Bamboo Chiller: Whoooooosh!
Posted at 2:00 pm May 7, 2009 by Ellie Rosenbaum
Bamboo chiller at left, bamboo cutting area at right
But the really cool part of the unit is the doors! Large, heavy double doors seal it closed but at the touch of a button, open they slide with a soft, gentle ” whoosh.” And the lights inside go on automatically! This seems to be a favorite of the keepers as well, since they pulled me back there to demonstrate it, the better to describe it all to you. They even let me push the button, to “whoosh” the doors closed.
This may seem a small, even silly thing to some readers, but the majority of the keepers’ days are spent feeding and cleaning, and in the case of the giant pandas, hauling and weighing bamboo is a major part of the job. Food has to be prepped several times daily and cargo container doors are not that easy to manipulate. Even though keepers are strong and fit, by the very nature of their daily activities, this is a safer work environment for them – and it’s nice to see what you’re doing! And it will be nice to see contented pandas now that their bamboo is kept crisper and greener early in the week.
A young guest asked this week if he could see the new cooler, but because it is located in an animal care area that is closed to the public, this is not possible. We’ll try to get some photos posted next week, but to help you visualize where it is, just look at the faux bamboo walls at the rear of the viewing areas – behind that are the exhibit bedrooms and transfer tunnels and just beyond that is the new chiller. Thanks again to all of you who made it possible.
Ellie Rosenbaum is a panda narrator at the San Diego Zoo.
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May 7th, 2009 at 2:08 pm
Bai must have heard the Whoosh! She is in another one of her diva poses up against the fence obviously very relaxed. She almost looks like she was blown against the fence, but she has a smile on her face, and her forearm across her eyes for her repose.
Glad to hear everything is up and running. Congratulations on a job well done. Sounds like state of the art bamboo dining is coming to SDZ pandas and other bamboo guzzling machines. The red pandas will also be happy.
May 7th, 2009 at 2:41 pm
In Pandas Live On, The article from the Austrian Times reports that the zoo’s agreement with China is that Fu Long leaves after 2 years. However, the report also lists his day of birth as August 23, 2003. If that is
correct he is a lot older than 3.
May 7th, 2009 at 2:50 pm
Sounds wonderful.
May 7th, 2009 at 3:10 pm
It makes me happy that I had a share in making these panda’s lives happy. And thank you to the lady who posted about the need for an ice machine at ZA, I made a contribution to that as well. Although my donations are not large every bit helps. I love pandas and want to see them prosper. Thanks to all the keepers too for their hard work.
May 7th, 2009 at 3:22 pm
Reading about the new cooler…..makes me hungry for bamboo. Yummo.
May 7th, 2009 at 4:22 pm
Maybe a little Bamboo Sorbet could be on the menu — bet the pandas would love, love that! Great to hear about the cooler — it sounds state of the art — nothing but the best for our panda family.
May 7th, 2009 at 4:25 pm
Thank You, Ellie, for the great description of the new cooler! Talk about hi-tek
It sounds enormous! I do think it will be great fun to view photos of the new refigerator.
What a cute little Panda Bear.
To all: Mei Xiang is sleeping (4:15PM Pacific) on the rocks in her exhibit. I’m hoping she will decide to return to her den tonight. I, along with all of you, am keeping fingers crossed for her and the NZ.
Also, I do love the camera on Zhen when she is on her ‘patio’ eating dinner
May 7th, 2009 at 4:40 pm
#2 Rosemarie Getty – I believe the birth date that the Austrian Times has posted for Fu Long is wrong. Fu Long was born only about a month after Zhen Zhen. He will be turning 2 this summer. Too bad he has to go soon; perhaps things will change as some posters have indicated. I can just imagine the angst all of us panda lovers will go through when Tai and Su Lin will have to leave. And then Mei Lan might go shortly after – I can’t stand the thought!!
May 7th, 2009 at 6:29 pm
How wonderful to have the long-awaited cooler up and running. Thank you, Ellie, for the great description. I can only imagine how relieved and exhilarated all the keepers and caretakers must feel, to have a new, modern,
efficient piece of equipment, to make their jobs easier, and even a little fun. When I saw Gao Gao on cam, he was relaxed on top of his structure, totally happy. Must be the fresh boo!
Michelle #4…is there a link on the ZA site to take you to a donations page. Is this for the pandas, or for a more central use? (I will donate either way, but just curious.)
Tomorrow, I’m off to visit Tai Shan and Tian Tian. Wish I could visit Mei Xiang, but she is in seclusion.
Have a great weekend, everyone.
May 7th, 2009 at 6:39 pm
Margaret #1–that was a great shot of Queen Bai reclining by the fence today, and great shots also of adorable Miss ZZ deftly and stylishly wielding her boo and draping herself over the branches in the classroom.
And OK, I have to say it–knowing that there is a light in the boo cooler brings to mind an image of Gao Gao silhouetted in the doorway of the cooler, sneaking in for a midnight snack. And then there’s that satisfying “swoosh” afterwards–I envision a smiling scrunchy-faced panda!
May 7th, 2009 at 7:37 pm
I’m happy the new cooler is up and running now. Yes, we all love the pandas but I’m glad we have made things a bit easier for all the staff as well. If the staff are happy then their charges are going to be happy.
I too have donated to the ice maker in Atlanta. I hope in the future they will be able to post pictures of their happy pandas playing in their cool environment.
May 7th, 2009 at 7:55 pm
#2 rosemarie they have the date wrong for Fu Long birth he was born in 2007 not 2003 he is the same age as Zhen Zhen.
Sure nice to heard the bamboo cooler is now up and running full stream. Now it time to help the Atlanta Zoo with their ice machine for their pandas. …they can thank you by sending a darling key chain with Xi Lan and Mei Lan pictures on it.
You can pay by paypal also but you’ll have to go to pandasliveon site and look for the Keeping Cool story for the Atlanta Zoo.
I hope we can help them out too I know times are hard and not getting any better but I’m sure every little bit will help. Thanks
May 8th, 2009 at 6:05 am
Happy Mother’s Day, Bai Yun!
Bai’s Panda Bunch: A Panda Parody
Sung to ‘The Brady Bunch’ theme
Here’s the story
Of a bear named Bai Yun
Who was living at the San Diego Zoo
Bai Yun tried real hard to mate with Shi Shi
But he preferred bamboo
So SDZ staff
Helped Bai and Shi Shi
And they had a darling cub we called Hua Mei
Proud papa Shi Shi returned to China
So Gao Gao came to stay
Gao and Bai Yun had a very special playdate
Soon they heard the pitter patter of small feet
Mei Sheng’s birth was cause for celebration
Su and Zhen arrived – Bai’s threepeat was complete!
Bai’s panda bunch
Bai’s panda bunch
That’s the way they became Bai’s panda bunch
May 8th, 2009 at 6:36 am
Fu long is not even weaned from his mother yet so no idea how they plan now to fast wean him, then move him away from everything and everyone he knows to transfer him god knows where. I’m wondering if the newspaper that published that article really has a clue and are only going by the original agreement without consulting the zoo. Fu would need quite awhile to adjust to being a solitary panda before moving him, look at ZZ and how well she is doing but that is because SDZ has taken time to spend with her and ensure she is well adjusted. I’ve written the zoo hoping someone there speaks english to inquire on the accuracy of the news.
May 8th, 2009 at 7:43 am
I’m so happy for the pandas and the KEEPERS that the boo cooler is “whooooshing.” May I ask what may be a silly question to some of you? How many times are the yards cleaned, and how many times are the pandas fed? I love watching the keepers clean the enclosures; don’t know why — maybe it’s because it’s a job I’d love to have!
Dianne #9, lucky you! I hope you’ll see lots of silliness from the boys. Here’s hoping that Mei has a cubbie while you’re there. It would be exciting just to be there when (I’m thinking positively) it happens. You’ll have to fill us in on your trip.
May 8th, 2009 at 8:50 am
#9- Dianne in TX
Have a safe trip, enjoy your visit with the Tian’s and take lots of pictures for us.
Show them that Texas hospitality! lol
May 8th, 2009 at 8:51 am
Yay for the new bamboo chiller! I wonder if the panda’s would like to go inside the chiller to cool off? lol
May 8th, 2009 at 8:52 am
Rosemarie #2: Fu Long was born on August 23, 2007 – he is 20 days younger than Zhen Zhen. His parents came to Austria in 2003.
May 8th, 2009 at 9:46 am
Just a note to thank anyone that can help Zoo Atlanta out with the ice machine. There are several panda groups that are trying to raise the money needed for this. Pandasliveon is also helping to raise the money needed. As we all know, it gets very hot in Atlanta and Yang Yang would love to have an ice machine to keep him cool (along with his wife and two babies) during the hot summers. Thanks to eveyrone! So glad the cooler is up and running in San Diego!
May 8th, 2009 at 10:18 am
What a wonderful accomplishment for SDZ and panda fans alike. Good things happen even in tough times. I hope all the keepers, bears and other bamboo eaters have many cool years with this cooler.
Thanks for the great description, Ellie…glad you could *whoosh* it for us!
May 8th, 2009 at 10:34 am
Oh, my gawd! ZZ looks so cute up in the tree, resting her little head on her arm! What a picture, i took 3! She’s just plain adorable….I hope everyone can see her. A kodak moment for sure!
May 8th, 2009 at 10:56 am
Can I have a job as Chief Door Whoosher please? So glad everything’s up and running.
Is that really Zhen Zhen on C28? If it is, she really looks like Su Lin. I haven’t seen her for a while so she’s a lot bigger than I remember.
May 8th, 2009 at 11:38 am
Dear Pandabulous #13: Very Cute Song!!!! Thanks for creating
To All: Have a great weekend and a Grand Mother’s Day
May 8th, 2009 at 11:42 am
Hi, Ellie! Just read your article about the new boo cooler now in working order and the new amenities that the panda keepers are using with it! WOW!!! You all made out like bandits on this one! Yes, all of us pandafans that were able to contribute and donate for this boo cooler are saying YOU”RE WELCOME to all of you. We all knew you needed a new boo cooler really bad and needed it almost immediately when the old ones were starting to go on their last legs! Enjoy it, you all!
Been on the pandacams today. Got on the SDZ cam and watched Miss ZZ eating her morning breakfast boo. It was nice to see ZZ again on the pandacam. Also got on the NZ pandacam. On cam one, there was Mei Xiang indoors on the rocks sleeping away! She’s been there for the last couple of hours that I’ve been checking her cam off and on. Also checked cam two, and Tai Shan was in his favorite napping spot in the grassy gully by the fence just snoozing away! Got on the AZ pandacam, and Xi Lan was on the teepee logs at the very top napping! Lun was in and out, had her own nap for awhile, then left the room; Xman was still at the top of the teepee napping! Got on the MZ pandacam, and Ya Ya was also napping indoors. She’s the one that does not like to go outside when it gets too warm. She likes to stay indoors where it is nice and cool!
I read from one of the pandafan’s comments from the other blog that Fu Long will be headed back to China soon. I just hope that where they send him will have enough space for him to live in when he gets there, whether it’s at Chengdu or Bifengxia. The Austrian people will be very sad to see their favorite panda leave! I did read on pandasliveon that Adelaide Zoo in Australia has been building a new panda exhibit there for the 2 pandas that will be coming their way soon! They are very excited about this, anxious to get this building project done, and have the pandas over there by later this year. There are a few pics of the building progress from Adelaide on pandasliveon.
Well, gonna go, get some things done, and get back on the pandacams, especially Mei Xiang! I’m really keeping a good watch on her. Will check back in later on!
Chari Mercier
St. Pete, FL
May 8th, 2009 at 11:47 am
I can’t help but think of Simon LeBon (musical group Duran Duran, lead singer) when I see that “whooosh” signature… He uses it as a part of his online blogging signature…
I also donated some funds towards the ‘boo cooler… I’m so very glad that it’s in place, and working great for all involved!
May 8th, 2009 at 11:52 am
Oh yeah–almost forgot! Happy Mother’s Day to all of the keepers at SDZ and WAP that are mothers, and to all of the animal mothers at both places! Have a great weekend celebrating the hard work that moms do every day!
Also, still praying for the Santa Barbara residents and firefighters as they deal with and battle the wildfires that are still going on there. Not a very good weekend for them right now! Hang in there, you all!
Chari Mercier
St. Pete, FL
May 8th, 2009 at 2:01 pm
FYI, If I remember correctly, Vienna pandas, Memphis Pandas, and ZA pandas are all from Chengdu. Chengdu has a younger date for their cubs to go to China than Wolong does. Also the panda parents in their loan agreements went to their respective zoos later (more recently) than did the Wolong parents (Bai, Gao, Mei Xiang, and Tian). Chengdu was not as severly affected by the earthquake, and took in some of the displaced pandas from Wolong. Their breeding program is not as large nor has it been going as long as the Wolong program. Therefore, they have room for more pandas and they have conditions to bring their cubs to their facility sooner. ZA has been working with Chengdu on panda research for many years, similar to SDZ/NZP and Wolong. You may have read the collaborative work of Dr Ben Charlton (ZA) and Jennifer Keating (SDZ). JT Svoke also mentioned hoping to be at Wolong while Dr. Charlton was there doing his research.
Sometime in the past 24 months I read a list of which zoo’s pandas (both USA and European) were from which Chinese research facility.
May 8th, 2009 at 2:42 pm
Happy Birthday to all moms. ZZ is on her structure contemplating the meaning of life. She is so beautiful.
May 8th, 2009 at 3:03 pm
Margaret #27: Fu Long’s parents (Yang Yang & Long Hui) were born in Wolong. They are not from Chengdu.
May 8th, 2009 at 3:12 pm
Does any one know who will be out on Mother’s Day, other than the gorgeous Bai Yun? We might be coming by (my mother’s day gift)!!!
May 8th, 2009 at 3:17 pm
Kat W #21–yes, that’s our little glamour girl. Isn’t she gorgeous? A photo op for sure. And yes, Bobbie Wood #7–she is adorable out on her “patio”–I think of it as her “back yard.”
And Su Lin is frolicking and Bai Yun is lounging. What’s Gao Gao up to? Still recovering from his trysts with Bai?
May 8th, 2009 at 7:26 pm
Jola, #29, thanks for the correction about Fu Long’s parents. My reasoning about him having to go back so young is also flawed if they are from Wolong and not Chengdu. As I recall Tai Shan was originally supposed to go to China when he was two, but NZP negotiated an extension to allow him to stay until he is 4. I remember how we were all getting upset at the thought as he approached 2 until the announcement was made that he would be stay for at least two more years until he was 4. Last month someone reported that NZP is now saying he may stay for another year, which makes sense since Wolong will be rebuilding until at least 2010, and he won’t be ready for breeding until he is at least 6. That will give him plenty of time to get acclimated and thrive as Mei Sheng has done before they are ready for him to start breeding.
May 8th, 2009 at 7:49 pm
Happy Mothers Day everyone also Bai, Lun, and Mei.
May 9th, 2009 at 6:19 am
The Memphis pandas came from the Beijing and Shanghai Zoos, not Chengdu.
May 9th, 2009 at 1:32 pm
#32 Maragaret: From your pen to Zoo Vienna’s ears..I hope they negotiate the same thing for Fu Long as well!!
Looks like Mama Bai is starting her Mother’s Day early – she’s laying back and enjoying some delicious boo..no doubt snuck into her by Su and ZZ
May 9th, 2009 at 1:41 pm
There is ZZ again, on her, what seems to be, new hang out, a perfect perch up in the trees….her little head balanced on her left arm, resting, lounging, getting some sun. She was doing exactly the same thing in the same place yesterday! So sweet…. Remember, Zhen Zhen, say Happy Mommie’s Day to your mommy tomorrow…over the the wall. Hope she hears your sweet wish…..and acknowledges you, somehow.
May 9th, 2009 at 1:45 pm
#34, Ava, thanks for the correction about Memphis pandas. Someone earlier said that they belong to Wolong, and my guess is that they came to the USA via Beijing and Shanghai zoos when they were mature enough to travel. Wolong has its pandas at facilities all over China and it makes sense that they are sent from those facilities to other organizations, not always directly from Wolong.
Bai Yun must be resting her back a lot lately or preparing for her ultrasound routine. She spends a lot of time lying in her diva positions. This afternoon she laid back against a rock slowly munching on her bamboo. It is hard to imagine how she could be more relaxed or one happy well fed and well cared for momma panda. Just in time for Mother’s Day.
Happy Mother’s Day to Bai Yun, Hua Mei, and the rest of you ladies who have been blessed to be mothers.
May 9th, 2009 at 7:17 pm
is anyone of you pandaholics watching the national zoo cam? mai shong is nesting and cradeling a toy. could this be the real deal this time?
we can only keep our pseudothumbs crossed.
joan
painted post, n.y.
May 9th, 2009 at 10:36 pm
All those who have been watching Mei (NZ) something is certainly going on right now – but we all thought last year too. Back to the NZ cam & hope for some good news soon
May 10th, 2009 at 7:35 am
Happy Mother’s Day to all the Moms, soon-to-be Moms and wish-you-were Moms in Pandaland!
PLEASE don’t leave out Ya Ya on Mother’s Day, one of the very worst things about this day is the agony that those who “wish they were Moms” feel today.
–Joy
May 10th, 2009 at 8:09 am
I stayed up for hours last night, reminiscing, looking at past photos of ZZ, Bai Yun and Su Lin and Gao Gao…I think i have a panda hangover. Can someone tell me I need to get a life! These bundles of fur are so darn addictive to watch…..and since I am pretty much a newbie, compared to most of you adoring family (only started watching when ZZ was born) looking at all the pix of Bai Yun and Su Lin when she was born, gave me a better appreciation of their relationship. I guess, what it all boils down to is…Happy Mother’s Day, Bai Yun. You are beautiful, and generous, and a loving mommy with stunning children. You just plain deserve all the best today! xox p.s. KJ Drill, you have an amazing eye! Thanks for a wonderful evening of the best shots anyone could every capture!
May 10th, 2009 at 6:46 pm
#19 Cheryl – thanks for the info about where to donate for the ZA ice machine – yes, money is tight, but I figure all the enjoyment our pandas have given me is worth a donation – I’ll just buy one less coffee & rent one less video.
May 10th, 2009 at 7:07 pm
Sigh, sigh – as I watched Mei Sat. night I was sure she was in labor -got up this am expecting to see a new cub – what a disappointment – while NZ had both their cams on Mei most of the day there is still nothing to report. Mei is acting the same way she did last year – she paws, she licks, she cradles her kong toy, she pulls more material into her “birth” den – if she does give birth there she has so much bamboo piled up that the FONZ volunteers will not be able to see it. I do miss the updates the NZ gave us last year as we all went through the same thing. Mei was a wonderful mommy & Tai needs a brother
May 10th, 2009 at 7:33 pm
Hi! I hope you all had the chance to watch Mei Xiang on both of the NZ pandacams this past weekend. It was pretty interesting. Mei went thru the gammant of her behaviors over the past 2-3 days. She was sleeping either on the rocks or in her den, she would eat her bamboo in her den including some of the other shredded bamboo stalks, she would be scratching around her nest trying to rearrange it, repile it, and even dug out her big ball with a big hole on it. At one point, she even got on the platform and stood on her hind feet by the wall to check it out and then walked over to the iron gate to do the same thing. I didn’t see her cradle anything, but she as very restless during those times that I saw her on the pandacams. I do know one thing for sure—she’s about ready to put all of us pandafans back on that emotional roller coaster ride again, including me! I just hope that she doesn’t go thru another 160+ days for us to know whether she’ll be having a baby panda or not! I’ve also checked the SDZ cam over the weekend and mostly saw Gao Gao doing his usual thing of eating, walking, and sleeping.
Well, that’s it for now! Will check back in later on!
Chari Mercier
St. Pete, FL
May 11th, 2009 at 8:24 am
Kat W. #5 – Have you ever tried bamboo?? I have – eating the culm is like eating moist splinters. And the leaves taste like, well, lawn grass. I don’t get their adoration for it, but it works for them, and that’s what matters.
May 11th, 2009 at 10:10 am
How long is Su Lin going to stay on exhibit? I understand that she will be rotating with Gao Gao, and Zhen Zhen will be on exhibit once Bai Yun goes off-exhibit. Is Su going to be on exhibit during the big Elephant weekend (a.k.a. Memorial Day weekend)?
May 11th, 2009 at 10:24 am
Hi! Watched Mei again late last nite on both of the NZ pandacams, and she was at it again! Mei was restless as she dug thru her nest and repiled it again as well as cleared out a small space. Then she went into the exhibit, got on the rocks, did her bathroom thing, walked around again, then started eating some of the biggest stalks of bamboo I’ve ever seen! She was able to split the very long stalks in half, strip off sections of the stalk, and eat the juiciest parts of the stalk. I didn’t think she would be eating very long, but when I checked in on her again, she was still sitting there eating her boo with a big shredded mess on her stomach after nearly 30 minutes! She was hungry, and that’s the most boo she’s eaten in a couple of days that I have seen her eat. She’s must be eating for two, hopefully! Today, I got on the NZ pandacam one, and Mei was sound asleep on the rocks. Will continue to check in on her to see what she’s up to. I think she’s closing in on 120 days since her AI, but I’ll do a count to see how close she is to that number. Also got on the SDZ cam, and there was Gao on the stump sleeping away! Gotta get on the AZ pandacam to check on Xman! Anyway, the main panda was Mei and her restlessness! Here comes the roller coaster ride, you all!
Will check back later on!
Chari Mercier
St. Pete, FL
May 11th, 2009 at 10:42 am
Just checked the AZ pandacam, and Xman was sound asleep on the logs (the ones with the hammock). He did wake up for a minute probably from a sound he heard, then curled up to snooze again. I also read today’s update from Ben Charleton from Atlanta Zoo. He’s just about done with writing his paper, and he’s pretty much done with his vocal studies on female pandas. He’ll be back in the states and at Atlanta Zoo next Sunday. He also took a trip to Tibet a couple of weeks ago to the Mt. Everest Base Camp. He stayed there for a couple of days just enjoying the scenery and the magnificent grandeur of the famous mountain that a lot of mountain climbers would love to conquer. That was a very nice break from all of the research work he has been doing. Hopefully, he’ll write up another update on his studies and give all of us some ideas of what all of the different panda vocalizations are about after he gets back home.
May 12, 2009, will be the first anniversary of the Sichuan earthquake that devastated a huge area of Sichuan Province, China, including the former Wolong Panda Center. I did read on pandasliveon several days ago that the pandas that were in temporary housing in Wolong were finally moved to other zoos and sanctuaries. There are no captive pandas at Wolong until the new Wolong Panda Center is built. Remember Mao Mao! Hopefully, we will be hearing about the birth of new baby pandas in China this summer, including Hua Mei!
Chari Mercier
St. Pete, FL
May 11th, 2009 at 10:51 am
OK! I’ve had enough of this. Let’s get a labour coach/doctor in and drugs to Mei Xiang NOW! I’m sorry, I am feeling the pain almost as much as her and both of us want this over.
I can remember thinking the same thing when my daughter was born. “Is it ever going to end? Is it worth it?”
Of course it is but we do go through hell to get a miracle.
I am not a grandmother yet, is it harder than this?
May 11th, 2009 at 12:03 pm
Just watched ZZ on the pandacam! She was up and down a tree, walked around her exhibit going to different places, playing with tree trunks. Nice to see her again! Good job, meerkats!
Lee, Vancouver, I know what you are talking about! I would love to see Mei Xiang have a cub sooner than later! Like I said earlier, Mei is starting to put us all on that wild roller coaster ride again! Just checked the NZ cam again, and she’s in the indoor exhibit eating her boo. I’ll be looking in on her later tonite to see what she’s doing, tho. She could be on her restless nite mode again!
Chari Mercier
St. Pete, FL
May 11th, 2009 at 12:04 pm
#45, Ellie. I’ve never tried bamboo culm, but bamboo leaves are commonly used to wrap “zongzi” rice dumplings for the Dragon Boat Festival coming up in fa ew weeks. The taste and smell transfer to the dumplings as they are boiled or steamed. People don’t typically ingest the leaves since they are tough and stringy. But then again, since panda keepers grind the leaves to add to steamed bread for pandas, maybe someone might produce some for people market some day.
May 11th, 2009 at 12:32 pm
Maureen #43, I thought the same thing. I got up Sunday at 6:20 am just to check. I was sure there would be a cub. I go up and down. One minute, I’m sure she is and the next, I think she’d not. And I feel the same way as Lee #49; I hurt for her sometimes. I don’t remember her sleeping this much last time. Does anyone?
I did see the X-Man wake up this morning and be his own cute self. He jumped into the water dish, and feel on the ground. He cracks me up.
I sat and looked at my desktop this morning at home before turning off the computer. It’s Su Lin at one year; oh man, is she adorable. My screensaver is her first year highlights. She was my second baby; Tai, my first. I’m addicted, I admit it. And I don’t want to attend any Panda Anonymous meetings.!
May 11th, 2009 at 12:50 pm
Has anyone else had the chance to catch XL stretched out this afternoon on the log above the hammock. He is hilarious. He is very relaxed flat on his back, forearms folded on his chest like he was a human sleeping in a hammock, or a corpse in a coffin. He seems to enjoy lying on his back lately, as the most recent photo of him in the ZA updates show him stretched out on his back in the top of the teepee. Must be a good way to relax his rapidly growing back.
Moderator, are the short yellowish pieces of bamboo I keep seeing at all the zoos, bamboo shoots? I haven’t seen them in person, so I am not sure. But, they keep appearing in large quantities at every pandas feet and bamboo supply so I am guessing that they are. I am surprised they have not been completely consumed and disappeared already from the various descriptions from keepers about how the pandas love them and devour them rapidly. They look much more compact and the flavor and nutrition must be condensed because of the rapid (up to 3 feet a day) growth that bamboo makes in spring.
I found it interesting that XL loved chewing on it too. Must be the juiciness, and perhaps more sugar content than bamboo normally has? I haven’t seen any with ZZ yet, but am sure she is enjoying her first season with them too.
Moderator’s note: The short pieces (splinters) are probably what’s leftover from the bamboo culm after the pandas have stripped it.
May 11th, 2009 at 1:04 pm
May 11th, 2009 at 1:10 pm
Hi Ellie – I’ve heard that there are, at least, fifteen kinds of bamboo that pandas enjoy. You just happened to sample the only one that tastes bad. J All the rest are delicious
The Bamboo Cooler is beautiful. From the Skyfari we had a clear view but we could not hear the “whoooooosh!” of the doors.
Clearly, the cooler is of generous size and should serve the pandas well for many years.
After a wonderful Mother’s Day Brunch at the San Diego Zoo Treetop Room, we visited the Panda Exhibit. Sweet Su Lin was in a tree entertaining herself and the visitors. She was juggling a hanging puzzler with her front paws and at the same time, was playing with a burlap sack with her rear paws. It was very funny to watch. Beautiful Bai Yun was wading in the pool and walking around her exhibit to the delight of everyone. She was very active and perky.
Oh! By the way, Bobbie Wood – the designated Ambassador of the San Diego Zoo (the beautiful male peacock) was perched high on a branch near the flamingo exhibit. Occasionally, I could swear that I heard him call out your name.
Some of the gorgeous, noisy flamingos were, breeding, busy building nesting mounds and sitting on their eggs.:-) We should have an explosion of baby flamingos this summer.
We had a great family Mother’s Day get together and enjoyed all the wonderful and beautiful animals at the San Diego Zoo.
May 11th, 2009 at 1:15 pm
I hope all the panda fans had a great weekend and a good Mothers day. I notice on pandasliveon yesterday they had pictures of all the momma pandas and Ya Ya picture was there as a future mom.
I think most of us were hoping Mei would be a new mother Sunday she sure was acting like there may have been some hope but with pandas you never know.
I love to see Miss ZZ on the cam she has such a beautiful little face.
May 11th, 2009 at 1:57 pm
I’m also glued to Daniel’s Multiple Panda Cams–sure several times that Mei Xiang was ready! And then she just gets up, walks out of her den, and goes to sleep on her rock. She was even breathing audibly last night. I gather from the comments that she’s done this before. Is this behavior any different from when she gave actual birth to Tai? Is that what Bai does?
Oh, and I have a question about Daniel’s Panda Cams. The third cam there sometimes comes up for me, showing an indoor exhibit with tall trees. Is that the Memphis cam? I’ve never been able to get it through the Memphis site as they don’t support Macs (one of the very, very few videos I can’t get), so I don’t know what it looks like.
Got my pseudothumbs crossed for Mei Xiang!
May 11th, 2009 at 2:47 pm
If I understand all the pregnancy watch info from various zoos correctly, Mei eating bamboo is not a good sign. Pregnant females close to birth STOP eating and stay close to their den. That is why keepers were giving her favorite fruits to her last week to keep up her nutrition and to hopefully get her to cooperate with their training and monitoring. I remember reading that Bai can be hard to get to cooperate for ultrasounds in the last few days, mainly because she isn’t interested in eating. So, if Mei Xiang is indeed back to eating, her pregnancy watch may be coming to an end in the next couple of days. I keep waiting for them to make an announcement that Mei is not pregnant, because in spite of the licking of paws, craddling, and next building like she did last year, she seems to be in less and less of a stupor and is spending more time outside the den napping than she had been. No one has mentioned seeing her doing any genital licking which is one of the signs SDZ keepers have said lets them know that Bai Yun is getting close to birth. Nor have I read of any physical signs of pregnancy such as swelling and pinkness/rednes of the vulva which indicates impending birth. The lack of information from NZP indicates to me either extreme caution or that they don’t want to make the disappointing announcement until they absolutely have to.
Since NZP is the one I am closest to, and which I therefore visit most often, I too am very anxious to hear that there is a birth of cub(s). I am hoping to make my semi-annual visit in a few weeks and would love to be able to see a cub on a monitor. But, as each day passes reality is starting to sink in and tells me that this is not the year. I hope each morning as I make my daily check in that I am wrong, but it isn’t looking that way.
May 11th, 2009 at 3:06 pm
Heard from a friend who is visiting Bifengxia right now that Mei Sheng mated for the 1st time on 5/8! Wow! Our baby boy is all grown up, and perhaps a daddy this year! Sniff, tears….of joy!
May 11th, 2009 at 3:59 pm
#50 Chari – I was watching the precious ZZ about an hour before your post and she appeared very interested in what looked like a burlap sack hanging from one of the log ends. She tried so hard to bring it down to the ground but it would not budge. At one point, she reached up as high as she could, she did get a good grip, but she ended up just twirling around a few inches off the ground while hanging on and pulling with all her might – it was quite entertaining! Finally she gave up and decided to eat her boo lunch.
#58 Margaret – I, too, am afraid that Mei Xiang’s latest behaviors do not bode well for a new cub at NZ. I hope, with fingers, toes, and all possible extremities crossed that I am wrong. It would be so great for her to have a cub to cuddle and nurture – and, of course, for us pandaholics to have another “panda bundle” to watch and admire. But, nature does what it does and there’s no knowing why sometimes.
Did you all see the video of Su Lin having fun anointing herself with dirt? The clip was uploaded just a few days ago. Unfortunately I can’t remember the title. It was such a treat to see her so active and having a great time!
Great news from pandasliveon dot com about the donations coming in for the ZA ice machine. They are less than $1000 away from their target. Way to go, panda lovers of the world!!
May 11th, 2009 at 4:16 pm
Hi again. I just thought I’d explain why I said what I did in my last posting (#49).
This morning, Mei Xiang was very restless. She was in her back room standing on her hind legs trying to climb straight up the wall. When I looked a few minutes later she had her hind legs on the platform/scale and her front legs were on the wall in quite a stretch. The next time I looked she was on her back scratching at her genital/tail area.
Pregnant or not, she is one uncomfortable panda. I have seen different behavours in all the panda moms and I bet there is no “standard”.
Now to change the subject. Su Lin and Zhen Zhen both had great days today. So active. All I could think of was Spring Fever time. They look so healthy and content. I wonder if they are noticing any difference with the bamboo they are eating?
May 11th, 2009 at 4:39 pm
Regarding the comment of Susan (#59), we would love to know if Mei Sheng’s first mating is accurate. Please confirm.
Moderator’s Note: We are checking with reliable sources to see what we can learn. Stay tuned for updates.
May 11th, 2009 at 5:15 pm
Susan, #59, the wording you used implies that Mei Sheng has indeed followed in Gao Gao’s footsteps as a “natural” mate. That is even more exciting news. We are all sniffing to the joyful news that “our” boy is a fully grown up panda and may be a dad this year. Wow! That tree climbing looking for the “ladies” must have paid off.
Thanks for sharing that happy news.
May 11th, 2009 at 5:47 pm
#58 – Margaret – much as I hate it – am beginning to think you are right about MeiXiang – another year without a cub. If so, poor Mei who seems to go through agony for days – what does the dear panda feel – does she hurt or what??? And then the staff at the NZ has to be so frustrated – they tried so hard with our “first” pandas – Ling Ling & Hsing Hsing that were unable to have a viable cub & then after practically selling their souls to “rent Mei & Tian” for $$$millions they were overjoyed when our “holy terror” ” TaiShan” was born. And now the zoo staff & all panda watchers are wondering what’s going on with Mei. Hate to criticize as staff are busy but last year the NZ did provide us with a daily update until they had to make the sad announcement – no cub last year.
May 11th, 2009 at 5:52 pm
#57- Fonsia, yes, the indoor exhibit with the tall trees is the Memphis site. On my computer, it says “Memphis Zoo” below it when viewing Daniel’s Multiple cam (using Windows Media Player). Their two indoor exhibits aren’t very large, but the pandas will sit right by the glass to eat, and we can walk right up to the glass — so there is only a pane of glass between us. When I was there Le Le was leaning his back right on the glass and eating, and I felt I could reach out and stroke him, but alas I couldn’t.
#59 – Susan, do you mean our Mei Sheng mated naturally? Way to go, Mei Sheng! A chip off the old block!
May 11th, 2009 at 6:16 pm
Zhen was too cute tonight. She didn’t see or smell what she wanted in the bamboo on the ground, and spotted a tempting piece up at the top of the log to her sleeping shelf. So, she paddled on up, grabbed what she wanted, wrapped her back legs around the log like she was astride a horse, and proceeded to eat the bamboo leaves with both paws. I see more and more that she is a definite two fisted eater. Must mean she is getting increasingly hungry and wants to be prepared with the next bites. I could sit and watch her for hours, mesmerized by her changes and growth every day.
May 11th, 2009 at 6:17 pm
Margaret #58, thanks for the info, although it isn’t what any of us want to hear. I guess we can still hope, but this information at least lets us down easy, if it indeed is another pseodupregnancy. Poor Mei Xiang and NZ scientists. They did all they could. No doubt someday she’ll give us another wacky little cub!
Well, let’s wait for our wonderful Bai. I don’t imagine we’ll have any signs from her for a couple of months at least, though.
May 11th, 2009 at 6:41 pm
Fonsia #57
“The third cam there sometimes comes up for me, showing an indoor exhibit with tall trees. Is that the Memphis cam?” — Yes it is.
May 11th, 2009 at 6:47 pm
#59 Susan, what great news about Mei Sheng. He definitely inherited his parents’ breeding genes. Let’s hope there’s a cub in the future.
May 11th, 2009 at 8:58 pm
ZZ was lonely today…wandering around her yard, looking under the door, up in the trees…may i send her a giant panda doll to play with? She needs furry interaction!
May 12th, 2009 at 6:43 am
Susan H. – that’s the best news I’ve heard in a long time!!! Gao Gao’s prowess lives on for another generation!!!
May 12th, 2009 at 9:55 am
Wow, Susan H. #59–that’s great news about Mei Sheng! Does anyone know which “girlfriend” he mated with, was it “natural” (did papa Gao Gao pass the secret along?), etc., etc.?
May 12th, 2009 at 10:52 am
#60 pandafan -
ZA put a box in one of the dayrooms and Xi Lan was playing with it. Then of course Mommie Monster dragged him out of it, cuteness! He is sooooooooooo adorable, I just want to squeeze him. ha
May 12th, 2009 at 1:53 pm
Well — my very unscientific evaluation is that Mei Xiang is a big ‘ol faker — and figured out a way to get lots her favorite fruit treats, a nice fluffy den and lots of attention. It’s sad though — because the world can always use another little cub. Maybe next year.
May 13th, 2009 at 7:45 am
According to an article I just read, zoo officials are cautiously optimistic Mei Xiang might be pregnant.
She’s cradling food objects now and something that looks like a plastic soccer ball. lol
Go Mei Go!
May 13th, 2009 at 12:00 pm
Okay-I am truly obsessed with ZZ….I have been watching her for almost an hour now and it can’t be my imagination…she is looking around for interaction. Okay, maybe I have worked at a company for too long that looks at animals as if they are people too (Disney), but I just know she needs interaction with other pandas. I don’t get why they allow pandas to live together in China and not here. Will someone kindly explain it to me? I’m not trying to cause trouble, i want to be a voice for ZZ, she climbs SO high and looks under the doors and won’t sit still unless she’s eating or sleeping. Surely the employees following her with the panda cam see what she’s doing. I know the keepers are doing a magnificient job, i know this. It’s just, she’s still a baby, and has so much friendship to share with others….
May 19th, 2009 at 9:55 am
Hi,
I just love that Gao Gao last visit to the zoo I did not get to see him so I am planning a trip June 11 to 15th. Could you please tell me if he will be out front. My heart will be broken if he is not…..:( Can you please tell me the schedule. Thanks so much….Lyn
Moderator’s note: We cannot guarantee who will be out, as we must stay flexible to the bears’ needs. We hope you’ll enjoy any panda you see.
August 14th, 2009 at 12:57 pm
Thank you for the update on the cooler. I will share with my niece. I had bought a “piece of the cooler” for her and printed the certificate. She was overjoyed that she had helped the pandas. This is now August and I am just getting back to the blogs, but she will be happy to see a picture and read about it even at this late date.
Also, way to go Mei Sheng! Always so happy to hear about the boy.