The Girl’s Back In Town
Posted at 11:12 am June 19, 2008 by Ellie Rosenbaum
After a few months in our “classroom” area taking a break from all of us, Su Lin (pictured) returned to the giant panda viewing area at the San Diego Zoo on Wednesday morning while her father, Gao Gao, took over the back area. It’s great to see her again, and her return brought many surprises.
These past weeks, as special tour groups visited Su Lin in the late mornings, they were frequently treated to a high-spirited, romping bear. We wondered if this was her way of entertaining herself in this quiet area, but this seems to be a pattern, as she gave our visitors on Wednesday quite a show on exhibit!
We saw the tentative exploration, careful sniffing, and thorough investigation typical of pandas entering an area previously occupied by another bear, but as the morning progressed, it became just plain fun. Climbing, reaching for bamboo growing nearby, hanging upside down, running and rolling, and, yes, I do believe that she was playing to the crowd. We’ll keep watching this, but she is certainly still in the “playful young panda” stage.
It’s also a surprise to see how big she’s gotten. Nearly 156 pounds (71 kilograms), she’s grown visibly in the last few months. She’ll continue to grow until she’s four years old or so.
Baby Zhen Zhen is also in a more active stage. We’re seeing a lot more play instigation, bamboo eating, and “Bai Yun-bugging,” especially when Mom tries to nap. Interestingly, in contrast to her siblings, ZZ doesn’t appear to bother Bai much while she’s eating, and this smart little bear has learned to grab and climb, taking pieces of bamboo up into the trees or climbing structures out of Mom’s way…and line of sight!
With all the gals out in the viewing areas, it promises to be an exciting summer here at the Giant Panda Research Station. And “bear” in mind that we’ll be starting our longer Nighttime Zoo hours on June 28, which will mean longer daily hours for loyal panda-watchers to visit and enjoy the growing girls and their beautiful mother.
Ellie Rosenbaum is a panda narrator at the San Diego Zoo.
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June 19th, 2008 at 11:16 am
it wouod sure be nice to have the cameras on the viewing areas that can be seen by the visitors. the pictures are often dark or hidden by foliage. i guess i’m being picky, but i miss ALL the fun!
June 19th, 2008 at 11:53 am
Oh my, sounds like all the girls are having a great time and I’m sure will keep their keepers on their toes all summer long….
Nothing cuter than watching a young panda rolling around and playing. Got to see sweet Su yesterday and what a joy that was. I have a precious picture of her that I took when I was down and the look in her eye, well I can look at the picture and imagine I am standing in front of her once again, she is just plain gorgeous.
Also got to see a play session with Zhen and Bai which is just awesome to watch. I still don’t know how anybody that works with these bears manages to get any work done at all… You all do a great job!!!
June 19th, 2008 at 12:14 pm
Su Lin was my ” first” baby panda and as such near and dear to my heart. I was thrilled when I ” adopted” her. And now, such a big girl! I’m both happy and sad, happy that she’s healthy and strong and sad she’s not a baby girl anymore. I wish I could see her in person but seeing that I live in NY I don’t think that will ever happen. Thank you to SDZ for providing these cams and updates. They add much joy to my life.
June 19th, 2008 at 12:46 pm
I just tuned in for the first time today and there she was in all her glory, standing on her hind legs, looking high into the treetops. Wow! What a gorgeous girl!
June 19th, 2008 at 12:49 pm
Thanks for the update on ” Sweet Su” Ellie! It even looks like she’s grown a lot just from watching her on the cam. Has she yet been the the ” howdy gate” to see her mother and baby sister? Has she taken notice of ” Zhennie” in her roost up in her tree?
June 19th, 2008 at 1:18 pm
Just saw in the LA Times an article about the popularity of the 8 2-year olds visiting the Beijing Zoo. Has 5 pictures of them enjoying their new habitat. Also talk about how they are helping with fundraising for Wolong, etc. ” They are not just the Olympic pandas now. They are refugees from the disaster area” . You should be able to find it at: www(dot)latimes(dot)com(slash)news(slash)nationworld(slash)world(slash)la-fg-panda19-2008jun19,0,7570101.story
Again, many thanks to everyone who’s shared information and translations. Now to enjoy the girls at SDZ.
June 19th, 2008 at 1:19 pm
Glad to know I am not crazy. I thought I noticed a change in the ears in the back area yesterday afternoon. Now I know why. I was looking to see who was on what camera and thought I must be imagining it. Now I notice that the camera list has been changed and it really was Gao that I saw.
I look forward to seeing Princess Su’s antics up close now that she is in an area with more cameras and closer shots.
I haven’t seen ZZ for a while, but noticed from records of others viewings that she seems to love to take bamboo up in the trees with her. Maybe it is the genes, or maybe Su Lin learned how to play to the crowd from watching her charismatic brother, Mei Sheng, through the Howdy Gate last fall before he journeyed to Wolong.
June 19th, 2008 at 4:19 pm
Under the photo on the article referred to by Cat (#6) there is a link to the Mao Mao funeral story.
On that link there are two photo links. The one of the right is of Ling Ling who just died at the Tokyo Zoo.
The one on the left is of Hua Mei, both in China and at SDZ. Mei Sheng is also included in the photos.
June 19th, 2008 at 7:52 pm
Dear Ellie – thanks for another fascinating update about ” our girls” Su Lin seems to becoming quite the ” showgirl.” I find it amazing how cubs born in captivity still have the natural instinct to hide in trees from the time they learn how to climb -exception was poor Lani (ZA) as mommy Lun pulled her down everytime she attempted to climb one of the climbing structures. And then after 5 – 6 monthd of hiding in trees they seem willimg to come down to play & haunt poor mom while she’s trying to sleep. Cubs seem to be at their best for visitors about 10 months.
Semi-hopeful news from ZA – let’s all pray that LunLun is pregnant & will deliver a healhty cub this summer.
Some happy news from China the other day – a woman that was 8 months preganat was pulled out the rubble after 50 hours – gave birth to healthy 7lb. 3oz baby girl. Our prayers continue for all.
June 20th, 2008 at 1:00 am
Hooray for Su Lin (no offence to Gao Gao, love him, bless). From what I’ve seen on the cams she really does play to the crowds with that Su Lin ” smile” . I also haven’t seen ZZ too often lately, probably due to the time difference and I think she’s in the trees when I tune in. Unless I get up at 2 or 3am I miss her antics. Must try and watch the time-lapse more often, but it’s so fast you daren’t blink!
June 20th, 2008 at 6:31 am
Thank you for the post on Sweet Su. She surely has turned out to be a beauty, and seems to have more personality now. But Bai Yun is still the most beautiful and certainly a treasure for all she has done.
No one has mentioned here the recent news of the film Disney is making about a boy and a panda. It is tentatively called ” Touch of the Panda” and will be released in 2009. Thankfully, all the China locations were filmed before the catastrophe in May. Something to look forward to! Bet every one of my friends here will put it high on their list to see.
June 20th, 2008 at 8:48 am
I remember Lisa’s or Angie’s comment upon seeing Hua Mei in November that she was a very large beautiful female panda. Looks like Su Lin is going to follow in big sister’s steps. She is quite the beautiful girl in her own right, and very charismatic and entertaining like her brother. The difference from Mei Sheng is that she is not as ” needy.” Have you noticed a big change in her personality and interactions with keepers as she has matured as well? She must be well into her training now, and if she follows her mother’s and her brother’s example, she will be a training star as well.
June 20th, 2008 at 10:47 am
Hi! Read your newest update yesterday. Looks like Su Lin is enjoying her old yard again and being her fun, feisty self! Gao Gao has his bedroom back which means that he’ll be dragging his bamboo in there to eat again in privacy! Managed to see little ZZ in the lower branches of a tree on the cam yesterday, but couldn’t see where she was today. There’s just too much foliage and too many branches to look at, and like Dorothy from Baltimore said, some of these cams are slightly on the dark side as far as visibility is concerned. Oh well, will keep checking and looking!
Got a news update from all places, the MSNBC News website, about Mei Xiang. From what the article is saying, the NZ keepers and vets are suspecting that Mei Xiang could be pregnant, but since there’s no reliable pregnancy test for pandas, they are holding their breaths and saying that this could also be a false alarm. According to this article and the NZ panda page updates, Mei Xiang has been spending a lot more time inside her A/C enclosure taking some nice, long naps, and she’s been eating less lately. She’s also been taking some of her boo inside the dens either making a nest or eating the boo in the dens. Plus, I spotted her on the cam one day taking a nap in the den. They said that Mei Xiang’s hormone levels have spiked recently which is leading them to think that she could be pregnant, but they will keep checking her, and by mid to late July, they will have a pretty good idea of where they are at with her possible pregnancy. Also, Lun Lun in Atlanta has been giving up urine samples every week for testing for her hormone levels. The AZ update said that the vets and keepers will be doing this to determine whether she is possibly pregnant or not, but they are saying in their update this past Monday that she is still in the early stages of her luteal phase of a possible pregnancy. So, keep your fingers crossed and do some praying, pandafans! The next few weeks will let us know something about these two momma pandas!
Well, gonna go back and check pandacam again.
Chari Mercier
St. Pete, FL
June 20th, 2008 at 1:49 pm
I finally got to see the little climbing munchkin high up in a tree this afternoon, after weeks of missing her. She sure has grown. If I hadn’t known she is the one who is mostly up in the trees these days, and that her sister has grown almost full sized, I would have thought it was Su Lin.
Bai Yun’s milk sure does produce healthy rapidly growing cubs, that are very normal and content to do what panda cubs do high up in trees. Those of you who have been lucky enough to catch her on the ground, interacting with ” mom” were treated to something very special.
I will keep checking at different times of the day to see if I can catch her down on land sometime too.
June 20th, 2008 at 2:38 pm
Nice photos. G-rated.
- Photos taken on 5/13/2008:
1 – preparing pandacub breakfast
2 – feeding pandacubs milk formula
3 – exercise after breakfast
4 – preparing lunch (gathering bamboo)
5 – playground after the quake
6 – conditions of destroyed local Wolong Village dwellings
www(dot)chinawolong(dot)com(slash)articleread.asp?id=233
- Photo diary of 5/14/2008: (really cute photos)
1 – Panoramic photo of Wolong Research Center after the quake
2 – This is mine. You can’t have it.
3 – Don’t take my picture. I’m shy.
4 – Such nice color. Must be delicious.
5 – Drive me nuts. Can’t chew this open. Am I not a panda that crushes bamboo?
6 – So many people playing with us!
7 – Fooey. Who drank all the water?
8 – I’m angry. I’m not playing with you. Bye.
9 – Beautiful lady. Don’t be bashful. Let’s hug.
10 – Oops. Our gluttonous nature’s been discovered. Well at least we won’t go hungry.
11 – Did this thing come to rescue us?
12 – Panoramic photo of Wolong Research Center after the quake
www(dot)chinawolong(dot)com(slash)articleread.asp?id=234
- Photos taken on 5/15/2008:
www(dot)chinawolong(dot)com(slash)articleread.asp?id=235
June 20th, 2008 at 2:48 pm
- Photos taken on 5/21/2008:
1 – staff members putting things in order
2 – feeding pandacubs
3 – feeding pandacubs
4 – staff resting and having lunch
5 – damage to building structure
6 – Arrival of Chongqing military police rescue team engineers
7 – Earthquake relief – Setting up tent and satellite television
www(dot)chinawolong(dot)com(slash)articleread.asp?id=237
June 20th, 2008 at 3:20 pm
- Photo diary of 5/16/2008:
1 – temporarily ” homeless” panda after destruction of enclosure
2 – waiting for earthquake relief to fix our home
3 – our easy life style has been disrupted by the earthquake
4 – transporting panda bears
5 – please help us
6 – no matter what, we must live on
7 – we like to eat grass, too
8 – when will we resume our previous life style?
www(dot)chinawolong(dot)com(slash)articleread.asp?id=239
- Photo diary of 5/18/2008
1 – pandas enjoy bamboo shoots
2 – some pandas escaped their damaged enclosures
3 – with the help of many, bamboo supplies gradually replenished
4 – panda still retain their darling appearance
5 – now with a good supply of bamboo shoot and wowotou [steamed panda bread], life is improving
6 – pandas still naturally playful
7 – After destruction Tuan Tuan and Yuan Yuan enclosure, temporary enclosure is set up by China Panda Protection Center to ensure their wellbeing
www(dot)chinawolong(dot)com(slash)articleread.asp?id=240
- Photos taken on 5/19/2008:
1 – evacuating some of the villagers, staffers and family
2 – constructing new green colored passageway to Wolong Research Center
3 – The Forestry Bureau organizes 6 vehicles to obtain bamboo from Dengchigou in Baoxing
4 – Arrival of tents. Setting up temporary shelter
5 – Taking lunch break
6 – Rescue helicopters
7 – Office after the quake
8 – Wolong Shawan before the nightfall
www(dot)chinawolong(dot)com(slash)articleread.asp?id=241
- Photos taken on 5/20/2008:
www(dot)chinawolong(dot)com(slash)articleread.asp?id=238
June 20th, 2008 at 3:38 pm
- Photos taken on 5/22/2008:
1 – going uphill to search for escaped pandas
2 – finding fresh panda poop
3 – setting up wowotou [steamed panda bread] and apple to lure missing pandas
4 – Pandas International shipment arrives with 188 items (2820 kilograms) of medicine.
5 – Earthquake damaged concrete power line pole
6 – Earthquake causing gap in ground
www(dot)chinawolong(dot)com(slash)articleread.asp?id=236
June 20th, 2008 at 5:47 pm
Hi:
It’s been great to see Bai and little ZZ playing on the cams the passed couple of days. ZZ is growing so fast sometime when I see her by herself I’m not sure it’s her. I was reading the article posted on the NZ and they said they have got 47,000 dollars so far in donation at their website for Wolong. That’s sound great with all the other site like this one, AZ, and Panda International, also the MZ with their donations. I hope this has help the Panda Reserve at Wolong to get things going again but I know they can use much more.
I’m been trying to read everyone blogs but sometimes it’s just been to hard I start crying and just have to stop and do something else.
June 20th, 2008 at 6:03 pm
P Wong–thanks, as always for the links and most of all the translations. These pictures range from the sad views of the destruction to the adorable pictures of the little ones. What’s cuter than one baby panda? A whole bunch of them together. I don’t know how the keepers get anything done–I think I’d be laughing out loud all day long.
I agree with the other bloggers–both Su Lin and Miss ZZ are growing up to be beautiful bears. Zhen Zhen is my first cub and every day she seems to do something new and adorable, and seeing her together with Bai Yun is just the best. Su Lin is going to be as big as Gao Gao soon!
June 20th, 2008 at 8:48 pm
#15-#18 P. Wong – thank you so much for the translations and links to these photographs from Wolong. The pictures have such clear detail, you can almost reach out and touch the pandas. To those of us who are some 10,000 miles away, it really brings home the magnitude of the tragedy and the ways that it has forever changed the lives of the millions who have been affected – including the precious pandas. There is still much work to be done and it will be a long time before life in Wolong begins to return to relative normalcy, if ever. Our prayers and help will continue to be needed.
June 21st, 2008 at 8:04 am
Hi Ellie – Once again, can’t wait to visit my three favorite girls at the Zoo – I know that Gao Gao is happy to back in his old stopping grounds!
My family and I always look forward to ” Nighttime Zoo†and ” Park At Dark†at the Wild Animal Park. It’s a wonderful adventure. Most animals that are on exhibit are active in the cool of the evening and we can leisurely enjoy them without hurrying to the next shady spot.
The various entertainment in the evening is very enjoyable. We also get to relax to the music while sipping a cool beverage. Lots of fun!
June 21st, 2008 at 8:07 am
P Wong – Many thanks for sharing the wonderful selection of photos from Wolong. The staff, military and Forest Bureau all made a concerted effort to get things back to normal as quickly as humanly possible.
All their hard work was successful in keeping the pandas calm, happy and healthy. We are all grateful that these dedicated people were available during this horrific tragedy.
June 21st, 2008 at 6:05 pm
Hi! Finally got on my computer late this afternoon to check my favorite websites, NZ and SDZ, as well as a few others. On the NZ website, there were 2 new updates that they have written about Mei Xiang and her recent hormone spike. One update was dated June 20 on the pandacam page, and the other was dated June 19 on the 2008 Pregnancy Update page. The June 20 update explained about what was going on with Mei Xiang, her urine samples, and her hormone levels. The pregnancy update on June 19 also has the updated chart showing a huge spike of her progestin levels thru the middle of June. That just gives us a good way of knowing how Mei Xiang is progressing in her possible pregnancy. Like I said, I’m staying positive, keeping my fingers crossed, and doing a ton of praying for both Mei Xiang at NZ and Lun Lun at AZ in that both girls will be pregnant and having babies by July or early August!
Got on the SDZ pandacam and saw the back of little Miss ZZ on a tree branch looking around and playing with something. Mama Bai was sitting on the ground eating her dinner boo. Can’t believe that ZZ will be 11 months old in a couple of more weeks! She’s growing that quick, you all!!
For all of you that are total animal lovers, the NZ website has a black footed ferret cam. The female ferret that was on the cam gave birth to one kit on June 20, and I got the pleasure of seeing it happen! This kit is soooooo TINY! Just a little bit longer than the size of a panda baby after it is born. The ferret kit is totally white and blind, and this little baby is extremely active. Georgia, the mother ferret’s name, has a hand full keeping up with her new little baby! You’ll be able to see the baby on the cam with the mom, and sometimes she will totally curl up into a ball to keep her baby warm. This is going to be fun to watch this baby ferret grow up on the ferret cam on the NZ website!
Well, gonna go. Going back to the pandacam before it gets to dark!
Chari Mercier
St. Pete, FL
June 22nd, 2008 at 6:09 pm
I have a question–do you know if you will be moving Su Lin and Gao Gao back and forth on a weekly basis, as you did in the past with Gao Gao and Mei Sheng? We will be visiting the last week in August and will want to visit twice if it means seeing both of them. If you will be moving them, on what day of the week would it be?
Thanks, Cindy.
Moderator’s note: According to one of the panda keepers, there is no set schedule for Su Lin and Gao Gao’s rotation. It is done every few weeks (at least for now).
June 23rd, 2008 at 7:13 am
Now they are starting a serious birth watch on Mei Xiang all of her levels are in the second rise but no fetus is seen on ultra sound which is normal but either way they figure between mid to late July.
June 23rd, 2008 at 10:02 am
Yes, let’s indeed hope for a panda cub this year! But I didn’t know Lun Lun was pregnant. I know the National Zoo in Washington is hoping for a cub from Mei Xiang in July or August. I’ve got my fingers crossed there will be a sib for Tai Shan soon!
June 23rd, 2008 at 10:52 am
Thank you Ellie for keeping us informed about our girls. And thank you P.Wong for the links to all the pictures. And now what fun to start thinking about new panda cubs!
June 23rd, 2008 at 12:42 pm
Dear P Wong,
I cannot thank you enough for directing all of us to the photo sites of Wolong and translating for us.
Sincerely,
Bobbie Wood
June 24th, 2008 at 10:36 am
It was so good to see her again on the cam. I missed our girl Su Lin. And like a few others on here, she was my first baby Panda too… so I do hold dear to my heart. =)
June 24th, 2008 at 4:14 pm
I can’t tell what Su Lin is trying to do now, but it seems to involve scary maneuvers on little branches!
June 28th, 2008 at 12:27 pm
OMG!! Just settled down with a bowl of popcorn and thought I would check on the girls, when low and behold, mam a zz were having a GREAT tumble session!! I have not yet witnessed one of these live onthe cam and am so happy I ” clicked in” at this time!! Time lapse is wonderful but just doesn;t do this justice!!!
Thank you for the on-gping wolong updates. I am so glad things alooking better, although the re-buiilding will have to go else where…but at least the sanctuaru will go on! That is the most important thing!!
Have a great weekend everyone!!
July 11th, 2008 at 11:11 am
Goodbye Shi Shi.
There is a saying that Pets go to Rainbow Bridge. Maybe Panda’s go there too!! The poem can be found if you do a search on the net.
Bless you all !!!