Highjinks and Hiccups
Posted at 10:10 am August 18, 2008 by Ellie RosenbaumIt was quite a morning Friday (August 15) at the Giant Panda Research Station. Su Lin, who’s been back on exhibit for the last few days (variety is the spice of life!), finished her meal and wound herself up to a rousing good frolic. Up the trees, down the trees, up the climbing structure and hang upside down, roll around and race around the exhibit, attack the cut bamboo and the shrubs, race around, then sit in the pool to catch her breath! She’d enter her bedroom for a few minutes, wander around, and then out again to perform a variation on the romp.
It did catch up with her, though. At one point she sat splashing in her now-muddy pool and then suddenly sat stock still and began to jerk spasmodically. Everyone became silent, staring with concern, until it happened again and again and again. With all that racing around, Su Lin had given herself the hiccups! Too funny!! She found it very disconcerting and didn’t seem to enjoy them, but our visitors loved it. It was not a long bout, fortunately for Su Lin, but it added to the chronology of “things pandas do,” including burping and talking in their sleep.
Zhen Zhen slept most of the morning, but did spend some time investigating a very elaborate enrichment item consisting of woven nylon, climbing rope, two types of PVC pipe and some chain. It was something to see her investigating and inspecting, but hunger won out and she soon sought out Bai Yun for a nursing bout not readily encouraged by Mom. It won’t be too long now before ZZ will be eating enough bamboo on her own not to need the supplement of her mother’s milk and shortly thereafter the separation will begin, at least from Mom’s point of view. It’s still a lot of fun to see this small cub throw herself up on Bai’s back, and slide off and roll away!
Ellie Rosenbaum is a panda narrator at the San Diego Zoo.
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August 18th, 2008 at 10:35 am
Ellie, I did get to see quite a bit of Su Lin’s fun on Friday but missed the hiccups (or just didn’t understand what was going on). It was fun to watch though. This moring she was sitting in her pool and splashing her back feet and having having a good old time. I know pandas are solitary animals but I wish she had a playmate. Just think how much trouble 2 three-year-olds could get into. Hopefully she will be on display when I get there in 3 weeks. Maybe I will get to meet you also – I hope so.
August 18th, 2008 at 10:39 am
Thanks, Ellie, for a very funny update. Glad to hear the girls are enjoying their sunny SD August days and making the most of them. Their ” cousins” on the east coast are taking it easy with the onset of mid-summer heat. They are not eating much and generally snoozing away the days at all three east coast zoos. Glad to know that their California counterparts are more active like the beach lovers and surfers and making the most of their ” pool” to cool off. I will have to look at the video to see if Su Lin was captured on film with her hiccups.
August 18th, 2008 at 10:53 am
How on earth is Zhen Zhen managing to balance in the tree (10.45am SDZ time)? I’m sure she’s got an invisible board under her!
Thank you Ellie for the story of Su Lin and the hiccups. I wish I’d seen it, it must have been hilarious, although as you say. a little disconcerting for Su. I noticed lots of new ‘toys’ this weekend and enjoyed watching Su Lin playing with the ball and I did see her going crazy. That was funny too. In the UK we say that if animals are going ‘mad’ there’s going to be bad weather – hope it doesn’t mean the same for you! You can have some of our rain if you want, though.
August 18th, 2008 at 11:07 am
Hi Ellie, – It looks like Su Lin had another ” rousing good frolic†this morning. Great job Meerkats following Su Lin around.
I started watching the cam around 9:40 AM. Su Lin was very animated, running all around her exhibit. She was full of vim, vigor and vitality
She ran towards the door, acting as if she wanted in. She climbed up her favorite tree, swinging around and running back down. From there, Su Lin decided to jump in her pool (9:55 AM). where she enjoyed some splashing. After cooling off, she tried the door again. No such luck. Then at 10:05 the camera switched to Bai Yun sleeping on the den. It’s 10:18AM, Su Lin is back in her pool! She is having such a wonderful fun time today.
It was obvious that the visitors were also enjoying Su Lin’s antics. Without a doubt, Su Lin was feeling her cheerios today! What a wonderful way to start off my day watching a beautiful, happy and playful Su Lin.
August 18th, 2008 at 12:11 pm
Thank you Ellie, for a most enjoyable post. Hiccups indeed! I’m sorry I missed that session with Su Lin. I used to think she had little personality (compared with brother Mei Sheng) but now she is making up for it. And she is beautiful.
Now please expound a bit more about the ” talking in their sleep” bit.
The quality of the cam pictures is great! Thanks for the upgrade.
August 18th, 2008 at 12:16 pm
Oh how funny that Su Lin got the hiccups!!! I sure would love to have witnessed that in person. At least Su Lin can hang herself upside down from a tree limb to ” cure” her hiccups. We humans just have to wait it out.
Thanks again for posting a new blog and the new photos for all to enjoy!
August 18th, 2008 at 12:25 pm
Ellie, Thankyou for this story, what a sight it must have been, who would have thought that something a simple as the hiccups would be so funny. I don’ t know if your weather has changed but i just watched Mei Lan bouncing off the walls jumping and running maybe it’s the weather
August 18th, 2008 at 12:29 pm
Hi Ellie, I was so fortunate to have seen Su Lin in her frolicking good mood Friday. Somehow, I missed the hiccups
She was so active, I wanted to post on the blog but didn’t want to change the screen. Thank you for making everything much brighter.
Isn’t Su Lin beautiful???
August 18th, 2008 at 1:00 pm
I had been watching friday as sue lin was in her pool of water, how much fun that had to of been.
Love from seattle to SD zoo 
I cant wait next tuesday im going back to sandeigo to see family and afew days of the SD zoo to see
my favorite pandas. I wonder if there hicups sound like ours? I also have some really good pictures of zhen -zhen nursing
August 18th, 2008 at 1:38 pm
I agree with Barbara #5–I’d love to know what pandas say in their sleep (or awake, for that matter). Well, we know what Gao Gao says: ” Bamboooooo, bambooooo, bamboooooooooooo.”
I know weaning is a necessary part of raising a cub, but I think I’d better plan to be out of town and away from panda cam when it happens, as it will be so sad to see Bai Yun and ZZ separated.
August 18th, 2008 at 2:12 pm
Okay so, my question is – where is there room for a 4th panda? I am aware of 2 viewing exhibits and the classroom (where Gao is now). Is the other space indoors? I agree with Frances (#10) – weaning is hard for us panda watchers!
August 18th, 2008 at 2:46 pm
That’s for the update. I did enjoy Su Lin on Friday but I too missed the hiccups. I did see her just sitting there though. And I laughed out loud at ZZ yesterday up in the tree. What a wonderfully entertaining panda family we have in San Diego! Thank you again.
August 18th, 2008 at 2:57 pm
August 15, 2008 happened to be 15th day of 7th lunar month according to East Asian calendar… a full moon occurs on 15th day of every lunar month. So maybe Su Lin was affected by influences of the impending full moon for following evening. (chuckle…)
August 18th, 2008 at 3:05 pm
#13 — I’m thinking the same thing.
August 18th, 2008 at 3:30 pm
Oh That is so funny! When is the age pandas normally wean?
August 18th, 2008 at 4:36 pm
Yes I saw some of Su Lin fun Friday also, what a crazy panda she can be sometimes. # 15 Aly panda cub here in the US zoos are weaned around 18 months old. Which means Zhen Zhen will be wean around Feb. It is a very sad time for all the panda lovers.
August 18th, 2008 at 7:07 pm
Thank you to whomever is responsible for the much lighter pandacam pictures! It’s such a joy to see the pandas clearly and not have to squint through the darkness.
August 19th, 2008 at 12:40 am
Just wanted to say Happy Birthday Mei Sheng, I wonder if he will get a cake and treats, like the two girls did, does anyone know how he is? we dont seems to get any news about him any more we didnt get a lot when he first went, hope you can let us know,someone must be able to tell you, any way hope the young boy has a good day and i know there will be a lot of panda fans thinking of him.
August 19th, 2008 at 4:14 am
#15 Aly
They wean in the wild at about the same age as the zoo weans (approx 18month – 2 yrs)
Is it just me or does the cave structure at the back in C3 look like a giant puppy?
August 19th, 2008 at 5:46 am
Happy Birthday to Mei Sheng today!! And to Hua Mei this Thursday!! We wish them much love and many treats. We will never forget them.
August 19th, 2008 at 9:59 am
~~~ HAPPY BIRTHDAYS TO ~~~
MEI SHENG – 5 years on August 19th > and his mom
HUA MEI – 9 years on August 21st 2008 – both now at Bifengxia
We will never forget you ~ hope you both have wonderful day.
# 123 – Big Birthday Thank You
Thank you Moderator’s for reminding me of the dates when the ‘blog’ sections commenced – it just seems longer than 3 years!
You do a wonderful job keeping us all informed and up to speed…
~~Kind regards~~
August 19th, 2008 at 11:43 am
Yes, happy birthday to Mei Sheng, Cindy (#20)! I hope our big boy is doing well.
August 19th, 2008 at 11:47 am
How funny!!! I can just imagine Su Lin sitting in the middle of her pool jerking from hiccups. She must have had a look on her face like ” What the heck is going on?” ZZ is becoming quite the young lady also. Wow! I can’t believe that it’s almost time for Bai Yun to ween the little princess. Time flies so fast. Pretty soon she will be on her own too!
Happy Birthday Mei Sheng! I hope you had a big party with lots of treats!!
August 19th, 2008 at 11:51 am
Happy Birthday, dear Mei Sheng! You are the adorable cub and handsome young man who made me the panda afionado that I am.
August 19th, 2008 at 12:19 pm
HAPPY BIRTHDAY to our boy, it’s still hurts and we all still miss you and always will. Happy birthday to our super mom Hua Mei hope you both enjoyed your special day. PLease someone find out some info on our babies
August 19th, 2008 at 12:41 pm
Carole #24: I could not have said it better. Mei Sheng was such a happy bear in San Diego and with such a beautiful smile. I still miss him but truly enjoy watching the ” girls” . Under the current China earthquake damage, I hope San Diego gets to keep Su Lin a bit longer (?).Blessings, Claudia PS: Moderator, I still cannot bring up Mei Sheng’s drop down history area.
Moderator’s note: Mei Sheng’s bio pops up for us. Are you able to access the other panda bios?
August 19th, 2008 at 12:47 pm
Happy Birthday Mei Sheng. Stay out of mischief until I get there next month and then we’ll make mischief together!
August 19th, 2008 at 1:40 pm
Su Lin with hiccups?!? Now that is too funny!! I did some LOL when I read this blog! Su Lin can give all of us some neat surprises every once in awhile. I didn’t even know that pandas burp and talk in their sleep! Very interesting! I also got my Pandas International email newsletter about all of the cubs that have been born in China since the 5/12 earthquake. Looking very good for all of those panda moms that we weren’t very sure would have their babies because of all of the trauma from the quake and all of the moving that they had to go thru to be in safe areas. All of the pics of the cubs were just absolutely adorable!! To all of you that don’t get PI’s email newsletter, check the PI website often, and they should be getting that article up on their website soon, maybe this week. You’ll love what we are all excited about here! Just read a comment about Mei Sheng’s birthday. He’s a big 5 years old now! Hope that he’s doing good at Bifengxia. Happy birthday to you, Mei Sheng, from far away America!!
Atlanta Zoo has a new update for Monday, Aug 18 available for all of us to read along with a picture of Mei Lan at the water fountain in the day room. She just looks so relaxed on it! Lun Lun is still showing pregnancy behavior signs, sleeping, not eating, and staying in her dens alot more. Hope to see a new chart with the Wednesday update on where her progestin levels are at. The chart from last Friday’s update shows that she’s definitely in her second luteal phase. I think that we will be waiting thru September to see if Lun will have her baby panda cub. By my count, Lun is at 120 days since AI as of today, 8/19/2008.
Well, gonna go. My state of Florida had a tropical storm named Fay make landfall near Naples early this morning. Pinellas County was spared the worst of this storm that has 65 mph winds, but we are expecting some amount of rain out of her because this storm does not want to leave the state very fast at all. She’s a slow mover!! Oh well, this state does need alot of this rain in alot of the areas to get our water aquifers built back up from the latest drought. We’re not done with hurricane season yet, tho.
Love to all the pandas,
Chari Mercier
St. Pete, FL
August 19th, 2008 at 2:50 pm
A SPECIAL BIRTHDAY FOR ONE SPECIAL BOY!!!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY MEI SHENG- If you were at San Diego Zoo today there sure would have been a lot of special things for you. I know we all miss you and hoped you can come back until your new home is built. I hear it’s pretty tight there and I hope by now they were able to get more bamboo so no one has to be on any more diets. Enjoy your day and hopefully someone will be able to get us a picture and an update on how you are doing. I saw you last year and now I send hugs and kisses to you. Auntie Shelly
August 19th, 2008 at 3:29 pm
A Big HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO OUR BIG BOY MEI SHENG I still get tears in my eyes when I read anything about him. Sure hope he had a great day and lots of love send his way.
Hugs and Kisses BIG BOY.
August 19th, 2008 at 4:15 pm
Happy B-Day to both mei Sheng and Hua Mei!! 5 and 9??? So hard to believe. They grow up so fast. And all those babies for Hua!!
August 19th, 2008 at 8:45 pm
Happy 5th Birthday to our handsome and beautiful Mei Sheng. Also, Happy 9th Birthday to our most prolific and beautiful Hua Mei. Hugs, love and kisses!
August 19th, 2008 at 11:00 pm
Yes, Happy Birthday to Mei Sheng, Hua Mei, Bai Yun…really miss Mei Sheng – his handsome smile and clown like frolics, not to mention ms. Diva Hua Mei! The kids are just too cute…!!!
August 20th, 2008 at 1:24 am
I didn’t get the time to even get on the internet yesterday and never got to wish Mei Sheng a Happy Happy Birthday. Like #30 Pam T, I still get tears in my eyes and it’s like yesterday that he went away. He has such a happy smiley face – it seems to run in the family. Miss you Mei Sheng. And a Happy Birthday too to Hua Mei on Thursday, who I never got to know but I have read lots about her.
Slightly changing the subject, I have decided to grow some bamboo in my garden (in big pots) and wondered when I could expect the arrival of my first panda???!!
August 20th, 2008 at 6:21 am
Happy Birthday Mei Sheng! I miss you too. Hope that you live a happy life in your new home at Bifengxia. Happy Birthday also to your sister Hua Mei.
August 20th, 2008 at 7:22 am
10 cubs born in China this year! That is so exciting, especially because of the uncertainty brought about by the earthquake and the subsequent move of the pregnant females. It is so exciting to read that Fei Fei had her cub on the opening day of the Olympics. It is very fitting since she was very picky about her mate.
Has anyone heard any news about Hua Mei’s breeding and potential pregnancy this year? I don’t recall reading about whether she had been bred when the earthquake struck. She has produced all twin cubs, so, if she is pregnant this year, maybe she will have more twins. What a prolific mom she is! It is hard to believe that she is 9 years old already. That is only one year younger than Lun Lun, the star mom at ZA. ZA is on 24 hour birth watch for Lun Lun in hopes she will have another cub or two. She has reached the lethargic stage and likes to sleep and is not interested in participating in ultrasound procedures.
Maybe they should rename the ” Dog Days of Summer” to the Panda Days of Summer. It sounds like all US pandas have slowed down in their bamboo consumption, except Gao Gao who was on panda cam this morning chowing down on a huge pile of bamboo. Got to keep his strength up for his coming mating season when he gets to be with his beloved Bai Yun again for their ” Falling in Love.”
August 20th, 2008 at 8:11 am
What is on the rock that Zhen Zhen (and Bai Yun) are spending so much time smelling? Something is very interesting there. Did you place an enrichment smell there? They are acting like my cat when I put a little trace of catnip out for her.
Moderator’s note: Honey!
August 20th, 2008 at 9:54 am
Susan (UK) #34–ha! If your panda shows up soon, will you please send me a cutting of your bamboo? What a lovely thought–plant it and they will come!
August 20th, 2008 at 11:42 am
Frances #34 – wouldn’t it be wonderful if there were enough pandas in the world that we could all have them in our gardens? Ah well, we can dream. I just ordered some black bamboo from a plant catalogue as it reminded me of my visit to the zoo. If it grows well I might try some other colours too. I’m sure the squirrels will like it.
August 20th, 2008 at 12:06 pm
Hello panda lovers. Just wanted to alert you about another couple of great Mei Lan videos on youtube. These were uploaded on Aug. 18 and they are nice and long – one is 8 minutes. They’ve brought out her yellow car again and it’s so fun to watch her crawling in one opening and out the other in between play bouts with her yellow ball. Then she stops and twirls, and then keeps on going. What a crazy, enjoyable bear!! Definitely a version of daddy Yang. Sign in to youtube and search for panda meilan, then sort by date added.
NZ is testing their improved webcam system so when you sign on, you’ll see all kinds of techie details on the screen. They must be doing the settings. I have missed all of Su Lin’s cavorting and splashing, but thanks to Ellie’s update, I can visualize Su Lin romping around and just having a great time. Miss ZZ has been spending lots of time up in the trees – at least whenever I sign on, yet I keep hearing of nice play bouts with mama Bai – must try the early morning.
Yes, a big HAPPY BIRTHDAY to the prince Mei Sheng and crown princess Hua Mei. I hope both will have wonderful adventures ahead – maybe another cub or two from Hua Mei and a first cub from Mei Sheng perhaps?
August 20th, 2008 at 12:29 pm
I am laughing out loud at ZZ and Mom (12:30 pm SDZ time). Can I be an honorary keeper so I can watch in person for eight hours a day? (I know you do a lot more than just sit and watch the pandas all day! You work very hard taking care of all of our kids……..and thank you!)
August 20th, 2008 at 12:33 pm
I’m watching the cam right now and it looks as if Bai Yun is starting the weening process. Is this possible?
Every time Zhen tries to nurse it seems Bai is pushing her away. I she trying to ween her ?
August 20th, 2008 at 12:46 pm
Hi, you all! Well, all of us here in Pinellas County, Fla., pretty much dodged a bullet with TS Fay hitting land near Naples, which is about 150 miles south of us. The storm was pretty small, so we didn’t get hardly any rain out of her at all. BUT, hurricane season is not over yet; still have 3 months to go until it ends on Nov. 30!
More panda birthdays! Checked Memphis Zoo’s panda updates, and they had one written on Aug. 2 about Ya Ya and Le Le’s upcoming birthdays. Big boy Le Le had his 10th birthday on July 18, and they had a big bday party for him. Lady panda Ya Ya turned 8 years old on Aug. 9, and they had a birthday party for her as well. As far as Ya Ya’s possible estrus is concerned, NOT! No word from the keepers about Ya Ya on that lately. It looks like she may not come into estrus at all this year! Can someone please explain to me and all of the other pandafans why a female panda refuses to go into estrus for one solid year? Ya Ya has been a total mystery to all of us and no doubt to all of the panda keepers at Memphis Zoo!
National Zoo has the Aug. 19 update available for all of us to read. Basically, Mei Xiang is slowly getting back to normal. She’s still attached to her den but she’s not showing any maternal/pregnancy behaviors. She’s eating real good, goes outside until it gets too hot and goes back inside to stay out of the heat! Saw her on the NZ pandacam, and she was really chowing down on some boo like she meant business! The keepers and vets finally got their chance to do some catchup physicals on all 3 pandas, such as blood draws and blood pressures, and all 3 of them cooperated very well.
Got on the SDZ pandacam and saw a nice large tree, but I couldn’t see any sign of ZZ in there! It looked pretty high, too! I wonder if ZZ was up there sometime today?
Atlanta Zoo should have their Wednesday update up sometime today about Lun Lun. Hope it has a new chart with it that will give us some new data on her progestin levels.
The Olympics coverage on MSNBC cable channel had a nice little story about the pandas at Beijing Zoo. One of the NBC correspondents and one of the US Olympic athletes went there to see the pandas, and got a chance to ” rub shoulders” with one of the pandas inside the enclosure. It was funny because this male panda was munching on his biscuit with one paw and had the other paw on one of the girl’s knees. The NBC correspondent sat down next to the panda, and the panda put his arm around her shoulder and still munching on his biscuit with the other paw. That was so cute! And, he was doing all of this while munching on his biscuit and enjoying the company. Cute picture of both ladies and the panda at Beijing Zoo!
Well, gonna go. Got some things to do here. Will write back when I know something new!
Love to all of the pandas,
Chari Mercier
St. Pete, FL
Oh yeah, Happy Birthday to Hua Mei from far away America! Forgot that she had a birthday this month! I hope that she was able to have cubs this year too. Hope someone that has an ear to Bifengxia will let us know about real soon!
August 20th, 2008 at 1:49 pm
Yes, Susan #39–that would be fantastic. Or if someone would discover a hitherto-unknown species of Apartment Pandas for those of us without gardens!
August 20th, 2008 at 2:13 pm
Chari, #43, I saw the Beizing Zoo visit. It was adorable. The panda was such a flirt!
Pandafan, #40, thanks for mentioning the new videos of Mei Lan. And making me unproductive for 8 minutes! That was absolutely adorable.
And BTW, I received my panda bracelets from Tracy Hoel (and a thank you letter from Panda International for the donation made by Tracy for the sale of the bracelets). Very sweet bracelets and very sweet effort made by this little girl to help the pandas.
August 20th, 2008 at 2:20 pm
Lainie #42–She’s not totally weaning her yet, judging by the nursing session we just saw on panda cam. I think Bai Yun just likes to keep Miss ZZ on her toes.
August 20th, 2008 at 2:45 pm
There are Apartment Pandas, Frances. How about bamboo painted on one wall with lots of painted pandas attached to the stalks. Something along the lines of that magnificent wall painting near the pandas (my daughter and myself loved that). Or fill your apartment with hundreds of cuddly toy pandas (from the SDZ shop, of course).
I keep forgetting to say thanks for the improved quality of the cams. It really has made a difference and it’s nice to tune in when you’re all asleep and it’s my morning, to see the enclosures clearly rather than in total darkness. If I’m lucky one of the pandas is having a midnight snack – usually Gao Gao (!) – sometimes Bai Yun.
August 20th, 2008 at 3:31 pm
I was just watching the beautiful Su Lun enjoying some of her boo at 6:15 (edt). What a great closeup of her, the new cam is wonderful. The pictures are so clear now and we can enjoy them so much better. Boy I to wish growing bamboo would get you a panda I’ve have a couple hundred acres of it.
And a Happy Birthday to Hua Mei what a great mom.
Has anyone been checking in on Peanut at the NZ he is getting so big. That’s the Black Footed Ferret.
August 20th, 2008 at 4:08 pm
Hey panda lovers. Another video alert. Sign on to youtube and search for panda bath then sort by date added. Just uploaded today – watch the Olympic pandas in Beijing get shampooed and rinsed (hosed down) one after the other. Then watch them scatter the keepers when they shake the water off – oh how entertaining!!! They also show the other pandas watching all this and trying to climb over top of each other to get a good view!! Oh man, I’d be willing to give one of those bears a shampoo and rinse anytime! Don’t miss it!
August 20th, 2008 at 4:17 pm
Susan #47–I haven’t been lucky enough to make it to SDZ to see the pandas in person (or the murals next to them). But I do have a panda calendar and a stuffed panda from SDZ (the 8″ Hua Mei) and a lucky bamboo (even though it’s not really bamboo) in a pot with some little pandas on it and a couple of other things here and there. But just imagine a cute little panda in your garden bamboo or curled up on your sofa–panda dreams!
August 20th, 2008 at 4:55 pm
Thanks for the lovely shots of Bai Yun this afternoon. She certainly is the queen mother of pandas. And happy birthday to Hua Mei and Mei Sheng, two of Bai’s beautiful offspring. May they live long, happy lives in Panda Homeland.
Speaking of the Homeland, thank you, Pandafan #49, for mentioning the video of the Beijing pandas being bathed. It was adorable, but I must admit that I never thought pandas had to be washed. Is this done in other zoos? It seemed a little much, although I realize that they probably want to keep the pandas clean for the Olympic visitors. Maybe they’ll like baths so much that they’ll want facials and spa pedicures next.
August 20th, 2008 at 5:08 pm
Just one more heart felt THANK YOU to all the Poster here, it is so enjoyable to read all the nice things you write, and all the great extra information you all give us. Cheri Mercer, we really have to meet!! We are in the same city and probably a few miles from each other, and we have SO MUCH in common with LOVE of Pandas..we could talk for days on end!! The new camera is wonderful!!
August 20th, 2008 at 5:58 pm
Hey, pandafan #49–thanks for the info about the clip. It is adorable, especially with the bouncy music. I’d gladly join you in the shampoo brigade–I’ve always said that if I worked with pandas I think I would laugh all day.
August 20th, 2008 at 6:42 pm
So pandas talk in their sleep! THAT makes me smile as I had a cat, the famous Murphy, who did that. Another great post. Many thanks! And thanks for all the great shots on the web cam. It means a lot that we can check in on them and see how they are doing.
August 20th, 2008 at 7:38 pm
Pandafan #49 – Thanks for the heads up on the Olympic panda shampoo and shower video. It had us laughing from start to finish. The panda at the end of the video had all of us in hysterics – he/she was probably thinking, ” enough already – get me out of here” . The background singing added to the enjoyment. Very, very cute
August 21st, 2008 at 1:59 am
Frances, you will go to the ball (sorry, the SDZ) one day. I know you will. At least we can watch the wonderful pandas and polar bears on here and, like you say we have our imagination. Oooh, a panda on the sofa…something soft and furry to cuddle up to while watching TV or the Panda Cam!!!!
Happy Birthday Hue Mei.
August 21st, 2008 at 6:23 am
Susie Q is getting her morning walk as I write this (9:20 EDT). Just want to pop in to wish Hua Mei, my first love, a very happy 9th birthday. I’ve watched you from the beginning on PandaCam and soon will get to meet you in person. You have been such a wonderful ambassador for your species. Enjoy your day.
And a special tribute to Shi Shi (RIP) and Bai Yun (and all the panna folks at SDZ) who made Hua Mei possible. Thanks.
August 21st, 2008 at 8:28 am
Dear Pandafan # 49:
Oh, Thank you for advising about the Panda Bath video
To all: Don’t Miss it!!!
To SDZ: Thank you so much for the improvement in the lighting on the pandacam! Now, we can see ‘the Stars’ and use the postcard feature without having to brighten by using photoshop
What a total treat it is to watch the girls and Gao clearly 
To All who decorate with Panda toys: Indeed I am one of you…. What beautiful animals Panda’s are!
August 21st, 2008 at 8:59 am
Hey pandafan #49 – thanks so much for the info on the youtube video – LOVED IT! And I agree – I’d give them a bath anytime – it looked like so much fun. I hope these people realize how lucky they are to get PAID to have this fun! If I’d known 40 years ago that I’d be so into animals now, I’d have definitely taken a different road!! Have a good day!
August 21st, 2008 at 11:43 am
Oh, yes pandafan (#49) – the panda bath youtube clip is definitely a ” don’t miss!!” I love the spectator pandas! They climb all over the top of each other as if they are saying ” me next! choose me!!” I also love the panda that climbs way up the bars to get away from the hose and shakes furiously to get rid of the water. Sign me up! I want to do the panda bath brigade too!
August 21st, 2008 at 11:53 am
Wow — I thought it was hard giving my dog a bath — but how fun did that look! I would gladly volunteer for that job. I found another nice video clip — from this mornings Today show — on MSN’s website. It’s an update on the pandas — and how they are adjusting to their new homes — and talks about the mini baby boom they are experiencing. It’s a sweet story — it’s called ” Pandas adjust to new home.”
August 21st, 2008 at 11:59 am
I’m glad so many of you enjoyed the Panda Bath video. That’s one that I can watch over and over again.
#51 Margot – You’re probably right about the Beijing zoo just wanting the bears to look spiffy for their visitors. They do enjoy playing in the water, as evidenced by the many stories from other posters about Su Lin in her pool. The pandas in Hongkong are often seen in their pool. And there are several enjoyable clips on youtube of the pandas in China enjoying their water play. I also remember some clips from NZ showing Tai Shan and Mei Xiang enjoying their keepers pointing a garden hose at them. I know there’s a great one of Tai rolling around on the cement sidewalk while the hose is trained on him. In case you haven’t figured it out already, I just love watching them play in the water – they splash their faces, they slap the water with their paws, they twirl their feet in it, they jump up and down in it. I could go on and on. Just search youtube for ‘panda water bath shower’. I’m sure you’ll get some hits.
Now on panda toys – have 4 stuffed pandas of varying sizes – one from NZ for sponsoring Tai Shan, one from the WWF, one from SDZ, and one from the Beanie collection. I am also the proud owner of a crystal panda (an older one, not the most recent from Swarovski). I’m planning to distribute them throughout my house where I have several vases with bamboo arrangements (artificial, I’m afraid, as I’m not sure I can plant any in Canada).
Like everyone else, I am so enjoying the much crisper views on pandacam. Thank you SDZ.
August 21st, 2008 at 12:53 pm
Hey! Just checked Atlanta Zoo’s website on their panda update page, and the Wed., Aug. 20 update is available with a new chart with it! I was hoping for the new chart of Lun Lun’s progestin levels. It’s been updated based on the hormone analysis that’s been done over the last few days, and Lun’s progestin levels have started to decrease. Lun is still sleeping in her den and not eating. AZ’s panda keepers are really hoping for a cub very soon! There’s been a panda cub birth here in the US zoos for 3 years straight, and I would love to see Lun have a cub to keep this streak going to 4 years straight! Keep your fingers crossed, do a whole lot of praying, whatever else you can do, and hope there’s a baby panda in the next few weeks or less! Didn’t see either Lun or Mei Lan on the cam when I got on it a few minutes ago.
Pandafan (#49), I got your message about the youtube vid of the panda baths! That was hilarious!! I would also love to be able to give a panda a bath! Those keepers at Beijing Zoo were having alot of fun themselves as well. I just loved that one panda climbing up the cage while he was getting hosed down, then shaking the water off all over the place and on the keepers! That was fun to watch, you all! If any of you haven’t seen it yet, get on youtube to watch these pandas get their baths! Enjoy!
Well, not much else going on here. Will write again when I hopefully see something in the form of little ZZ on the SDZ cam!
BYE!!
Chari Mercier
St. Pete, FL
August 21st, 2008 at 2:01 pm
It has been great to see Bai Yun and ZZ together, on the ground, today. ZZ seems to be enjoying rolling around ” mom” and generally being near her. Bai Yun is unphased and keeps munching away peacefully.
Got some great close-ups of the slumbering faces of NZP pandas today. Looked like it was Tai and Tian, because they were on the rocks, but could have been Mei Xiang since she has started to return to her normal routine.
August 21st, 2008 at 5:55 pm
I have just read an e-mail from 13 WMAZ (?) that reported:
” Lun Lun could give birth in a week to 10 days and the zoo’s team is preaparing for twins.
At the Atlanta Zoo’s nursery, you will notice there two incubators.”
Cross the fingers!! Twins!!!
August 21st, 2008 at 6:16 pm
Thanks, Susan #56–but I want to be there now! (So impatient, I know…) I worked in San Diego briefly in 1992 and made it to the WAP, but not to SDZ. The cost of plane tickets being what it is now, I shall have to pray for a lottery win and stay glued to pandacam in the meantime.
August 22nd, 2008 at 5:54 am
Frances #66 I couldn’t wait for the lottery so I took Amtrak to D.C. It was the best $150.00 spent and worth every dollar. Just to See Tai sit right in front of me eating a fruitcicle made me cry., my friends had to drag me away. The whole day was a trip to remember,one day i’ll make it to SDZ because this old lady isn’t giving up hope.I just got a peek at all the families this morning and am hoping that Mei Lan will have a cub soon. So Frances don’t give up hope one day it will happen.
August 22nd, 2008 at 9:09 am
Made a big mistake Lun Lun should have the baby not Mei Lan. sorry
August 22nd, 2008 at 9:34 am
Conversation with Gao Gao #40
Tourist: Hello, Gao Gao.
Gao Gao: Uh, hello, Mr. Tourist.
T: Now what are you looking at? Looks like some catalog.
G: Yes, I’m shopping for tumbleweed ornaments.
T: Tumbleweed ornaments?
G: Yeah, we’re organizing Pandalympic Games.
T: Pandalympic Games?
G: Yup.
T: Why tumbleweed ornaments?
G: We plan an opening ceremony with tumbleweed galas.
T: Oh, that must be Tai Shan’s idea.
G: Yup. He’ll be rolling down a steep slide.
T: Uh huh.
G: He’ll be dancing the role of Yin Yang Tumbleweed Chief.
August 22nd, 2008 at 10:54 am
So yesterday I was out searching the web for ” Panda Bath” and lo and behold I came upon a web site looking for a person to come to Chengdu to learn to bathe pandas. Oh, only to be young and frivolous again, i would do it in a heartbeat.
August 22nd, 2008 at 11:16 am
#69 P. W ng – too funny!! I was wondering when we’d hear from you again. Good job!
August 22nd, 2008 at 11:40 am
#49 — Thanks for the panda bath video info. Watched it yesterday and it was just too delightful. I sent it out to about 20 friends so they too could enjoy it.
#69 — P. Wong, your panda conversations are always so interesting and fun to read. Thanks for sharing them with all of us.
August 22nd, 2008 at 1:21 pm
Wow, your new panda cam is GREAT – thanks- wonderful shot of Zhen sleeping on a skinny branch – wonder how they manage not to fall off.
The video of the panda shower is a riot.
August 22nd, 2008 at 2:13 pm
Carol #70–found that site too. Wouldn’t it be fun??
P Wong #69–will Zhen Zhen and Mei Sheng be doing their high-wire act? The Pandalympic Games would surely be the most amazing event of the year.
Barbara #67–you’re right, I should go to DC in the meantime, but I do want to see the SDZ pandas in person–they have become such a big part of my day.
August 22nd, 2008 at 4:34 pm
#62 Pandafan.
The invasive bamboo varieties will probably thrive in Canada. This means you would expand your bamboo groves to new horizons. And eventually connect to existing panda bamboo forest corridors. Then the pandas will surely come.
August 22nd, 2008 at 10:21 pm
Thanks to all of you for your interesting comments, and especially P Wong. Your Panda conversations always brighten the day, as do all of you. I plan to go to D.C. this fall to see my 1st panda baby, Tai Shan, in person. I really hope he won’t have to go to China (tho I really know he will). It will break my heart. I too found some funny videos on the youtube site. Lots of old ones of Tai Shan, Mei Lan, and Su Lin.
August 23rd, 2008 at 6:40 pm
I have really enjoyed seeing the recent prolonged play sessions between Bai and Zhen. Thank you camera person.
August 24th, 2008 at 11:16 am
Nineteen giant panda cubs were born in China after the earthquake, including eight set of twins.
The new arrivals included nine cubs from Wolong’s Research Center ( transferred to Ya’an) and ten from Chengdu.
Congratulations for all of the panda staff.
August 24th, 2008 at 2:22 pm
Wowie! I just read that there have been 19 cubs born since the quake–8 sets of twins and 3 singles. Nine were born to mothers from Wolong and 10 to those from Ghengdu. You go, panda mommies!
August 24th, 2008 at 3:35 pm
Hello fellow pandafans. Our beloved Mei Xiang appears to be well on her way back to her usual fun-loving self. Check out the 7 minute video on youtube called ‘Sunday Morning with Mei Xiang’ just uploaded today, Aug. 24. Mei does her trademark ‘dance’ at the entrance to her indoor enclosure (we often see her doing this when she wants out of or into wherever she wants to go.) The neat thing is while she’s doing her side to side moves at the wall, Tian is curiously watching her at the ‘howdy’ window. She also does her tree-climbing and bouncing routine. Don’t miss it! Good to have you back, Mei X!!
August 25th, 2008 at 1:35 am
Fu Long’s 1st birthday was celebrated last Saturday. He slept away his birthday party with a traditionell Chinese Dragon Dance, the Chinese ambassador, several TV teams, a special birthday cake and a huge crowd of people around the giant panda habitat. Mommy Yang Yang was really happy to get his icy birthday cake first. When Fu Long woke up in the late afternoon only a very few people were still there. So I got the opportunity to be one of a handfull of panda fans who witnessed that wonderful moment, when cute prince Fu long spotted that strange item Mommy was munching. Find pics & videos on my panda blog (written in German): pandanews(dot)wordpress(dot)com. Enjoy!
August 25th, 2008 at 4:31 am
Conversation with Gao Gao #41
Tourist: Hello, Gao Gao.
Gao Gao: Uh, hello, Mr. Tourist.
T: Now what are you looking at? Looks like some catalog.
G: Yes, I’m shopping for artificial long stem roses.
T: Long stem roses?
G: Yeah, regulation size.
T: Regulation size?
G: Yeah, the Pandalympic Games. You know, the Tango Competitions.
T: You mean ballroom dancing?
G: Well, they will start at floor level.
T: Huh?
G: Then they’ll graduate to tree stump level.
T: What?
G: Then they’ll graduate to treetop level.
T: Treetop level?
G: Yeah, the competing couples will tango in the branches.
T: Now tell me. How are you going to get trees with indestructible limbs?
G: We’ll get artificial ones.
T: Oh, yeah, regulation size, of course!
G: We’ll order cell towers.
T: Cell towers! Of course! How did I not think of that?
G: Now what do you think? Should I order this one with the bananas… or this one with pineapples?
T: No, I think this pine tree looks better.
G: Oh, but this ash affords better visibility.
T: Yeah, you’re right. For the benefit of the judges, you mean.
G: Yup.
August 25th, 2008 at 9:41 am
The newest newsletter from pandas intl has a connecting sight to msnbc that has a video of Mederith Viera in China At Bifengxia and shows all the pandas and a couple of babies, also there are some pictures.I don’t know who had more fun, the cameraman or the pandas. Great Pics.
August 25th, 2008 at 10:59 am
I wonder why Su Lin sleeps in the trees and Tai Shan does not. I thought once they were older they no longer slept in trees.
August 25th, 2008 at 11:59 am
#75 & #82 P. Wong – I’ll have to check with our local botanical experts about ” invasive bamboo varieties.” You’ve just hatched an idea – we can have some of the pandas re-established in the northern wilderness where there is a lot of room. Might be worth exploring the differences in climate to see if it’s possible. It’s ok to dream, right?
Btw, your last Gao Gao & tourist conversation is a hoot!! Dancing in the treetops. Now that would be something to watch.
#81 Jola – I saw a youtube video of Fu Long’s birthday – yup, he slept through the whole thing. The kids were yelling greetings to him and all they got in return was a raised head to see what the commotion was about. After that, our prince in Austria just shifted position and kept right on snoozing. Mama Yang, however, decided there was no sense letting a good ice cake go to waste and went for it. Too funny!! I’m going to check your blog. Thanks for sharing it. Don’t miss the latest Mei Xiang clip on youtube. She’s ” back in the saddle” !
August 25th, 2008 at 12:25 pm
#84 – I’ve wondered if it’s male-female trait – females like trees better ?????
Also noticed many of the panda cubs born this year have been named right after birth – I thought it was Chinese tradition to wait until they were 100 days old.
August 25th, 2008 at 1:57 pm
Atlanta’s cam just had Lun Lun in her den sleeping, she woke to move and have a scratch and since she has refused to have a ultra sound, I just had to laugh, when Lun went to scratch a bright light, yes a flashlight was being used to see if they could see any change in her vulva, maybe it will be soon
August 25th, 2008 at 5:57 pm
P. Wong, you’ve done it again. I can just imagine Su Lin, Mei Sheng, Mei Lan, and Tai Shan competing in tangos up in the trees. Unfortunately the SDZ and NZP pandas are the only ones in the US that get to ” climb” real trees. Mei Lan can climb about 8-10 feet on dead tree limbs but that is it.
August 25th, 2008 at 8:11 pm
The Sunday morning video of Mei Xiang is a perfect example of why I LOVE pandas!! What an incredible piece to watch! They are so entertaining! She may not have given us a cub this year but she is still a gem! I’ve been hooked on these animals and just love watching and learning about them even though I’ve never seen one in person. Our zoos and especially SDZ have educated us more than I ever dreamed possible. I treasure these websites and everything they provide us!
Thank you!!!!
August 25th, 2008 at 9:54 pm
Hi, you guys! Well, the Summer Olympics are over with until 2010 when the Winter Olympics come to Vancouver, Canada (Get ready, Canadian pandafans!). Had a lot of fun watching it and supporting the USA Olympic team! That’s why I haven’t been on the blog much in the last 2 weeks! Oh yeah, the USA team racked up a total of 110 medals this time around! What a haul!!
Atlanta Zoo has the Aug. 22 & 25 updates available to read. Lun Lun is doing what Mei Xiang was doing, no eating or very little of it, alot of sleeping in her den, and doing some nest building. The report is that her progestin levels are still declining but not at baseline yet. They are really keeping their fingers crossed for a cub! No new charts with these 2 updates, but I expect to see a new one up in the next couple of days.
Read a couple of the comments that said that China now has 19 cubs born since the May 12 earthquake at Bifengxia and Chengdu! WOW!!! You go, momma pandas! This is a great tribute to all of these panda moms who were very resilient and able to go thru their pregnancies without any problems. Love it, you all!
Will check out the MSNBC and youtube vids of the pandas that a couple of you mentioned in your comments. I’ll also check out the pandacams in the AM when I get up. Didn’t get a chance to do that today; had some things to do.
P Wong, you are a natural and you did it again! Your latest conversation was just hilarious! Keep them coming!! Pandalympics in the treetops?? Yeah, right!! Gao Gao has some really bright ideas, doesn’t he?
Well, gonna go! Got to go to bed to catch up on some more sleep. Had a lot of very late nites and wee hours of the AM watching some of the Olympic events on TV! It was fun, tho!
Chari Mercier
St. Pete, FL
August 26th, 2008 at 7:24 am
Congratulations to the Oji Zoo in Kobe, Japan. Bai Yun’s half sister Tan Tan (same mother) gave birth on 8/26. You may remember the news of her still birth last year. Daddy Kou Kou shares same father as Bai Yun too.
August 26th, 2008 at 9:49 am
First of all, many thanks for the new webcam which makes it even more enjoyable watching the SDZ pandas.
Pandafan#49 and 62, thank you for pointing out the video. I had a good laugh but I am not sure whether the pandas were happy about the shampooing part. The hosing down was definitely enjoyed. I found it most hilarious when the pandas eventually hosed down their keepers, may be a bit of revenge? Bobbie Wood#58 I, too, have joined the rank of pandaholics, i. e. I have been collecting panda plush toys and figurines etc. with the result, that my husband who most probably caught the ” panda bug” from me every Sunday visits one of the local flea markets and every time returns with either a panda plush toy or something else featuring a panda. If he carries on like this we will have to move to bigger premises! But it is so much fun! P.Wong# 69 and 82 a big chapeau to your poems which are always most enjoyable!!! I personally prefer the pandalympics to the ones having been held in China. Jola#81, you lucky one! Unfortunately I was unable to go to Schoenbrunn last Saturday to witness Fu Long’s first birthday. Mama Yang Yang being a first-time mother was most probably not aware of the fact that the cake was meant for her son. Well, she is not as experienced as Bai Yun. I reckon that prince Fu Long slept through his birthday because of the rainy weather. It sounds as if you live in Austria like I now? Next week I shall travel to Vienna again and naturally visit Schoenbrunn. I will then give all of you pandaholics an up-date on Fu Long.
August 26th, 2008 at 1:45 pm
SDZ, may I comend you on your webcams? I mainly watch our pandas (OK, I watch A LOT), and I appreciate knowing who I’m watching. And I love the updates, and I love this forum to share with you and with all of us pandaholics. I enjoy watching watching the other zoos panda cams but I love having 24 hour a day to watch our kids, and knowing who I’m looking at is REALLY nice.
I’ve haven’t seen Lun in the den. Barbara, #87, when did you see Lun? Please, Lun Lun, give us all another baby to dote over!
August 26th, 2008 at 2:32 pm
Linda #93 I got a glimpse of her about 4:30 east coast time and didn’t see her today, I guess it’s hit or miss
August 26th, 2008 at 3:01 pm
#91 Sayuri – thanks for the news on the new cub at Oji Zoo.
Panda lovers, see the news item at pandanews dot org. No photos, but interesting information. The family keeps growing – hallelujah!!
August 26th, 2008 at 3:13 pm
For those of you that enjoyed the last panda conversation, I must give credit to youtube video entitled ” The Honeymooners – A Day in the Life of Mei and Tian.” So if you hadn’t seen it yet, you may wish to check it out.
August 26th, 2008 at 3:20 pm
Conversation with Mei Sheng #24
Tourist: Hello, Mei Sheng.
Mei Sheng: Hello, Mr. Tourist.
T: Now what’s this? Quad length uneven parallel bars?
M: Yup. Hua Mei and I are practicing for the Pandalympic Games.
T: Impressive!
M: We will enter both the free style and synchronized bar routines.
T: Synchronized routines?
M: Yes, we will mirror each other.
T: Huh?
M: And then we will do break out subroutines where one of us goes double speed.
T: Double speed?
M: And then when I do quad speed…
T: QUAD SPEED?
M: Zhen Zhen will join with triple speed.
T: Huh?
M: Then for finale, Hua Mei and Su Lin will mirror their swings in opposite directions.
T: I am confused.
(back in San Diego)
Bai Yun: Hmmm. I wonder if I should wear a red bow.
Zhen Zhen: I want two. Can you make mine with streamers?
August 26th, 2008 at 5:49 pm
P Wong….you are awesome! Your conversations are a highlight to my day!
Speaking of youtube videos, I have been watching some old ones. There is one in particular that I am just CRAZY about. I watch it every day to lift my spirits. It does the trick every time. Many of you have probably seen it…it’s Lounging with Big Daddy Yang. It is too cute!
August 26th, 2008 at 7:03 pm
Aug. 27th is Tian Tian 11th birthday at the NZ. So I want to wish him a Very Happy Birthday.
August 26th, 2008 at 8:14 pm
Hello panda lovers!! Further to my posting #95 on the new panda cub in Japan (Kobe Oji Zoo) – I just viewed the video of the birth uploaded today Aug. 26 on youtube dot com. Search for Baby Panda is Born and look for the newest clip. Enjoy!!
August 26th, 2008 at 8:19 pm
P Wong, another great conversation! Another Pandalympics sport for the pandas to be thinking about! I loved Bai and ZZ’s ideas of wearing red bows, especially ZZ with 2 bows with streamers. She would look soooooo cute with those bows on her! I will check out the youtube vid that you were talking about with Mei and Tian.
Gonna go for now. Will check back later!
Chari Mercier
St. Pete, FL
(WHEW!! This is a shortey for me!)
August 26th, 2008 at 8:34 pm
Thanks to all for the diverse information–especially Sayuri #91 for the news of Zhen Zhen’s new little cousin, Jola #81 and Ruth Renz #92 who keep us up to date about Fu Long, and pandafan #85–that idea about pandas in the northern wilderness! Let’s all go and plant bamboo! Susan #56, you’ve really started something with your bamboo planting–and didn’t I just read that they think the London pandas may be about to produce a cub?
August 27th, 2008 at 8:36 am
Dear Moderator, Thank you for your response. Yes, I can pull up the other panda’s bios but still not Mei Sheng’s. I wonder why? Blessings, Claudia Menke
Moderator’s note: We’ll try to fix it tomorrow. Thanks for letting us know.
August 27th, 2008 at 9:14 am
Does the hammock hold Bai Yun?
August 27th, 2008 at 12:13 pm
P. Wang, #97, love your creative dialogues with the pandas. I love the red ribbon and streamers, I can imagine ZZ asking for it too! Can anyone see ZZ dancing around with red ribbons and streamers? I wish they would make a cartoon with Z, Bai Yu, Hua Mei, Mei Sheng and Gao Gao. It’d be so cute!!!!!
August 27th, 2008 at 12:23 pm
Frances#102, we’ve got pandas in London? That’s the first I’ve heard – if I knew I’d have been first in line. Tell me more…
August 27th, 2008 at 12:33 pm
Looks like Bai Yun and ZZ have been practicing their tumbling routines for the Pandalympics. They have been having fun for most of the past hour. Finally Bai got up and walked away with her little shadow following her. The vidoes of both Mei Xiang and Mei Lan show their climbing and tumbling form to be in great order too. Looks like all the girls are getting fit and ready. Now what about the guys, the ones I’ve seen lately have all been napping. Maybe Mei Sheng is the only one awake which is why he needs to rev up to quad speed.
August 27th, 2008 at 12:44 pm
Bai seemed to be doing her best to prod Zhen to play/fight with her at noon today (Wednesday). Zhen seemed more interested in rolling around. They don’t seem to have not gotten to the point of playing tag like Bai and Mei Sheng would.
August 27th, 2008 at 12:45 pm
It’s 12:40 pm, Wednesday, Bai just picket up Zhen (by the scruff of the neck) and placed her on one on the stumps, then lifted her down to the ground and then still holding Zhen she took her into the den via the pool,which she dragged Zhen through. The strength of Bai is amazing since Zhen was struggling all the time.
They have been having quite a good playtime today. I am trying to write down the times Zhen is awake each day to sort of give me an idea of when to try to see her awake. You know, there isn’t two days times the same.
I think she is doing this on purpose so I will have to come back and back and back on Sept. 8th.
Bye for now, Lee
August 27th, 2008 at 12:49 pm
Hi! Just got off the SDZ cam after watching Bai and ZZ chase and wrestle with each other. That’s the first time in a long while that I’ve been able to see both of them being ACTIVE at the SAME TIME! That was fun to watch! Mom chasing ZZ, ZZ chasing Mom, ZZ climbing a tree to get out of Bai’s reach, doing some wrestling, loved it! And this was at 12:30pm PDT (3:30pm EDT), lunch time for them! Anyway, it was fun to just watch them have their play time. Hope we get to see more of that in the next few more months before ZZ starts the weaning process sometime early next year. Then the fun time will end with the two of them together. Oh well, ZZ has to grow up sometime soon!
Got a chance to watch some of the vids on Youtube that some of you have mentioned. They were all cute, funny, and adorable. Also got a chance to see a few others as well of some of the other pandas, such as Tai Shan when he was little trying to keep up with his mom. I just loved the one with Mei Xiang dancing around and doing somersaults in front of Tian at the howdy gate! Plus, the music that went with it was awesome–ABBA (Dancing Queen) and James Brown (I Feel Good)! And, the vid of Mei Xiang and Tian wrestling on the ground and in the tree! Funny!! Panda vids are fun to watch, and I’m glad that a whole lot of people are out there getting them up on youtube for all of us to watch. Will check out the video of the panda cub born in Kobe, Japan, later on. Got that one down on my long list of panda vids!
Checked the AZ website panda page, and the Wed. update is not up yet. Should come in later on today for all of us to read, and I’m also hoping for an updated chart showing Lun’s latest progestin levels.
I did see the AZ pandacam, and trust me on this one; I could not tell if that was Lun or Mei Lan on the cam. You know why? It’s because both of them have the same furry facial features that make them look like twins! So, I can’t tell them apart anymore. Anyway, one of them was in the dayroom sleeping. If there’s anybody out there that can tell these two pandas apart, let me know, ok? There’s go to be one significant thing about one of them that tells us who is who!
Well, gonna go and get some things done here. Will check back later, especially if I see an update from the AZ panda keepers.
Chari Mercier
St. Pete, FL
August 27th, 2008 at 2:52 pm
So sorry I forgot 2nd part of my comment – I can’t find the video on You Tube of the pandas having a good old shower or bath. But I did get to see new mom in Japan looking at her cub in amazment – so precious. Blessings, Claudia
August 27th, 2008 at 3:29 pm
Zhen Zhen on Channel KPBS! What a treat. Don’t forget, mark your calendars.
We are all looking forward to watching ” Panda Tales, the story of Zhen Zhen’s first year” , airing Sunday, September 7th, at 8 p.m. on KPBSâ€
What a coincidence, Sunday, Sept. 7th happens to be Bai Yun’s 17th Birthday.
Can’t wait
August 27th, 2008 at 4:26 pm
Thank you Meerkats for capturing such a cute scene today (15:30:43) of Zhen Zhen asleep on a tree branch and Bai Yun on the ground eating. It was so cute that I saved it by sending myself a postcard.
August 27th, 2008 at 7:52 pm
Hi, you all! Claudia Menke, go back on Youtube and type in Panda Baths, and then see what you come up with, ok? You should be able to get it up. Let me know, ok? Enjoy because it is funny!!
AZ’s panda keepers have their Wed., Aug. 27 update up for everyone to read. It does not have a new chart with it, tho. It’s pretty much the same scenario with Lun. She’s still sleeping alot during a large part of the day and nite, but she’s also been eating a little bit more food. Her food intake is still quite a bit on the low side, tho. They’ve gotten the hormone analysis back and the progestin levels are still going down but not at baseline level yet. The only thing that they have not mentioned about Lun is her maternal/pregnancy behaviors such as genital licking, paw licking, cradling some small object, etc.; the same behavior that Mei Xiang was showing during her luteal phases. They are still hoping and waiting for her to have the baby panda cub!
Just read your note about the TV special that’s coming up on Sept. 7th about ZZ’s first year. It’s unfortunate that it is on your local San Diego station. I would love to see this in my Florida area TV station. We have a PBS station in Tampa, FL called WEVU Channel 3. Hopefully, they will here about this program and pick it up to show it for all of us pandafans here in my area. Fingers crossed PLEASE!! In fact, I hope that all of the PBS stations across America gets word of this special program and get it on their stations real soon! Everybody needs to see this and learn about the great conservation work being done to keep the pandas from leaving us permanently.
Well, gonna go again! Will check back in later!
Chari Mercier
St. Pete, FL
Moderator’s note: Other PBS stations will air Panda Tales later this year (November or December). Check with your local affiliate for exact date and time.
August 27th, 2008 at 9:02 pm
Susan #106–something popped up yesterday in my Google search from a site from London–but we were both punked. Apparently London did have a pair of pandas in the early 80’s–this information was presented without a date yesterday. Today it no longer appears on the site. Sorry for getting your hopes up! There does seem to be a pretty good chance that Scotland will get a pair of pandas sometime next year. That’s not sooo far to go, perhaps?
Perfect again, P Wong #97–I definitely see them in rhythmic gymnastics mode, with streamers and hoops and bows galore!
August 28th, 2008 at 7:50 am
It’s 7:45 am Pacific time on Thursday; the camera is on Lun in her den. She’s sitting on her bottom, all hunched forward. How do you know when a panda is in labor? May be a silly question, but I have no idea (other than the restlessness).
August 28th, 2008 at 7:51 am
It’s a little after 10:30 est and I was watching Sdz family and popped over to Za and who do I see all tucked in a ball, Lun sound asleep the poor thing put her head up and nodded right back off
August 28th, 2008 at 8:40 am
I’m amazed that Gao Gao has climbed so high in a tree. I didn’t think he could do that because of his age and his size?? it is showing C28? that is supposed to be Gao Gao isn’t it?
Moderator’s note: Gao Gao is now on exhibit, with Su Lin in the off-exhibit area. Keepers hope to rotate them every two weeks.
August 28th, 2008 at 9:04 am
The new encoder has made the pictures so clear as many people have commented on. This morning I noticed that Mr. Gao Gao has two-toned front paws (black and brown)! Have any of his cubs inherited this trait?
I also have a question for the moderator or Ellie–the new cub in Japan looks so white as opposed to the pink that I usually expect to see in a newborn–is this unusual?
August 28th, 2008 at 9:16 am
Linda #116, I’m so glad you got to see Lun this morning, I watched her for about 1/2 hr. I’m hoping it will be soon because only a panda knows for sure when it’s time,That’s the mystery of panda reproduction. I got a beautiful picture of Princess Su Lin this morning from a co-workers brother who was in San Diego recently
August 28th, 2008 at 9:48 am
Frances#106 I, too, was under the impression that London Zoo is still keeping pandas. I know that some time ago Bao Bao from Berlin Zoo was sent to London in order to mate with their female panda Ming Ming. But I understand that he did not behave too much like a gentleman with the result that Ming Ming was not interested. I do not know what happened to Ming Ming in the meantime. May be another pandalover will be able to throw some light on this matter. Sorry, Frances, but may be you can plan a trip to Schoenbrunn, Vienna at some stage. It is definitely worthwhile since you will be able to see Yang Yang, Long Hui and their baby Fu Long.
August 28th, 2008 at 11:08 am
I just love all these Panda’s. To #118, no, that’s Su Lin.
Su and Gao must have exchanged exhibit rooms once again. All the pandas are very cute, but Mr. Gao has a very round face. Love all the pandas. I was fortunate to carry one in Chengdu.
August 28th, 2008 at 1:39 pm
What a fabulous close-up shot of papa Gao Gao munching on his favorite bamboo at 1:33 PDT. Other pandas in USA appear to slow down in their eating during the summer heat, but not Gao. He seems to keep up his munching with gusto, and an occasional nap on the cool ground to let it all settle in his middle. He is a very handsome guy and has produced some phenomenal offspring. I wonder if Mei Sheng likes to eat as much as his father. Bai Yun does her share of eating too, but she is feeding herself and ZZ who is so active she needs a lot of nutrition to keep up with her.
Thanks Meerkats for some terrific photography. Hopefully you can share some great shots of Su Lin on the climbing structure in the back Classroom area while she is getting a rest from the crowds of visitors.
August 28th, 2008 at 1:41 pm
Frances #115, yes I went searching for this info and I think I came up with that one too. I’m waiting impatiently for the pandas to arrive at Edinburgh Zoo – it’s quite a drive as it’s at the other end of the country – about a 4-5 hour drive (or two the way my husband drives!!) but hey, if I can fly 6000 miles to see them then I can travel a few hundred. Edinburgh is a beautiful city and I know the pandas will love it there.
The Beijing panda bath video is hilarious, especially when they shake themselves. It’s bad enough when cats and dogs do it, but that was brilliant.
I’ve sent off for my bamboo. I don’t know how long it will take to arrive but the pot is ready and waiting – black bamboo in a yellow pot. By the way, I forgot to mention how beautiful the various gardens are at the SDZ – I found them rather breathtaking as we just don’t have anything like that over here. It was lovely to go through the various themes and to take cover under a canopy of palms when we were really hot from climbing all those fantastic hills. I’ve read the articles on some of the gardening staff and want to say thank you for such a lovely display.
August 28th, 2008 at 3:45 pm
Susan #124 & other Bloggers from the UK: Hope the following info is authentic.
I just read on panda news from around the world that in the UK Animal Planet is due to start a new series on the pandas at the Wolong Breeding Center. Starting on Tuesday, Sept. 9th, ‘08 — 9:00 PM to 10 PM.
Please let me know if this checks out with your TV Guide.
August 28th, 2008 at 3:50 pm
just heard- lunlun in atlanta is pregnant. website showed ultrasound with fetus. this is soo exciting since another panda is coming into this world and we all know that the more pandas there are the happier this world will be.
August 28th, 2008 at 3:57 pm
Hi!
Atlanta zoo confirmed: Lun Lun is pregnant.
Vets were able to do an ultrasound and saw a fetus, but they didn’t confirm the second one.
It appears to be fully formed with a nice heartbeat.
Great news!
August 28th, 2008 at 4:08 pm
I’m almost beside myself with good panda news!
Zhen Zhen on tv on the birthday I share with Bai Yun–Sept 7! What a great 50th birthday present for me!
Plus, a new cub expected at the Atlanta Zoo!
Wow…I love this!
August 28th, 2008 at 4:09 pm
ITS OFFICIAL……..LUN LUN IS HAVING A CUBBIE.
August 28th, 2008 at 4:12 pm
Hi. Last weekend was my first time sawing a panda bear live!! It was amazing. I never knew that pandas were that small; I expected them to be bigger. They were sooo cute. Little ZZ sleeping in the tree and BaiYun just sitting there eating while SuLin enjoys her ‘boo as well. Just utterly and superly adorable those panda bears. I must say visiting the pandas were the whole highlight, for me and my friend that is, of going to SDZ. SDZ was sure big and full of interesting animals. All that walking around sure get one tired really fast. Maybe you should make moving sidewalk. *hint, hint* I noticed that while in the giftshop there seem to be a lack of GaoGao merchandise; there was none. Please, please have some GaoGao merchandise since I am a big fan of GaoGao. My friend also shared the same sentiments. Even a postcard would do. So please have some GaoGao merchandise. The only thing I saw that has GaoGao’s face was on the side of a skyfaria cart. So please sell GaoGao stuff. We understand that he is a movie star in China and that he was in a documentary called Return to the Nature. *hint.hint*
August 28th, 2008 at 4:19 pm
BREAKING NEWS FROM ATLANTA ZOO PANDA HOUSE!!!!!!!!!!
Just got on the AZ website panda page, and guess what pandafans?? Lun Lun is PREGNANT!!!!! Lun decided that it was time for her to get an ultrasound, and she cooperated very well with the vet that was doing the exam. (The keepers have allowed Lun to dictate when she was available for the ultrasound, and this strategy worked!) There is a SPECIAL EDITION of the AZ panda update for Thursday, Aug. 28, 2008, and there it was, you all! A great ultrasound picture of Lun’s baby panda showing the spine! WOW!!!!!!!!!!
I’m saying that again backwards–WOW!!!!!!!!!!!! I got so excited that I had to get on this blog stat to let you all know about this!! They are expecting a birth at anytime, pandafans! They said that the baby looks good and well developed. It looks like our string of baby pandas will keep going at 4 years straight, you all!! You go girl, Lun Lun!!!!!!! Lun’s gestation days since AI: 129 as of 8/28/2008.
Spread the word, everybody! We’ll be watching AZ’s pandacam constantly to watch this newest baby grow and develop. Just pray real hard that Lun does not lose this baby, ok? I’m mean realyy pray!! One more beautiful panda to add to the panda population! YEA!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Well, gonna go to get this online so that you all can read this! I’m hoping that AZ’s panda keepers will keep their pandacam on 24/7 for a long while after the baby is born!
Chari Mercier
St. Pete, FL
August 28th, 2008 at 5:18 pm
Hi again!! Whew!!! I had to calm myself down a bit, and then got back on the AZ panda page to see that ultrasound pic again! In fact, I printed that update for me to read and look at when I want to. Believe me, you all, I had to do a double take when I looked at that update and the pic just to make sure I was seeing what I was reading! When I saw ” special edition” in red capital letters, I knew that there was some special news about Lun, and then I read the update about her new baby. The panda birth watch page on the AZ site also has the announcement of Lun Lun being pregnant. So, guess what? The wait is almost over!!
Well, gonna go for now. I’ll be checking the AZ panda page and cam quite often until Lun has her baby!
Chari Mercier
St. Pete, FL
August 28th, 2008 at 6:04 pm
Wonderful news!! Lun Lun is going to be a mommy again! What great news for all the zoo’s, fans, and world. We need every panda we can get!! Congratulations to the Atlanta Zoo. Let’s hope all goes well for Lun Lun and her panda family and her zoo family. Great news!!
August 28th, 2008 at 6:04 pm
Oh!! Oh!! Oh!!! I just visited the Atlanta site too–I’ve been checking everyday (yes, multiple times, I confess, after the NZ disappointment)….and YAY! Cub is on the way! A Mei-Lan sibling. Can’t wait
August 28th, 2008 at 7:29 pm
Oh yeah! I forgot to mention this—Lun’s baby panda has a very good, strong heartbeat that the vets and keepers listened to and got very excited about today! All of us can get a great picture of all of the panda keepers and vets at AZ jumping up and down with joy and excitement when they saw the picture of the baby panda and heard that nice strong heartbeat! That would have been a sight to behold, you all!
OK, I’m done for now! Still very excited about this news about Lun! Can’t wait to see the newborn baby when it is born in a few days!
Chari Mercier
St. Pete, FL
PS: Didn’t even get on the pandacams; I was too excited about Lun Lun! Labor Day baby panda????
August 28th, 2008 at 8:23 pm
I want to thank everyone who saw the great news on AZ website. Being Thursday I didn’t think to check it out. I sure hope everything go well for Lun Lun, I got to go to the AZ last fall and see Lun Lun, Mei Lan, and Yang Yang in person. They are all beautiful pandas now Mei Lan will have a new brother or sister.
I would love to be able to get to the SDZ and the NZ to see the wonderful pands there to maybe someday.
Sure will be praying for a healthly birth for Lun Lun.
August 28th, 2008 at 9:34 pm
Well, I’m feeling almost like a grandma again. I actually printed a copy of the ultrasound of LunLun’s baby, and it’s taped to the corner of my screen, so that I can look at it again, and again. LunLun…..you go, mama! Let’s hope and pray this baby is as healthy and robust as its big sister was and is. And we all know how attentive LunLun is as a mother. Yay!! Hallelujah! I am so excited! I just regret that I can’t devote 12 hours a day to this computer watching these wonderful pandas. They are almost like a drug…just can’t get enough of them!
August 29th, 2008 at 12:07 am
I am SO EXCITED about Lun Lun!!!! This is just awesome news! I can’t remember – was she inseminated or did she and Big Daddy Yang actually do it the natural way?
Doesn’t this keep our string of U.S. births going for another consecutive year? That means that (hope hope hope) it’s Mei Xiang’s turn again next year!
August 29th, 2008 at 12:40 am
It’s around 12.40am SDZ time and Gao Gao’s STILL eating!!!
August 29th, 2008 at 12:50 am
Rose N #125, thanks for that info, I shall check it out when I get my next TV schedule magazine. Would you believe we’re only allowed to see what’s on a week in advance – you lucky things get a whole month! I do so hope it’s on our Animal Planet too. Sometimes programmes we see here you get a few months later, and vice versa. Fingers crossed, and thanks once again. I find I’m running out of time at the moment as my Dad is very poorly in hospital and it doesn’t look too good. Could do with cheering up.
And on that note, well done Lun Lun!!
August 29th, 2008 at 6:11 am
What a great way to start the day , to know that Lun is going to have a baby. I watched her yesterday and the way she was acting I thought she was in labor. So to all my fellow panda mamas and pappas start pacing. This is truly a great day.
August 29th, 2008 at 6:29 am
Hooray! Lun is pregnant! Mei Lan was the 1st cub I watched from birth and I am way excited to be able to watch Lun Lun become a mother again. Congrats to Lun, Yang and Mei (afterall, being a big sis is pretty important too) and all the AZ staff and panda lovers everywhere! Can’t wait!!
August 29th, 2008 at 6:30 am
Rose N – would you believe our satellite tv magazine fell through the door this morning. I never read it because, quite frankly, its full of rubbish! But as I was flicking through the pages it fell open on a double page with a panda on each. That got my attention. At first I was disappointed as the main text wanted you to ‘recommend a friend’ for lots of money (!). But then I spotted a tiny almost invisible piece of text on one of the pictures – Animal Planet, 9 September at 9pm, a programme called ‘Pandamonium’. I shall be there.
By the way Rose N, sorry, I slightly misunderstood you earlier; I thought you had this programme too. For the reason above (133) I’m not quite with it at the moment. Apologies.
And it’s around 6.28am SDZ time and Gao Gao is now walking round and round his enclosure.
August 29th, 2008 at 6:45 am
Conversation with Gao Gao #42
Tourist: Hello, Gao Gao.
Gao Gao: Uh, hello, Mr. Tourist.
T: Hey, that’s interesting. What do you have here?
G: Oh, it’s a mechanical Bamboo Feeding Mama Panda.
T: Huh?
G: It’s for the Pandalympic Games.
T: Oh.
G: For the Hat Competition.
T: Hat Competition?
G: Yeah. The competitor, namely the Hat, aims to stay perched on the head while dodging bamboo…
T: Uh huh.
G: And not fall off.
T: Oh, so the best Hat is the one that stays on the longest.
G: Not quite. The contestants are judged on both technical and artistic ability.
T: Artistic ability?
G: They will strive for poise and style.
T: Oh, of course, to be the best looking Hats.
G: Yup.
T: So the head is adjustible?
G: Yeah. It rocks back and forth, side to side, rotates, sways…
T: Different speeds?
G: Medium, fast, ultimate agitation…
T: Wow. And the whole device can recline, too!
(in the other enclosure)
Zhen Zhen: Mama, don’t go away. I need to practice the Hat Competition.
Bai Yun: Later, gotta eat.
(back to Gao Gao)
T: So will the Pandalympic Games include infants?
G: Oh, they’ll enter the Infant Feeding Competition.
T: Wow. Maybe Lun Lun will birth her cub #2 in time for that one!
G: Looking forward to it.
August 29th, 2008 at 6:52 am
What GREAT news that Lun Lun is going to have a cub! I have many tears, but this time in happiness at this most wonderful news.
August 29th, 2008 at 7:05 am
Chari you beat me to it! I just checked 2 mins ago, Lun Lun is on the panda cam and I looked at the blog and there is this cute little ultrasound.
Another cousin for ” our” SDZ pandas.
August 29th, 2008 at 7:15 am
Oh yes don’t want to forget the great pandas at MZ.
August 29th, 2008 at 7:41 am
Hi All!
Last night I found awesome videos on youtube entitled ” Giant Pandas: The Last Refuge” produced by the National Geographic Society in 1994, narrated by Peter Coyote. Someone identified as ” seatbird” put the video into 6 segments. The first segment is:
youtube(dot)com (slash)watch?v=Z8yuMaQTNF0&feature=related
On the side bar, you will see the rest of them (1-6), which are seamlessly continuing on to the next.
They featured two Chinese researchers tracking down a female panda in the wild that just gave birth to a female panda cub and taped their behaviors and lives until the cub grew to 80 pounds.
It was created a long time ago, but I think you all will enjoy watching them.
Banya
August 29th, 2008 at 7:54 am
#119 Frances The cub in Japan has passed away.
prayers.
Hopefully we will have a healthy new cub at AZ.
August 29th, 2008 at 7:55 am
Sad news. Learned that the cub in Japan died after 3 days.
August 29th, 2008 at 7:59 am
#124 Susan- I’m glad you’ll have pandas near you now. My friend and I drive 12 hrs to NZ in the spring and fall to visit the pandas there and well worth the trip. You can always make a Road Trip fun!
YIPEE on the Atlanta news. Can’t wait for our new little bundle of fluff! Can’t wait for the The PandaClaws Christmas story now to include our newest addition.
August 29th, 2008 at 8:00 am
Lun Lun is pregnant! I’m with Chari, #131, let’s all pray really, really hard for a healthy cub for all of us panda fans to love. (I wish AZ wouldn’t limit the time of the webcam to 5 minutes; I understand why, but it’s maddening.) Bless you Ms. Lun!
August 29th, 2008 at 8:39 am
Good morning, pandafans! Hopefully, alot more of you got the news about Lun Lun’s pregnancy by now either by reading some of our comments here or reading the Atlanta Zoo’s special edition update. We are all happy campers, aren’t we?? OH YEAH!!!!!
Moderator, read your note about Panda Tales coming to all the other PBS stations around the country in Nov. or Dec. I will definitely be checking my TV guide to see when it will be broadcast on WEVU Channel 3 in Tampa, FL. Thanks for letting me know about that! I am going to enjoy this one just as much as I have enjoyed watching Animal Planet’s ” A Panda is Born” about Tai Shan!
Well, it’s the start of the Labor Day weekend and that means my favorite telethon will be on starting Sunday nite–Jerry Lewis’s Labor Day MDA Telethon! Hopefully, those 2 tropical storms soon to be hurricanes will not interfere with everybody’s Labor Day plans over the weekend around the Gulf coast and east coast, including my state of Florida. We just got done with Fay, and we may have to deal with either Gustav or Hanna. Be praying for all of us here in the Sunshine state! Aren’t you Californians glad that you don’t have to deal with your Pacific tropical storms/hurricanes? At least those storms all go WEST towards Hawaii for the most part!!
You all have a very nice, safe, and enjoyable Labor Day weekend, and that includes all the animals at SDZ and WAP! Keep checking the AZ panda page for any news of Lun’s impending birth of her baby panda, you all! I sure will!!
HAPPY LABOR DAY!!!!!
Chari Mercier
St. Pete, FL
August 29th, 2008 at 8:43 am
Just checked Atlanta Zoo’s pandacam, and it’s on with Lun Lun in her den sleeping. I’m gonna call AZ to see if they are going to have that cam on 24/7 right after Lun gives birth to her cub. Will let you know what I find out from them, ok?
BYE!!
Chari Mercier
St. Pete, FL
August 29th, 2008 at 8:53 am
Happy Labor Day, indeed! I just checked in on her, too and she’s still sleeping, resting up for her own event in the Pandalympics. Stay tuned, folks…
August 29th, 2008 at 9:18 am
Thank you Chari Mercier for your help. I ended my day yesterday with Panda Baths on You Tube and slept great! I can hardly wait for Panda Tales to come on the TV! Have a nice day! Claudia Menke
August 29th, 2008 at 9:33 am
Wow – I also could not believe my eyes when I read that Lun Lun is pregnant! Immediate and very happy tears ensued!!
Mei Lan was my first experience with these wonderful animals and she hooked me completely! I live in Canada and a few days ago I told a friend that if Lun Lun became pregnant I would be taking a trip to Atlanta to see the new baby and the rest of this panda family.
Well, I’m going to do it – life is too short to not live your dreams – especially if those dreams are very ” doable” . I am wishing for a safe delivery and a healthy baby.
I want to thank ” Chari” for all her posts and the sharing of her passion with us!! I will be glued to the pandacam!!
August 29th, 2008 at 9:46 am
YEAH!! It is sooooooo exciting about Lun Lun. Another baby to add to the population! I haven’t seen Lun Lun asleep in her den yet. Right now the camera is on Mei Lan eating her bamboo. She is going to have a new brother or sister soon.
Happy Labor Day to everyone!!
August 29th, 2008 at 9:50 am
It’s hard to believe that the Kobe Zoo ’s cub passed away.
So sorry!
Good Luck, Lun Lun!
August 29th, 2008 at 10:36 am
How sad about the little Japanese cub. Fingers crossed for Lun Lun.
Now why is Bai Yun dragging Zhen Zhen around so much these days? She has picked her up, dragged her out of her hammocks, and carried her great distances. She really really wants to play? She wants to show her off to her adoring public?
August 29th, 2008 at 12:47 pm
Mama Bai does seem to be throwing her weight around lately — a bit on the bossy side. Maybe she’s feeling a little over protective of Zhen Zhen lately — even though she still has lots of time left before little ZZ will be leaving the nest. Guess she figures she better have fun and cuddles while she still can. Plus, Bai’s a young mom — so she’s still pretty spunky and lately the weather’s been a little bit cooler — so she must be feeling a little more energetic. Whatever the reason — it’s nice to see the 2 of them together — since it won’t be too long before ZZ has a den of her own. She’s a big girl now!
August 29th, 2008 at 1:18 pm
By the way, Mei Lan’s birthday is Sept. 6th. How cool would it be if she got a brother or sister for her birthday?
August 29th, 2008 at 1:38 pm
Hi, you guys! I just got off the phone with Atlanta Zoo, and we are going to be in for a real treat, you all! I just got confirmation from AZ that the panda keepers WILL have their pandacam on 24/7 right after Lun has her baby! YEA!!! Also, CNN cable news channel will have a news report about Lun once her water breaks and starts labor. You all will have to keep watching CNN practically everyday and nite to catch this news, so have fun with that one! I’ll be doing the same thing!
Marcia519, Lun Lun was artificially inseminated back in April, 2008. She is 130 days gestation since her AI procedure. And yes, this will be the 4th straight year that a momma panda will have a baby panda from one of the 4 US zoos! So the string is kept alive, girlfriend!! I agree with you that next year will have to be Mei Xiang’s time to have her second baby! We are also waiting on Ya Ya at the Memphis Zoo to start her estrus season as well. She’s the only panda mom that has not had a baby yet, and she has had a very stubborn body that the vets over there are trying to figure out. Ya Ya was pregnant last summer, but lost her baby after she was confirmed to be pregnant. That was a huge loss for all of the panda keepers and vets at MZ because they were really looking forward to seeing a baby panda being born there. We’ll just have to wait and see how Ya Ya does. As far as Bai Yun and her estrus season, the SDZ panda staff will be monitoring her after she has totally been seperated from ZZ thru the weaning process in 2009.
I read some of the comments about the baby panda in Japan that passed away in the last day or two. That is so sad and a great loss for the panda population. Hopefully, the mother panda will be able to recover from the loss and have another estrus season next year. Pray for her and her keepers at the Oji Zoo in Kobe, Japan!
I did get on the SDZ pandacam this morning before I went out to run some errands. Saw little ZZ on a large tree branch just sleeping, and she was really CLOSE to the cam! WOW!!! Got a real good look at her pretty, fluffy self just snoozing away in the morning hours. She must have had a big breakfast!
Well, got to go and check the AZ pandacam before it is shut down at 5 pm and thru the weekend. That is unless Lun has her baby over the Labor Day weekend and the cam is on 24/7! PRAY!!!!! Knock on wood!! Fingers crossed!!
Have a great Labor Day weekend, everybody–pandafans, SDZ & WAP personnel, all the animals!
Chari Mercier
St. Pete, FL
August 29th, 2008 at 2:39 pm
Chari Mercier #163:
You are simply AWESOME in your dedication and your contacts!!!! When I read your earlier post in which you wrote that you were going to call AZ to request that the pandacam be on for 24/7, I was thrilled! You get the National Panda Medal of Honor!!!! Thanks so much for your effort!! Can you get ahold of LCNessie and ask her to return with her camera to Atlanta?
To All, including the SDZ pandacam monitors: Bai and Zhen have really been STARS today and we all got the chance to view their fun! And Sweet Su up in a tree attempting to gather up her hanging enrichment toy was priceless
August 29th, 2008 at 2:45 pm
lets cross our pseudothumbs that lun has her healthy cub this weekend…after all, it is labor day
August 29th, 2008 at 3:59 pm
Cheryl, #161 – Bai is not a young mom. She will be 17 years old on Sept. 7 and she has had 4 cubs. When ZZ was born, we wondered if it would be her last. We hope not. Only time will tell. She has had wonderful care, is in good health, so let’s keep our fingers crossed.
August 29th, 2008 at 4:07 pm
Hello panda lovers,
I am sooooo excited for the Atlanta Zoo!! Our girl Lun Lun is going to be a mama again anytime soon!! Like all of you, I’m crossing all the limbs, extremities, and digits that I can cross and wishing Lun a safe and smooth delivery of the new panda prince/princess!!
Sad news from Japan about the cub that died after only three days. I recall one of the posters on this blog remarking that the cub looked more pale than the other ones we’ve seen lately. I feel sorry for the keepers and the vets who I’m sure did their best for the little one.
Another video alert. Go to youtube.com and search for ‘panda yinghua plays with tyre’ (you have to spell that last word as shown or you won’t find the clip.) It’s a full 9 minutes of delightful entertainment as Yinghua at the Beijing Zoo tries to get entwined with a hanging tire in more ways than you would think possible!! Get yourself a drink and sit through 9 minutes of fun! Don’t miss it!
August 29th, 2008 at 5:41 pm
Bobbie Wood, now you KNOW that I was not going to let Atlanta Zoo’s panda keepers off the hook about their pandacam being on 24/7 after Lun has her baby! That’s why I went on ahead and called them about that. I was planning on doing that anyway, so I got it done! I’m still monitoring CNN cable news channel and the CNN website for news of Lun’s impending water break and labor. Will be checking those out quite often over the weekend! CNN is based in Atlanta, Georgia, so they will definitely have the breaking news first about Lun Lun! Everyone, just keep checking CNN as much as you can, ok? If you see it before anyone else does, LET US ALL KNOW ASAP!! I’ll do the same thing! Bobbie, who is LCNessie?? Anyway, if LCNessie is reading this, Bobbie Wood would love for you to get back to Atlanta, GA, with your camera!! Lun’s baby is on the way! Oh yeah, thanks for the award, Bobbie! That’s a great compliment from you. I’m just trying to make sure everybody gets the info that I get about the pandas, and what’s up everywhere else. This blog/comment page is the best forum for all of us pandafans to get news about pandas every day. Everyone should try to do their part in making sure that these pandas stay healthy and in good numbers as much as possible. I’m still waiting on some kind of news from China about the state of the wild pandas after the May 12 earthquake. I am still very concerned about those bears especially!
Well, 2 more panda birthdays coming up in September–Bai Yun (SDZ) on 9/7, Mei Lan (AZ) on 9/6. Big bday parties for the both of them in a week or so! Happy birthdays to the both of them!
Gonna go for now. Will keep checking the AZ panda page and pandacam as well as CNN news about Lun.
Chari Mercier
St. Pete, FL
August 29th, 2008 at 6:11 pm
Thanks pandafan #167–that video is hilarious. Yinghua is apparently practicing for a new Pandalympics event.
August 29th, 2008 at 7:55 pm
167. pandafan.
Glad you saw the ” tyre” video, too. It was one of the highlights of my day. So far it did not inspire me to include in Pandalympics yet. And btw, I searched ” bamboo Canada” and found bambooworld (dot) com. Don’t know if the pandas would be interested in those varieties though. Now because most winter hardy varieties (” running” bamboo) tend to be invasive, suggest you keep yours in a pot or your neighbors will curse you or run you out of town. The clumping varieties are the ones that produce bamboo shoots and they are less invasive though they grow in warmer climates. Now if pandas roam up and down the mountains for food, I surmise they are exposed to runners as well as clumpers. Maybe we should invite Gao Gao for lunch and see which variety he likes.
August 29th, 2008 at 8:09 pm
Oops. I may need to retract part of my comments on bamboo shoots. I can’t seem to figure out whether the ” running” bamboo varieties produce edible shoots. Maybe someone else might know.
August 29th, 2008 at 8:46 pm
Cheri 163 – thanks for the info! You are a veritable treasure trove of information!
My bad….I totally forgot about sweet, mysterious YaYa in Memphis. How great it would be if she were able to have a healthy cub in the next year.
This afternoon, my daughter and I were watching TV, and across the bottom (what is that scroll thingy called where it shows news all the time??), I saw ” Atlanta Zoo announces panda” and I gasped and grabbed my daughter’s hand. She looked at me like I was nuts! I thought it was going to say that ” Atlanta Zoo announces panda birth” , but it said ” Atlanta Zoo announces panda pregnancy” . So then I explained to my daughter about Lun Lun. She said, ” Mom, when you retire I really hope you can move to one of the cities where the pandas are so you can volunteer at the zoo!” What a lovely thought……
August 30th, 2008 at 10:25 am
Hi pandafan #167 – I believe that Yinghua’s performance from the Beijing Zoo deserves a gold medal for her part in the ” swinging tyre” competition. Some of her physical movements were quite interesting and unique. Very cute
Thanks for keeping us up-to-date on all the fun videos.
August 30th, 2008 at 2:23 pm
luns water broke!!!!!!!
August 30th, 2008 at 6:31 pm
hey everyone. LUn’s water broke this afternoon just before 1:30 edt. Panda Cam is on on 24-7…I was just there and it looks like she is quite intent on here vaginal area……could it be?!?!?! Keep your panda fingers crossed!!!
August 30th, 2008 at 7:32 pm
Baby Panda alert — Lun Lun gave birth tonight at approx. 10:13 EST!!!
All looks good so far. The entire process was on Panda cam.
August 30th, 2008 at 10:24 pm
It’s here!!! Lun Lun had her baby August 30, at 10:10 Atlanta time.
August 30th, 2008 at 10:29 pm
That was 10:10 p.m. I haven’t been able to see the baby yet. I think Lun Lun must be holding the baby on her paw. Going back to watch her some more. I am really, really excited…..
August 30th, 2008 at 11:05 pm
Lun Lun’s water broke at 1:25 p.m. Saturday afternoon. She has been cuddling the cub, and licking it. However, she is holding it in a way that you can’t see it. I have seen the shadow of one of the keepers, checking on her. Not being able to hear the vocalizations makes it difficult to know just what is going on. I just hope this baby is healthy, and Lun Lun is being the wonderful mother that we all know she is. I just feel so happy.
August 31st, 2008 at 2:06 pm
I thought that let everyone know that ZA has a new baby cub. The camera is on for everyone’s enjoyment. Cub was born last night.
September 1st, 2008 at 2:46 pm
Chari, LCNessie does outstanding videos on YouTube with Mei Lan & Lun Lun as the stars…they are set to music and absolutley heartwarming & fun to watch!! Go to YouTube & type in LCNessie; all of the videos will come up. One of the funniest was when Mei Lan was playing with her yellow car, set to the music…Baby, You Can Drive My Car……hilarious…! LCNessie catches the essence of what pandas really are, and why we all love them so much!
Just like everyone, I’m thrilled about the new cub at Zoo Atlanta, and so happy the PandaCam is on 24/7…thanks, Chari, for making the phone call to ZA; I’m sure it made a difference in adding the extra hours to the cam, so all of us can marvel at this miracle. Lun Lun is a wonderful mother; just like Bai…! I hope Lun’s new cub is as precocious as Tai Shan, ZZ, & Su Lin; that will only add to our joy as we watch it grow up…!
September 1st, 2008 at 9:23 pm
#170 & #171 P. Wong – yes, I knew about bambooworld and I got in touch with them. I explained my location and climate and they have suggested a clumping variety that I can try. I did more research on this species and all my sources indicate that the ” Fargesia murielae” is one of the giant pandas’ favorite. It is a very hardy variety that thrives in shade and does not grow very tall. So, I’m going to give it a try next spring as it’s too late now to get it started where I am. So, if other panda lovers out there want to try growing bamboo, search for a supplier in your area and see if they can get you this variety. Who knows? Maybe someday we can, indeed, provide a new home for giant pandas in our northern wilderness!!