roost near the entrance. They have a nasty habit of ” dropping in” on the poor unwary visitors. As soon as you hear them squawk, get out of the way!!!
I haven’t seen much of the bears lately. Gao has been on the panda cam a lot, though. He sure enjoys his bamboo. Oh, to be so content!!
May 7th, 2008 at 12:06 pm
#39 Pandafan, when it comes to pandas with their adorable child-like face are we not all children again? This Fur Real Panda sounds gorgeous. Since having originally started collecting cats I need to restrict myself in buying too many pandas, space problem. However, this Hasbro Panda sounds very tempting to me. And if it is more or less like a real panda it would save me a trip to Wolong where one is able to hug a panda! But I guess nothing beats hugging and cuddling a real panda. This is still one big wish of mine I have got in life!
May 8th, 2008 at 1:18 am
To EVERYONE who has been so nice and offered their help and best routes round the SDZ – thank you. I have got myself a small notebook in which I shall write everything I need to know, from hotel stuff to what to see and where to go at the zoo. I got some 2-park tickets and will be visiting the zoo for all of those 5 days (one, of course will be the Wildlife Park). My husband is sorting out hotels and flights and yes, I am so excited. This is my trip of a lifetime and I know I will keep the memories forever. (Now is the best time with the dollar being worth twice as much as the pound.) My daughter and I are both armed with cameras and extra cards for all those photos!! I like the bus that arrives at the Panda Shop. I’ve looked around the SDZ site and discovered just how many gift shops there are – pity my suitcase on the way home!!
It’s been 26 years since I visited the USA and I’m really looking forward to meeting all you lovely Americans again.
Sammi, I got the date wrong – it’s Sunday 13th, not 12th!! Silly me.
The other day I was watching the Polar Bears; now I know they’re large, but when he/she suddenly stood on their hind legs to look at something and stretched up, I thought, that is big.