Wolong Update
Posted at 3:54 pm May 16, 2008 by Ron Swaisgood
The picture at Wolong is becoming clearer. It’s not as horrific as it could have been, but it is bad and the battle is not over. I’ve now had direct contact with Wolong staff who were not at Wolong during the quake and contact with others who have had some limited communications with people in Wolong.
I finally heard from one of my best friends, Zhou Xiaoping, who is now serving as director of the Bifengxia panda facility near Ya’An. His wife is in Wolong and is okay. He also arranged to bring many of the staff’s family members from Dujiangyan to Bifengxia where it is safe. That is the best way he can help. From Wolong, Li Desheng, director of the breeding center, managed to get a short e-mail out to one of my colleagues. He says that “we are fine” but that they need a lot of help. The damage to the infrastructure is severe and supplies are running short. It will take a long time to rebuild and recover from this, both for pandas and people. Everyone has assured me that they are still taking good care of the pandas, but just need more supplies. They are short on bamboo and bread for the pandas. The surrounding areas do contain lots of bamboo, so I am sure that they will have some bamboo, as long as they can get to it safely. They grow much of their bamboo on farms today, but they used to harvest natural bamboo to feed the pandas. Of course, they don’t want to impact the wild pandas’ food, but most of the wild pandas live farther from the breeding center, at higher elevations.
I’ve also heard from Jen Keating, our research technician who has been living in Wolong since March. She left Chengdu the morning of the earthquake, just before it struck. She hasn’t been able to reach anyone at Wolong, but like all of us she is worried about all of our friends in Wolong.
The San Diego Zoo will be working with the other zoos and the Association of Zoos and Aquarium’s (AZA) Giant Panda Foundation to establish a relief fund to help the people and the pandas, who will continue to have great needs for weeks and months to come. Please stay tuned.
Thanks to everyone for their support and well wishes in these difficult times.
Ron Swaisgood is the co-head of the San Diego Zoo’s Giant Panda Conservation Unit.
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May 16th, 2008 at 4:03 pm
Ron, Thanks for the update. We’re with you guys and the Wolong staff & pandas.
Do you have any word on Hua Mei? Really concerned about her!
May 16th, 2008 at 4:10 pm
Thank you so much for the updates. I’m glad all the captive pandas and staffs in Chengdu and Wolong are fine I’ve read from Hong Kong news that there are 4 pandas missing in the Wolong reserve (not those living in the center). They ran into the forest because they were scared of the quake. Let’s just pray all the wild pandas are safe.
May 16th, 2008 at 4:13 pm
I had just posted on the previous thread about having just read the latest news up-date from Pandas International. They were saying how there has been another 5.6 aftershock, they just don’t seem to end. They said how they are short of medical supplies for both animal and humans. The army have been dropping off food and supplies but now they are starting to run out of fuel.
It seems to becoming more serious day by day.
Ron from what you said about Bifengxia, it sounds as if we can take it that our boy Mei Sheng is safe. I hope that Hua Mei and her children are all ok.
Pandas International are asking for people to make tax free donations, all their information is on their website.
Let’s all do a lot of praying and hope that they get the aid they need.
May 16th, 2008 at 4:14 pm
Just another note, I survived the Loma Prieta quake of 1989. Fortunately, it was not as strong as the one in China, nevertheless, it was frightening. I cannot fathom what folks in Wolong and its vicinity must have felt, especially when their buildings were not earthquake resistant. My heart really goes out to all the victims, both humans and animals. The thought of homeless people and pandas is so sad. I cannot wait for the AZA to set up the Giant Panda Foundation Relief Fund so I can give. So far, I’ve given to Pandas Int’l and MercyCorps. I hope to help out anyway possible. I love pandas and am thankful for the people who work so hard to keep them from extinction. I will continue to pray for all. God bless.
May 16th, 2008 at 4:26 pm
I can hardly wait until there is a fund set up so I can help. I feel for all of you on staff who must feel so helpless. Hang in there and let us know what we can do.
May 16th, 2008 at 5:54 pm
Does anyone know ow hua mei or mei shang are doing? And what about shi shi? PLEAS ANSWER VERY CONCERND!
May 16th, 2008 at 6:20 pm
Ron, thanks for giving us the news from your friend- there have so many conflicting reports. Now that China has agreed to accept international help, maybe earth moving equipment, extra search & rescue teams along with medical help will arrive soon. The area sure doesn’t need any more aftershocks -
Keep us posted on what we can do to help. The prayers continue for all.
May 16th, 2008 at 7:10 pm
I google searched some Chinese sites and found some photos of other panda conservation areas in Sichuan(not Wolong though) post earthquake. One photo showed the damaged buildings of Baishui He conservation site.
I’d like to post the links, but I guess that’s against the rule of this forum?
Moderator’s note: We cannot post exact URLs, but you are welcome to tell our readers what search words to use.
May 16th, 2008 at 9:50 pm
Hi! I also got my PI email newsletter today. Wolong is in very serious need of supplies, medicines, and everything else that people can get to China. They are also working with the other zoos, and the AZA Giant Panda Relief Fund is now open for donations. I think you can check the PI website to see what the link will be to go to it for donations. PI has been Wolong’s other ” Red Cross” lately! They are trying very hard to get the necessary supplies, food, medicines, tents, other much needed items to China as fast as they can get them there. They are spending their own money to get all of this together–more power to them for getting this going. From what I have read and heard on the news, the damage at the city of Wolong is very widespread and destructive. The hotel that a lot of the tourists, including the British and American tourists, had some severe damage to it, so the police only allowed them back inside long enough to get their belongings and come out. Then they were taken to safer areas like Chengdu. I am pretty sure, but not that sure, that the Wolong school has also been damaged or destroyed. If the whole town is that bad on the destruction level by the quake, then I can only guess that the school is among the destruction. I’m just hoping and praying that there were not too many kids in there when the quake hit. Hopefully, there will be someone that will let us know about the school there, considering that a lot of schools in the earthquake zone have collapsed and killed thousands of kids already. There have been remarkable rescues of some kids being pulled out from under the debris alive after nearly 5 days today, but the survival rate will get slimmer as time goes on. The 5.6 aftershock is just one of dozens of shocks in that magnitude range. USGS has a list of all of the aftershocks in that region that have ranged from 4 to 6 magnitude since the major quake hit. That’s just a smaller list of all of the hundreds of aftershocks in that region that they have recorded thru today. The Longmenshan Fault is still a very active fault and this fault has not settled down yet. Maybe a long time till it does.
Ron, I’m very glad that you finally got in touch with Jennifer Keating. I’m sure that she is very worried about Wolong Panda Research Base as well. We are all still waiting for her to write down her statements of her experience over there in this quake.
The latest news on CNN is that dozens of people are leaving their leveled towns and villages for safer areas where they can get some badly needed shelter and food. A lot of the roads are still a huge mess, but these people are trying to make their way thru as best as they can. A few roads were reopened after the military personnel were able to clear them of the rockslides. But there are still a lot of roads that are still badly damaged and impassable.
Ron, please do your best to keep us updated about the reserve, and let Jen Keating know that a whole lot of panda lovers are waiting to hear from her ASAP, ok?
Thanks for your updates and we’re looking for more!
Chari Mercier
St. Pete. FL
May 16th, 2008 at 10:43 pm
NYT now has an article up recounting the ordeal at wolong.
In China, Skittish Pandas, Then Exploding Cliffs
May 17th, 2008 at 1:31 am
Ron Swaisgood, thank you for taking time to send us so promptly an update on both Wolong’s people and their pandas. It still sounds very serious and my heart goes out to those who have been affected by the terrible earthquake. We can just hope that the helpers will be able to continue supplying food and whatever is needed to meet the basic needs of people and pandas. For you in particular it must be very heartbreaking imagining your friends in Wolong being affected and not knowing how to overcome the worst, again concerning both themselves and the pandas. So, we can only carry on hoping for the time being!
May 17th, 2008 at 1:55 am
So glad you’ve heard everyone is alright. I am sure that all of us would dearly like to be over there helping. As soon as I can I will be donating – both to Pandas and people. The Chinese are doing brilliantly in the face of so much destruction.
It’s difficult to find the words to explain how I feel, don’t know if anyone else feels like that? But Ron, all the best to you and yours and the pandas.
May 17th, 2008 at 6:06 am
An article in todays New York Times by Jim Yardley on page A8 relates the experiences of the American tour group at Wolong when the earthquake hit and it’s aftermath. I don’t know if SDZ is allowed to post it here, but it is worth finding a copy and reading. The Chinese panda keepers were truly wonderful in their care of pandas and visitors alike.
May 17th, 2008 at 7:05 am
We are worried about Mei Sheng and Hua Mei, are they OK? Is it a possibility that they can come back to SD Zoo until the reserve in Woloog is rebuilt?
May 17th, 2008 at 8:02 am
Back again. You can find the article at nytimes.com under: In China, Skittish Pandas, Silent Birds and Then Exploding Cliffs.
May 17th, 2008 at 8:53 am
Ron, thank you for bringing us up-to-date. The devastation is beyond comprehension. I’ve been through two very large earthquakes in the Los Angeles area, but nothing as big as this one in China.
I remember how wonderful it was to visit the pandas in Wolong and Chengdu in 2006 with the SDZ Giant Panda Tour and to have the joy-filled experience of holding a darling male panda cub and fed him apple slices in Wolong. We were very fortunate to be able to meet you then, since you were there working with the scientists and the pandas at the panda breeding center at the same time.
I hope your friends in Wolong and their families are safe and will be able to stay well and continue to work with the pandas that have become ” ours,” too!
Last September I had the privilege of teaching conversational English in An Shang Village, Shaanxi province, for three weeks. The Chinese people I met then and on several other trips to China have been kind, generous, loving people and my heart is breaking for them now. I’m wondering how my students are faring and whether or not the beautiful school is still able to be used? So many questions and it’s hard to know if we will be able to get answers.
If we all contribute what we can, to the reliable funds that are being set up, at least that will provide a way for us to help the pandas and people who have nowhere else to turn.
Please let us know how your friends are when you can. We’ll keep checking to see if you have anything more to tell us.
Warm regards…
May 17th, 2008 at 9:18 am
I am so glad that word is tarting to get out of Sichuan and statuses of people/villages.
I am hearing this morning of possible flooding froma damaged dam. Is this close to our beloved pandas and their keepers at ANY/ALL of the facilities?
I am glad to hear that so far most of the news is promising. I know there is still a LONG way to go to recover. We continue to keep everyone – man and animal – in our constant thoughts and prayers.
May 17th, 2008 at 10:02 am
From a Chinese link which focuses on the situation in Wolong:
1. Still around 3,000 people in Wolong including hundreds of touristors. The telephone communication to wolong has finally been reconnected.
2. The families of wolong staff living in Dujiang yan, a severely damaged city, are generally in good condition. 12 of these family members had minor injuries, all others are well. One of the three routines to wolong has been reestablished, supplies are on the way.
May 17th, 2008 at 11:07 am
Thank you, wolongnews, for your updates. I for one really appreciate them, and I would imagine that the rest of our family here on the blog, do also.
May 17th, 2008 at 12:09 pm
I, too, appreciate all the news that people are posting here. Went on Pandas International earlier to donate, but they only take Visa and MC, no Amex. I am still hoping to be able to contribute earthquake relief for Wolong through the SDZ, so will wait a few more days to see if that will happen.
On a lighter note, it was great to see Bai and ZZ having some fun in the shade just now and the awesome Meerkats followed every move with the cam! I so rarely see them lately, as my main viewing time is very early in the morning, before getting ready for work. While I love Gao Gao and Su Lin, I wish that the cam would be on Bai and ZZ during that 6 am – 7 am hour, so those of us who are not able to check in during the work day can get our ” fix” . . . Just a suggestion.
May 17th, 2008 at 2:55 pm
People who want to contribute directly to Wolong pandas can send a check to Pandas International if you don’t have a credit card they take (address on their website), right now they are concentrating on $$ for medicines and have a huge need–so you CAN contribute right now, every little bit helps and they need it immediately as they’re putting together shipments as I type this! They are so grateful for every dollar and it beats just hoping and feeling helpless!! Comeon panda fans, let’s put our money where our hearts and hopes are and send them whatever we can spare now, they are already feeling the economic slowdown pinch and need our help. I plan to also contribute to SDZ when they have a fund set up too, but PI is collecting at present! Online with credit card is very easy and secure, a check will get there in a few days. We love them, we love their caretakers, and we care very much about helping relieve the suffering.
May 17th, 2008 at 5:15 pm
Hi, you all! Yeah, I also heard about the news early this morning when it broke on CNN about possible flooding from one of the dams that apparently still has damage, and people were getting out of that area as fast as they could. There has been no real confirmation about that situation at that time, but reporters and rescue workers were trying to find out what was going on with that dam. I haven’t been watching any of the news channels at all during the day today since I was out doing some things. Will try to get back on the news channels to see what the reporters have been able to find out and have any confirmation on the situation. This is just one more thing that the Chinese do not want to have on their list right now. They have a huge amount of recovery work on their plate as well as taking care of thousands of people who have been homeless since the quake. No new updates from Pandas International today, but they may have something later on or wait until tomorrow to get an update written. The situation is so fluid there, that news about the panda reserves and other problems has been a little bit crazy to get ahold of. I’m with the rest of you that things have settled down somewhat, and the all of the panda reserves’ personnel can catch their breaths and work towards taking care of the pandas as well as themselves. At least the supplies are starting to get in there now that a couple of the roads have been cleared and opened.
If anyone hears about the problem about that one damaged dam and how close it is to Wolong or Chengdu, let us know, ok? I’ll do the same if and when I hear of something.
Gonna get on pandacam before it gets too dark. Read about the usual antics of ZZ from one of the pandafans that wrote in today. Sort of gives me an idea of how playful she can be! When I do get on the cam to see Bai and ZZ, I just see Bai, and ZZ is up a tree napping! You’re right about ZZ, tho! She’s not letting us see her much when she’s in the trees! Will try to catch her in the morning.
Gonna go. Still waiting for Jen Keating to write to all of us! I’m hoping that she got back to SD, Cal. safely! Oh yeah, I’ve been meaning to let you all know that Dr. Ben Charlton, who works for Atlanta Zoo, was safe in Chengdu after the quake hit. He had left Wolong where he was doing more vocal studies on the pandas some hours before the quake hit and got to Chengdu safely. I think that Jen Keating and Dr. Charlton know each other from working together on panda research, but you all will have to correct me if I’m wrong here! Anyway, he’s safe in Chengdu, and we are waiting for another update from him soon on the AZ website panda page.
Love and prayers to all the pandas and Chinese people,
Chari Mercier
St. Pete, FL
May 17th, 2008 at 6:47 pm
Carol (#20), Pandas International will also accept checks. I’ve emailed asking about any fees they might have to pay for credit card transactions (want them to get ALL of the $). I’ll post the answer here, when they have time.
Wolongnews (#18) – THANK YOU for the updates as well.
May 17th, 2008 at 6:56 pm
Ron – we appreciate you taking the time to give us the latest news about what’s going on at the pandas reserves. All panda lovers are worried, not only for the pandas but for the people of China. Such heartrending photos on the news. Those of us fortunate to live here in the US cannot imagine millions of people homeless & waiting for news of their family members. Please keep us updated when you can.
#18 wolongnews – thanks for your news & our prayers are with you.
May 17th, 2008 at 8:12 pm
I’m so glad to heard there is more news coming out of Wolong and the damage is not has bad as first thought but still not great. I have shed many a tear since I first heard about the quake worrying about the pandas and their caretaker and families. Now with all the babies to be coming soon is an other worry with all the stress that must be on the mothers to be and the facilities being damage and not enough supply is another big problem. I just made a donation to Pandas International it was not alot but I’m sure every little bit helps. I keep them in my prays everyday and try to find updates on how things are going over there. Sure wish I could do more I just love those black and white fur balls.
May 17th, 2008 at 8:39 pm
Carolyn – #15 Thanks for making us aware of NYTimes article.
I read the exciting article by Jim Yardly in today’s New York Times (5/17/08). It was wonderful, scary, ironic, uplifting, and a very emotional article.
While I was reading, it brought tears of joy for everyone in Wolong who were saved and able to leave safe and sound. It also brought tears of sorrow for the Chinese group who left Wolong by bus around 2 P.M. along the long, winding road back to Chengdu.
One uplifting paragraph was how the 13 cubs were saved. They were put inside a small ticket booth, a home that kept them from escaping. When they let them out, they would just romp and play.
May 18th, 2008 at 1:16 am
I just watched a phone interview with the director of the Wolong research center China CCTV.
He said the panda facility at Wolong were severly damaged by the earthquake.
They managed to move all the panda cubs into a save location.
There were 6 adult pandas missing immediately after the earthquake. They have since found 4 of them back. There are still 2 missing. All the pandas have been moved to one safe place. But it’s a little crowded.
They need help.
May 18th, 2008 at 7:12 am
This Sunday morning I read a disturbing news report on the death of five staff and three missing pandas at Wolong. I will try not to violate copyright issues by not quoting them directly but the facts will remain. For the orignal news account go and use -news dot Google- to search for the following – Three pandas missing in China reserve after quake-.
It is apparently the first hard news from the Wolong Nature Reserve after last week’s massive earthquake and also said the quake seriously damaged all of its panda houses. It was reported in the Reuters international multimedia news agency thru the official Chinese agency news, Xinhua. This was the first report about the fate of pandas raised at the Wolong center, 18 miles from the epicenter of last Monday’s quake.
They also reported that the first batch of bamboo, apples, and veterinary medicine for the pandas, as well as food and the tents urgently needed by the staff, arrived at the Wolong Reserve on Saturday night, according to a State Forestry Administration spokesman.
The report also said that sixty giant pandas raised at Wolong were safe including Tuan Tuan and Yuan Yuan, the panda duo offered by China to Taiwan to advance its unification goal. No mention of our Hua Mei.
Also, I want to share a web site for those interested in geology, specifically earthquakes. It shows on a map the current earthquakes and aftershocks and their magnitude and time of occurrence. If you Google up the following: USGS Earthquake Map of Asia Region, you should find the Asia Region listed at the top of the search results page. It will give you the map and data and is updated as soon as there is any activity. I often know about those big aftershocks before they appear in news reports so I know to look for new reports on the state of dams and nuclear facilities (which of course I have separate searches for in my custom Google news page).
May 18th, 2008 at 7:28 am
Read on the Associated Press:
3 pandas missing from reserve after China quake
1 hour ago
BEIJING (AP) — Three giant pandas are missing from the world’s most famous panda reserve after the earthquake and five staff members were killed, a Chinese official said Sunday.
All the pandas at the Wolong Nature Reserve were first reported safe Tuesday, but an official with the State Forestry Administration now says three are missing, the state-run Xinhua News Agency reported Sunday.
The reserve’s other 60 giant pandas are safe, forestry spokesman Cao Qingyao told Xinhua.
May 18th, 2008 at 7:34 am
Ron please let us know about Hua Mei as soon as possible,she was our 1st born and there are those of us out here who hold her ever so dear in our hearts.
May 18th, 2008 at 7:36 am
From Reuters:
BEIJING, May 18 (Reuters) – Three giant pandas are missing after last week’s massive earthquake hit China’s most important reserve for the endangered animal, state media said on Sunday.
It was the first report about the fate of pandas raised at the Wolong research and breeding centre, just 30 km (18 miles) from the epicentre of Monday’s quake.
The 7.9 magnitude quake killed five staff at the Wolong Nature Reserve and seriously damaged all of its panda houses, official news agency Xinhua said.
” The first batch of bamboo, apples, and veterinary medicine for the pandas, as well as food and the tents urgently needed by the staff, arrived at the Wolong Reserve on Saturday night,” a State Forestry Administration spokesman was quoted as saying.
May 18th, 2008 at 7:38 am
This is from a recent article from the AP:
” …Also in the quake area, three giant pandas were missing from the world’s most famous reserve for the endangered animals.
All the pandas at the Wolong Nature Reserve were first reported safe Tuesday, but an official with the State Forestry Administration now says three are missing, the state-run Xinhua News Agency reported Sunday.
Panda houses at the reserve were severely damaged and five staff members there were killed, forestry spokesman Cao Qingyao told Xinhua.
The 60 other giant pandas at the Wolong Nature Reserve were safe, according to the agency. The reserve is 18 miles from the epicenter of the earthquake.
Phone calls to the state forestry administration and to the forestry bureau in Sichuan province rang unanswered Sunday night. Fixed phone lines to the reserve remained down. Officials have been able to call the reserve only by satellite phone.
Sure hope this is not an accurate report.
May 18th, 2008 at 8:01 am
I too, am worried out our boy Mei Sheng, and Hua Mei and her babies. I pray they are all safe. I am sorry to read that they lost some of their staff.
Thanks Ron for the update.
May 18th, 2008 at 8:05 am
Such a sad, sad event for the people of China. I just read on the internet that 3 pandas have also been lost. I pray that Hua Mei and her babies are safe. The human deaths and carnage are just too much to take in. Prayers for everyone who is searching for their loved ones, and prayers for those who are still buried.
May 18th, 2008 at 8:35 am
I just heard an update news of Wolong Panda breeding center: there were 6 pandas missing after the earthquake, but wolong staff managed find 4 of them in the nearby mountain area in these several days. There are still 2 missing pandas.
The status of some panda cubs are not quite stable after the quake, they’re climbed on the trees and not willing to come down.
May 18th, 2008 at 8:41 am
I challenge DreamWorks to donate a portion of the proceeds from Kung Fu Panda to the Wolong and Chengdu Panda Reserves.
May 18th, 2008 at 10:09 am
Is there any news about Hua Mei and her cubs? I just read that there are two pandas missing from Wolong, and got clarification that they are from the Centre and not the Wild Panda Reserve. I wish that they would consider sending the pandas to facilities that could keep them until the Centre can be rebuilt.
I am sure that SDZ would be glad to have Hua Mei back.
May 18th, 2008 at 11:53 am
Thank you ” Wolong news,” for sharing what you find with us, along with the others here who have posted news, too. Maybe the Chinese government will allow us to care for some of the pandas. We have room in several zoos in the US. They have such a challenging road ahead to recover from all the damage the earthquake and aftershocks have done. The big ones – 6.1 is a large aftershock by anyone’s standards, can cause more instability, also.
Thank goodness some supplies are being delivered successfully. They will need so much more. I hope that they can keep the pandas in a safer location for as long as necessary, especially the pregnant mothers. They’ll need incubators, formula (milk replacement) and all kinds of supplies and equipment. We’ll keep them in mind when we are able to send any amount during the coming days, weeks and month. I hope the Chinese government will help the families in the Wolong reserve quickly, also.
We visited a Tibetan school near the Wolong Panda Center. I am worried about the children and staff there, also. if anyone hears anything about them, please let us know.
It’s comforting that here are so many people here who are concerned and who want to help. Bless you all!
May 18th, 2008 at 12:49 pm
I’m glad to see so any panda lover posting about the conditions in Wolong. And it just breaks my heart to hear there are pandas still missing and some of the caretakers have been killed after hearing at first everything was ok with them and they were safe. I guess with all the damage it’s hard to get word out of there and knowing if everything is correct.
Yes it would be wonderful if they could get the pandas out of there till everything is clean up and rebuilded. But I’m sure this to is almost impossible because of all damage done to everything including the roads.
Just keep them in your prays and donate anything you can no matter how small.
May 18th, 2008 at 12:59 pm
After reading the upsetting new posts today, I researched and found this quote from the NY Times article:
” More than 60 pandas at another breeding center in Chengdu were reported safe after the quake, and the center reopened to tourists Tuesday morning, Xinhua said. Another eight pandas at a preserve in Ya’an, about an hour’s drive west of Chengdu, were reported safe as well.”
Mei Sheng is in the Bifengxia Reserve, which, I am pretty sure, is in the preserve in Ya’an that is referred to in the article. Please correct me if I am wrong. But if he is there, it sounds as though he is okay.
Like everyone else, I would like to hear the confirmation that Hua Mei is one of the ” safe” pandas at Wolong. Wouldn’t her latest pair of twins be two of the cubs in the ” nursery” now?
. . . I await the notice regarding the SDZ fund to help.
May 18th, 2008 at 1:25 pm
Ron, at this time of year, wouldn’t the wild pandas have migrated to higher elevations in the mountains? Would they be safer at the higher altitude during the quake?
May 18th, 2008 at 1:28 pm
It’s not hard to imagine the Reserve Center is severely damaged. The center sits right in the valley with big mountains in all directions. Very close. And when the earthquake happened, huge stones just raced from the top of mountains like crazy toward the center. Many pandas are in the open at that time. And this is what happened in all these epicenter areas. I saw pictures showing that many buses, cars, including tourist buses were hit by huge rocks, and some of the cars were totally buried. That is so terrible. And a tourist attraction near wolong reserve is totally wiped out by rocks. Definitely there are missing pandas and killed staff. Feel so sad for them. And also these kids buried in school.
May 18th, 2008 at 4:38 pm
A site dedicated to wolong recovery effort has been established. It’s a very good site with minute-to-minute update of the latest situation in wolong. Unfortunately, the website is written in Chinese. I guess it’s not allowed to post the link here, but if you google search under ‘lookpanda’, the first one links to that site. I’ll try to translate some interesting tidbits…
A rescue/recovery volunteer team is set up… A detailed recount of how wolong staff escaped the earthquake and saved the panda…
They even have a first bunch of photos taken at wolong centre post earthquake. They are now recruiting local volunteers & trucks etc… They are also urgently appealing for tents and/or related construction materials since almost 1,000 people are still in wolong. The shipment is expected from ChengDu tomorrow.
May 18th, 2008 at 5:21 pm
For the first couple of days, the panda cubs were so frightened that they clutched those keepers’ jackets like babies and did not want to get off. There’s no milk and the keepers had to feed them with rice porridge to survive.
Hopefully, those panda cubs are now able to feed on milk. It’s said all of those pandas at wolong may need to transfer to beifei xia centre since the damage of the facilities are so severe and not expected to be fixed any time soon.
May 18th, 2008 at 5:36 pm
Thank you, Ron, for keeping us up to date on the people of Wolong. It is truly beyond amazing how far the caretakers of the pandas are willing to go to protect them. I cannot express how very grateful we are for their devotion to the pandas. Now their lives and the lives of the pandas they care for need to be rebuilt. I can only hope that one day I may travel to Wolong to shake the hands of the magnificient people who put the lives of our beloved pandas ahead of their own. They are truly inspirational in their devotion. And if the reports are true of the 5 keepers who died at Wolong, my heart grieves with their families.
May 18th, 2008 at 5:54 pm
Translation of report on Chinese website Sohu, May 18.
Three adult pandas from Wolong Center are missing (not identified). Enclosures closest to the road mostly demolished, those by the river less damaged. 14 enclosures completely destroyed; 32 were seriously damaged. Some enclosures have been quickly repaired to house pandas. Cubs are temporarily housed in ticket booths. A shipment of bamboo, medical supplies, etc. arrived at Wolong the evening of the 17th; a second batch on the way later the same evening. Pandas are described by Sichuan Forestry Department officials at the site as ” fine.”
May 18th, 2008 at 6:46 pm
My deepest sympathies go to the families of the staff members from the Wolong Reserve who were killed in the earthquake. It’s a terrible loss of people who dedicated their lives to the protection and loving care of pandas. Also, it is very disturbing to know that two pandas are missing–hope they are found soon. Thanks to all who have provided updates on the situation.
May 18th, 2008 at 7:20 pm
I am not quite sure as to why was the Wolong Panda Reserve sits in the middle of an earthquake zone, especially they are so precious to China. I can only hope and pray that there would not be any more earthquakes there again for years to come. I really mourn for the good people who lost everything. I am very very concerned about Hua Mei, since she is our first born, and when she left SDZ, I cried for her! Ron, please make every attempt to get any info on our princess, Mei Mei.
In regards to the death of the 5 Wolong staff members, is China doing anything to compensate the surviving family? If not, can SDZ put up a collection to help the family members?
May 18th, 2008 at 7:46 pm
Ron, I am happy that you were finally able to reach your friends in Wolong. Since one of your best friends, Zhou Xiaoping, is now director at Bifengxia, and he has brought the families of staff from Wolong to safer accomodations there, we can rest knowing that Mei Sheng is in a safe place, and is being very well cared for. I hope that none of the 5 staff members who died at Wolong were your close friends. Tuan Tuan or Yuan Yuan (whichever is male) is one of Hue Mei’s first cubs, so if that pair are OK then we know that at least one of Hua Mei’s 6 cubs is OK. I hope she is not one of the missing pandas. If there are two of them, hopefully they will be able to survive until they are found, and are not harmed in fights with wild pandas who hopefully are higher up the mountain. Is it safer up higher because the falling rocks, boulders, and trees are above them? If so, lets hope that the wild pandas moved to very high elevations with plentiful bamboo. I am happy to hear that the staff will have access to wild bamboo that hopefully isn’t too far away. With birthing season coming fast, the pregnant dams need as much food as possible. I haven’t heard that breeding season is over for 2008, so the males probably need a lot to keep their stamina up too. The stress on the pandas may affect the birth timing and birth rate. It will be interesting to see if the stress causes those who had not implanted embryos to delay it further and many Autum births as a result. It might help if that happens, because it will give them more time to rebuild panda pens, nursery, etc. and to provide safe interim housing.
Has anyone noted unususal behavior in the pandas prior to the quake? I haven’t read the NYT article yet, and that may answer my question. I read about the swarms of frogs, and the strange zebra behavior, but had not yet read anything about panda behavior changing.
One unintended lesson from all of this is geography and social education about China, relative population in Sichuan province, size and location of cities, etc. I am glad to learn this, but very sorry that it was such a huge horrible natural disaster that brought the lesson to the world’s attention.
I have read that there have been 100 aftershocks so far, and it hasn’t been a week yet. Unbelievable. We continue to keep all involved in our prayers.
May 18th, 2008 at 8:05 pm
Such terrible news and I know we all send our condolences to those staff members at Wolong who lost their lives.
Such a huge quake is going to be followed by many larger aftershocks and thousands of smaller ones. This will go on for some time. The devastation is such that it is hard to be sure what is happening. Most Californians, at least long time ones, know how it feels to be in a quake but nothing this large. This is the size of what they say will happen here in the next 30 yrs.
I know we all want to know how Hua Mei is and her offspring. The pandas who are missing are not necessarily wild ones I suppose or would we actually know? Many of the pandas there have lived within the compound all their lives and I don’t know that they could live for very long outside. I hope that the missing pandas are found but with the ground so unstable I have to agree that they may be very frightened and fearful of coming back.
Of course it would be great to be able to help everyone in this disaster but I now I want to give to help Wolong put itself back together. The panda is China national treasure and we share that with our love for Hua Mei, Mei Sheng, Su Lin, Bai Yun, Gao Gao and of course our little Zhen Zhen.
I know that San Diego staff will let us know what we can do to help.
May 18th, 2008 at 8:24 pm
Thanks for sharing the info about the NYT article recounting the experience of the American tourists. I had read the one by the British, but not the one from the Americans. The Wolong staff were incredibly heroic and took great risks to save their visitors and then their precious cubs. I can just imagine 13 cubs, 7-10 months old, carefully collected in a ticket booth. I had read that they took them to a safe plateau and then released them. They since are keeping them somewhere safe near Wolong town. I still wonder if the plateau is the quarantine area where Mei Sheng stayed for the first month he was in China. It was across a bridge over the river.
The article tells of one person who died, ” At Wolong, she said, a senior security administrator died while taking part in rescue efforts.” I hope that is not one of Ron’s close associates. Wolong is a big reserve, but with frequent visits over time, I am sure that he, Lisa, Angie, Jen, and others who have been there have met most of the staff.
Since Wolong is so badly damaged, will Jen be returning there or go to Chengdu to continue her research with Ben?
May 18th, 2008 at 8:34 pm
I read that China has accepted aid from Japan, Russia & Taiwan but refused aid from France. The US has sent tents, MRE’s, lanterns & blankets. A drop in the bucket for what they need. And now there are so many different reports coming out – first, all the pandas & staff at Wolong were all ok. Now we hear that 2 or 3 pandas escaped & 5 staff members were killed. Ron, please we need another update.
May 18th, 2008 at 8:56 pm
If anyone has news of Hua Mei, please, please share it. Like so many others, I became aware of the Giant Panda’s plight through watching Hua Mei grow up on PandaCam. She and Bai Yun sparked an enduring interest and concern in my family, and, as well as being horrified by what the Chinese people are going through, we are extremely worried about her. As the only known offspring of Shi Shi, Hua Mei and her cubs are critical to the genetic diversity of the remaining panda population. [As for Shi Shi, information on the net says he is at Guangzhou Zoo in southern China, at least as of last fall.]
Please do donate to Pandas International, if you can. They are a wonderful organization, and are equally concerned about the pandas and the wonderful staff at Wolong who make the pandas’ survival possible. They have an existing network to get medicine and food into Wolong, and every penny donated will help.
May 18th, 2008 at 9:16 pm
I’m kinda in shock. At first I was so relieved to hear that everyone in the panda world was OK after the earthquake. I felt like it was going to take time to recover but it would be back to normal someday soon. A bit of denial, perhaps??!
But, now to hear 5 staff killed, and pandas are missing and others are scared and … I am sad.
I decided to join the Chinese people in 3 days of mourning this week in a way to express my sadness for their loss. I have a panda garden flag outside my house which I put to half-mast. I know it’s not much, but it’s what I can do to show my solidarity with them in this tragedy.
My prayers will continue to be with all who lost loved ones and for the survivors peace of mind… and for the pandas to once again be filled with joy and bamboo.
Love, Joy
May 18th, 2008 at 9:55 pm
Hi, you all! It looks like that some of you have already heard or read about the situation at the Wolong Panda Reserve today. I just found out about the 3 missing pandas tonite on one of my local news stations, then I jumped on the web to try to get more on this disturbing news on the news websites. Most of the info has been told to news reporters thru satellite phones because the landline phones are still down. Also, the two-lane road to the Wolong preserve has wipe-out damage in places that make it impassable. Three pandas are missing, but Susan Braden of Pandas International said in the MSNBC article that these pandas are probably very scared because of the quake and won’t come back for awhile, or they will come back to the preserve on their own because they know the place as their main source of food. The Wolong staff will start to go out and look for them as soon as things settle down somewhat. We all know that the other 60 or so pandas are safe, as well as the pandas at Chengdu. From what I read in the article, Bifengxia reserve is at Ya’an, and the pandas there are safe, also. Unfortunately, The Wolong staff lost 5 of their people in the quake, and I especially send condolences to them in their losses. That will make them 5 people less to do the hard, important work that Wolong does everyday to care for these pandas. Wolong reserve was only 18 miles from the epicenter, and that caused all 32 panda houses to be destroyed or severely damaged. PI has reported that their shipements of bamboo, apples, veterinarian meds for the pandas have finally made it to Wolong Saturday nite, as well as food, tents, and other supplies for the Wolong staff. About the quake aftershocks, Sichuan Province had two large ones during the week: a 5.8 magnitude shock on 5/13 that was 5 1/2 miles deep, and a 5.6 mag shock on 5/16 that was only 2 miles deep; I heard about this on the news and then checked the USGS site for the other info on these shocks. USGS is still only listing aftershocks in the 4-6 magnitude range, and there are dozens of them!
At least the first shipment of food and supplies for the pandas and the Wolong staff have finally made it to China in good shape despite the damaged roads. My guess is that these were delivered by helicopter, which is really the only way that anything can get to these remote mountain towns as it is right now. This was just the first batch, and PI will continue to collect and send more as soon as they can. The Chinese government has also announced a 3 day mourning period for this week in memory of the thousands of people that were killed in this quake. Tensions have been running high in the last few days between the people and the rescuers because they are still frustrated about getting food, water, medicines, and shelters into those areas that badly need these supplies. Beichuan city is totally wiped off the map and almost everyone in that city have been killed; there are some survivors that live there but they are leaving along with the rescue people. There’s nothing they can do there. That’s the sad part of this whole scenario when you hear something like that. The good news is that in other badly damaged towns, there have been about 160 people rescued from the rubble last Friday, a few more on Saturday. China still needs our prayers and our help. Foreign aid workers from several NGO organizations are now in China helping them out. The US is also sending shipments of supplies into China as well as rescue people. At least the Chinese are realizing that they do need more help, and the Chinese rescue people and the military personnel can get a break from working all week to save people and get them out.
Checked the SDZ pandacam today and I saw Gao Gao eating his bamboo lunch and relaxing. Didn’t get a chance to get back on the cam, tho.
I also read an update from the SDZ primate keeper about Karim-Alam, the 1 1/2 year old siamang baby girl that was born to Eloise. Found out that she had died from an illness that caused complete paralysis on May 10. Sent my condolences to the keepers there, and I know that they will miss little Karim alot.
Well, gonna go and get to bed. I will continue to pray for China, Wolong Panda Reserve, the staff and keepers there. They have alot of work ahead of them in their rebuilding efforts and caring for the pandas, and I hope that they will be able to find the 3 missing pandas soon. I just hope that Hua Mei is not one of the missing pandas!
Love and prayers to everyone,
Chari Mercier
St. Pete, FL
PS: Still waiting for a statement from Jennifer Keating! Maybe this week? Hope so!
May 18th, 2008 at 10:19 pm
CCTV 9 [the English language channel, China's Central TV] announced -
” 3 GIANT PANDAS MISSING FROM WOLONG CENTRE AFTER QUAKE’
China will also be observing a 3-DAY NATIONAL MOURNING FOR THE QUAKE VICTIMS. All flags throughout China will be lowered to half mast during the mourning period and at 2.28 p.m. Monday, Beijing Time, at exactly the moment when the quake struck a week ago, a 3-miniute siren will be sounded throughout the nation.
MAY GOD BLESS ALL THE PEOPLE AND PANDAS IN CHINA!
May 18th, 2008 at 10:28 pm
Hi again! I completely forgot to ask the SDZ keepers if they have heard ANYTHING about Shi Shi!! No one has mentioned anything about him in this whole earthquake disaster at Wolong Reserve! If there is ANYBODY that knows anything about Shi Shi and how he made it thru this quake, PLEASE let us know when you find out, ok? I know that we’ve been worried about Mei Sheng and Hua Mei, but I’ve been concerned about Shi Shi ever since this happened, but kept forgetting to ask about him. Well, now I am wondering and asking, so please send info about Shi Shi! He’s the grandpa at Wolong, and I hope that he is not one of the missing pandas!
Barbara/Midwest, Bifengxia Reserve is in Ya’an, and Mei Sheng is currently residing there. From one of the earlier updates from the SDZ keeper, Sheng was moved there a couple of months ago to make room for the older pandas during breeding season. Hope I read that right!
Sheng Fan, I read your comments and I completely agree with you about Dreamworks donating their ENTIRE profits from the new movie, ” Kung Fu Panda” , to ALL of the panda reserves in China–Chengdu, Wolong, and Bifengxia, as well as to some of the much smaller reserves in China that need it in their conservation efforts to save this beautiful animal from extinction. Maybe somebody can get a petition going to get them to do that! I also hope that some of the researchers in China will be able to get up into the wild panda habitats to check on the wild panda population.
Should get new updates from Pandas International in my email tomorrow, and hopefully they will have more info on the missing pandas situation and their relief efforts.
Now, I really got to go to bed! Will check in tomorrow!
Chari Mercier
St. Pete, FL
PS: Monday, May 19 will mark one week of the earthquake hitting China! Praying for China everyday!
May 18th, 2008 at 11:07 pm
I pray for all victims and survivors of the Sichuan earthquake.
I pray for all staff members of the reservation centre and pandas in Wolong.
I pray for all the army, police, fireman, medical teams, reporters,volunteers of all parties,………
I pray for all Chinese.
Starting from today (19 May 2008) at 14:28, three days of mourning for earthquake victims begins.
To be a Chinese, I can’t forget 12th May 2008 14:28 The 8 magnitude quake killed thousands of lives and destroyed thousands of families.
May 19th, 2008 at 1:02 am
I was at the Wolong with Jen in April and I can’t begin to say how worried I have been. The day after the quake I could think of nothing else but the pandas and their wonderful carers. I am so glad to hear that everyone is ok, and would like to donate to the relief effort. Does anyone know a site taking Sterling donations?
May 19th, 2008 at 1:49 am
I’ve only just caught up with the latest news on here and very sad to hear about the staff who were killed and the pandas that are missing. It’s one step forward, two steps back isn’t it.
Also heard on the news this morning that China had a 3 minute silence. I held one of my own. Please keep us informed everybody. Hope the pandas come home.
May 19th, 2008 at 3:39 am
I’m at the moment watching an interview on a UK tv channel with a couple who were actually at Wolong with the pandas when the earthquake happened. The female said that they were walking past the pens where the big pandas were and the pandas were bleating and pacing around their pens. There was a loud noise like a train but it got louder and louder and then the buildings started shaking, the pavements were just cracking up. The mountains around were like exploding. The big pandas got out of their pens and were running around not knowing where to go. The staff at Wolong were trying to guide people to safety and others were gathering up all the baby pandas to take them to safety. The female said she remembered they had to cross a bridge with a raging river underneath that you could have gone white water rafting in to get into the pandas. They were all heading to go back over the bridge and they thought that the bridge was about to collapse. Once over the bridge they had to climb a handmade rope ladder and they didn’t feel secure on that. There was landsides going on around them. They managed to get to the safety of a coach where they then lived for the next few days. They said the aftershocks were as frightening as the actual earthquake itself. They said it is very badly damaged at Wolong and there are pandas missing. They couldn’t praise the staff at Wolong enough, they said how they were trying to put the safety of the tourists and pandas before their own safety. They said how desperately Wolong need help. I do hope that Hua Mei isn’t one of the missing pandas. I do wish that we could find out.
I really hope that the missing pandas will soon be found. They are hoping that the pandas will return to Wolong as they know that is where they were getting their food. There are reports that five panda keepers have lost their lives.
I pray that all the aftershocks will soon stop. Just before the start of Chinas three minute silence today for the quake victims there was another aftershock. They are having three days of mourning. Somehow i think these aftershocks will continue past the three days, as they don’t seem like they will stop.
May 19th, 2008 at 7:15 am
The associated press is saying that three pandas are missing and 5 staff were killed, does anyone have any info as to what is going on up in Wolong. This morning before i left for work they said an entire village was covered in a mud slide also there were about 200 aid works in that village. I heard that there have been alot of after shocks and things are desperate,I just pray for everyone up in Wolong and the surrounding areas.
May 19th, 2008 at 7:18 am
Just heard back from Pandas International (yet another Suzanne)… they DO get charged a fee for credit card processing. So, if you want as much of your donation as possible to go directly to helping, I’d send a check. Since they are in Colorado, I figure an extra 1-2 days max for mail/check vs. credit card.
May 19th, 2008 at 8:07 am
The Telegraph has some pictures of pandas and the center after the quake, including a shot of the cubs being fed outside a small building–possibly the ticket booth they were stashed in for a while. Google ” china earthquake panda” –then look for the Telegraph dot UK.
#35 Wolong news–have you heard anything more about the cubs who stayed up in the trees? I hope they eventually get hungry enough that they forget to be scared and come down.
Barbara #40–someone in the last blog stream reported that Hua Mei’s keeper had contacted his family. I think by now her cubs would be among the bunch rescued by the keepers? Someone please correct me if that is wrong.
Mei Sheng seems to have lucked out by being taken to Bifengxia, which seems to have spared.
May 19th, 2008 at 8:15 am
I think we’re all aware that in situations like the disastrous earthquake in China, the initial reports and news – especially from such isolated areas – tend to be either over- or understated. As liliz (#42) says, given the location of the Wolong Panda station, it should not be a surprise that station buildings have been damaged or destroyed and personnel perhaps hurt or even killed. Nor should it be surprising that bears might have been injured or frightened into escaping damaged enclosures.
It hurts my heart to think of all this. It hurts even more to think of the Wolong staff struggling to keep their familes and the animals in their care safe while their world, literally, crashes around them. How exhausted and heartsick they must be!
But our tears, sincere as they are, will not help them now. What will help is donations for the food, medicines, machines, and equipment needed to both relieve immediate needs and to help rebuild Wolong.
If each of us could give just a couple of dollars in the name of each of the American Pandas – just 24 dollars from each of us – to Pandas International, we can make a big difference. The Wolong staff need to know that we care about them and their struggle to save what they can in the midst of this madness, destruction, and profound sorrow. They need to know they are not alone.
May 19th, 2008 at 9:40 am
I made a online donation to Pandas International. I am very worried about Pandas and their caretakers in Wolong…
Thank you for everyone who is posting the updates for us.
May 19th, 2008 at 11:03 am
I just adopted one of Hua Mei’s cubs (the younger of the twins born last July) through Pandas International. I asked Suzanne about Hua Mei, but she hasn’t heard anything. I also emailed the girlfriend of Hua Mei’s keeper to see if she had heard anything about Hua Mei, but I haven’t heard anything.
I think that since Hua Mei is so special, the keepers would have made sure that she was safe.
May 19th, 2008 at 1:50 pm
Barbara (#62), you heard that info correctly. As of last nite our time, my local news station here in Florida did get the report about the 3 pandas that are missing and the 5 Wolong staff members that were killed in the quake. All the other pandas, including the babies, are ok. There was also a report about a mudslide that buried one of the mountain villages, but the name of that village is not in my head right now. One other village has been abandoned due to the overwhelming destruction and the huge loss of life there–Beichuan. Both of these reports came thru CNN. The residents that lived in Beichuan that survived the quake have left along with all of the rescue workers because they could not do anything more there. They were able to rescue some people there, but could not find anymore survivors. The aftershocks are still continuing with several dozen of them in the 4-6 magnitude range (USGS list). The Longmenshan Fault is still very active, and the USGS geologists have no idea of when this fault will eventually stop. Apparently there is still alot of movement between those tectonic plates that are causing all of the aftershocks.
Don’t know for sure, but if we all wrote to or called Pandas International about giving donations, we could ask them about sending a donation thru our checking accounts by phone. Don’t know if they can do that, or if there will be a fee for doing it that way, but it’s worth a try, you all! I know that alot of you are able to give some money to help PI continue their heroic efforts in getting the supplies, food, equipment, and other necessary items to Wolong for the pandas and the staff there, and I’m very glad that you can do that. As I wrote on my last comments, PI’s first shipment did manage to make it to Wolong on Saturday nite. But, that won’t be the last; there will be other shipments for as long as Wolong needs those supplies. Susan Braden has nicknamed PI as the second ” Red Cross” , and are doing their best to back up the International Red Cross in their relief efforts.
I also hope that Hua Mei is not one of the missing pandas, and that Shi Shi is doing ok. No one has written about him yet. Pandas are pretty smart animals, and they know where their food source comes from, so hopefully the pandas that are missing will start to come back home to Wolong.
Got on the pandacam today and saw Su Lin this morning and Bai Yun this afternoon. Didn’t see little ZZ; must be in a tree napping! Will get back on there again later.
I must say this, then I’ll quit. This massive earthquake has ultimately opened up a new information age for the Chinese–free and open media coverage without censorship and editing! This is brand new territory for them, and I applaud the Chinese government for NOT cracking down on this new information openness. This story HAD to get out and fast, and thanks to cphones with cams, digital cams, and all of the amateur ” reporters” there, the message got out to the rest of the world, and the Chinese government was powerless to stop the flow of vital info that the world needed to see and hear about this deadly quake. As a result, despite phonelines still being down, relief efforts from the Chinese and other countries have been coming in and are still arriving as we speak. Now, the Chinese will have to go along with this new freedom, because this will be a very important piece of the puzzle to finally ending the communist rule in that country. China is now in a free market society and has been for several years. The information news media is next. Hopefully, the government will start to relax their censorship of the internet. China is on the brink of a huge breakthru here, and they will be needing our help and prayers for a long time. Don’t know if the upcoming Olympics has anything to do with this or not, but I am glad that it is finally happening in China!
Time for me to go! Keep China on your prayer list!
Chari Mercier
St. Pete, FL
May 24th, 2008 at 7:56 pm
Do you hear us God?
Your people cry,
your people pray
of what happened
in China,
at the time of May.
The time the earth quaked
and your people
wondered
if friends, and loved ones
were safe?
Then there are the creatures
too
such as the Pandas,
from the zoo.
Oh, God, in Heaven,
hear your people pray
in the sad time
in May..
Those who passed on
you welcomed
I belive…
in your loving arms.
Did you cry God,
when China quaked
of days
in May?
God, bless the people of China….
May 27th, 2008 at 9:54 am
Cindy #69 that is beautiful Thank you