Getting Closer to that Time
Posted at 11:03 am February 20, 2009 by Ellie RosenbaumAll waited anxiously for the steel door to open Wednesday morning between a sleeping Zhen Zhen and a sleeping Bai Yun. How long would it take before they reunited? Who would instigate the reunion? Would there be a mad dash to the doorway?
Finally the door opened and…nothing happened. It was a surprise to me that it took vocalizations from Bai Yun, who wandered over after a few minutes, and a full 45 minutes for ZZ to bother coming out of her tree. Mom coaxed her over to the pile of pine shavings thoughtfully provided by the keepers for a romp and a short nursing bout, but then things changed.
Was it a teaching/learning session, with Mom biting and holding Zhen down? It seemed so and could have been rough play. Or it could be that, as the separation time increases, Bai’s tolerance is diminishing? She was pushing the cub off a log, biting her on her hind leg hard enough to provoke vocalizations, and sitting on the cub as the cub would sit on Mom. Back and forth it fluxed between cuddling play and rough play, so it’s hard to tell exactly what is going on.
It’s a challenging time for both mother and cub, and we’re all watching with interest as this separation process continues.
Ellie Rosenbaum is a panda narrator at the San Diego Zoo.
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February 20th, 2009 at 11:11 am
Ellie, How many more days before complete separation? Sounds like Mom is more than ready? Thanks for all the updates.
February 20th, 2009 at 11:15 am
Could it be that since Bai can’t just walk away and leave her cub or den up that this is her way of trying to drive ZZ away? So sad!
February 20th, 2009 at 11:21 am
aww poor ZZ ..Can you tell us how long between Mei S , Su Lin and ZZ of weaning ended?
February 20th, 2009 at 11:42 am
Hi Ellie – Yes, it is “getting closer to that time”
From 8:26 AM to 9AM this morning, I’ve noticed a huge change in Zhen’s behavior. Yesterday at this
time, Zhen was acting very bored. She was walking all around her exhibit, not interested in eating (although she did sit down to pick up a piece of bamboo for a few minutes). She was climbing up and climbing down the log leading to the tree stump. She seemed very forlorn. She constantly entered and exited her bedroom door and would rechecked the door between exhibits.
Today brought a different scenario. So far, Zhen has been eating her bamboo with gusto, using both front paws. For an instant, the camera switched over to Bai’s exhibit. Bai was also enjoying her bamboo. Instantly, the camera switched back to Zhen who was still sitting near the large rock eating her breakfast while in the “lounge-chair” position – so adorable. Now, it’s 9:08 AM and Zhen is happily playing with a sack. I’m sure it has a very enticing scent.
This is good news! Zhen is finally adjusting to “life without Mom”. Clearly, the loving Panda Team and Staff have trained our sweet Zhen Zhen very well – along with Bai’s help.
Zhen is now a happy panda that has learned to keep busy on her own. She is on her way to becoming an independent sub-adult.
February 20th, 2009 at 11:45 am
it sounds as though Bai and zz are ready to go off on their own. it doesn’t seem as though they are bothered much! mom seems ready to turn her cub out into the world now. all our concerns and tears etc. are all for nothing. mom and baby are ready even though we are not. it is the way nature intended! it was fun while it lasted watching the two of them bond, zz nursing, romping and being a big pest. mom’s patience and teachings, sharing her boo and her interrupted nap times! all good things must come to an end sad to say! our time with them has not ended, only changed! how fast time goes and how fast things change. we just love our babies don’t we!? maybe next year with any luck, gao gao and bai yun will hit the panda jack-pot again and present us with another little fuzzy, chubby, giant baby panda. how great that would be! if that happened though, all the other zoos in the US would want to lease our stud-master gao gao! ha ha! he prefers to do things the old-fashioned way. he seems to know what to do and when to do it. very successfully I might add! Bai Yun loves him! keep our fingers crossed!
February 20th, 2009 at 12:01 pm
I have a question – is there any place I can go to and see a map of the giant panda area? I would love to be able to see where each is located in perspective to the others. I would especially like to see how Bai and ZZ are currently housed and how they will be once the door is shut for good. Thank you so much for all you do and for reporting things that go on that we can’t see!
Moderator’s note: We have an interactive map of the entire Zoo at http://www.sandiegozoo.org/zoo/zoo_map.html
You can use the magnifying square to view the panda area a little better.
February 20th, 2009 at 12:44 pm
Oh..oh..Bai sat on ZZ again…poor girl..hehe! They are wrestling up a storm right now! I can see Bai is holding herself back – this must be a teaching experience as I’m sure Bai could easily defend herself just given her sheer size against ZZ. It’s so fascinating how animals teach their offspring the skills they need to survive, they just constantly amaze me in how much they care for them. Sometimes I think we could learn a thing or two from the way they parent!
February 20th, 2009 at 1:13 pm
Oh! how cute – Zhen and Bai are having lots of fun frolicking in the pool.
(In the C2 exhibit at 11:38 AM)
February 20th, 2009 at 1:42 pm
Just saw Bai sitting in the pool – that’s fairly unusual (I think) for her outside of breeding season! Could she possibly be wanting to speed things up a bit and have a date with her studmuffin sooner than her usual month to date? Hmmm, will have to keep an eye on this! (especially since both NZ and MZ panda girls have VERY early estrus this year).
February 20th, 2009 at 2:58 pm
Ellie, thanks for keeping us informed. Right now, Bai and Zhen are sitting side by side, munching away. Content to be together and sharing the bamboo pile.
I think it is funny that Bai “requested” Zhen to come over, then Bai bit her. Animals just make me laugh, and the pandas give me such joy. I wonder if they ever watch us and try to come up with explanations of what we’re doing. It’s fun to think about… what would they say about our behaviors? How would they blog about us? Just imagine.
But, for now, get in those last few hours of Bai and Zhen together because it will be over all to soon. (Grab another kleen-ex) I am savoring every last moment!
Love, Joy
February 20th, 2009 at 6:19 pm
We’ve been shown so much about pandas and the learning process of the life cycle from conception to weaning to new adult thanks to the wonderful staff at SD zoo. You are all so dedicated and willing to share with those of us glued to our computers whether we have positive remarks or sometimes perhaps uneducated, but well meaning questions. We always come away with further knowledge to help us understand not only species behavior, but also the balance of confining wild animals. So, I have to ask one uneducated question regarding the views of Gao Gao. Does he have access to something more stimulating than the room seen on camera? Or perhaps does he, at his age, not seem to require more than his pile of bamboo? Thank you in advance for your answer.
Moderator’s note: Gao does have access to an outdoor exhibit as well as the bedroom you sometimes see on the cams.
February 20th, 2009 at 9:47 pm
what does it mean that it is getting closer to that time? Does that mean the Zhen Zhen will be going to china? or that Zhen Zhen won’t be in the same enclosure as Bai Yun? If that is the case how come they won’t be in the same enclosure?? please write back
Moderator’s note: It means the weaning process is nearing an end.
February 21st, 2009 at 12:11 pm
Silly question………….can you tell how much milk ZZ is actually getting in these final days?
February 21st, 2009 at 12:17 pm
Does it mean that this week is ZZ’s last week out on exhibit? Please write back as I have planned a trip to see ZZ 1st week in March. Gosh, dunno if I’m gonna see her now. I’m really disappointed.
February 21st, 2009 at 12:23 pm
#12 hannah: They are separating Jenny from her mother for the protection and well-being of both pandas.
Moderator: I’m looking for a video of an exam of Su Lin when she was about 3 months old. Does the SDZ have an archive of old videos on the web?
February 21st, 2009 at 1:22 pm
WOW!!!! THANK YOU TO WHOMEVER HAS BEEN IN CHARGE OF THE PANDACAM FROM 10:45 TO 11:45 Pacific time on Feb. 21st!!!! I think an ‘Oscar’ is in order! Bai and Zhen should win one also
The play time has been absolutely mesmerizing 
February 21st, 2009 at 2:06 pm
Thank you moderator for my question re: Gao Gao. As a matter of fact he’s on the camera now and his area looks like a nice quiet, peaceful area for the pandas away from all the “action”. Must not have caught this camera before. I’m also hoping along with many others that China will allow us to keep more pandas here. Any update on Wolong reconstruction?
February 21st, 2009 at 2:17 pm
SOME HOW I DON’T FEEL SO ANXIOUS…I GUESS A FEW BLOGS AGO I LET GO…BECAUSE I FELT BAI WAS CLOSE…SO THIS TIME HEARING ABOUT HER BEING ROUGH AND ZZ LETTING OUT A CRY DID NOT GET TO THE CORE OF MY BEING….ZZ IS READY(MY SMART BABY) AND SHE WILL BE FINE AND MOM WILL BE ROMPING WITH DADDY REAL SOON AND WE WILL WAIT IN GREAT ANTICIPATION FOR, ONCE AGAIN A CUB OR 2……!!!!
February 21st, 2009 at 3:43 pm
Suzanne mentioned that Bai is doing a hearing test. Is this the continuation of the test she did on Shikari and Chinook? Did the test continue on Chinook after the loss of Shikari? As I recall she is going to do it on most of the bears at SDZ. Please ask her to update us on her research once the weaning process is complete and there is a lull before breeding season.
February 22nd, 2009 at 1:15 pm
It’s been another wonderful weekend for sending postcards. I’ve got some wonderful pictures, one I especially like is of ZZ hanging upside down from the tree. I love it when you just happen to have your finger on the ’send postcard’ bit at the right time. Feeling a bit sad; sometimes I just want to reach through my screen and hug ZZ and tell her everything will be alright as she just looks a little confused.
Thanks Meerkats, for letting us watch Su Lin having one of her moments. She was being so silly and lovely all at the same time, beating up her bamboo, throwing a piece down a slope in what looked almost like a mini tantrum and ending up sitting in her pool, which seemed to calm her down a bit!
February 22nd, 2009 at 2:13 pm
Dear All,
It’s Sunday noon time and it seems it’s another ‘Training Day’ for our little Zhen Zhen. I really feel the Bai is not trying to drive ZZ away. I really feel that Bai knows that they are going to seperate and she’s just instinctively wants to prepare ZZ for being on her own by ’sparring’ with her. ZZ does look like a little victim at times when she’s under her mom’s ‘massive’ body, or being pinned to the ground by the head. However ZZ never just then ran away to hide. She may walk around a bit and would definitely come back for more. ZZ likes it!!!
Many thanks to the keepers at the SDZ and all of the panda fans!
Faye
February 22nd, 2009 at 2:15 pm
The cam right now says C17,but there is no C17! Is it Su Lin?
February 22nd, 2009 at 2:15 pm
Conversation overheard between Bai Yun and Zhen Zhen, Sunday afternoon, nursing session:
ZZ: (struggling to nurse while under Bai Yun, who is on top of the den and resting her head on Zhen Zhen)
Mom—you’re not making this very easy, you know!
BY: That’s part of the idea, dear.
ZZ: What do you mean?
BY: It’s one of the very important lessons in the advanced section of the Bai Yun Panda Persistence Course.
ZZ: Oh. How am I doing? (Oof!)
(shifting and trying another approach)
BY: Oh, I’d say you’re my star pupil, dear.
ZZ: Thanks! But why do I have to be persistent, Mom? (Mmmmph!)
BY: Oh, you’ll know when you’re older, dear.
ZZ: Oh, Mom, you say that about everything you don’t want to talk about. (Slurp)
BY: I know, dear–it’s one of the important lessons in my best selling book, Bai Yun’s Lessons for Panda Mothers.
ZZ: Wow–(mmmmph)–you’ve written a lot of books, Mom.
BY: Well, I’ve had a lot of experience, dear–and we pandas like to share our experiences, with our own cubs and other pandas worldwide.
ZZ: Do you think I’ll have cubs too, Mom?
BY: Oh, I have noooo doubt of that, little one.
ZZ: How do they happen, mom–cubs?
BY: Oh, that’s something else you’ll…
ZZ: …know when I’m older…I know. (Slurp) Mom?
BY: Yes, dear.
ZZ: I’m about ready to graduate, aren’t I?
BY: Yes, dear.
ZZ: I’ll miss you.
BY: I’ll miss you, too, dear. But you have many wonderful adventures ahead of you and you’re almost ready.
ZZ: What will you do when I’m on my own?
BY: Oh, I’ll probably eat a lot of bamboo…
ZZ: Yeah?
BY: …and sleep a lot…
ZZ: Yeah?
BY: …and maybe I’ll go visit my dearest Gao Gao.
ZZ: What for, Mom? Oh, I know–I’ll know when I’m older?
BY: That’s right, dear.
ZZ: Wow–so much to learn. Let’s go get some bamboo and…
BY: …wrestle over it?
ZZ: More wrestling?
BY: Oh, yes–it’s a cornerstone of my book called Physical Preparation for Young Pandas Preparing for Subadulthood.
ZZ: Another book?
BY: Yes, dear–it’s on your spring reading list. Race you to the pool! (Bai Yun rushes off. ZZ tries to grab her leg as she passes, but misses.)
ZZ: Wow–Mommy knows everything, and she moves pretty fast too! I better hurry or she’ll splash all the water out of the pool…
February 22nd, 2009 at 4:11 pm
It’s 2:30 p.m., PST on Sunday. ZZ is still sound asleep on her limb! It just amazes me how these bears can lay out on a limb and stay balanced enough to sleep soundly. I’ve really utilized the postcard system today! First with mom and daughter sharing a boo lunch. Then just Zhen Zhen alone. Don’t know how much longer we’ll be able to see them eating together. Thanks SDZ for this great way to savor (at a later time) these precious moments. Hope you all have a great week ahead, and hope the necessity for tissues has passed.
We all know these gals are gonna be just fine!
February 22nd, 2009 at 6:21 pm
Has Zhen Zhen’s caretaker been chosen? Just curious if it is the man seen frequently on the cam. Zhen seems fond of him. With so many of the caretakers in China being male wondered if that was why he was brought in to the panda team.
February 23rd, 2009 at 7:12 am
I suspect that yesterday was Bai and ZZ’s last day together and what a joy it was to watch, thank you! I think Bai knew because she was so patient and loving with ZZ, they nursed, they wrestled without the previous aggression, they played in the water, they napped together and at one point Bai had her head on ZZ and her arms around her – just too precious. They ate boo together, face to face with toes touching! Thank you for allowing us to enjoy them together, I watched most of the day and it was so touching! I know the hardest part for both will be this week, give them lots of hugs and love from all of us. Thank you again for taking such good care of them!
February 23rd, 2009 at 8:36 am
It’s 7:00 am Monday morning……….where is C11? It looks like somebody’s bedroom. But I can’t tell which of our pandas it is. Thank you!
February 23rd, 2009 at 9:20 am
It’s always sad to see the weaning process but it’s the way of nature. It is far better for us to witness here at the zoos, than to see it take place in the wild. Zhen will be fine. Bai will be fine. Bai has done this several times. She knows it’s time for Zhennie to be on her own. This is a part of life in the Panda world. Thank goodness we have been priviledged to be a part of it.
February 23rd, 2009 at 9:42 am
That sure looks like Gao on cam 3 this morning…was he switched?
February 23rd, 2009 at 9:42 am
Glad I took the time to watch Bai and Zhen on Saturday and Sunday, as I figured they would be completely separated by Monday.
Zhen is in her “garden room” far away from mom and looks like she is very restless just like Su Lin. She will settle down in a day or two as she adjusts to her new surroundings. Papa Gao seems to be very happy to be back on exhibit and is contentedly eating his breakfast. I wondered whether he or Su Lin would be put back on exhibit first, I guess he won the draw.
I look forward to seeing Zhen Zhen and Su Lin interacting through treetops and the howdy gate once Zhen has fully adjusted to her solitary life. It will be interesting to see who initiates their encounters, Su Lin or Zhen Zhen.
Great job SDZ staff with making this as stress-free as possible for Bai Yun and Zhen Zhen. As you have stated it is always harder on the cubs than the moms, because this is a new experience for the cubs, and the mom’s instincts tell them it is time to move on.
February 23rd, 2009 at 9:44 am
P.S. I sent several postcards to myself and a message appeared saying they were sent, but the only one I received was the first one. That is a bummer, because I got 3 or 4 great ones of Bai and Zhen having a peaceful afternoon snack together on Saturday.
February 23rd, 2009 at 9:44 am
It’s 8:10 a.m. (SD time) and Gao Gao is on C3. The weaning must be completed – sniff, sniff. I also think I saw ZZ on C11 a little earlier today. I was lucky enough to see Bai Yun and ZZ together Sunday afternoon, just before the camera was switched to Gao Gao’s bedroom late in the afternnon. I’m thinking that might have been their last moments together – SNIFF, SNIFF. Oh, how I hope there’ll be more babies this spring/summer!
Thank you SD Staff for taking such good care of all the wonderful animals.
February 23rd, 2009 at 9:46 am
It looks like the change has been made. It’s 4:30AM Honolulu time and all the pandas are quite busy. There is handsome Gao in the front and saw Zhen Zhen climbing the back structures and eating her boo. I think she’s discovering her “new” space quite well. Gao is his usual self “chomping down his boo”. Gao is such a handsome panda. To all the keepers at SDZ – Great transition!
February 23rd, 2009 at 9:54 am
Days like today, I wish we could have multiple panda cams! While I love seeing the smiling, bamboo destroying studmuffin Gao Gao front and center again… I miss seeing ZZ’s fluffy buns sleeping in the tree in the back. Yes, Gao’s smile reminds me of what is (hopefully) to come again (panda date), and, based on ALL the enrichment items I saw in the back, ZZ WILL be kept busy… I still want to watch them both!
Thanks Meerkats for being so busy and switching our views around so much this am so we can peek at all of our bears!
Hugs to ZZ! Enjoy ALL the boo… all to yourself! Ask the wonderful keepers for extra biscuits and scratches – we all know they will come thru for you!
February 23rd, 2009 at 10:28 am
Bai Yun looks totally relaxed and stress-free, happy to be eating on her own without any little ones interfering. Enjoy your “me time” mama extraordinaire. You may be blessed with one or two more little ones in a few months, so you need your time for rest and lots of eating.
February 23rd, 2009 at 10:42 am
This morning, I started watching the panda cam at 6:57 AM PT. I was shocked and happy to see Zhen in her bedroom, C-11, enjoying a bamboo breakfast. Earlier, while in her bedroom, Zhen walked towards an open door. Obviously, Zhen had the option to go outside, but preferred to have breakfast in her bedroom.
Later, at 7:29 AM, Zhen was trying her best to leave her bedroom. She looked so cute trying every which way to get the keeper’s attention. Climbing up and sitting in the water fountain, walking on her hind legs along the walls and door. I am now guessing that the open door leads only to the small-enclosed yard, which is attached to the bedroom. (Moderator, am I correct?)
At 7:40 AM, Zhen was outside playing with an enrichment toy in the yard C-15 – I believe it’s the small yard outside of Zhen’s bedroom. At 7:45 AM, Zhen is finally where she wants to be – in the C-3 outdoor exhibit, once again enjoying her bamboo. It was fun watching Zhen start her busy day.
P.S. Meerkats – I love the unique close-up of Bai’s eye on C-15 – (please correct me if I’m wrong). I also enjoyed the quick switching camera shots even though I’m having a hard time distinguishing who’s who on camera.
February 23rd, 2009 at 12:02 pm
I also watched the Pandacam most of the weekend and saw, what was in all liklihood, the last of the “togetherness”. I was O.K. with it yesterday. But, today after reading the entries that the moderator just posted, I am trying to work through the tears in my eyes.
February 23rd, 2009 at 12:18 pm
Thank You everyone at the SDZ for making it possible for all of us to enjoy the Pandas! The pandacam has been a daily blessing for years. The visits to the zoo make my life. This morning confirmed what I had suspected over this past weekend. The day has arrived for Zhen Zhen to become Little Miss Independent.
Placing the camera on Zhen, then Bai, and then Gao Gao made my morning complete. Honestly, even though I felt a twinge of saddness, seeing Gao happily munching breakfast on exhibit made me giggle out loud
PWong: Thank you for your latest dialogue!
February 23rd, 2009 at 12:19 pm
Frances #17, absolutely brilliant.
Meerkats, thanks for all the wonderful times with Bai and Zhen over the last few weeks. I’m a little choked, as I have only just come online for the first time today and discovered that the parting of the ways has happened. Good luck Bai and Zhen. Now we look forward to their further adventures!
February 23rd, 2009 at 12:19 pm
Frances #18, what a wonderful “graduation” conversation between ZZ and BY. It follows my human reasoning of how their conversation might have gone. You captured their last nursing session beautifully. Many thanks!
February 23rd, 2009 at 12:22 pm
#11, Carolyn, the area Gao was in is near where ZZ now is, and where Su Lin is while their parents are in the front exhibits.
February 23rd, 2009 at 12:43 pm
Moderator – Earlier this morning I thought it was Zhen in C-3 when in fact it was Gao Gao. I am happy to see Gao back in the right-hand viewing area – welcome back Gao.
Now that the separation is complete, will Zhen be placed in the C-15 outdoor area and C-11 bedroom?
Do I have the panda’s locations correct? If so, then the postcard close-up that I have of the panda’s eye, which is labeled C-15, must belong to sweet Zhen.
Thank you.
February 23rd, 2009 at 12:44 pm
I’m so glad I spent hours watching Bai Yun and Zhen Zhen together on Saturday and Sunday. They had many sweet moments together. Like many of us, I’ve been so concerned about how long it will take ZZ to settle in to her new routine and hoping she’ll be OK those first few days. (I know she’ll be fine, but I do worry about those adjustment days.)
But I noticed something else these past two viewing days. It was often Bai Yun following ZZ around as much as ZZ trailing Bai. Although this is her fourth cub, the separation will be an adjustment for her, too. She will not see her cub, her student, her entertainment, and certainly her best enrichment item anymore. I’m hoping Bai Yun’s adjustment days go well, too. She is a wonderful panda mother.
February 23rd, 2009 at 12:51 pm
I got a rare glimpse of Su-lin’s personality this week-end . The only thing I have ever seen her do is eat bamboo. This week-end she was playing–running, turning somersaults, climbing a tree, playing with a ball. Maybe she will get more on camera time while Zhen Zhen is “in training” .
I am sorry to say, I missed the interaction with Bai and ZZ yesterday.
February 23rd, 2009 at 1:05 pm
I think the close-up was Zhen in C15, but hope the #’s for where each of them are shown soon. It is sad and I thought Bai looked sad when she roused from her nap for just a few seconds in C6~it may have to be, but it is still sad & I think for Bai too!
February 23rd, 2009 at 1:45 pm
It’s about 12:10 (SD time) and Bai Yun is ‘motoring’ around her enclosure. Is she wondering where little ZZ is? Even though she was more than ready for the total weaning to occur, I’m sure that she must have some anxiety over not seeing her little girl today (since she isn’t really the one that ‘closed the doors’ between them, so-to-speak). This would be the time that they were together. I’m still Sniff, Sniffing……
February 23rd, 2009 at 2:03 pm
It’s 2:30 central time where I am, and I’m watching ZZ in her bedroom, eating bamboo & sugar cane?
Thank you Panda staff for taking care of our babies!
February 23rd, 2009 at 3:09 pm
got a look at madame Bai sitting and eating all by herself and yes she was quite relaxed and content and of course our little big girl was busy keeping herself busy. I by chance flicking channels yesterday saw a piece on the D.C. family,it was before Tai was born and showed Mei And Tian trying to mate. Not sucessful, They showed the artifical insemination and how they monitored her through out her pregancy. Tia’s birth was a little surprising because the hormone level wasn’t where it should have been, The overnite panda watcher noticed that Mei was panting and kept putting her leg up,well lo and behold out flew little Tai and boy did he bounce off the wall and start squaking. This was the first time I really got a real close up of a baby being born, although I have seen the other in the den, Quite exciting.
February 23rd, 2009 at 3:36 pm
I saw Zhen and Bai together yesterday when Bai was leaning on the edge of the pool and ZZ was trying to interact with her. I’m glad I got a few screen captures of their last day together. It’s weird to remember that Mei Xiang and Tai experienced their final separation on February 22, too. Now we will be on Bai’s “estrus watch” while Gao is on standby for a possible meeting with his voluptuous, beloved Bai.
February 23rd, 2009 at 4:31 pm
I’m wondering why Zhen is put into a new environment after the weaning. Why do you change more than one major variable when she starts life on her own? I’m just curious.
February 23rd, 2009 at 4:40 pm
To Frances #18
My apologies! I thanked P Wong instead of you for the great dialogue! Woops! I loved what you wrote
February 23rd, 2009 at 4:41 pm
And it’s great to see the always debonair Gao Gao making his sweet scrunchy faces while he eats bamboo. Missing him in full color and up close for the past month makes seeing him now all the better.
February 23rd, 2009 at 4:53 pm
As I recall Su Lin was separated on 2/21 or 2/22/07. It is hard to believe that two separations have taken place in two years.
Conversation (#18) was from Frances, not P. Wong. I hope we will be hearing from P Wong about the separation soon though. Haven’t had any updates about the new year’s celebrations in a while.
February 23rd, 2009 at 5:31 pm
This morning I seen Miss ZZ laying on the platform in her bedroom looking kind of lonely. But hoping as the days go by she will adjust to her new step in life. Like others have said I got a lot of postcard shoots so I’ll have the memories of their last days together.
#20 Frances thank you for the wonderful last talk between mother and daughter.
February 23rd, 2009 at 5:38 pm
I see that “Super Studmuffin” Gao Gao is in the front exhibits now. Am I to presume that little Zhen Zhen has now been fully weaned? I think I saw her today in Bai’s bedroom adjacent to the den she was born in…
February 23rd, 2009 at 5:44 pm
Since we now have 4 pandas eating bamboo exclusively, is there good news re the cooler?
Is it here and being hooked up now?
We never run out of questions to keep you on your toes do we.
February 23rd, 2009 at 5:51 pm
Queenie #39 – Yes, now I’m positive that the close-up of the panda’s eye is indeed Zhen’s.
I also hope that the numbers indicating the area of the Panda Station exhibits will be updated soon to make panda identification easier for all panda fans.
February 23rd, 2009 at 8:24 pm
#20 – Frances in NY – wow, thanks for capturing one of our pandas last conversations – it was a real mother & daughter talk – Bai is a wonderful Mom & what can we say about our beloved Zhen – they gave us so joy for the last 18 months – now we hope that Bai & our “superstud” Gao are able to give us another panda cub.
February 24th, 2009 at 10:01 am
Hi! Just got on the SDZ panda page and cam, and I noticed on the pandacam list that the cam numbers have changed around again. Looks like ZZ has her own cam numbers which means that she is pretty much totally on her own by now! WOW!!! Was just on cam c15, ZZ’s cam, but didn’t see ZZ anywhere. Looks like the meerkats will be alot busier changing the cams around to catch all 4 pandas doing their usual daily stuff! They haven’t done that since before Mei Sheng left for China! Hopefully we’ll have a new update from one of the panda keepers about the seperation of Bai and ZZ in a couple of days (or less). P Wong, your latest conversation between Bai and ZZ was really cute, funny, and surprisingly informative looking thru Bai’s and ZZ’s eyes! Great piece of writing and loved it!
Well, gonna get back to the cam to see if I can catch ZZ on her own cams!
Chari Mercier
St. Pete, FL
February 24th, 2009 at 11:51 am
I have a question. Does Zhen Zhen have any trees to climb? I feel so sad for her, and I know how much she loved the trees.
February 24th, 2009 at 1:10 pm
Well It seems like you have completed the separation, I saw little ZZ in her own space, next to Big Sister, Su Lin. But, could find no new Blog??? Are you going to let us know how she is making out? I hope so. When did you move her? Was it today? Right now it is Daddy on the Panda Cam.
February 24th, 2009 at 1:33 pm
For those of you who missed the last day of ZZ and Bai together, you can see ZZ nursing for the last time “2/22/09~Bai & Zhen Nursing~3 35min” on YouTube
February 24th, 2009 at 1:57 pm
I really hope the separation goes well! Zhen Zhen is such a cutie,and she is growing up so fast!