Weighty Matters
Posted at 10:07 am September 15, 2008 by Suzanne Hall
Bai Yun
These days, Bai Yun is weighing in at about 214 pounds (97 kilograms). This seems about where we might expect her to be at this time, more than half way through rearing her cub, Zhen Zhen. As an adult female panda, we have seen Bai Yun’s weight fluctuate from 205 to 231 pounds (93 to 105 kilograms) routinely, depending on where she is in her reproductive cycle.
Before she gives birth, Bai Yun spends several months as an independent panda. She has time to focus on putting on weight, and she feeds and rests her way to the top of that weight range. By the time a birth is weeks away, she is large enough to begin her prepartum fast with some comfort.
When a cub is born, she fasts a bit longer, but now has the added caloric drain of lactating to support her infant. Bears produce high fat, low carbohydrate milk, aiding in rapid growth of their youngsters. Despite fasting, they are able to maintain most of their muscle mass throughout the process. It’s an amazing adaptation, and cold-weather bears can sustain lactation without food or water intake for several months.
As lactation continues, Bai Yun loses weight slowly. Her fat stores are depleted by milk production. Studies show that in mammals, a female is drawing nutrients from her bones to sustain the nutritive nurturing of her infant. By the end of the mother-cub association period, a female’s bones may be lighter as a result. We have found that after 18 months of caring for her cub, Bai Yun’s weight will drop to about 209 pounds (95 kilograms) or lower. Her body is greatly changed from the pre-birth interval.
It can take several months for her to gain weight again. Estrus is also a physiologically demanding time for Bai Yun, as she eats less and is more active when close to peak estrus. However, in the six months between weaning and giving birth again she is able to prepare to again meet the energetic requirements of rearing a cub.
Gao Gao has been maintaining his weight at about 168 to 174 pounds (76 to 79 kilograms). His weight fluctuates a bit due to preferences in bamboo, activity level changes due to enrichment, or other factors. He has always been lighter than Bai Yun. But watch out, Gao Gao”¦your daughter Su Lin is closing in on you: she has been weighed between 161 and 165 pounds (73 and 75 kilograms) in the last week!
For those keeping track, “little” Zhen Zhen is now closing in on 46 pounds (21 kilograms). Gao Gao can breathe easy knowing his youngest needs another couple of years before overtaking him on the scales!
Suzanne Hall is a senior research technician at the San Diego.
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September 15th, 2008 at 10:57 am
thanks suzanne for the up-dates on all our pandas! we finally got to the SDZ on 9/11! we were first in line
at 9:00 a.m. on the most beautiful day weather wise. it was in the low 70’s, over-cast, low humidity! perfect
weather for us and the animals. the animals were all very active due to the pleasant weather. when we got to gao, gao’s inc losure, he was sleeping. not a surprise as he is usually eating or sleeping! I was a little surprised at his size though! I thought mr. big would be bigger than he was! at first bai and zhen were asleep on a log. we almost left too soon before we noticed zhen starting to wiggle around. I was hopeful that the little girl would wake up! AND, SHE DID!!!!!! mom was still trying to nap,BUT, little zhen kept carefully and quietly pestering her mom until she finally gave up and moved around and nursed the little beggar! it was so cute the way she snuggled up to her mom trying to push in with her paws to get in position to where she could nurse. the narrator said it wasn’t the usual time that zhen nursed. so that was a special treat to observe. bai is bigger than I thought she’d be! beautiful bears. no wonder as kids we always wanted a stuffed panda bear to cuddle or sleep with! we rented a car the day before in laughlin nevada and drove 350 miles to san diego. stayed there over-nite at hotel c ircle so we would be there when the zoo opened first thing in the morning! if it wasn’t for all your people movers, we wouldn’t have
been able to walk all over and up all the hills! wonderful planning for everything at this world famous zoo!
I felt like we were walking thru the jungles and rainforests! beautiful . all you animal lovers out there, if you ever get the chance to visit the SDZ, don’t pass it up!!!! you’ll just love it!!!
Moderator’s note: Thank you for sharing your visit with us, Nancy!
September 15th, 2008 at 11:34 am
I’m home now after my trip to Southern California. I would like to say hi and a special thank you to Ellie. I was so glad to meet her and felt I had known her for a long time. She related some fabulous stories about the pandas and panda fans. I told her she should write a book, I know I would buy it.
I only had 1 day at the zoo but made the best of it. We (my daughter & I) went to see the pandas at 9:15, 12:30 and 3:15. The first 2 times Gao Gao was eating, Bai Yun was eating and Zhen Zhen was asleep up in the tree. Well, the 3rd time I went, there finally was something different. Gao was asleep spread-eagle in front of his fan. Bai and Zhen Zhen were having a play session that lasted quite a long time. It was so funny to see Bai grab Zhen and Zhen would roll to get out of the hold and then Bai would nip her somewhere else and it went on and on. At one point Zhen was on a low branch just sitting peacefully and Bai came up behind her and swatted her off the branch onto the ground. Zhen just picked herself up and went to another branch to sit. Bail looked at her, shook her head and went and had a drink of water. When Zhen saw that Bai hadn’t followed her she climbed down and went over to Bai and took a nip out of her rear end. Then the play started all over again.
I feel so lucky to have seen this interaction because I really was afraid that Zhen would be sleeping all day long. I also saw the Panda Tales special on the local PBS station. It was great. I learn more and more each day about pandas.
Just to let you know we walked all over the zoo. I think we covered 75% of it and I did sleep well that night. Also to keep this blog on topic, I know the weights of the pandas but they honestly don’t look that heavy in person. But who cares about weight if they are healthy.
Bye for now, Lee
Moderator’s note: Glad to hear you and your daughter had a fabulous time at the Zoo!
September 15th, 2008 at 11:45 am
Thanks for the update, Suzanne. It is so interesting how the pandas adapt to the necessary changes needed for estrus, birth and nursing.
Are female bears normally bigger than males? Or does it just depend on the individual bear?
Thanks again for the update on our ” kids.”
September 15th, 2008 at 12:03 pm
Yeah, starting tomorrow we get to see Lun and our little fighter on cam. this is according to ZA web sight. Thanks Suzanne for the update of our fabulous bears, even Gao Gao is a little small, you know what they say ” good things come in small packages” Glad to hear Nancy and lee had agreat time, memories of a lifetime.
September 15th, 2008 at 1:17 pm
Gao Gao may be small for a male panda but that certainly hasn’t stopped him from being a daddy the natural way!
September 15th, 2008 at 1:19 pm
Thanks, Suzanne, for all the updates. When I looked at the excerpts from Panda Tales, I was once again struck by how teensy Zhen Zhen was back then, even as her personality had emerged (see the little paw waving as she is returned to the den). When she began to use her hammock, she was almost completely hidden inside and now she’s plainly visible. When she’s on camera by herself, I always think she’s gotten so big–and yet when she’s with Bai Yun she still looks so small.
It is such a gift for us to be able to watch these animals grow and grow up every day. However Bai Yun knows what she knows–remembrance of her cubhood, observation, instinct, hormones–it has been awesome to watch her usher Zhen Zhen into the world.
September 15th, 2008 at 1:29 pm
What a cute pic of mama – looks like she’s holding chopsticks.
September 15th, 2008 at 2:35 pm
Thank You Suzanne for the latest update regarding the weights of The Stars!!! I am beginning to ’see’ why on occasion I mistake Su Lin and Gao on the early morning breakfast views. I find myself checking to see who is on exhibit where. Although, if I watch long enough, I can usually tell who’s who because Gao Gao seems to remain in place eating while Su seems to leave the table and wander around.
September 15th, 2008 at 2:37 pm
I used to think panda moms were being mean to their cubs, but then logic told me that is how they teach their young to survive in the wild. They learn how to fend for themselves. I absolutely HAVE to go to San Diego Zoo to see this family of pandas. Also some other families, such as the lions, elephants, etc. The lion & tiger cubs are fun to watch also.
Today’s update of ZA’s chubbie cubbie gives the cutest description of a yawn that I ever read. Need to go see that family also.
Ok, back to cam-watching.
September 15th, 2008 at 3:41 pm
It will be so neat to be able to see momma and baby at the AZ starting tomorrow. I love to watch all the pandas at all the zoos. I wish I was able health wise and also being able to afford a trip to the SDZ that’s one place I’ve always wanted to go. I did make it to the AZ last November it is small zoo but a every nice one and the pandas are darling.
September 15th, 2008 at 4:29 pm
I must say sometimes it is hard to believe that pandas are that big because when you look at them they seem so small. Oh GaoGao you may eat a lot but you sure don’t show it. Poor BaiYun gaining all that weight just to lose it again. Not only that you don’t get that much of a break. No wonder your sister-in-law in Washington DC was dancing and climbing when she found out that she is not pregnent. SuLin, you are about as big as your papa now, just wow. And our little ZZ is getting not so little anymore. Boy do they grow up fast.
PS- SDZ, how are the GAOGAO merchandise going? Are they in production yet? Because you totally need some GaoGao merchandise for all of the GaoGao fan out there.
September 15th, 2008 at 6:36 pm
Dear Dianne in Texas # 9 and Pam T #10,
Yes, they are smaller than one can imagine….watching the panda cams and being informed of their weight averages…:) However, truly, they are Stars!!!! My first statement when I viewed Bai and little Zhen was” Gosh, look how small they are!” Of course, I’d just seen the SDZ’s two little one year old Grizzlie guys….. 
Little Dude and Lun will be visible…I suspect I will have three online ‘network sites’ going 
I hope you both are able to see the beautiful Pandas somewhere
To Nancy #11: What is the Gao Gao merchandise????: I am a huge Gao Fan!!!
To All: Have fun on 9/16 flipping pandaams
September 15th, 2008 at 7:08 pm
Hi, Suzanne! Loved reading your article about all of the pandas’ weights, especially Bai Yun’s weight fluctuations depending on the boo she eats, her estrus cycles, pregnancy cycles, and raising her cubs. That’s very interesting. It’s also amazing that full grown Gao Gao is smaller in weight than Bai is! But despite that, he is still the champion munching eating machine! He’s like a lot of us that have the motabolism that works overtime to keep from gaining too much weight! Plus, the exercising and playing that he does helps in that department. Everytime you see him tho, he’s sitting and eating enjoying every mouthful of his boo! Can’t believe that ZZ is close to that 50 pound mark! She’s growing way too fast for us now! I did see that nice pic of Bai holding 2 sticks of boo, and it does look like she has a pair of chopsticks in her paw!
Great news from Atlanta Zoo! The Mon., 9/15 update is up for all of us to read. The main thing is that Lun’s cub is weighing 426 grams=15 ounces, gaining 39.7 grams in the last 24 hours!
He has more than doubled his weight since the 208 grams he weighed back on 9/9/2008. Lun has started to relax in her hold of her cub lately by just letting him lay down by her side. The cub likes to snuggle on his mom’s furry arm. The funniest thing about this update is when they mentioned that the cub was giving out a big yawn, then his mom catches the yawning bug! CUTE!! AND, we all get to see momma Lun and her cub 24/7 starting tomorrow (9/16) at 10am EDT!! YEA!!!!!!!!!! We’re all happy campers now!!
I did get on the SDZ cam the last couple of days, and I did see Miss ZZ on a tree branch napping and I think I saw her munching on some bamboo leaves. She’s learning very fast how to hold on to that boo!
Moderator, thanks for correcting me about the SDSU and San Jose game. I thought that SDSU had won it when I checked the score on Saturday! Didn’t think San Jose would come back and beat them! Oh well, try again next week! I think the San Diego Chargers won their game yesterday(?)! Anyway, keep pulling for your football teams, gang!
Well, gonna go. Will write back later on.
Chari Mercier
St. Pete, FL
Moderator’s note: The Chargers lost their game against Denver, 39-38.
September 15th, 2008 at 8:14 pm
Conversation with Gao Gao #45
Tourist: Hello, Gao Gao.
Gao Gao: Huh? Oh, hello, Mr. Tourist.
T: You seem a little drowsy. Just woke up?
G: Was I snoring?
T: No, but you were talking in your sleep when I stopped by earlier.
G: Did I say anything coherent?
T: Well, you did marvel over the Pandalympics closing ceremony last night.
G: Ah, yes, the full moon. And the Harvest Moon, no less.
T: So you pulled off a Mid-Autumn Moon Festival celebration, too.
G: Yup.
T: That’s some accomplishment.
G: Well, I couldn’t ask for anything more…
T: Yeah.
G: Than to have the biggest full moon of the year for the occasion!
T: The Lantern Parade was spectacular.
G: I think Madame Bai’s phoenix lantern was especially exquisite.
T: Yes, but you’re being partial.
G: Heh, heh, heh. Well, my bold dragon lantern complemented hers, didn’t it?
T: So you didn’t put on the Mooncake Costume Parade after all.
G: No, the costume entries weren’t very interesting.
T: Really?
G: A lot of them looked like tuna fish sandwiches.
T: But Mei Sheng had a nice one.
G: Yes, the snow skin red bean paste filled mooncake costume.
T: With the glowing translucent lilac hue. Fragrant, too.
G: He must have had a good supply of rosewater. And then Zhen Zhen…
T: that’s right, her green tea latte costume.
G: They really went well together, didn’t they?
T: And you had great food…
G: Yeah, can’t forget the durian fruit wrapped in sticky rice flour pastry. That was the best!
T: Well, I’m not a big fan of durian… Hey, now what’s this?
G: It’s ratatouille.
T: Ratatouille?
G: Yeah, ratatoutille fruitsicle.
T: You’re hungry again?
G: Yup.
September 15th, 2008 at 8:43 pm
OK…The photos of both the panda cub and the polar bear bearing the message of ” Patience Please…web cam off line…” are just adorable!!! Great shots by the zoo photographer(s)!!!
P.S. I think we should use those for the front page!!!
September 16th, 2008 at 8:02 am
Tuesday, Sept. 16, 2008, 10am: Atlanta Zoo’s pandacam is now back on 24/7 with Lun Lun and her baby panda cub as the stars! YEA!!! Just got on the cam, and Lun was doing her usual cleaning of her baby. Plus, I couldn’t see baby boy because she had him all wrapped up in her big furry arms! So, I’ll keep checking in periodically to catch sight of the cub. On their update for today, the cub’s weight is now at 444 grams which equals to a little over 15 1/2 ounces. A nice gain of close to 18 grams! This little guy has been a real fighter thru all of this, so it will be interesting once he gets his legs under him and his eyes open what type of personality he will have in the next couple of months or so!
Also got on the SDZ pandacam, and saw Bai eating her breakfast boo. No sign of little ZZ! Probably off playing somewhere or in a tree napping. It’s early morning at your end of the country, so I’ll check back on the cam later on to see what ZZ is up to.
Gonna go. Will check in later on.
Chari Mercier
St. Pete, FL
September 16th, 2008 at 8:06 am
Wow! What fabulous cam pictures this morning! Clear, bright and of our beloved panda family up close and personal. Many thanks Meerkats.
ZA now has LunLun and ” Rocky/Bright Future” up 24/7. So we have the best of all worlds. We can view pandas 24/7 in three different zoos across the US, while hoping and patiently waiting for Ya Ya’s hormones to kick-in. Maybe she is waiting for the snow to fall and will go in to estrus again in January?
Only the Panda King knows for sure, but we are all happy to view all our wonderful fuzzy black and white bears now.
September 16th, 2008 at 8:59 am
To follow up Nancy, #11: do you plan to have Mei Sheng and Zhen Zhen stuffed pandas? so that we could have a set??? And possibly Bai Yun and GaoGao as well.
Thanks for all the information on our black and whites’ weights. Bai fluctuates about as much as I do, but my excuse is trips (and all that eating out). Nothing so productive as Bai.
September 16th, 2008 at 9:45 am
Thanks for an informative update. I met a newfoundland as big as Su Lin at the vet the other day so I have a good picture in my mind of how big she is now. I’ll be visiting SD at the end of October and look forward to seeing the black and white family!
September 16th, 2008 at 10:41 am
Thanks P Wong for an update on the Pandalympics closing ceremony. Sounds like all went well, and wore Gao Gao out. Too bad it is only in your imagination. It would be wonderful to see the SDZ panda family together celebrating the Harvest Moon. It is hard to believe it has been almost a year since Mei Sheng traveled to his permanent home in China. He has had an adventurous year for sure, one that had sad events we hope will not happen again.
September 16th, 2008 at 11:03 am
It’s wonderful to see Lun Lun and her cub together and how loving she is. Boy has the little fighter grown I was watching as momma left for a few minutes and he was laying on the hay. Have not been able to catch Bai or Miss ZZ on the cam today.
September 16th, 2008 at 11:36 am
I have just had an email from Pandas International, and in it are some photos from Bifengxia. There is also mentiion of Mei Sheng and Hua Mei. They are in pens opposite each other. So pleased that they are close together again.
Oh my Zhen Zhen is no such a little Miss Fluffy Butt as we all used to nickname her. She is getting to be a beautiful princess. It is sad to think that it wont be that long till they will start to seperate her from Bai Yun. Do the moderators know when that process is likely to start?
September 16th, 2008 at 12:32 pm
I agree with Mary #18–i think there should be Bai Yun, Gao Gao, Su Lin, Mei Sheng, and Zhen Zhen stuffed pandas to go with the Hua Mei one. They all have their own physical characteristics and personalities that should be celebrated.
I hope P Wong had the video cameras running during the Moon Festival (but perhaps the Mooncake Costume Parade is best left to our imaginations after all)–it sounds very special indeed.
September 16th, 2008 at 1:04 pm
I had to laugh when I read about Gao who was born in the wild, sometime in 1990. He was discovered injured with 2/3 of his left ear being torn off and dehydrated. He spent two years at Fengtongzhai Nature Reserve, China before he was released back into the wild. He constantly kept returning to Fengtongzhai where they tried several times sending him back to the wild. Everytime, Gao Gao came back. Releasing him farther away from the reserve, proved not to be any more effective as he managed to make it back in time for his breakfast. When a keeper found Gao Gao waiting at the gate when he went to open the main gate, it was decided that Gao Gao would be happier in captivity. He figured out he now has an adoring public, keepers to take care of him, 3 beautiful panda kids, Bai and all the bamboo he can eat. What more can a panda want.
September 16th, 2008 at 1:09 pm
Hi, again! Just got off the AZ pandacam, and I saw Lun and her little baby boy! He was all cuddled up in her furry arm, and his black markings are showing up alot more. Lun was doing her usual bathing on her little boy. Then, she rolled over on her side with him all snuggled up in her arms.
To everyone that have been waiting for the latest update from Pandas International, it’s up for everyone to read on the PI website. I also got my email PI newsletter and also an email from one of their staff. The staff member told me that there has not been any more news about the wild pandas as of this month. They are trying like crazy to get search teams up those badly scarred mountains, but that has been very difficult to do due to the damage the earthquakes and aftershocks have done to the mountains, and also the heavy rains this summer. Everyone at PI feels that it will be months if not years before we know anything about the wild pandas, if the wild female pandas had any babies, and where they have all moved to. They will keep trying to get up those mountains when they feel it is safe to do so and see what they can find out. As far as Xiao Xiao is concerned, this panda is still on the missing panda list, but everybody from Wolong feels that this panda may have died in the 4 months since the quake. May never know about Xiao until they find the panda–dead or alive. On the PI update, there is a wonderful article written by Chet Chin from Malaysia about his trip to Bifengxia Panda Center in China. He went there for a few weeks to help do volunteer work with the staff and the pandas there. There is one picture that he took of 2 temporary enclosures facing each other; one has Hua Mei in it, the other has Mei Sheng in it. The one with Hua Mei in it has one of her legs under the fence. I’m glad that he was able to get that pic on this article! It’s a great read for everyone, and the pics on it are good ones to look at as well. Hope everybody gets a chance to read it.
Also got on the SDZ pandacam and saw Su Lin doing her walk-about around her enclosure.
On the NZ pandacams, Mei Xiang had a nice sized gorde in her paws just shaking it for some goodies to come out of the holes. Tai Shan on the other cam was playing with a white tube that had some goodies in it. On the MZ cam, didn’t see either Ya Ya or Le Le on the cam yet today.
Well, gonna go for now. Will write back later.
Chari Mercier
St. Pete, FL
September 16th, 2008 at 1:11 pm
NZP has a trip to Bigenxia going on right now. Maybe one of our panda friends is on the trip and can tell us about Mei Sheng and Hua Mei when they return. It must be wonderful to have them so close together. I wonder if Mei Sheng can see Hua Mei. He is more inquisitive in that area, and had the opportunity to watch Su Lin through the Howdy Gate. Not sure the Hua Mei has ever had that opportunity either in US or China. Since neither of them grew up in a Kindergarten atmosphere, they have not be exposed to other pandas their age, except for Hua Mei when breeding time comes.
September 16th, 2008 at 1:18 pm
Oh yeah, forgot about P Wong’s latest conversation with Gao Gao! Love it, P Wong! Looks like the Panda Olympics were a great success! I’m looking for more of these great panda conversations from you!
Moderator, what are we going to do about those San Diego teams?? Every time I think they are winning, I find out that both teams lost this weekend! YUK!!! Oh well, all of you San Diego football fans keep on supporting your teams! They’ll win next weekend–hopefully!
I also want to commend the cam people for the great pics on the cams in the last couple of months! They are very clear and colorful during the day, and we can even check the cams at nite because of some of the detail on them. You guys did a great job! Keep it up, you all!
Gonna go!
BYE!!!!
Chari Mercier
St. Pete, FL
September 16th, 2008 at 1:55 pm
P Wong’s stories have given me a craving for Moon Cakes (although maybe not the tuna fish one..) Perhaps I will try some when I travel to Beijing next month. I will think of my panda family when I do! Thank you again for your stories P Wong — they really are quite wonderful and always make me smile.
September 16th, 2008 at 5:05 pm
Margaret #26 — Hua Mei did have the opportunity to use the Howdy Gate toward the end of her stay in San Diego. On the other side was none other than Gao the Stud. She adored him and would roll around in front of the gate and he would bite her neck through the fencing. According to her keepers, she would also wait for him to pass her bedroom on his morning walk to the exhibit area. He was clearly her first love. We took some great video of their romantic escapades on the first day Mei Sheng was placed on exhibit — December 20, 2003 — a memorable day all around.
September 16th, 2008 at 5:32 pm
Rauhin, in Shirahama Adventure World in Japan, gave birth to twins (female and male) on September 13. Father of the twins is Eimei. On the Adventure World website, they said ” Rauhin was born on September 6, 2000 as the first panda baby in Adventure World. 7years old Rauhin mate with Eimei. Rauhin has grown very well in a good emviroment in Shirahama. Rauhin mate with Eimei naturally on April 27, 28 this year.” Eimei just celebrated his 16th birthday on Sept 14. I found it so weird and hard to believe. This has no genetic concerns with Eimei being Rauhin’s father?
September 16th, 2008 at 6:58 pm
To #12- GaoGao merchandise are things that has GaoGao’s handsome face on- you know like a GaoGao keychain or postcard.I noticed that while I was at SDZ in the gift shop, there was nothing that has GaoGao’s face on, not even a postcard.
So let unite fellow GaoGao’s fan and get him to have his own merchandise since SDZ did not thought of including him into their items.
Also I agree with #18- there should be GaoGao, BaiYun, ZhenXhen, MeiSheng, and Sulin stuffed pandas to follow BaiYun.
To SDZ- listern to us GaoGao’s fan and put his handsome face onto something, even a post card would do
Moderator’s note: Please contact our online store http://www.shopzoo.com/ and let them know what items you are interested in. They can then let you know when that item becomes available.
September 16th, 2008 at 8:26 pm
I agree with Cheryl #24 that Gao Gao’s persistence in returning to Fengtongzhai really paid off for him. I guess he knew the boo was greener on the other side of the fence (or at least that the delivery was better)!
September 17th, 2008 at 8:05 am
I checked the AZ pandacam, and Lun and her cub were sound asleep in her favorite corner of the den. On their update for today, Wed., 9/17, the cub reached a major weight milestone–He’s over one pound!! YEA!!! I think that we can safely say he has gone over that rough hurdle of life over the last 3 weeks! I was able to see the cub in Lun’s arm and on the hay on the cam yesterday. He was looking very nice, plump, and HAIRY! Oh yeah, the hair is growing in very nicely on the cub to keep him much warmer. The black markings are much more visible, too. He was just so cute laying on the hay staying still waiting for his mom to come back in for him.
Well, gonna go. Have alot of things I have to do today, but will come back to check out the SDZ cams after your maintenance work.
BYE,
Chari Mercier
St. Pete, FL
September 17th, 2008 at 10:22 am
To Belle (comment # 30):
In regard of Rauhin’s parentage, I recall reading somewhere that her mother Mei Mei was AIed at Chengdu (I think that’s where she was from; please correct if I am wrong) just before she moved to Japan’s Adventure World in 2000. She gave birth to Rauhin shortly after that. Eimei has already lived there at that time so he has no genetic connection to Rauhin. I hope it answered your question.
Panda Fan in Wash, DC
September 17th, 2008 at 11:25 am
Carole #29, Margaret #26, and all SDZ Pandafans –
Concerning Hua Mei and Gao Gao interacting – Just Goggle ( Hua Mei Meets Gao Gao ) . You will enjoy viewing photos taken in December 2003, just before Hua Mei left for China. It shows them interacting at the Howdy Gate. Very cute
September 17th, 2008 at 11:47 am
Have we ever heard whether Hua Mei was mated and if so if she gave birth this year? I see the pic on the PI newsletter by Bifengxia volunteer with her legs visible (!) but don’t recall hearing she’s a mother again this year. Maybe a year off after all those sets of twins?
Also about the Japan new mother, I’m sure they wouldn’t let her mate with her father, they keep track of the lineages too carefully, to have good combinations and preserve the genetic diversity. The Chinese who own these animals wouldn’t let that happen.
September 17th, 2008 at 11:51 am
Wrote to the shop. Also suggested a T-shirt with pictures of the 7 pandas who’ve been in SDZ this period, including Shi Shi. I think that would be a winner. I’m off Saturday on the way to see Hua Mei and Mei Sheng next week (I hope). Got fingers, legs, eyes and anything else I can think of crossed. Hua and Mei are my first panda loves, and to see them would be extra special.
Moderator’s note: Have a safe journey to China, Mary! Be sure to let us know who you saw when you return.
September 17th, 2008 at 11:58 am
Hi! Just checked in on your pandacam, and it looks great! Nice clear pictures, color coming thru nicesly! But, the main panda page is a little off! We’re missing some pics of the pandas! Hope you all can get that straightened out quickly. I did a refresh on it to see if that would straighten it out, and it came back in the same condition. Just thought I would let you know about this.
Thanks,
Chari Mercier
St. Pete, FL
Moderator’s note: We’ll alert our Web Team.
September 17th, 2008 at 12:40 pm
I have a Gao Gao notebook and a Gao Gao photo album (one that you put your own photos) that I purchased at the zoo. I am not sure if they are still in print/production, but I saw some at this year’s White Elephant Sale.
September 17th, 2008 at 1:02 pm
Absolutely, we should have Gao Gao merchandise — he is one very special panda!! And so fun to watch, always smiling and chowing down on his boo. I love his smiling face. To say nothing of his reproductive capabilities!!
Maureen #24, I want to thank you for your post. I had no idea of Gao Gao’s history, just that he’d been born in the wild and taken in after being injured. To think of him relentlessly returning to the Nature Reserve is too funny! He’s definitely a bear with a mission!
September 17th, 2008 at 1:03 pm
Mary #37–whatever you do, take your camera and tell us where to look when you post the pictures. And give Mei Sheng and Hua Mei greetings from all of us over here.
September 17th, 2008 at 3:10 pm
Frances #41: I’m taking two cameras. I intend to be absolutely promiscuous taking pictures. I’ll post a few when I get back and probably the rest in late October, since I have a quick turnaround before I head off for Germany. I will indeed greet Hua Mei and Mei Sheng from everyone who loves them (and even those on this list who may not know them but love them anyway). Right now, I plan to keep a diary and will share some when I get back.
September 17th, 2008 at 3:47 pm
Mary #42, I would like to wish you a wonderful safe journey to China. You are indeed lucky to be going to see not only our precious Mei Sheng and Hua Mei, but all of the other bears as well. We will all be waiting on pins and needles to hear your stories and to see your pictures. I plan to go in 2010, so maybe I’ll get some ” tips” from you.
Between checking the SDZ bears and now that we get to see Lun and her cubbie (I have yet to see the little guy yet though), I am amazed I get any work done in a day.. ha ha
Also, thanks to the blogger that mentioned the link for Hua Mei and Gao Gao pictures, they were wonderful to look at. Could you just imagine Gao Gao coming back to the reserve over and over again? What a guy!! Thank goodness he did, I mean just look at the cubs he has fathered, he is a huge testiment to the survival of this species. I didn’t get to see him when I was last at the SDZ (just before Mei Sheng left, so I was glad to see him), but one day I’ll go back and hopefully Gao is still residing at the zoo.
September 17th, 2008 at 6:13 pm
#24 Maureen – don’t forget, Gao Gao also has NO competition from other male pandas for his lady love!!! That’s a big plus as well as all those you mentioned. AND all of us panda fans get to watch him!
September 17th, 2008 at 6:30 pm
Mary yes have a safe trip you are so lucky to get to see all the pandas and especially Hua Mei and Mei Sheng. And maybe some of Hua cubs, yes be sure to tell them how much we love them and miss them also.
September 17th, 2008 at 7:19 pm
Hi Mary #37 & 42 – I want to wish you a very happy and wonderful trip to Bifengxia. I am also looking forward to hearing all about your adventures in China. I know it will be amazing. Thanks for delivering our love to our beautiful Hua Mei, our sweet Mei Sheng and all the other magnificent pandas.
Have a great trip and travel safely.
September 17th, 2008 at 7:52 pm
Mary #42–will you also get to see Fu Long when you are in Germany? You are all so lucky who have seen the pandas in person. I’m going to have to start planning…
Moderator–since Hua Mei and Gao Gao saw each other at the howdy gate, have Su Lin and Gao Gao seen each other?
Does anyone know?
September 18th, 2008 at 12:31 am
Hi
I know some of your ” panda people” watch the Pandas at Oceanpark in Hong Kong.
I have noticed that they have a pre-recorded video on the camera that usually has
AN AN, one of the older pandas there. I hope there isn’t something wrong with him{?}
or her {?}. Anyone have any information? All of the pandas in Hong Kong are really
beautiful but the two older ones are special. They seem very old and wise. They seem to always sit close to the people watching them. Not just because the bamboo is placed
there because they turn to watch the people and chew! I’ve seen them just sit down
by the glass and people watch!
Thank you SDZ for letting us talk about other pandas.
Bye for now
Linda
September 18th, 2008 at 1:40 am
Mary #42, please add me to the many panda lovers wanting to say hello and send love to Hua Mei and especially (for me) Mei Sheng. Looking forward to the photos and hearing all about your trip. Have a great time.
I got lucky two nights ago and saw Lun Lun’s little one. She had got up for a quick bite to eat and left him on the hay. He’s sooooo cute and was trying to wriggle around.
Loved Su Lin a few days ago, playing with her new treat toy on a rope. What an acrobat! She was upside down, on her back and then rushing it at top speed. I really wish I was there – shame the airline has gone bust (they were the only one that did a one-hop UK to San Diego). You wouldn’t believe how much I miss my daily hill climb around the Zoo, meeting all the animals.
September 18th, 2008 at 8:50 am
The dirt bath this morning was fantastic. Bai and Zhen just loved it and I was able to capture a picture of Zhen doing a headstand with her back legs up on Bai. It was too cute for words. They are going to look so dirty for quite a while I think, unless they take a dip in their pool. Is this something they would do in the wild?
September 18th, 2008 at 8:54 am
Wow–don’t know if it is an official mud day, but there sure was some panda mud wrestling going on this morning! even Ms. Teflon Panda Bai Yun was nice and muddy gray. Many new screen shots for my collection.
September 19th, 2008 at 6:21 am
Linda #48,
An An is an older male panda in Hong Kong, the big star their prior to the arrival of the young ones. He participated in some of our enrichment and ambient noise studies back in 2001. I am not aware of any particular issues with An An at the moment.
Lee #50,
Though I am sure that wild pandas do occasionally get pretty dirty, and moms with cubs take a little time out for play, it is likely that the wild bears spend much less time frolicking and more time focused on feeding. In a zoo setting, the luxury of keeper-delivered food means mom doesnt have to spend so much time foraging, which leaves more time for play!
November 22nd, 2008 at 3:57 pm
I like the panda cam!!!!!!!!
December 1st, 2008 at 2:12 pm
Where is Su Lin today?
Moderator’s note: She is off exhibit this week.