Pandas: A Better View
Posted at 8:34 am June 24, 2009 by Suzanne HallAs we approach the birthing window for Bai Yun, we are busy making preparations to ensure that things go smoothly for her this summer. Over the years, we have a series of tried-and-true checklist items we believe help us to ensure the health and wellbeing of our prolific panda and her offspring. One of the basic items involves readying the birthing den itself.
For most of the year, the den sits idle. It is closed off from the bedroom by a metal door, and the bears are not able to access it. Part of our preparations involve inspection of the den, determining if any new parts or pieces are necessary to make it a cozy place for Bai Yun. In past years, we have replaced the floor with a fresh wooden plank, something free of debris or germs from past use. Starting off the season with a new floor is a good first step.
Any cobwebs or other litter are cleared away, and new equipment is considered for the camera and microphone system. This year, we are badly in need of upgrades for both of those pieces, so we put out the call back in March via the San Diego Zoo’s Wish List. Our panda faithful answered us, and we received donations enough to fund a new camera and microphone for this birthing season! Thanks so much to those who donated to help with these items.
The new camera will be installed today. It will allow us a better view of Bai Yun and a cub in the den, making research efforts and monitoring of the health and well-being of the panda pair easier. It will also improve your Panda Cam images from the view you had last time around; after all, last time’s den camera view was courtesy of the same camera we used to film Hua Mei’s birth. It was an old piece of equipment! This new camera should make the den brighter and clearer for our online viewers.
The microphone will go in shortly and will allow us to better capture audio recordings of the cub to enhance our expanding acoustic studies; we already have recordings of adult pandas under various situations, particularly breeding and estrus. We have also captured audio of our sun bear twins. Further work is planned in this area, and getting clear recordings of a panda cub would increase the comparative value of our work.
Although we don’t expect to see signs of pregnancy from Bai Yun just yet, the vets have begun preparing her for monitoring via the use of ultrasound. Her first session of the season went well, and Bai Yun seemed to remember the drill. If she is indeed pregnant, we anticipate our first glimpse of a fetus somewhere about mid- to late-July…if she is on track with previous years, that is! Bai Yun seems to be regular as rain, with all four of her births taking place within a 20-day calendar window.
For now, we prepare. Cross your fingers that this year, perhaps Bai Yun’s very last opportunity to give birth, we will have another panda cub born to our special momma bear.
Suzanne Hall is a senior research technician for the San Diego Zoo’s Institute for Conservation Research.
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June 24th, 2009 at 9:13 am
Thanks Suzanne for another great update. Because we watch the cameras as our source for the pandas we forget all the work that goes on by you and the other staff in the background. When you eventually go on 24/7 baby watch, do you have to call in people from other parts of the zoo or do you have enough in Panda Canyon? No, I’m not trying to apply, I live too far away.
Do you think any of the other pandas are aware of what is going on. Meaning does Bai Yun’s scent change? Does she become more vocal (like most women in labour). Gao Gao would certainly notice something like this if he is anywhere in the vicinity.
Just curious.
June 24th, 2009 at 9:17 am
Oh, I sure hope so, it is so wunderful to watch Bai with her cubs, she is such a good Mother. If this is her last year to have babies, would you keep Su Lin here, and get another male to keep the family tradition going? If she takes after her Mother, she will be a great Mama.
Thanks for always keeping us Panda Fans up to date.
June 24th, 2009 at 9:25 am
Lee #1,
For birth watch and postpartum, keepers seek the assistance of other mammal keepers from throughout the Zoo. I have shared late-night shifts with staff who work with elephants, giraffes, primates, hoofed animals, and hippos.
Generally, no other pandas have access to Bai Yun’s scent right now. The exception would be when Gao and Su Lin trade spots on exhibit: on the days of the swap, he crosses over Bai Yun’s tunnel space for a moment. However, we cannot say whether or not he has noticed a change in her scent. We can only say that he seems no more or less interested in her than usual.
June 24th, 2009 at 9:30 am
Thanks for the update, Suzanne
With your writing, I realized how fast this Spring has gone and how close we are to August. I, like all Panda lovers, will keep fingers crossed. Bai Yun seems so peaceful when she is on camera! Could this be the ‘glow’ of pending Panda-Momma days to come
To all: I finally was able to see the Chaingmai Zoo panda-cam. Thanks for the how-to advice.
June 24th, 2009 at 9:39 am
Thank you Suzanne. Your answers were much appreciated.
June 24th, 2009 at 9:50 am
Yes it’s getting around to the time for a new cub to grace us. Just like humans there’s alway a lot of things to get ready for a new arrival. I’m sure we all hope Bai will bless us this year as it will be her last time to have a cub sad to hear as she is a great mother but all good things must come to an end..
I was watching Xi Lan this morning he was very busy climbing playing and biting mom.:) If anyone hasn’t been on youtube lately there are some very cite videos of Xi Lan that’s been added in the passed couple of weeks. Just search Xi Lan cub and sort by newest.
June 24th, 2009 at 10:11 am
GREAT PICS of panda cam today! This cam is manned and watched much more frequently and better positioned than the polar or the ape cam. On the ape cam, all I see is the same picture and the sun spotting in the cam lens all the time… no activity. Love the panda!
June 24th, 2009 at 10:27 am
Thank you Suzanne, that’s for the update on the goings on for our favorite mom. I do hope for a cub and IF we are graced with on this year i figure that when i visit in early Nov it will hopefully be on display.
June 24th, 2009 at 10:33 am
Suzanne, my fingers are indeed crossed. Very informative and interesting update as always.
June 24th, 2009 at 10:40 am
Hi! Thanks for the update about Bai Yun and the preps on the birth den. I figured that you all were getting close to that time when you needed to get started on getting the den ready for Bai. Glad that Bai is still remembering how the ultrasound works and she’s cooperating with the vets and keepers on that. Have you all seen any signs of pregnancy/maternal behaviors from Bai yet? She should start showing those behaviors pretty soon. I would also like for you all to see if you can get a chart graphic up on the comments page to show us where her estrogen and progestin levels are. That will give us a good idea of where she is at on her gestation period. Speaking of that, I counted the days since her mating with Gao, and Bai is at 70 days as of today, May 24. I counted the days from the April 15 date of when Bai and Gao mated for the second time. So, she’s moving along very smoothly, eating for possibly 2 instead of one and napping. Just caught ZZ on the pandacam eating her boo and walking around. Plus, there was a lady on the cam using her cphone cam to take a picture of something, your pandacam maybe? Anyway, it was nice to see ZZ a little bit more on close up today. The NZ pandas are either eating, playing with a toy, or napping. Will check the AZ and MZ pandacams later.
Gotta go for now. I’ve been checking NZ’s ferret cam on Tilley, too. She’s due to have one or two babies in the next day or so! Will check back in later on.
Chari Mercier
St. Pete, FL
June 24th, 2009 at 10:47 am
So glad that you were able to get the items you need to further research and education about these great animals. The wish list is a great way for those of us who love the SDZ animals and appreciate the jobs that the Researchers/Scientists and Keepers do to be able to give back.
Fingers crossed and prayers said that Bai gives us another wonderful cubbie (or two!) to love.
June 24th, 2009 at 10:48 am
I just squeeled — outloud — in my office — with glee!! Gosh, it’s summer already — and fingers crossed a new baby panda. I’m just so excited. Thank you for the update… I know we have another month or so to go — but do keep us posted.
June 24th, 2009 at 11:07 am
I love all of the updates, it is a great way to keep in touch with what is going on. I am sometimes left with questions though. I am wondering about the comment that this may be Bai Yuns last chance to give birth. Is this just because of age or are there other reasons?
June 24th, 2009 at 11:16 am
Thanks Suzanne for the update on birthing preparation for Bai Yun. August will be here before we blink.
I know that Tigers love to swim, but until today, I have never seen one in the water. It is in the low 90’s in Virginia and DC today, and one of the tigers at the NZP was resting in the cool water of the moat. They held onto the side and just rested like a human would on the side wall of a pool. It was neat to watch. They have a boomerang toy that they use for enrichment for the tigers in the water and I am wondering if they might have been floating on something under them because they made a half-way swimming motion with their front legs and sort of turned around as if they had something underneath them. It is possible that is was the bottom of the moat and they were stretched out their full length. Whatever it was, they sure were enjoying the cool wet respite from the heat.
Moderator’s note: We’ve just posted video and photos of the Wild Animal Park’s tiger family (mom and three cubs) and they include the cubs enjoying their pool: http://www.sandiegozoo.org/zoonooz/index.html
June 24th, 2009 at 11:21 am
Ohhhhhhhhhhhhh I am turning on the light that we are blessed with twins…but first and foremost be it one cub or two…it or they are healthy and mamma is safe and in good health…and that there is a cub or 2 on the horizon for San Diego Zoo…bless you little Bai for the cublets you have brought us to watch, laugh and cry over…just be healthy…we will be listening with open ears for that first sqwak in the very near future…I love my pandas…!!!!! And I love my special panda Bai…
June 24th, 2009 at 11:51 am
Thank you, thank you, Suzanne. What a lift just thinking that our precious, beautfiul momma may be a momma again. I will be here waiting and watching!
From the previous blog, trust me, I am working on getting to SDZ. I honestly can’t think of anything better but working for myself has some disadvantages. Like no time to travel anymore. Working for myself has LOTS of other advantages, but time, right now, is not one of them.
Lin Hui may in deed be panting because of the temp. I just thought the enclosure would have AC. At least there’s no fear of the cub getting cold. While all of us would love to see some type resting structure, at least she has room service — as compared to giving birth in a cave.
June 24th, 2009 at 1:56 pm
Stacy #11,
Thanks to you and your friends! You helped us get that microphone.
Sandra #13,
Bai Yun’s age leads us to believe this is probably her last cub. If she gives birth, and cares for the cub for 18 months, she will be on the extreme edge of known reproductive age for panda females. However, all of our data on this is from Chinese-held bears. Bai Yun has had a different nutritional/birthing and weaning/medical situation from those animals, so you never know….
June 24th, 2009 at 2:17 pm
This afternoon Zhen Zhen is trying out Bai Yun’s favorite napping spot on top of the “cave.”
Looks like Ya Ya and Le Le are having a cozy nap together in the sun in their indoor yard. They look very happy together again. It must be indoors because if they were outdoors in this heat wave, two pandas wouldn’t be 1) sleeping in the hot sun and 2) touching while sleeping.
Maybe they have been advised to let them be together some and see if that has an impact on their hormones and breeding success. If nothing else, it will prevent loneliness that pandas are not supposed to have being solitary animals.
June 24th, 2009 at 2:24 pm
Moderator #14, thanks for the tip about the video of the WAP Tiger cubs in their pool. I must check it out.
June 24th, 2009 at 2:48 pm
Sandra #13–Bai Yun will be 18 in September, which is towards the end of a female panda’s reproductive ability–although didn’t a panda give birth at age 21 in China last year?
June 24th, 2009 at 5:30 pm
Zoo Borns has a pic of TWO baby pandas at Chiang Mai Zoo. Does anyone know if this is correct?
June 24th, 2009 at 6:53 pm
Hi Suzanne – Many thanks for the latest news on our beautiful Bai Yun. I’m happy to hear that the birthing den is clean, fresh and ready for Bai Yun. There’s nothing like being prepared.
I’m having positive thoughts and I wish that all our panda cub dreams will come true. With this new camera, we will see the next cub with crisp, clear pictures – it’s going to be wonderful. I look forward to your next update regarding our sweet Bai Yun.
June 24th, 2009 at 8:07 pm
HOW EXCITING to hear you are cautiously optimistic that Bai & “super daddy Gao” may give us another cub (or 2) again this year:) What fun getting ready for another possible birth:) You mentioned the birth den – now if memory serves me Bai has a choice of several dens from which to chose (or with Miss Z – the wide open spaces):)
I decided to give our only grandson “a sponsor a panda box from ZA” for his 1st BD I hope he has the love & dedication to save the pandas that I have.
June 24th, 2009 at 8:24 pm
P.S. To All – Speaking of babies…check out ZooBorns dot com. It’s full of current information about the newest and cutest animal babies from zoos around the world and much more.
June 24th, 2009 at 8:50 pm
I hope, like everyone else, that Bai Yun is able to give birth to another cub or two (wouldn’t twins be an awesome gift) this year. She is such a beautiful panda mom and will be passing on some terrific genes to future generations. Any news on Mei Sheng or Hua Mei this year? I know Mei Sheng successfully mated, any news on that front?
June 24th, 2009 at 10:01 pm
It is so exciting to think of MAYBE another cub for Bai Yun and the SDZ! I am praying for twins. I hope all your preparation time is used this year, and am eager to see a little one (or 2) on the new cam. How thrilling it is to be dusting off the old birthing den and getting everything in working order. Do you still have the incubators just in case there are twins or a problem??? The miracle of life never gets old or boring. It puts a spring in my step and joy in my heart just to think Bai Yun might be carrying a small one, growing inside her “tummy” that will emerge and be another valuable soul of this rare and most beautiful species.
One of my friends was debating (arguing is more like it) whether animals have intelligence. I know posting that here, we are all dumbfounded. Well, when I picked my jaw up from the floor, I used the female adult pandas as an example. I think Bai Yun is VERY smart in that she can remember something like an ultrasound procedure even when it has been years since she has “practiced” or done one. Some of my (human) patients cannot remember what to do for a procedure even when it has only been a month since they did it. And here Bai Yun remembers her part of the ultrasound procedure when it has been about 2 years since she last had one. That’s one smart panda!
Thanks for sharing the preparations with us here!
Joy
June 25th, 2009 at 4:42 am
Really hoping and praying for Bai Yun to have at least one more baby. Love the pandas. And would love to be able to watch via the upgrade cam and mic. I loved watching Zhen rolling around and growing.
Will see Zhen and Su when I’m in San Diego next week. Can’t wait! I love seeing Su asleep or resting on top of the “elves” hut. That always makes my day. And what can you say about the ball of mischievousness called Precious. Little mini Bai learned well from her momma and except for her size you might think it was mom herself.
Thank you, SDZ, for all that you do in taking care of these beautiful bears. That’s one reason why though I live in the NYC area, I am proudly a SDZ member and supporter!
Moderator’s note: Thank you, Jersey. Have a safe trip to San Diego!
June 25th, 2009 at 8:39 am
my prayers are with,cross our fingers…we will be blessed with a new panda cub! Ive never yet seen a panda inperson?…The oregon zoo used to only have red pandas-but sadly not anymore. Myself and my 8yr.old daughter save all of our extra change to donate to are most favorite animal.Keep up the good work.Heres hoping to seeing and someday visiting y’all.Goodbye*
June 25th, 2009 at 9:38 am
Margaret #14 & Moderator – Many thanks for supplying the link to the WAP tigers in the pool video. The video is very enjoyable. It was a first for me to see tigers stretched out in the water.
Moderator’s note: I got to attend the filming of that video and it was such fun to watch all of the tigers romping in their exhibit! I’ll forward your comment along to our videographer.
June 25th, 2009 at 10:37 am
Oh! The tiger cubs (and mom too) are just…awesome, in the true sense of the word! They are lithe and sleek and beautiful and a delight to watch. Thanks for the link!
June 25th, 2009 at 11:01 am
I too loved the tiger video. It is so beautifully done and the tigers are just so playful, even the Mum. I had a big smile on my face.
Rose N, thanks for the link to the Zooborns site. I have now got so many cams and animal sites on my favourites list, I can never say I’m bored. Needless to say, the panda, polar, elephant and ape cams are right at the front of the list.
June 25th, 2009 at 11:28 am
At around 2:20pm EDT (11:20am PST), I just saw Miss ZZ slumped on the rocks with her back and rump anchored against the tree trunk. Boy, she just looked soooooo relaxed in that napping position. I’ve always said that these pandas have the craziest, funniest sleeping positions that you will ever see anywhere! ZZ just proved that fact possible again! Nice closeup, pandacam meerkats! Also, little Xman at AZ is also napping on his log structure in the dayroom. Lun must be in a corner because I didn’t see her on the cam. Didn’t check NZ and MZ yet, but there is no doubt that all of the pandas at those 2 zoos are keeping cool and napping right now.
Gonna go and check out that Zooborns website that some of you mentioned, and I also need to get on pandasliveon to check out the latest news there. See you later!
Chari Mercier
St. Pete, FL
June 25th, 2009 at 11:53 am
Wow–Miss ZZ is rolling around and tumbling down her hill. What was in that bag she was playing with? Whatever it was, she’s having fun fun fun with it!
June 26th, 2009 at 4:23 pm
I noticed that along with the new cam you also have a new microphone. Why is it that the audio for the panda cam and birthing den cannot be heard by online viewers? Thank you
June 26th, 2009 at 10:15 pm
I am praying that Bai Yun will have surviving twins this year! Wouldn’t it be something??? She is one special momma bear, just like Hua Mei. My best regards to all the pandas at SDZ!
July 1st, 2009 at 4:26 pm
Just got an update from N.Z. Mai Xang and Tian Tian have been introduced again. They were out playing together. its so nice to see them together again as they were raised with each other when they came to N.Z. they will probably be together untill after next year breeding season. sure hope we get updates on Bai’s hormones soon
July 2nd, 2009 at 7:11 pm
Cummon momma u can do it.
I want the same thing i’ve wanted every other year, I want another boy and i want it on my birthday. August 15th.
Speaking of birthdays, i’ve got great video i took of Mei on his 4th (and last) birthday with us. I posted it on You Tube. Do a search on you tube or on google for Mei Sheng 4th Birthday SDZ and you will find it.
I cant post links on here cuz it’s the rules, and it is also, i might add, a GOOD rule. For those of you who dont understand why, a target can always be moved after it’s approved, and there’s no way to ensure our safety if they allow links. I support that rule, and it makes sense.
July 20th, 2009 at 3:40 pm
My dream came true on 10th May when I visited SDZ to see the wonderful giant pandas. I always watch the pandacam but to see them just a few feet away is awesome. Hope to see the baby (or 2) soon. Thank you for sharing these beautiful bears with us.