A Big Birthday Thank You
Posted at 2:21 pm August 5, 2008 by Michelle Thompson
On behalf of the Panda Team, I would like to take the opportunity to thank everyone for all of the overwhelming cards, comments, and birthday wishes for Zhen Zhen and Su Lin. It’s very heartwarming to get such a great response for these unique and special animals. I hope everyone got a chance to check out the panda birthday antics in person or on Panda Cam.
The two were very playful! Zhen Zhen was not shy with her ice birthday cake adorned with treats, honey, and bamboo. She climbed right to the top, slid off, and climbed up again and again. Bai Yun also had an interest in the cake, but Zhen Zhen seemed determined to enjoy her special day and not let Bai Yun get in the way of her birthday fun! Su Lin engaged in play with her own ice cake a little more peacefully, as she didn’t have to share with Bai Yun.
Michelle Thompson is a research technician at the San Diego Zoo.
Watch video of the birthday celebration”¦
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August 5th, 2008 at 4:14 pm
I was there and wouldn’t have missed Z’s first Birthday or Su Lin’s 3rd. I have been to all of the panda cubs birthdays and I never get tired of watching them. Each one reacts different and they all put on a show. I am just sad that I didn’t get to see Su Lin with her cake by the time the zoo opened the we got down to the Pandas she was already settled down to eat her bamboo. The media always gets to see them come out and we don’t! But I did get some great pictures of Z and Moma.
Very nice celebration, we all had fun and then I went outside got to see the Su Lin character sing and dance that was certainly different. Loved the songs! Are they going to offer the songs in the zoo stores to be purchased?
Happy Birthday again to both of our Panda girls! I had a great time as I know the 2 girls did and so did the crowd.
August 5th, 2008 at 4:15 pm
It was wonderful to see Zhen Zhen on her birthday with her bithday cake. Think she thought it was a climbing frame lol
Thank you for posting the video from the birthday girls, what fun they had.
August 5th, 2008 at 5:36 pm
What beauties! Thank-you for the video.
August 5th, 2008 at 6:05 pm
The birthday festivities were a treat to watch and relive through the video. Thanks to all who provided.
August 5th, 2008 at 6:20 pm
I got to see some of the celebration Sunday on the webcam and yesterday I was a video of the parties on the San Diego papers website. So glad to see the video that you have add to this form the girls had a great time. They are just the most beautiful pandas, so all the best to Gao Gao, Bai, Su Lun, and Zhen Zhen.
Now if Mei Xiang would just do something and stop driving us crazy.
August 5th, 2008 at 7:54 pm
Thanks SDZ for the great treats!
Su Lin and Zhen are really sweet and cute ^^
August 5th, 2008 at 7:59 pm
Dear all,
First of all, my greetings to all the blog participants.
I kindly ask the keepers to give a very special hug to Bai Yun, Gao gao and Zhen Zhen, in view of the birthday of this wonderful cub! Please tell them this hug was sent with much love from Brasil!
Congratulations also to whom made this beautiful cake. I have seen many panda birthdays through the Internet, but never one with a 3-store cake, and resistant to Zhen Zhen climbing it!
The birthday video is very touching. Zhen Zhen was very special and showing how smart and gracious she is.
At this point I would like to ask some questions:
1) if the female panda does not have contact with the male panda, meaning they do not mate, and no artificial insemination is made, even so can she have a pseudo-pregnancy?
2) how come in China they obtain so many successfull pregnancies? Don’t they also have pseudo-pregnancies?
3) how come in China they get so many twins with artificial insemination?
Have a good week!
Regards,
Liéde Imbriani
August 5th, 2008 at 8:44 pm
Hi! Loved the video that you provided with this blog! It was alot of fun to watch these panda girls celebrate their birthdays this past Sunday on the cam, especially Little Miss ZZ! She just had a blast with her cake! Now the fun begins as ZZ keeps growing and maturing into a young lady and ready for weaning in 6-8 more months. Man, are we that close to that again?? Not gonna think about that for awhile! I’ll just watch the cam, catch ZZ on the cam, and enjoy her little fun antics for as long as she’s with her mom. The weaning process can wait a long while for now! The birthday girls were just great and deserve alot of love from all of us pandafans!
Peggy C., you were one of hundreds of lucky people that were able to be there to see the birthday pandas in person. I’m glad that you enjoyed watching them! Hope that you took alot of pics for your own memories.
Gonna go and get back on the pandacams, mainly the NZ pandacams. Will write back later on!
Chari Mercier
St. Pete, FL
August 5th, 2008 at 9:16 pm
Hi Michelle, – What a marvelous birthday party! Su Lin’s 3rd birthday and Zhen Zhen’s 1st birthday will always and forever hold a very special place in my heart. As Peggy #1 has mentioned, I also attended all the San Diego Zoo’s panda cubs birthday celebrations. Starting with our own beautiful Hua Mei, handsome Mei Sheng, very cute Su Lin and last but not least the fearless, precocious and precious Zhen Zhen.
Peggy, by any chance were you standing in the second row behind the photographers? The reason I ask is that my husband and I are now included in this memorable videotape. If you were standing in the same area, perhaps you’re in the video too. I was completely surprised when I watched the video of the birthday party this evening. I immediately called out to my husband, ” we are now in very good company alongside the famous pandas at the San Diego Zooâ€! We feel very honored to be included in this video.
Zhen Zhen, without a doubt, was the life of the party until she left the birthday party, climbed up her favorite tree and fell asleep. A good time was had by all.
August 5th, 2008 at 11:06 pm
Thanks for posting the video. Su Lin and Zhen Zhen are so cute!! and Bai Yun too!! beautiful mom!!
It is wonderful to see the birthday girls having a happy time with their cakes.
August 6th, 2008 at 2:22 am
Michelle, I wouldn’t have missed it for the world. Zhen Zhen had me in stitches. Her determination to get that number 1 off the cake was priceless, as were the number of times she tumbled off the cake and Bai pushing her away quite vigorously several times! Loved it. I keep watching the video clip over and over again. Su Lin may have been more sedate but she obviously enjoyed her cake too. ZZ’s a real tomboy whereas Su Lin is quite the lady.
August 6th, 2008 at 6:44 am
Isn’t it just like ZZ to think that everything she sees is another opportunity to hone her climbing skills? Su Lin sure seemed to enjoy licking the honey off her cake. It just makes me smile to see the girls enjoying the surprises. Thanks to the SDZ staff for allowing those of us who live so far away from the pandas to enjoy seeing them on a daily basis. Whenever I am feeling down all I have to do is get on here and watch and I smile and laugh. Maine’s weather has not been very enjoyable the last couple of days, considering it’s summer. I woke up to 53 degrees this morning. Maybe we should move the pandas here so they won’t have to worry about the heat!!
August 6th, 2008 at 11:18 am
Thank you for the video. ZZ is so cute, and the girls including mommy are so Beautiful!
August 6th, 2008 at 11:26 am
Indeed, what a fun party that was!! Thank you SDZ for spreading the birthday joy all around the world through the webcam and the videos! I have to hand it to that Zhen Zhen cub – climbing at every opportunity. I looked at the video of Su Lin’s first birthday and she was doing the same thing, except her focus was not the 1 on top of the cake, it was the bamboo that was encased in ice! What fun to revisit that wonderful memory. I was concerned that the sharp tip of the 1 on top of Zhen’s cake might bother her a bit – NOT!! A few tumbles off the cake – not a problem!! She is, indeed, precocious and soooo entertaining!
August 6th, 2008 at 12:26 pm
That picture of ZZ next to ” Panda Birthdays” is gorgeous!! I know I mentioned it before, but I think ZZ is especially beautiful with especially beautiful eyes. I know ALL pandas are beautiful, but there is just something extra special about ZZ.
August 6th, 2008 at 1:03 pm
Many thanks for posting the video of the birthday party. I’m very thankful for the opportunity to watch all of the pandas playing, eating and sleeping. And Marcia M: I agree ZZ is especially beautiful. I think she will be a panda to keep track of in the years to come. THANKS S.D. ZOO!
August 6th, 2008 at 7:54 pm
Well, speaking about panda birthdays, there’s one other panda cub in Atlanta that will be celebrating her 2nd birthday on Sept. 6–MEI LAN! Hope her birthday party was as fun filled and enjoyable this year as her first birthday party was last year.
Atlanta Zoo update for Aug. 6 is available with a great chart that shows Lun Lun’s progestin levels from 2004-6 and 2008. What a nice comparison of her hormone levels! Very nicely done, AZ! Luns’ recent hormone levels show that her progestines are still high, but somewhat lower than last week’s levels. Her behavior is still normal, active, and she’s eating her boo. Not slowing down yet! The keepers could be starting the birth watch at any time.
NAtional Zoo has Aug. 6 updates on the pregnancy watch page with a chart and on the main panda page. Mei Xiang has been in her den for quite awhile now; she was sleeping on the rock work earlier this afternoon. Mei started cradling a new item today–her big boomer ball that is 12 inches in diameter. She even managed to cradle both the kong toy and the boomer ball at the same time. Is she thinking TWINS?!? We’ll soon see! They’re still waiting on her progestin levels to reach baseline and hoping for a baby panda cub to be born.
Well, gonna go and get back on the pandacams again!
Chari Mercier
St. Pete, FL
August 6th, 2008 at 9:15 pm
I agree with Marcia M #15 and Betty #16–I think Zhen Zhen is our little beauty queen/rock star/first female panda president!
Moderator–has anyone been in touch with those who remain in Wolong? Was there further damage and are they and the babies safe after the last quake?
Moderator’s note: We’ll see what we can find out.
August 7th, 2008 at 4:43 am
that’s some ” cake” that can be used as a jungle gym and not break or fall over when scaled by a one year old panda…wow!
August 7th, 2008 at 7:29 am
It’s nice to see Zhen Zhen’s photo updated on her profile, but is there anyway to update the mouse-over balloon caption for Su Lin? Her caption never changed before she got her name and it still says ” 2005 cub.”
Moderator’s note: We’ll get it updated.
August 7th, 2008 at 7:57 am
Thank you SDZ for the fun video of the girls enjoying their Birthday cakes. So hard to believe Su Lin is 3, and even harder to believe Zhen is already 1. Happy Birthday Ladies !!!
August 7th, 2008 at 9:07 am
Rose N. #9- Yes I was in the back row and I do think I was next to you & your husband they just got my hand and arm holding my camera in the video. I went back a little later and as I was walking out with my friend a reporter from the newspaper asked to interview me and I was quoted in the paper the next day. I think she stopped me because of my panda hat with my panda pins on it, in fact she even mentioned my hat in the article. I wear my panda hat most of the times I come to the zoo.
I did take a lot of pictures and did get some cute pictures of Z and Mom I can never get enough pictures of the pandas or any of the animals at the zoo. It is so wonderful to live in San Diego and to be able to go to the zoo anytime with being a member, it is great they have the webcam but being at the zoo for the celebrations is the greatest I wouldn’t miss it.
August 7th, 2008 at 10:05 am
Thanks so much for the video, especially since hubby dragged me away just as festivities were to begin. The girls were so sweet, even Mom. Loved the ” non-traditional” 3 candles instead of the number 3 on Su’s cake. She was so cool about her cake, just as she is so cool about life. Zoomy on the other hand showed off her full repertoire of cute. Guess she’s kind of cleaned herself up by now. She certainly was a mess on Sunday. Hats off to the staff and bears for such a wonderful party.
August 7th, 2008 at 10:07 am
I knew that z’s birthday was coming up, but forgot all about it. I was so tickled to catch the panda-cam of the two birthday girls when I tuned in that day! my husband just happened to be sitting near by, so, I showed him the cam. ( he’s not into computers or web cams!) he got quite a kick out of it. zhen was so darn cute with all her climbing antics on that cake. when I first began watching, z was only 36lbs and is now 42lbs! it hasn’t been that long either……….in sept. we are going to lauglin, nevada for a few days due to a surprise from my husband. this surprise includes renting a car for a couple days and driving 350 miles to san diego zoo!!!!!!!!the zoo I have always wanted to go to. I’m so excited to see all our wonderful pandas, and everything else at the zoo. my husband is a real jewel to make this wish come true for me. can’t wait!!!!! thanks for the great birthday cam!!!!
August 7th, 2008 at 10:42 am
Hi pandaholics! Question for the moderator – I will be at the zoo September 8th for my 2 favourite things. Seeing the pandas of course and going to the White Elephant sale – it’s fabulous. Will Su Lin be back in the front enclosure by then?
Also, thank you for keeping the Panda Relief Fund going, I used it again this morning.
Moderator’s note: We’ll ask the keepers.
August 7th, 2008 at 11:34 am
Another pair of twins were born yesterday from Wolong centre. The mother is a first time mother.
August 7th, 2008 at 12:48 pm
WOW another set of twins to Panda Cao Cao, this was her first pregnancy and she had both within 10 minutes which is quite rare in pandas, both are called healthy and robust she held both very gently although a little ackwardly she showed fantastic maternal behaviour for a first time mom. congratulations Cao Cao
August 7th, 2008 at 4:29 pm
Hello keepers and researchers! Thank you for letting us see Gao Gao once again! I missed to little dude. I see he’s pacing his yard getting the feel of things (maybe waiting for boos!). Whatever the case, he’s sure on a nice ” walkabout.”
Did Gao Gao get any treats for his daughters birthday celebration?
August 7th, 2008 at 5:35 pm
It’s been so exciting to hear of the panda cubs births in China. Now we just need Mei Xiang to have one here. I am watching her at 8:30 EDT on August 7 and she is showing so many signs of pregnancy. I hope to wake up tomorrow morning and find good – NO – GREAT – news of a panda cub. Then we can all wait ‘patiently’ for Lun Lun to have her 2nd one, as well. It’s time for Tai Shan and Mei Lan to have siblings. Good luck, Mei Xiang, and happy panda cub dreams.
August 7th, 2008 at 6:41 pm
Nancy & Lee in Vancouver (my neighbour)… You both are so lucky to be going to the SDZ.. What a nice husband you have Nancy!!!
Thankyou to everyone involved for the awesome video of little Missy trying to devour her ice cake. She sure was on top of it, it was so cute to watch.
6:30 pm West Coast time and Gao is contently sitting eating away, I so love it when the cam is on him, as he wasn’t on exhibit when I was there last Fall. Nice to see him and how content he is…
Awesome news about yet another set of cubs born in China…. Yippieee, now if Mrs. Mei at the NZ would just give us a little cubbie we’d all be content, oh right and Lun Lun at AZ as well. When I log on to the NZ and see some of the most oddball positions Mei sleeps in I have to laugh out loud. Then I switch to the other cam, and much to my surprise ” NOT” Tai is eating…..
I thankyou again for the cams, and this sounding board…. I too send my thoughts and prayers out to all the folks at Wolong and area, with the strong aftershocks they have been having, let’s hope they are all safe…
Tomorrow is the big day in China, the opening ceremonies of the Olympics wonder if there will be another cub ” or two” born tomorrow, what a treat that would be for China….
Have a great evening everyone out there in Panda Land…..
August 7th, 2008 at 6:52 pm
Kristi #28–I think I did see a small (one tier) cake in Gao Gao’s area on birthday day.
Thanks, wolongnews #26 and Barbara #27 for the great news–more cubs!!–and happy to see the first-time mom being maternal. Is it Quiyuan who is taking care of her own twins and the cub whose mother rejected it?
August 7th, 2008 at 7:10 pm
WOW!!! CONGRATS TO CAO CAO!!!!!! First time panda mom having twins!! You go, China girl!! And, she’s one of the Wolong Reserve pandas to boot! I am so glad that these panda moms are having their babies after this devastating May quake and even the 6.0 quake that hit just a few days ago. I’m sure that the momma pandas are saying, ” You take that, earthquake! You won’t keep me from being a momma panda no matter how hard you shake this earth!” Now that’s what I would say in the face of an earthquake! These are very tough female pandas mentally and physically, and they will keep on going no matter what. Chinese panda keepers, great job, well done!! Let us know if there are any more panda births from China!
NZ has another update available for August 7 for us to read on the main panda page. The main thing is that Mei Xiang has been her den the majority of the day and nite, her bamboo nest is piled up high and thick, she brought more boo in the den and ate some of it, and did alot of maternal behaviors for long periods of time. Just check NZ pandacam 1, and Mei is still in her den sleeping on the platform. Will keep checking up on her as much as I can. There was no update on the pregnancy watch page today.
I noticed that you did some switching of the pandas again! Gao Gao has cams 1, 2, 3 and Su Lin has cams 27, 28, 29. Gao gets to keep his bedroom on cam 23 (YEA!!!). Bai and ZZ still has the middle numbered cams. Someone on this comment section did mention that there was something different about where Gao and Su were at on the cams, and she was right! A change in scenery doesn’t hurt anyone! Saw Gao on the cam doing his favorite thing–eating his boo! I hope that Gao did get some of the birthday treats, too!
Well, gonna go and check on Mei Xiang. I’ll let you all know if there’s any major change with her.
Chari Mercier
St. Pete, FL
August 8th, 2008 at 7:11 am
Hi Peggy #22 – So sorry we didn’t get to meet. My husband just told me he remembered seeing a woman with a panda cap with panda pins attached. I was so enthralled watching the pandas that I never noticed anything else around me.
Yes, I did read the article ” Panda Party†in the UT on Monday morning. As a matter of fact, I clipped it out and added it to my collection of panda mementos. As I read the article, it never dawned on me that you were being interviewed, a fellow SDZ panda blogger
I hope to meet you in the near future.
We also took a lot of photos and a few videos of the birthdays. It was a happy and fun day. All the pandas were so adorable and entertaining. As Jenny mentioned in the UT article, our pandas have their own fan club. They’re sort of like rock stars. They even have their own paparazzi. How true – I’m definitely one of them
Last, but not least many thanks to all the SDZ panda personnel for all their time and effort in making these birthday celebrations a day to remember.
August 8th, 2008 at 8:44 am
Mei………..she has been in the den everytime I’ve checked on her yesterday and this morning. I did see her leave for a moment to drag in some more boo, adding to her HUGE stash. Come on Mei, today is 8-8-08. May this be your/our lucky day!!!
August 8th, 2008 at 9:46 am
Great videos of the birthday celebrations!
Speaking of birthdays, the elephant girls Khosi (2) and Kamile (1) have birthdays coming up in September and Punga had his first birthday in March. Did he have a party like Khosi did when she turned one? I haven’t seen any pictures, but I am sure he got something special. Are there any plans for joint birthday celebration for the girls? Haven’t heard much news from elephant land lately, so not sure what is up with them at WAP or SDZ. I know that the elephant area at SDZ is under construction and would love an update on that.
Moderator’s note: We’ll see if keepers have any birthday celebration plans. We did post an elephant blog last month: http://www.sandiegozoo.org/wordpress/default/how-far-do-elephants-walk-in-one-day/
Construction on the Zoo’s new Elephant Odyssey exhibit is on pace for a spring 2009 opening.
August 8th, 2008 at 10:28 am
To Linda A. #34 – yes, maybe Mei Xiang is waiting for that most auspicious Chinese date 8-8-08. I too watch her day & night . If she does not have a cub, this will be one long drawn out MEGA-PSEUDOPREGNANCY for her and for us pandaholics.
I checked out the Wolong panda club site last nite and read of the births by Cao Cao & Bai Xue before her. Bai Xue (White Snow) was 18 years old. Bai Yun will be 18 next season, and I believe the oldest panda mama was 20 or 21. So with the incredible track record of Bai Yun & Gao Gao, maybe there could be 1 or 2 more births possible at SDZ.
August 8th, 2008 at 11:09 am
Fei Fei, from Wolong centre gave birth to a cub on the opening day of the Olympic games.
A panda at Shanxi wild life protection centre(different panda population) gave birth to a set of twins on July 30. As an inexperienced mom, she didn’t know how to cradle the first cub properly resulting in some serious lacerations of the cub. The vet had to stitch the cub and put it in an incubator. According to Chinese media, the experts from ChengDu had to rush to Shanxi overnight to give them a hand. They provided much needed natural milk to the cub, and are starting to try to squeeze some more milk from the mother in order to nurse both cubs.
The mother is said to nurse the second cub herself. I am not sure whether they’re using the baby-swapping technique as the first cub was injuried.
Pray for the recovery!
August 8th, 2008 at 12:02 pm
Ahhh my wish came true, a cub today, opening day of the Olympics.. Thankyou Wolongnews for that info. And the fact that Fei Fei is from Wolong is wonderful…… This to me says, our Pandas are strong and they are going to survive and reproduce after the destruction of the Earthquake….
Will say a little prayer for the little cub that had some injuries, please wolongnews keep us posted if you can.
Has anyone logged on to NZ and saw Mei awake?? ha ha, just watched Tai with a green crate, he was having a good time with that… What a boy….
August 8th, 2008 at 12:13 pm
Rose N #33– Surely you meant they have their own ” pandarazzi” , right?
August 8th, 2008 at 1:11 pm
wouldn’t it be great if mei had her cub today….8-08-8? i keep watching her and she does have that ” i wish the cub would come out look” to her
August 8th, 2008 at 1:44 pm
Thanks for the news, wolongnews #37. Poor little cubbie–it was lucky to be able to get so much help from ChengDu. Praying for the little injured one and for all the little ones to live and thrive.
August 8th, 2008 at 4:51 pm
Sure wish Mei would make up her mind if she going give us a cub or is she just toying with us. LOL I have enjoyed watching the Birthday video on this website it makes me smile very time I see it.
I was looking at some panda videos today on youtube and ran into this one, some of you may have already seen it. It was called ” Mei Sheng returns to His Ancestal Homeland” what a beautiful salute to a great panda. They have background songs like MY Way, My Little Valentine, and Amazing Love. I just cry my eyes out as I watch it I sure miss seeing that guy.
It’s great to hear there a new cubs arriving over in China I hope there are many more on the way.
August 8th, 2008 at 5:02 pm
Zhen Zhen and I have the same birthday, although I’m a bit older than her. I’ve been a fan of giant pandas throughout my life and was just thrilled last year to share a birthday with such a beautiful & famous young girl. It’s just incredible that it’s only been a year and she’s so grown so much and developed such a unique personality. I’ve ” visited” her several times a week via the panda cam throughout the past year and she’s helped me feel a little younger in the process. Congratulations to Zhen Zhen on her first birthday! And thank you to everyone at the San Diego Zoo for all of your wonderful work for all animals and especially the endangered ones!
August 8th, 2008 at 6:00 pm
Hi Marti #39 – Love it! You know what? Your ” pandarazzi†is much cuter and appropriate. You may have just coined a new word.
Shall we submit it to Webster’s for consideration?
August 9th, 2008 at 12:41 am
Just checked on Mei again – she is still watching and waiting for ’something’ to happen – what a shame for all she did not have a cub on 08.08.08.
I hope it does not end as another pseudo pregnancy for her as both Mei and her keepers will be very disappointed.
Managed to see part of the impressive Olympic Games opening ceremony – the only time I have seen a fireworks display of that caliber was at Chineses New Year, when we living in Singapore !
Hope the panda babies on display wore their ear defenders!
August 9th, 2008 at 1:16 am
Nancy and Lee – have a great time when you visit the SDZ. Say ‘Hi’ to all the animals for me, I miss them!
It doesn’t look like the 08/08/08 was a lucky day for Mei, I keep checking on her but she’s always sleeping. And I hope that the little injured cub at Chengdu is going to be ok.
My husband was speaking to a chinese business colleague yesterday and he says they have had so many donations for the pandas that they are able to start building again and that it will only take 3-4 months to rebuild. He also thinks they are going to rebuild Wolong. Is this right? I thought they weren’t going to rebuild Wolong because of the danger of earthquakes and the fact that it is now unstable there? Do we have any more news on this?
August 9th, 2008 at 9:03 am
To All:
I just hope that all of you were able to view the Magnificent Opening Olympic Ceremony last evening! We all know how remarkable the Chinese are with panda conservation. Now we all know how much history and pride and love the Chinese people share with the world. Harmony. Bless them.
August 9th, 2008 at 10:01 am
Wolongnews, thank you for the news of the panda cub birth on the opening day of the Olympics. It’s especially wonderful to hear that the new cub is Fei Fei’s! Panda fans that regularly visit this great SDZ Web site probably remember the blog post by Jennifer Keating on Apr 1 about Fei Fei’s search for an acceptable mate this year. (If not, check it out.) It looks like she made an excellent choice with Lu Lu! Congratulations to Fei Fei and the Wolong Panda Center!
Moderator’s note: Here’s the link to Jennifer’s blog about Fei Fei: http://www.sandiegozoo.org/wordpress/default/wolong-will-fei-fei-find-a-mate/
August 9th, 2008 at 1:18 pm
Well, 8/8/2008 has come and gone, and Mei Xiang is still keeping us in suspense. I did check in on her within the last half hour on NZ cam 1, and she is still in her den in that same corner where she gave birth to Tai Shan 3 years ago rolled up in her furry ball. And, she still has that huge pile of bamboo for her nest, and sometimes getting buried under it! CONGRATS TO FEI FEI ON THE BIRTH OF HER TWINS!! Another Wolong panda mom doing her thing in the face of a disaster. Sorry to read that one of her cubs got injured, but I’ll be praying that this little baby heals and stays healthy. From reading the last several comments about China’s female pandas, it looks like these mothers are standing up against the odds and giving all of us new life after so much loss and sadness in the last 3 months there. Did any of you watch the opening ceremonies of the Olympics? I did, and the one major part of that was when China walked into the staduim with 639 athletes, and guess who was up front with Yao Ming? A little Chinese boy, a 9 year old 2nd grader, was right there walking with Yao Ming. He was one of the few survivors from his school in the earthquake and managed to save 2 of his classmates from the rubble. This little boy felt that it was his duty to do all he could to save as many kids as he could after the quake hit. Two-thirds of the kids in that school were killed in that quake. Because of his heroism, he was honored with being able to walk into the stadium with the Chinese athletes, and he enjoyed every second of it! That’s a first for any Olympic opening ceremony that I’ve ever seen over the years! Thought I would share that with you all because it was a very bright, shining, hopeful moment for the Chinese in their efforts to rebuild their lives after this devastating quake. To me, it just matches what the panda moms are doing in giving birth to their cubs at Bifengxia, Chengdu, and other reserves—giving hope and life in the face of problems. I know that the Chinese people are still talking about all of the great things that are happening now. A Chinese women’s weightlifter even won the country’s first gold medal! They’re happy!!
Gonna go back and keep checking in on Mei Xiang. Hopefully, she’ll give us a very nice surprise ASAP!!
Chari Mercier
St. Pete, FL
August 9th, 2008 at 10:31 pm
#37 – thanks for the news about the latest cubs. With the expert care the little cub is receiving & the fact it was born on 08-08-08 pray that it will recover.
I don’t think I can spend ANOTHER DAY & NIGHT watching Mei Xiang – this is SOOOOO frustrating. Can only imagine what the NZ staff & the volunteers are feeling.
And Fri. ZA reports that LunLun has entered her possible pregnancy phase – let’s hope she doesn’t make us go through what Mei Xiang has. Nature has a way of making female pandas uncomfortable.
And just one word about the opening ceremony of the Olympics ” AWESOME” .
August 10th, 2008 at 10:38 am
Hi, you all! Been checking both SDZ and NZ cams over the last couple of days. Nothing new on the SDZ cams. All the pandas at SDZ are very happy eating, sleeping, and in the case of ZZ (if I can catch her), playing. On the NZ cam, Mei Xiang has been in her den every time I get on the cam sleeping in different positions either on the platform or buried in her boo nest. She’s also been looking at her bottom to see if there’s anything coming. NZ had no updates for Sat. and Sun., Aug. 9-10, but I expect the keepers to have them written up and put online on Monday, 8/11. There hasn’t been any significant pregnancy watch updates either because Mei Xiang has not produced significant clean urine samples for hormone results over the last 4 days. The last update on that page was on Aug. 6, 2008. Will probably see new updates on Monday whenever Mei gives up clean urine samples for analysis.
Well, not much else for now. Will keep checking in on Mei Xiang to see what she’s going to do. One of NZ’s pandacams had Tian Tian on for a few minutes. He was just doing his usual walking exercises and roaming around in the sun. Tai Shan was on the other cam snacking on a fruitcicle. A normal day for those 2 pandas!
Pandas International sent me 2 emails about a couple of new fundraising ideas. One was for school backpacks that they are selling online as well as other things relating to pandas, the other was for selling items related to the 2008 Olympics, stuffed pandas included. They are still taking donations for the Wolong earthquake relief efforts, and that shows no signs of ending any time soon. So, if anyone can be able to give up a few bucks, send it to PI along with the donation sites on SDZ, Atlanta Zoo, and Memphis Zoo.
Gonna go for now. Been watching and keeping up with the US side of things on the Olympics. So far, the US has 8 medals total thru today. More coming, tho!
Love to all of the pandas,
Chari Mercier
St. Pete, FL
August 10th, 2008 at 1:43 pm
Thank you for the wonderful video of the two birthday girls. They seem to have a lot of fun. Zhen Zhen is quite adventurous whereas her sister Su Lin appears to take her birthday cake for granted. Well, it is already her third one. I wonder if Fu Long will be able to celebrate his 1st birthday on Aug. 23rd in style, too. As promised to all you pandaholics, here is a short run-down of my visit to Fu Long last week. Not having seen him since March I was surprised how much he has grown but at the same time that his sweet features are still very baby-like. My husband and I were lucky to observe him having a snooze on the platform in his outside den and later on climbing down the tree really showing off and ” strutting his stuff” . All the spectators were fascinated how skillfully he managed to do summersaults and other exciting things. He truly seemed to enjoy himself tremendously. It looked awfully cute when at last he let his right rear foot dangle down sort of emphasizing that so far he is the only panda with a white foot. It was the hottest day of this year’s summer but Fu Long did not mind at all posing and doing his antics. I feel that I am so privileged having a baby panda living so close by that I can visit whenever I want to. I shall certainly carry on taking advantage of this fact. How lovely to learn that there were more panda twins born despite the fact that their mothers had to endure this horrible earthquake. I keep my fingers crossed for the little one which was injured.
August 10th, 2008 at 6:19 pm
Hi Peggy #22 – Just in case you haven’t read Sunday’s SD-UT, see Section F, DIALOG, page F5. There
Very cute.
you will find a quote from your interview at the panda birthdays. There is also a cute picture of sweet Zhen Zhen admiring the numeral 1 on top of her birthday cake
August 10th, 2008 at 7:08 pm
Has anyone seen Ms. Mei awake this weekend? Everytime I check the NZ cam, she is asleep in her den. Please, please may we have just one cub, Sweetie Ms. Mei?
August 11th, 2008 at 12:17 pm
I don’t know how much more we can take of Mei keeping us in suspense…! Everytime I see her, she is sitting in the corner of the den, looking as if she is minutes away from producing her next cub…yikes!! I’m not getting anything of significance done these days, and I’m sure I’m not alone, with panda fans all over the world watching Mei’s every move for signs that she is about to give birth!
If this is a pseudopregnancy, we will all be so disappointed; she certainly has been acting pregnant, with all of her nesting, and cuddling her boomer ball and kong toys! How great it would be if, after all this waiting, she produced twin cubs for her loving staff at the NZ…!
Ok, Miss Mei, let’s get this show on the road, one way or another…!
August 11th, 2008 at 1:19 pm
I have almost lost patience with the Ms. Mei, what’s happening there? Still no cub? Please.
August 11th, 2008 at 2:03 pm
Miss Mei is killin’ me. We were at National Zoo at the end of July and they kept saying any time now. I so hoped she would have the cub then. I can’t believe how many hours I’ve logged watching her every move. I need her to have that cub pronto…I’m going back to school on Wednesday. L
August 11th, 2008 at 4:03 pm
Hi Everyone
Monday afternoon about 3:00 PM San Diego time. I have been watching ZZ. I love to
watch her come down from the trees and steal a piece of bamboo. She tastes every
stalk so she can take the ” best” stalk up to her hammock. What a little doll she is!
Thank you to all the people who take care of all the animals. The San Diego Cams
and blogs let us all into a world we would never know about.
Bless you all!
Linda
August 11th, 2008 at 4:17 pm
Anyone out there live in the Washington, DC area? I was wondering if there’s any word locally on Ms. Mei. I did a seach but came up with nothing. She has been cradling everything — the boomer ball, Kong, and the grate. Let’s try a cub, Ms. Mei!
August 11th, 2008 at 4:52 pm
I was just reading on AZ site and it looks like Ms. LUN LUN is starting to slow down eating less and sleeping more. So here we go again waiting and hoping, I do hope she does something quicker than Ms. Mei Xiang is. This is all so nerve racking and next year we’ll be going through this again with Ms. Bai. who seems to be faster at getting it done. lol
August 11th, 2008 at 5:34 pm
Dear Ruth #52,
Thank you so much for the update on FuLong
I’ve been so busy watching Mei Xiang and the San Diego Stars that I haven’t looked for new FuLong videos! He is such a Star also….I will make a point of searching out his latest exploits 
I am looking forward to a description of the fine fun he and his keepers will create for his first birthday! Keep all of us up to date, okay!!!
August 11th, 2008 at 9:59 pm
Wow–those of us who have been able to catch Bai Yun and Miss ZZ today and over the weekend have really had a treat watching them snuggle and play. Between that and the Olympics, it’s getting hard to leave the house!
August 12th, 2008 at 1:18 am
My ‘addiction’ re Ms. Mei (NZ) by checking frequently to see if there has been any progress may permanently appear on my monitor – I now often check day and night !
On last check Mei was sleeping with no apparent signs of giving birth to a cub – it seems to be taking all her strength and making her very ‘tired’, I hope it indicates she is saving all her energy for her big occasion
Reports mention an ultrasound was done on Mei recently but I have not seen any mention of the presence of a foetus?
Our girls continue to be amazing as always, it is great to see Gao Gao back in his yard doing what he does best – munch, munch… more bamboo… munch, munch.
Thank you to everyone who cares for them…….
August 12th, 2008 at 7:04 am
kudos to the cake department. i think that was the prettiest cake to date. the candles on top were very creative. i think there must be a frustrated artist working in the food prep dept.
August 12th, 2008 at 11:41 am
Hi, pandafans! Sorry I haven’t been writing to you lately. Been waiting on updates from both NZ and AZ, and both zoos have them available for all of us to read. The biggest news came from Atlanta Zoo! Since Lun Lun has started to slow down, eat less, act a little lethargic, and sleeping a lot more, AZ’s panda keepers and vets have decided to start the pregnancy/birth watch on Saturday, Aug. 9, 2008 for Lun. There is also an update for 8/11 on the main update page, and they have started the birth watch update page on 8/12 that will have pretty regular updates on there as well. As we all have been experiencing over the last several weeks with Mei Xiang, we will be going thru the same frustrating, agonizing wait for Lun to have a baby panda. Looks like the possible birth window they had set for Lun of Aug. 9-19 will probably be alot later than that! Also, counted Lun’s gestation days thru today, 8/12, and she’s at 113 days since AI. Also, checked AZ pandacam and only saw Mei Lan in her dayroom snacking on some boo. They will probably flip back and forth between Mei Lan and Lun Lun during the week and for the next few weeks. Still hoping that they will start keeping the cam on during the weekends with the pregnancy watch going on now.
NZ has new updates on the main panda page available for all of us to read from Aug. 9, 10, and 11. Should be seeing the 8/12 update written up later on today. Checked both of NZ’s pandacams, and Mei Xiang has been wondering around her indoor exhibit and going into the den. Looks like she’s a little bit more restless today. The last couple of days or so, she’s been mainly in her den sleeping and doing her maternal behaviors. I also counted Mei’s gestation days thru today, 8/12, and she’s at 146 days since AI. That literally beats out her gestation days when she had Tai Shan and last year’s gestation days when she went into pseudopregnancy. That puts her about 5 months into this luteal phase. There has been no pregnancy watch updates since 8/6 because Mei Xiang has not given up a decent urine sample for analysis to get a good reading on her progestin levels and where it’s at relative to baseline level. Mei Xiang has had a very tricky, unpredictable luteal phase to say the least, and I feel like the rest of you all; Mei has really exhausted all of us with her behaviors and keeping us all in suspense! I’ve been keeping track of her, but I’ve been watching the Olympics the last few days, then checking back on the NZ panda page hoping for some good news about a panda baby birth. Nothing yet, you all!!
Got on the SDZ cam and saw Bai Yun’s large body on her favorite napping perch sleeping. No sign of ZZ, but I’m sure that she’s up a tree right now.
Well, now we got both pandas going thru it, so that has all of us doing double on the birth watches. If and when Mei Xiang is pregnant, she will probably have her baby first, but you never can tell on that one! Lun could have a very short luteal phase and have her baby before Mei Xiang! It’s a double waiting game now!!
Well, I’m just mentally exhausted just saying all of that! Anyway, I’ll keep checking both AZ and NZ about both panda moms, and will write back later on.
By the way, USA has 23 medals so far after 4 days of Olympic competition! GO USA!!!!!!! More coming!
Chari Mercier
St. Pete, FL
August 12th, 2008 at 12:23 pm
I’m with everyone else here, getting exhausted with this long birth watch. I can’t imagine how frustrating it must be for the keepers. I keep thinking, ” this has gone too long, she must not be pregnant” — then I think, ” maybe she’s going to have twins, and that’s taking longer — hope, hope.” Anything to justify that she will eventually give birth. It’s a vicious circle. But cub or not, I hate to see Mei acting so listless and uncomfortable. Maybe some day we will know more about panda biology–but the limbo will still be exhausting!
August 12th, 2008 at 1:09 pm
I was just watching some videos of Fu Long on youtube. What a beautiful little bear his is, also has anyone notice that he has white fur on the end of his right rear paw at the toes, it is so cute. I think him and Miss ZZ should get together when they are older I bet they would have some real active cubs. Has anyone heard anymore about how the injured cub in China is doing I’m hoping everything is ok.
August 12th, 2008 at 11:12 pm
I love reading on the web to follow the great work that you are doing with the giant pandas. I have long wondered why the green leaves and stalks of corn and sorghum were not used as food treats for the giant pandas, since both seemed like sweet alternatives to bamboo. Sorghum and corn could both be easily grown organically near the zoos for fresh food during the summer months, when the bamboo is less palatable for the pandas. Just like many other green plants, the bamboo is likely more bitter and less sweet during the hot summer.
Green corn leaves and stalks, like bamboo, are very high is silica for the panda’s diet. Sorghum and corn silage have been fed to ruminant like sheep and cattle for many, many years because of the nutritional value. While fermented silage, might not be appropriate for pandas, the fresh stalks and leaves should make an excellent summer food treat.
I have searched on the web extensively, and the Vienna zoo is the only place where I can find references to giant pandas being fed green corn stalks and leaves. Yang Yang and Long Hui seem to both enjoy their fresh green corn stalks, from the photos that I have seen.
The zoos here in the U.S. have just started mentioning the use of sugar cane being fed this year. Sorghum could be grown organically locally and fed fresh with leaves as a sweet, but more balanced diet for the giant pandas.
Please keep your wonderful work with all the animals,
August 13th, 2008 at 7:51 am
Sad news from Washington, DC. I just learned that there will be no cub in NZ this year. They believe Mei experienced either a pseudopregnancy or a pregnancy loss. We’ve probably all suspected this for some time, but were hoping we’d be wrong.
As disappointing and saddening as this is, there is hope for a cub in ZA where they’ve begun a 24 hour pregnancy watch on our girl Lun Lun. Keep thinking those good thoughts, fellow pandaholics.
August 13th, 2008 at 7:55 am
Such a sad day in panda land. I was just on the NZ website and they have announced this morning that Mei experienced either a pseudopregnancy or may have even lost the fetus early. They do not expect her to give birth this year. I could read the heartfelt disappointment ” in between the lines” of the post!
I was so looking forward to another cub this year. We can still hold out hope for Lun in Atlanta!! Keep the pandas and their wonderful keepers in your thoughts this week!!
August 13th, 2008 at 7:56 am
Well, the news is out. No cub from Mei Xiang this year.
August 13th, 2008 at 7:57 am
Just got word from the NZ that Mei is not going to have a cub. They haven’t determined if she experienced a pseudopregnancy or if there was a loss of a developing fetus. As many of you have observed, Mei was so uncomfortable that it’s too bad she didn’t have a cub this year. Now to hope that Lun Lun has a brother or sister for Mei Lan (or both).
August 13th, 2008 at 8:09 am
I’m sure everybody’s heard by now — Mei Xiang experienced a pseudopregnancy or loss of a fetus at an early stage. No panda cub in DC this year. The tears are hard to stop. I am sure this sad news does the same to the 1000’s of other Panda fans. Lun Lun please give us a cub……..
August 13th, 2008 at 8:14 am
Oh Miss Mei, my heart just dropped out of my chest reading that the pregnancy watch is off. It re-confirms what a very special boy Tai is.
August 13th, 2008 at 8:45 am
Hi all no cub this year at Nat Zoo after all – announcement on panda page.
August 13th, 2008 at 8:45 am
i have just been on NZ site and there is not to be a panda this year, it is sad, i feel for Mei she seeems to have gone threw a lot,over the last few weeks, but i am sure she will be back to her good self soon hope you didnt mind me writing this.
August 13th, 2008 at 9:04 am
In case you haven’t all heard, the NZ site just announced that there will be no cublette for Mei this year. So sad . . .
August 13th, 2008 at 9:05 am
Poor Mei – no baby this year. But they still have Tai Shan who is still so precious. Maybe next year for Mei!!
August 13th, 2008 at 9:10 am
Sad news!
National Zoo said Mei Xiang will not have a cub this year.
I was planning another ” panda trip” to meet the new cub in person.
Sorry!
August 13th, 2008 at 9:24 am
Sad news from the NZ this morning; they have determined that Mei Xiang is not pregnant, and will not be having a cub in 2008.
As each day passed without an update on her progestin level, although ever hopeful, it seemed less likely that Mei would give pandaholics the joy of watching another one of her precious cubs. Although this is a huge disappointment for the staff at the NZ and panda fans everywhere, there is always next year.
Great report on the Wolong pandas during NBC’s Olympic coverage last night; I hope many of you saw it!
August 13th, 2008 at 9:31 am
This made me want to cry, for the emotional loss to Mei Xiang
Moderator’s note: Dianne had included a posting from the National Zoo’s Web site, but we cannot post excerpts from other Web sites (we did make some exceptions during the aftermath of China’s earthquake). Thank you all for your understanding, and thank you, Dianne, for alerting panda fans to the National Zoo post.
August 13th, 2008 at 9:54 am
Elisa, #79, hopefully you can come to Zoo Atlanta to see a cub! There’s still hope there for this year.
Next year, maybe studmuffin Gao can meet both Mei Xiang and Bai Yun! Wouldn’t that be great!
August 13th, 2008 at 10:04 am
For sure it is a very sad day for the NZ and all panda lover Mei will not have a cub this year. As hard as it was for all of us I’m sure the panda keepers are heart broken and it was also hard Mei Xiang to go through all of this and have nothing in the end. We can all hope that next year will be better for everyone with a happy ending.
Much love to all the panda keepers and their black and white friends.
August 13th, 2008 at 10:15 am
BUT, we still have Lun Lun to keep an eye on, so the pregnancy watch scenario continues on with her at Atlanta Zoo! Here we go again with all the anxiousness that comes with this, you all! At least we can take some kind of a breather for now since Lun has just gotten into her second luteal phase, and it will be awhile before we know anything from her. Keep checking the AZ panda page and updates for pregnancy watch news from the panda staff there. I sure will!
Well, gonna go and do some things that I need to do, get my laundry done, and watch some Olympics before all 3 of us go to David’s school for open house tonite. Will also check all of the pandacams!
Chari Mercier :,( — CRYING!!
St. Pete, FL
Oh yeah, I also saw the story about the pandas on the Olympics last nite. Mary Carillo was there just TWO WEEKS BEFORE the 7.9 quake on May 12 hit that area of Wolong and Sichuan Province! She was in China with the NBC crew to get ready for the Olympics when she made the trip to Wolong. WOW!!! But, she said that she enjoyed her trip there to see the pandas and even got close to one of them. You go, girl! Samantha Brown’s trip to Chengdu Panda Center was back in 2007 when she filmed her trip to China then.
August 13th, 2008 at 10:36 am
My birthday was last week as well, but I didn’t have as much fun on my birthday as Su Lin and Zhen Zhen did…I had to work LOL. I wonder if the panda mothers have a sixth sense about the type of cub they’ll give birth to…Bai Yun is a wonderful mother, and I keep hearing/reading about how each of her cubs is more precocious and intelligent than the last one. Maybe that’s why Mei Xiang isn’t pregnant this year…she’s waiting to give birth to another cub as intelligent/cute/entertaining as Tai Shan, and she wants to ‘get it right’, like she did before…=). As always to the panda keepers at the SDZ, thank you very much for taking care of those wonderful animals and for keeping the Panda Cam on.
August 13th, 2008 at 10:39 am
Hi again. Just checked the SDZ pandacam, and it is out! All it has is the video of ZZ and Su Lin’s birthday parties, then it goes to a white screen that says Cam Zone. Anyway to get it back online real quick? Thanks, IT guys!!
Checked the NZ website panda page, and the Aug. 13 update about Mei Xiang’s pregnancy results is available, and the pregnancy watch page had the Aug. 13 update about Mei Xiang’s hormone levels with a chart that showed that her progestines have finally reached baseline since 8/11. So, that tells her story right there. Checked the NZ pandacam, and Mei was on her den platform resting and scratching still with a lot of bamboo in there. The panda keepers expect her to get back to her normal behavior and activity routines real soon. Checked the AZ website’s panda page, and they also have their Aug. 13 update available about Lun’s activity and eating behaviors. She’s still eating less and sleeping alot more! Saw Mei Lan on the pandacam, but I’m sure that they will be switching the cam back and forth between Lun and Mei Lan for quite awhile. Will keep checking the AZ panda page alot for awhile!
Gotta go! Just wanted to write in to let you know about the updates.
Chari Mercier
St. Pete, FL
Moderator’s note: Panda Cam is working for us. Please give it another try.
August 13th, 2008 at 11:35 am
Very sad that there will not be a cub for Mei Xiang.
August 13th, 2008 at 12:01 pm
Hi all,
The SDZ panda cam was out but only for a short while. It’s back on again showing mama Bai fast asleep.
What a sad day for panda lovers – our dear Mei in NZ will not gift us with a cub this year. Such a letdown after all the ” fuss” we’ve been making, and after all the discomfort that Mei appeared to be going through. Just now I saw her cradling one of her balls. Poor girl! I hope she will soon get back to her usual self. She looks so forlorn right now, it makes you want to just get over there and put an arm around her. Awww!!
Now, we turn our watching and waiting to Lun Lun. I just wish the AZ panda cam was available for longer periods. We’re going to go crazy with suspense, I think, with not being able to just call it up and see what Lun is up to. Oh well, change of pace if that’s they way it will be. For those of us who work during the day, we’ll have to content ourselves with the updates (which I hope will come more often now) and the occasional youtube video.
August 13th, 2008 at 12:11 pm
There is only one solution to the panda pregnancy or lack of pregnancy problem. Let Gao – a proven breeder– stand at stud in San Diego and ship the females to him. Artificial insemination fails frequently due to incorrect timing. But, like the Thoroughbred horse and most species, the male panda’s NOSE KNOWS when it is time and Gao knows positioning and how to finesse natural cover. Gao did the job shortly after arriving in San Diego and every time since when asked. Perhaps this wild born panda learned from his observations in the wild.
August 13th, 2008 at 12:29 pm
NZ worked hard for 30 years and finally got Tai (really worth it). Now with all those wonderful technology, for 2 years still no baby. Such a heart broken news…
August 13th, 2008 at 12:52 pm
Moderator – I hope you can explain Su Lin’s behavior this morning.
While watching Su Lin around 11:35 AM, I noticed she was acting as if she wanted to ” climb over the wallâ€. She started out looking up as if sniffing the air. She acted, at that moment, like she desperately wanted to climb over the wall!
Su Lin approached the tree, near the wall, climbed a few feet up, and decided that would not work. She went over to the wall few more times. I’ve never witnessed Su Lin acting in this manner. I wonder if she detected Gao Gao’s scent or some sound that attracted her attention?
I found this very interesting. Thank you for your help.
Michelle responds: This could be for many reasons. Su Lin was switched into one of the front enclosures after spending several days in the back enclosure. Usually this prompts investigation of new surroundings and olfactory investigation of scent marks left by the previous panda in the enclosure (Gao Gao, in this case). However, it is also entirely possible that a bird or noise got her attention. Basically what you saw was
probably just a curious panda!
August 13th, 2008 at 1:05 pm
I am so sad about our Mei at the NZ. She would have made such a wonderful mama again, and what fun and excitement we would have had, too. It really brings home what a rare miracle a panda birth is and how truly fortunate we were to have had Tai at the National Zoo. Hopefully before China calls Tai back to their country, we will have another baby at the National Zoo. To all the wonderful caretakers at the NZ, we feel for you. And I am sending Mei a big, big hug and lots of love for everything she had to go through.
Let’s keep our fingers crossed for Ms. Lun in Atlanta.
Has either of the females at the other zoos been inseminated with Gao Gao’s business? Gao Gao sure seems to be the man when it comes to making panda babies.
August 13th, 2008 at 2:25 pm
I was heartbroken to read the news about Mei. This makes us all even more thankful to have the pandas that we do.
August 13th, 2008 at 2:35 pm
Barbara # 82,
I hope Lun Lun will have a cub soon and will be nice meeting them at Atlanta Zoo!
My husband stayed there when Mei lan was 5 months old.
I didn’t understand why SDZoo every pregnancy, can say if Bay Yun is or isn’t , by ultrasound result and anothers zoos can’t predict it.
August 13th, 2008 at 2:51 pm
Panda cam has been going in and out here on the East Coast today.
Very sad about Mei Xiang not being pregnant–and I somehow missed the report on the pandas last night during the Olympics, durn it!
I’m sure P Wong can have Mr. Tourist ask Gao Gao if he has a plan for helping the other zoos’ breeding programs. I look forward to hearing his report.
August 13th, 2008 at 3:10 pm
I have not been on here in a long time so I am not up to date. Where’s Mei Sheng and Hua Mei now? What does China have planned for them? Have the plans been changed due to the earthquake?
August 13th, 2008 at 4:30 pm
Marcia M # 92
Hi If I remember right, last year Mei Xiang was artifically inseminated with Gao Gao. It does seen this doesn’t work as well as the natural way. It would be nice to have another cub over here but at least they’re having some little ones in China.
August 13th, 2008 at 5:37 pm
Rose #91, I did not see Su Lin at the same time you did but have seen her look up from eating her boo and watch something flying by and thought it might have been the sound of an airplane. My daughter lives not too far from the SDZ (lucky her) so I called her and asked her to go outside and watch for planes while I watched the Su Lin on the cam. Yep, she looked up at the same time my daughter said a plane was going over. Super smart Su Lin…maybe she was looking for her relatives to come visiting from China.
So sorry for the news from NZ. I’m sure the staff there is heartbroken as we all are.
Donna from Port Richey
August 13th, 2008 at 7:24 pm
Hi Michelle – Thank for the ” curious panda†information. It was fun watching Su Lin’s unexpected antics this morning. Our pandas always surprise us, so; we never know what to expect!
August 13th, 2008 at 7:35 pm
So sad for sweet Mei and the NZ staff. Like most of you, I have been stealing time day and night, checking on Mei. Like pandafan #88, my overwhelming impulse lately has been, ” I just wish I could give her a hug, she seems so uncomfortable.” Tai was my first cub, along with Su Lin, and it was fascinating to see the different parenting styles of Bai and Mei. Probably some of it was due to the physical set-up of their enclosures, but they do seem to have their own very distinct personal styles, as do the cubs.
Anyway, I am just crushed, for Mei and for all of us, that it’s been such a let-down. I do hope that Mei is feeling back to her normal self soon and they put her out with Tian Tian. They have such a great time together and she deserves some carefree time after all she has been through.
And, Ruth, thanks so much for the update on the super-adorable Fu Long! I check out Youtube all the time for new videos of him. He’s sooooooo cute, with his little white foot and his mischievous ways.
Thanks, one and all, for the chance to share feelings about today’s sad news. And, big thanks, too, for all the panda keepers everywhere and those AWESOME folks who made the world’s coolest birthday cakes for our girlies!
August 13th, 2008 at 8:07 pm
Just got a nice little package of panda bands in the mail today, the young lady doing the fund raiser for Pandas International has as of August 8th raised $517.00. I’ll be putting mine in the Christmas stockings of my little nieces. Can’t remember who put her web page info on this blog, but it was a great idea.
Yes, it is such a shame that Mei isn’t going to have a cub, We’ll all be watching Lun Lun closely now. But as has been stated many times, there is always next year… And of course our Super Panda Bai Yun!!!! Wonder what the future holds for her and her man Gao….
Nice to see Princess Su back on the webcam, and as per the earlier post, she is one curious Panda Girl…
Love every minute of watching her…..
August 14th, 2008 at 5:52 am
Robin#96 Hua Mei was moved to another base after the earthquake, she is the mother of 6, 3sets of twins. Mei Sheng left last November and is currently in Bifengxia base, he will probably be mating next year. China is moving ahead despite the earthquake as there has been quite a few sets of twins born despite all the upset the animals have been through and hopefully many more to come babies to come. Nobody knows for sure the fate of the wild pandas in the wolong area.
August 14th, 2008 at 5:56 am
Pam#97, hopefully we have one more chance for a cub this year, Lun Lun has been in her den and they began a birth watch on Aug 9th so keep those fingers crossed.
August 14th, 2008 at 9:58 am
If you all would like to read something very sweet check out the memphis zoo animal logs it’s called who am I. The fist one is a story about Le Le’s birthday and narrated by Le Le. It is a loving story about his mother and how he is so special. enjoy , I did
August 14th, 2008 at 10:02 am
I hope Mei is feeling better soon. I feel sorry for her. At least we still have a chance for a panda cub with Lun Lun. Here we go again—baby watch!!
Thanks, Donna #98, how interesting on the plane flying over and Su Lin’s reaction.
August 14th, 2008 at 11:25 am
Donna, #98, maybe Su Lin was looking up high in the trees for her brother Mei Sheng and remembers hearing the keepers talk about him in an airplane when he left last November. ZA was doing some panda memory studies, and I often wonder if Su Lin remembers interacting with Mei Sheng through the mesh and if she thinks about him disappearing shortly thereafter. In the wild it would be normal for young pandas to cross paths and ranges for a few days, and then ” disappear” as they moved off to other bamboo sources. However in captivity, they don’t have far to go, so they don’t totally ” disappear,” as evidenced by the scent remaining in the area. If she is a curious panda, like her brother, and wants to know who is on the other side of walls, like her brother, it makes sense she would sniff and look for him high and low. I remember reading cute scenes of him trying to peek between the cracks in the walls to see who was on the other side. It won’t be much longer before Su Lin likely does the same thing when ZZ is weaned from Bai Yun in February and is on her own. I get very excited thinking about the prospects of the two girls chatting in the trees and meeting at the mesh gate. What fun they will have without mom in between.
With Mei Xiang out of the birth picture this year, and Ya Ya taking her time to come into estrus, it means that there may be two cubs born in 2009. Mei Xiang and hopefully Bai Yun will breed. It might even be possible that they will try again with Gao Gao for both breedings. WOW!! Can you picture a West and East coast cub from the same father? That would be awesome. YA YA went into estrus in January 2007, so MZ is still hopeful that it is possible for her to go into estrus in 2008.
August 14th, 2008 at 11:45 am
It was fun to watch Su Lin this morning trying to get at the hanging ball filled with who-knows-what panda goodies. She was a determined acrobat, manuevering around and trying different positions. Su has always been so curious and adventuresome. And what a beauty!
It’s so unfortunate about Mei Xiang. I hope she will be coming out of her hormone-induced haze soon and be able the enjoy ” normal” panda activities again. As another blogger said, we have to be grateful for all the healthy panda births that have occurred, especially after the earthquake.
August 14th, 2008 at 11:53 am
#104 Barbara – thank you very much for the tip on the ” animals’ log” at the Memphis Zoo site. I just read it and it is such a sweet and meaningful story. I hope that the Memphis pandas will have a chance to present us with a cub this year, as well.
I happened to catch Ya Ya’s birthday celebrations back in July (not sure about this date) except I didn’t know it was her birthday. She was devouring a pile of paper and I got quite alarmed so I emailed the Memphis site and I got a reply from one of the keepers telling me it was Ya’s birthday and they had given her presents wrapped in paper that she could eat!! I thought, ” how neat!”
August 14th, 2008 at 1:09 pm
I have a question that I don’t believe I have seen answered on any of the blogs or zoo websites. So I would like to ask if Suzanne, Michelle or someone could please respond and solve this mystery for me. When a panda is thought to be pregnant, the zoos perform ultrasounds and do lots of urinalysis to try and determine the presence of a fetus and timing of impending birth (or end of psuedopregnacy). I wondered why a blood test is not performed. Is it not possible to confirm a panda pregnancy this way?
Michelle responds: Good question! A large perk to urinalysis is that it is non-invasive. Therefore, multiple samples can be taken without imposing stress on the animal. The hormone levels that are looked at to test for pregnancy can be derived from urine as well as blood. The problem is differentiating pregnancy from pseudopregnancy from the test results because the same hormonal changes occur in both situations. Adding to that problem, other behavioral and physiological characteristics during both pregnancy and pseudopregnancy are also identical. Ultrasounds are useful but only when the fetus is large enough to detect.
August 14th, 2008 at 5:54 pm
#102 Thanks Barbara. Did lots of pandas have miscarriages because of the stress? I heard about two cubs being born, but that was it. Did all the staff have to move to this base? I have never seen pictures of this place before, is it open to the public? It is such a shame, I was hoping with the Olympics being in China, the breeding center might get a lot of attention from the media and tourists.
August 15th, 2008 at 9:49 am
Margaret, #106
just reading your blog reminded me that Mei Sheng also has a birthday this month when he will be 5 yrs on 19th August – it is now 9 months since he left, unfortunately with little news of Sheng or Hua Mei other than they are both at a new facility.
Hua Mei had the best in life at SDZ however during her ‘extended’ stay because of the problem with SARS, I seem to recall that when her hormones were runnning wild she had a ‘mini’ psuedopregnancy even though she had not been mated.
I recall Hua Mei was quieter during this period and spent most of her time in the trees!
Don (Dr. Panda) will be an authority on the subject, however does anyone else recall this event?
When Hua Mei had her 3 sets of twins she must have been very cooperative with her new keepers as I imagine it would have involved assistance with feeding the twins.
It is unfortunate Mei Xiang is not feeling her best until her hormone levels subside – can panda’s who have a psedopregnancy lactate?
ZZ has been her usual boisterous self – I saw Bai Yun join her in a bout of wrestling, they are a credit to all who care for them.
August 15th, 2008 at 10:10 am
Robin #110 there has been at least 5 sets of twins born and a couple of single births, I haven’t heard about any miscarriages but if you look at panda club websight you can see some of the babies pictures the stress didn’t seem to have bothered them especially with the amount of twins and the conditions that the moms had to endure
August 15th, 2008 at 10:24 am
Hey, SDZ, I see you have a new camera for your Panda Cam!! Yippeee!! All the better to see that precious and precocious Zoom Zoom, oops Zhen Zhen! Sorry, I have to call her Zoomie since she learned to walk she Zooms all over the place!! And I see she’s been on the Supersecret PannaPhone to Cuzzin Tai in DC and has learned some lessons about da Hiney Biten and da ear pullin on da mommie!!
Again, thanks SDZ for the new camera, I can enjoy your beautiful pandas even more!!
August 15th, 2008 at 10:27 am
Was Su Lin shown some of the Olympic gymnastics coverage? She’s using the logs in her area like a balance beam. (10:30 am, Friday, Pacific time). I guess she wants us to know that it’s not only the Chinese people who can perform great gymnastics.
August 15th, 2008 at 10:58 am
Such a joy to watch Su this morning. She was romping, climbing and playing with her toys. Afterward, she took a cool soak in her pool. What a delightful bear she is!
August 15th, 2008 at 1:33 pm
ALL PANDA FANS — NEAT NEWS:
I was watching the last part of the ” Today” Show this morning and there was a news report that on the second day of the Olympics twin pandas were born. Going against the tradition of waiting 100 days to name them, they have been named after two of the ” Panda Mascots” for the Olympic Games.
Here is a link to an article (and video: http(dot double front slash) www (dot) dailypanda (dot) com .
Enjoy! They are adorable and oh so small.
August 15th, 2008 at 1:57 pm
Thanks, Meerkats, for your outstanding coverage of Bai Yun and Zhen around noon today. The camera followed them all around and captured some of the sweetest mother-daughter scenes very close up. I also loved watching ZZ trying to manipulate the new hanging thing that looks like what Su Lin was playing with recently. ZZ has such an adorably sassy face. And now the camera is on beautiful Su resting in a tree. What great afternoon viewing!
August 15th, 2008 at 2:20 pm
when is gao gao’s birthday celebrated? he should have a special day too.
August 15th, 2008 at 3:26 pm
Thanks so much for the new cams. Gee we can actually see our little butterball and the rest of the Gao family. We appreciate your efforts to make our viewing a pleasure.
August 15th, 2008 at 3:26 pm
Thanks so much for the new cams. Gee we can actually see our little butterball and the rest of the Gao family. We appreciate your efforts to make our viewing a pleasure.
Moderator’s note: Well, we don’t have new cameras. What we do have is a new video encoder for the images. We’re glad to hear the pictures are clearer!
August 15th, 2008 at 4:08 pm
THANK YOU SDZ FOR ALLOWING ALL OF US TO HAVE THIS FORUM! I know it’s a lot to work to moderate all messages. I know, also, that we all appreciate this space in order to keep up to date, communicate, and sometimes console each other. And thank you for taking such great care of all of God’s creatures; especially, our precious pandas!
Moderator’s note: We enjoy these blogs, too, and all the comments we get to read from people who truly care about wildlife!
August 15th, 2008 at 5:34 pm
Well, I got lucky TWICE today on the SDZ pandacam! Got on the cam earlier this afternoon and just now, and I saw ZZ in her favorite tree spots napping both times. Missed her playtime, but at least I did see her on the cam! Her fuzzy behind is still cute! Plus, now that she’s grown up some, she’s pretty much covered her nap spots alot more in the trees.
Atlanta Zoo has new updates available for Aug. 11, 13, & 15. They are still every other day and no weekend updates right now. The Aug. 15 update has a new updated chart that shows Lun’s current progestin levels thru today. Lun has really slowed down and shows hardly any interest in her food, and has been stubborn about ultrasound sessions. So, the keepers and vets will just watch her and take her lead as to when she will feel like having ultrasound sessions.
Mei Xiang is back on the rock work with some fresh boo nearby. She’s still a little bit on the tired side and you can see her on NZ pandacam one. Also checked cam 2, and there was Tai Shan in his favorite air conditioned cool spot over the grate outside taking a nap.
USA has about 45 medals total so far thru today in the Olympics. Oh yeah, this is for all of the San Diego State baseball fans: There is one college baseball player from SDSU on the US baseball team that is not a part of any one-A, AA, AAA MLB minor league team, and he’s been doing pretty good so far. Unfortunately, the US baseball team has 1 win/2 losses with a few more teams to play in the prelims.
Helen Rainier, do you know the name of that mother panda that had the twins on Aug. 9, and if she is one of the Wolong pandas? Congrats to the new mom!! Let us know, ok? TY!!!!
Well, gonna go. Will write back in later on. BYE!!!
Chari Mercier
St. Pete, FL
August 16th, 2008 at 1:47 pm
Linda #121
Your comments to the Moderators speak for us all, they do a magnificient job by allowing us to keep in touch and up to date with what is happening in Panda Land.
I would like the Moderators to refresh my memory regards the date when ‘Blogs’ were introduced to this site.
When Hua Mei was born we had ‘News Letters’ and updates, also when Mei Sheng was born the question was posed as to ‘whose your daddy’? Bai had a friendly meeting with her new friend Gao Gao and they mated, I recall she also had AI from Shi Shi (father of Hua Mei)
Sheng is 5 yrs this month – did the blogs commence about 4 years ago?
Regards……
Moderator’s note: Since you asked, Hazel, here’s a brief history of the San Diego Zoo’s blog section: Our very first blogs were posted in 2003 and they were all about the Zoo’s Hawaii Endangered Bird Program. They were hard to find on the Web site and didn’t receive any comments. In 2005, we decided to expand our blog topics and give them more prominence. But they really didn’t catch on until a certain panda named Su Lin was born August 2, 2005! We were so very glad that the Panda Team was willing to contribute to our blog section and we continue to appreciate the time they take to inform all of us about these popular bears. And it has been very gratifying to ” meet†animal lovers from around the world!
Our blog section has different categories: giant panda, animal stories, field studies, and many more, as well as an Archives listing that goes back to that first blog in 2003. You’ll find all of these, along with podcast ” chats†and ” tours†in the gold side bar.
August 17th, 2008 at 7:35 pm
Thank you for posting new pictures of Bai Yun, Su Lin, and Zhen Zhen! I really enjoy browsing through them and see how much they have grown!
August 17th, 2008 at 8:45 pm
I too will have to say the cam views of the pandas are so much better now. I really enjoy watching little Miss ZZ and her mom having a big time together early Sunday afternoon. Then they change the camera over to Su Lun and she was totally enjoy herself also. Something in the air today must of got them going with fun for all.
August 17th, 2008 at 9:09 pm
Oh my–so many new pictures in my screenshots file from Bai Yun and Miss ZZ playing this weekend–so sweet, and for such a long time. And Su Lin had a ball with her pillowcase and Gao Gao munched away. A wonderful panda weekend!
August 19th, 2008 at 8:03 am
Robin #110 quick update from Pandas Intl. Wolong pandas had a total so far of 10 cubs Chengdu had 6 cub and Xhaanxi had a set of twins and Fei Fei had a single cub. after all they have been through I believe we are doing great. hope for maybe a few more.
September 2nd, 2008 at 2:22 pm
we have a baby panda boy acording to a recent website update at zoo atlanta!