Panda Cub Arrives!
Posted at 10:37 am August 5, 2009 by Suzanne Hall
We have a new addition to our panda collection at the San Diego Zoo. At 4:58 this morning, Bai Yun gave birth to a vigorous, squawking infant! The staff here is elated and is, as always, in awe of Bai Yun and her perfect maternal skills. Here’s video of the birth.
She had appeared more restless than usual in the last 24 hours, resting for shorter periods with intermittent nest building through the day and night. At about 2:45 this morning, she was observed leaning back and holding her feet. Regular changes of position become common at this stage of labor, and contractions were evident as the time went by. Bai Yun handled it all well, and staff agreed that this seemed like one of her easiest labors.
At 4:58 a.m., Bai Yun stood up and had a series of contractions while on all fours. With the last one, we suddenly heard the loud squawking we had all been anticipating. As Bai Yun turned around to gather up the cub, we all got a glimpse at a wriggling infant on the floor, crying loudly for attention. Bai Yun immediately attended to her newest offspring and spent the next half hour or so soothing it, cradling it in her arms and licking it.
Listen to a recording of the new cub’s cries just after birth:
Over the next two hours, Bai Yun alternated between periods of cub care, cleaning herself, and rest. By the end of that period, we were already hearing short, 20-minute bouts of quiet from the cub, signifying the onset of resting periods. We aren’t able to confirm nursing at this point, because Bai Yun is doing a great job of covering her infant, but by the end of that two-hour period we believe there had been at least one bout of nursing. This we surmise because of indicators such as Bai Yun’s position and the cub’s location on her body.
Over the next 12 to 24 hours, we anticipate our new mother will settle into a routine of nursing, cub grooming, and resting. The regular bouts of panting will begin to diminish. If there is a twin to be born, it should happen soon, but we don’t believe there is a high degree of likelihood a second cub will be born at this point.
Congratulations to Bai Yun on another job well done!
Suzanne Hall is the senior research technician for the San Diego Zoo’s Institute for Conservation Research
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August 5th, 2009 at 10:40 am
WELCOME Little one and congrats to the SDZ team. And, of course, my hunka hunka Gao Gao!!
August 5th, 2009 at 10:40 am
Congratulations everyone. I’m numb now. So glad everything is okay and I can get on with my day to day living again.
August 5th, 2009 at 10:42 am
Congratulations Bai Yun!! And also congratulations to the zoo staff for this fabulous news! I can hardly wait to see the newest precious one. Will the video of the birth be posted? When will we be able to see Mama Bai and little cubby?
Moderator’s note: The video should be ready later on today!
August 5th, 2009 at 10:42 am
Wonderful news… Congrats to Lady Bai and everyone at the SDZ.. Also to all of us Panda Bear Grammas & Grampas out here in Panda Cam Land that have been on pins and needles all morning!!!
Great to hear (but then we all knew it) that Bail immediatly engaged her wonderful Momma Bear skills. Hope she gets some rest in between the squeeking and squaking of her new little cubbie…
August 5th, 2009 at 10:42 am
I am so glad all went well. Congratulation Bai Yun!!! Looking forward to watch your cub growing.
August 5th, 2009 at 10:44 am
Woohooo! Congratulations Bai and Gao and SDZ on the successful birth of another cub!! So, so releived Bai and baby are doing well!
August 5th, 2009 at 10:47 am
What a blessed event! Congrats to everyone on all your hard work.
I was watching Bai Yun last night about 10:30 pm CST and she seems restless; I was hoping she was in labor and that was apparently so! I wish I could have seen the birth.
Either way, I’m looking forward to catching a glimpse of her latest offspring soon!
Thanks again!
August 5th, 2009 at 10:47 am
Congratulations to Bai Yun and Gao Gao and, of course, all of the wonderful people at the San Diego Zoo!
August 5th, 2009 at 10:48 am
Woo Hoo!! Even though this is the 5th time, I am still in tears — we are so blessed to have Bai Yun and Gao Gao here so that we can experience this. Congratulations everyone at the SDZoo — you must just be unbelievably happy and relieved! That’s our girl!!
August 5th, 2009 at 10:49 am
CONGRATULATIONS, SDZ AND MAMA BAI!!!!!!!! I’m sure that everyone (peoples and Mom) is totally whipped tired, but also walking on air…..what wonderful news. And trust Mama Bai to make it look easy! I only hope now that the little one feeds well and often. Gao Gao must be busy handing out ‘boo-gars to all and sundry! : ) Someone be sure and let ZZ & Sue know they have a little sibbling now!
August 5th, 2009 at 10:49 am
Congratulations to Bai Yun, Gao Gao and the wonderful staff. I am thrilled to know a cub has been born. I’ll have to make another trip to SOCA!
–Barbara in NC
August 5th, 2009 at 10:51 am
WOW! Congratulations Bai Yun and Gao Gao on another new panda life. May this little live long and be healthy. Also congratulations SDZ — you’ve midwifed another cubbie.
August 5th, 2009 at 10:51 am
Congratulations! What wonderful news. What an awesome panda couple Bai Yun and Gao Gao are – just like clockwork every two years within days of each other! Bai Yun is such a wonderful mother, I am sure this cub will flourish wonderfully under her care.
August 5th, 2009 at 10:53 am
Congratulations Bai Yun, Gao Gao and San Diego Zoo!! Wonderful news! Hope all is well with mom and baby!
August 5th, 2009 at 10:53 am
Congratulations to everyone at SDZ and of course Bai Yun. Another one for conservation. We cannot wait to see the newest addition! Hooray!!!
August 5th, 2009 at 10:53 am
WOW! Congratulations Bai Yun and Gao Gao on another new panda life. May this little one live long and be healthy. Also congratulations SDZ — you’ve midwifed another cubbie.
August 5th, 2009 at 10:54 am
fantastic news. Tears…
August 5th, 2009 at 10:55 am
OMG THE CUB IS HERE!!! ZIP-A-DEE-DO-DA I’M DOIN’ THE PANDA DANCE!!!
August 5th, 2009 at 10:55 am
Whoopee! That is wonderful news. Congratulations to everyone.
My son is learning all about mammals at the SDZ zoo camp this week. I hope they get word about the new panda and maybe a peek at the cam. If not, he’ll see it at home this evening.
August 5th, 2009 at 10:56 am
Congratulations to all!
It’s hard to believe little Zhen Zhen is not the baby of the family anymore!
August 5th, 2009 at 10:56 am
I was watching right up to going to bed at 3am UK time and she was in the den then and i thought ‘the baby is coming’ she was bent over then laying down then moving her legs around
CONGRATULATIONS BAI YUN and GAO GAO and ofcourse SDZ on yet another panda cub safely delivered into the world.
Now its back to panda cam watching waiting for the first glimpse of the new addition
August 5th, 2009 at 10:58 am
Congratulations to the Gao family and the SDZ staff. Thank you Moderator for keeping us posted.
August 5th, 2009 at 10:58 am
Congratulation to SDZ, Gao Gao and super-mom Bai Yun! I can’t wait to start watching her and cubbie on the cam. Now I can relax!
August 5th, 2009 at 11:00 am
Congratulations to all the staff at the SDZ. Thank you for keeping all the panda fans informed even though you must be exhausted. We look forward to seeing the video.
August 5th, 2009 at 11:02 am
YAY!!! Wonderful news! Congratulations to Bai Yun and Gao Gao and to the wonderful staff at the San Diego Zoo!
August 5th, 2009 at 11:03 am
Oh Happy Day! Congrats Bai Yun and my best to you and your family. Welcome to the world, Little Cubbie.
August 5th, 2009 at 11:03 am
August 5th, 2009 at 10:58 am
I Guess I was the luckiest! I was up and watching the pandacam at 2:30 this morning. At first it was an outdoor shot but then switched to Bai Yun at about 3:00. You could definitely tell she was in labor. I watched until about 3:15 hoping that due to the hour they would forget to shut down the den cam but no such luck. I knew I would be waiting for the announcement this morning and kept checking the posts. And at last it is here!
August 5th, 2009 at 11:03 am
Congratulations Bai Yun , Gao Gao and SDZ !
August 5th, 2009 at 11:04 am
Congratulations Bai and Gao Gao. I’m so excited…
August 5th, 2009 at 11:04 am
wonderful news congrats to you all, and to the fantastic Bai Yun, and of course GaoGao, so glad all went well.
August 5th, 2009 at 11:05 am
CONGRATULATIONS SAN DIEGO ZOO! Congrats to all the keepers, researchers and Dr. Meg! Congrats to Gao Gao, Su Lin, and Zhennie on the arrival too! Gao Gao you da man (panda man)!! LOL Good job Bai Yun. As always you are the super panda mommy! I’m so excited for you! I can’t wait to see you and your little one on the cam Bai Yun. You are truly a “hero momma”!
I’m celebrating the birth of a new life for my favorite species! I’m gonna dance all night and my family are going to think I’m nuts but that’s o.k. because we have a NEW PANDA CUB!!
GOOD JOB GAO GAO AND BAI YUN! YOU PANDAS R.O.C.K.!!!!
August 5th, 2009 at 11:05 am
Congratulations Everyone, Wonderful news and a big thank you to the SDZ team who do a GREAT job.
August 5th, 2009 at 11:05 am
Congratulations to all at SDZ and especially to mother extraordinaire, Bai Yun!
August 5th, 2009 at 11:07 am
Congrats to Bai Yun and the staff at SDZ! Another job well done! Hope all is well with mom and cub as I am looking forward to watching the little on grow on panda cam!
August 5th, 2009 at 11:08 am
Congratulations Bai Yun, Gao Gao and SDZ staff! Each panda birth is truly special! Thank you for keeping updated!
August 5th, 2009 at 11:08 am
Congratulations to Bai Yun, Gao Gao, and of course the SDZ staff that made this event possible! We are so blessed to get a glimpse of these precious creatures via panda cam. I wouldn’t have missed this event for the world. Looking forward to seeing the new cub and watching him/her grow. Thank you SDZ for all you do for us pandaholics!
P.S. Zhen Zhen is now a big sister! Woo hoo!!
August 5th, 2009 at 11:09 am
YIPPEEEEEEEEEEE!!! I have goose bumps and tears!!! I am so excited! Congratulations to sweet Bai, the irreplaceable Gao, and all of the wonderful staff at the Zoo. You must all be so proud and SOOOOO happy!
August 5th, 2009 at 11:10 am
Congratulations to everyone at the San Diego Zoo and the amazing Bai Yun and Gao Gao.
Great news!
August 5th, 2009 at 11:10 am
This is great news for all us panda lovers and for the panda species!! Kudos to everyone at the SDZ, we pandaholics love you!! Congrats Bai Yun and Gao Gao
August 5th, 2009 at 11:10 am
Congratulations to Bai Yun and SDZ! I can’t wait to see the video!
Seems like Bai Yun doesn’t like to give birth on my birthday. She gave birth to ZZ a day before my birthday, and a day after for the newest baby. But I’m glad the mother and infant are doing well.
August 5th, 2009 at 11:11 am
Good luck and healthy !! for Bai Yun and the new cub. Thanks to the staff !!
August 5th, 2009 at 11:11 am
Congratulations to Bai and Gao!!! I can’t wait to see the little cubbie.
Thanks to all the keepers who look after these special animals.
August 5th, 2009 at 11:13 am
Oh, I was so sure she was in labor last night when my husband tried to get me to watch TV instead of the computer monitor. Congratulations to wonderful Bai Yun and the zoo staff.
Gao Gao, you did it again, even if you have no idea what you did. I still miss Mei Sheng and his little professor face, but a male cub with Gao’s performing personality would be wonderful, too.
August 5th, 2009 at 11:13 am
Hooray!
Queen Bai Yun! Best panda there is.
I admit I was getting nervous. But all is spectacularly well! Thank you Momma Bai, thank you wonderful Zoo panda staff!
Hooray! Hooray! Hip hip hooray!
August 5th, 2009 at 11:13 am
WooooHoooo!!! My daughter and I were watching her last night and knew something was up when they changed the cam to Zhen. We are thrilled to have a new baby to watch grow up. Congratulations to Bai Yun, Gao Gao and the entire staff at the SDZ!!
August 5th, 2009 at 11:14 am
#18 Kristi
You know, Kristi, the panda dance is not complete unless you roll on your head.
August 5th, 2009 at 11:14 am
What wonderful news; congratulations Bai Yun and SDZ! And welcome to the world precious baby panda!!
August 5th, 2009 at 11:15 am
Congratulations!!!! To the SDZ Staff!! To Bai and Gao! Wonderful News!!! Cannot wait to see the video
Thank you all for the fantastic manner in which you care for ‘our’ Panda Bears !!!!!
August 5th, 2009 at 11:15 am
WEll congrates to momma Bai and daddy Gao this is wonderful news we can all relax now. Wishing all the best for a healthy cub and thanks to the SDZ staff for all the hard work they do to keep the panda population growing.
Suzanne I hope I understood that I can post my webpage address on this site for your Panda SOS program to help with donations it is (http://donate.sandiegozoo.org/goto/blackandwhite). Anyone who can help with a donation well be more than welcome.
Thank You Pam
Moderator’s note: Pam, thanks for helping us help pandas and polar bears with this Web page!
August 5th, 2009 at 11:15 am
Another Congratulations from Texas!!!!
August 5th, 2009 at 11:16 am
congratulations to sdz… this planet is now home to FIVE pandas born in your amazingly professional research center. thank you all.
my love to our beautiful mama bai, handsome gao man, big sisters, and to the newest baby ?prince.
joan
painted post, n.y.
August 5th, 2009 at 11:17 am
Congratulations!!! on a “job” well done!!
August 5th, 2009 at 11:18 am
Congrats to Bai Yun, Gao Gao and the whole SDZ team! What wonderful news… and now #5 means that Bai Yun is officially a *Hero Mother*, even though we already knew that. Looking forward to watching her newest cub grow and thrive. Thanks for the great news, Suzanne!
August 5th, 2009 at 11:19 am
CONGRATULATIONS! A special thank you to all who keep us informed and care for our beautiful pandas. And, of course, heartfelt congrats to Superstar Mom, Bai Yun, and Superstud, Gao Gao.
August 5th, 2009 at 11:19 am
OMG, I am so grateful and happy. (Dancing, Dancing, Dancing for REAL this time.)
Congrats to Bai, Gao and ALL THE SDZ STAFF. And congrats to all of us. We have been blessed again.
ROAD TRIP!!!!
August 5th, 2009 at 11:20 am
Congratulations mom, dad, and staff! So exciting!
August 5th, 2009 at 11:21 am
I am so disappointed = no twins! Hope it’s a boy! Mei Sheng needs a brother to play with! LOL! Thank God she had a safe delivery!
August 5th, 2009 at 11:23 am
Way to go Left coast pandas! Another wonderful cubbie from The Golden State. Congratulations Bai and Gao. Congratulations to all the staff in Panda Canyon. Shoot, congratulations to all the SDZ staff. Y’all are THE BEST!!
August 5th, 2009 at 11:25 am
Congratulations to Bai Yun and SDZ keepers and staff and vets…all concerned. This is a great and proud day for all of you, especially Bai Yun. Cannot wait to get a glimpse of the little tyke (hate calling them butter sticks!). Here’s a grand toast to all of you for the hard work, dedication, and sheer love you show for all these magnificent black and white wonders. I am now imagining all the hip-hoorays, cheers, and tears for this little bundle of joy.
This is the last straw for my computer. I couldn’t log on earlier today because of technical problems. I am so calling someone for a new pc.
August 5th, 2009 at 11:25 am
Congratulations!!! My hopes were met…a new panda baby on my 20th wedding anniversary! As we celebrate our family tonight we’ll have a special toast to the new addition to the SDZ panda family!
Can’t wait to watch the new little one grow and thrive!
Moderator’s note: Congratulations to you and your loved one, Joan. What a day to remember!
August 5th, 2009 at 11:25 am
So glad to hear the news! I was watching her yesterday and she seemed a little restless…and thus, I was a little restless all night long! Congrats to all at SDZ, and a big “Way to Go” to Gao Gao…he is the best papa bear ever!!
August 5th, 2009 at 11:26 am
Congrats to Bai Yun and Gao Gao!
August 5th, 2009 at 11:26 am
Congratulations Bai Yun, Gao Gao, and SDZ!
As of 11 PM last night it sure looked like she was in labor and increasingly uncomfortable. She would lie down, sit up, look down at her genitals, shred some bamboo, look up at the camera in a pleading way, and sit back against the pile of bamboo or the walls of the den. All the time her abdomen appeared to be contracting as she did not appear to be panting. It was extremely difficult to go to bed and away from the action on the camera. When she laid down to rest, I decided I should too. When I got up this morning and the cam was on the outside yard, I figured a birth had already occured or was about to. So, I am glad that my hunch was right. Although I expected the birth on August 4, she made it into 4:58 of August 5. Now she has three offspring with birthdays within 3 days of each other. Unfortunately they are not all likely to be at SDZ to celebrate a birthday together. But someday in Wolong they probably will be.
Now ZZ is a BIG sister and no longer the “newest” cub.
August 5th, 2009 at 11:28 am
Many congratulations to Bai Yun, Gao Gao and the San Diego Zoo!! This is so exciting!! I just knew she would wait for the full moon! Good girl!! She looked ready, yesterday afternoon and evening, being restless and seemingly uncomfortable. She must be thrilled to have a new cub to love and care for! What a joyous day for Mother Earth! Amazing how the birthdays are all so close together. Nature knows what it is doing!!
August 5th, 2009 at 11:29 am
WHAT A JOYFUL DAY!!!!!!!! I just knew it would be soon as I thought she was in labor last night as she was breathing so heavy and was so restless. I stayed up until my eyes were so blurry I couldn’t see ANYTHING anymore. I knew there would be an announcement today. So happy that Mama Bai and cub are doing well. Congratulations to ALL, including all you pandaholics out there who kept Bai and Baby in your prayers and wished good luck to all involved. Job well done Mama Extraordinaire. Hugz and kisses to you and your wonderful creation. Great work SDZ!!!!!!!!!! THANK YOU.
Moderator’s note: Yes, thank you to all of you sending your best thoughts and wishes to Bai Yun. As Suzanne said in her post, this appeared to be her easiest delivery!
August 5th, 2009 at 11:29 am
WooHoo!!! Another panda angel in the world! Congratulations to “Super” Mom, Bai Yun, that Studmuffin Gao Gao, big sisters, Su Lin & Zhen Zhen, and all the staff and volunteers at San Diego Zoo!
I hope someday to make it out there to visit this incredible family!
August 5th, 2009 at 11:31 am
Big Congratulations to Bai Yun, Gao Gao and all the keepers and staff at SDZ! Great job and welcome to the world, sweet cubbie!
August 5th, 2009 at 11:31 am
Congratulations to Mama Bai, Papa Gao, vets, staff, keepers, aunties, uncles, grannies, and grampas everywhere! Congratulations to panda sisters ZZ, Su Lin, Hua Mei, and panda brother Mei Sheng!
Welcome to the world, little one!
August 5th, 2009 at 11:32 am
THANK YOU MISTER STORK! THE WAITING IS FINALLY FINIS!
Congrats to just everyone. Now a new chapter in everyone’s and espec Momma B’s, life.
I secretly hope it’s a little boy, I want ZZ to continue being the little princess…..
August 5th, 2009 at 11:32 am
A question for some future blog or update: I am curious to know if it is possible to determine or suspect the gender of the cub based on the ultrasounds. Perhaps there is still not a dataset large enough to make this determination given that Bai Yun seems to be the only panda to allow regular ultrasounds.
August 5th, 2009 at 11:32 am
Congratulations to Bai Yun, Gao Gao, and to the most incredible San Diego Zoo staff. Best wishes to all of you as you begin the journey with #5. And a special message to the newest little baby: Welcome! You have the best family ever and the best home to start your new life. Your mama is going to take really good care of you.
August 5th, 2009 at 11:38 am
I say all of us who guessed the 5th should be first in line to view the cub on our road trip.
Seriously, I couldn’t figure out why my contacts were all floaty in my eyes, then I realized how moved I was by the announcement that I was all teary.
Head roll, head roll…spin, spin………
August 5th, 2009 at 11:39 am
Bai Yun must have passed her good genes to her daughter Hua Mei. Both have had pandas a month apart. I think in the number of births, daughter has mother beat. I was able to see Hua Mei in Bifengxia this spring,what a treat. It was wonderful to see so many pandas all in one place. We tried to see Mei Sheng but they had him in a special place and we weren’t there long enough. I have never been to San Diego to see the Pandas but I WILL visit San Diego to see the Pandas ASAP! The panda cams are just wonderful, thank you for all your hard work.
August 5th, 2009 at 11:40 am
Wonderful news! Congratulations Bai Yun & SDZ Staff. I wish I could have seen this. I did get to witness Xi Lan being born so I know how wonderful a moment a panda birth is.
I can’t wait to see the little guy or girl.
August 5th, 2009 at 11:41 am
Whew, now I can exhale! Congratulations to one and all!!! I’ll be watching you avidly on cam and as soon as possible in person, take care Mama Bai, LOVE to you!
August 5th, 2009 at 11:42 am
Congratulations Madame Bai,a job well done . Congratulations to all the staff on this happiest of days. Now all of can rest a little easier now that our new baby is here.
Joan #60 What a great anniversery present.
I just returned from carvel with a celebratory chocolate milk shake. And to all the other Pandaholics congratulations and do the panda dance, this is something to celebrate
August 5th, 2009 at 11:42 am
Oh wow – now I can BREATHE!! HOORAY Bai and Gao Gao!!! You’ve done it again!! And thanks to the SDZ staff for the “vocals” – awesome!!!
August 5th, 2009 at 11:43 am
Congrats to everyone!!!
It’s hard to type with tears in my eyes – I am so happy!!
August 5th, 2009 at 11:43 am
Congratulations Bai Yun, Gao Gao, and all the SDZ staff! We are all thrilled to welcome Su & Zhennie’s newest sibling!
August 5th, 2009 at 11:44 am
Nice to see Zhen Zhen moved back to her tree (within view of the cam) for a celebratory lunch!
August 5th, 2009 at 11:45 am
WOW!! I figured the birth was imminent, as did everyone else with the cam not being on Bai. I had to work for a solid hour (couldn’t help it, the boss was with me) and GEEZ when I come back – not only is there a birth announcement post but already 59 comments! Anyway, I would like to throw my hat in the ring with everyone else and say congrats to Bai, Gao, Su, ZZ and the entire remarkable panda team! You guys rock! Count me in for a visit in the near future!!
I am sure then entire zoo staff is elated as well. Such an exciting event!
August 5th, 2009 at 11:46 am
To Dianne #59 Tx-get a Mac, they won’t fail you, espec in important moments like these!
August 5th, 2009 at 11:48 am
Happy Happy Day!!!!! Bai you Rock!!!!!!
August 5th, 2009 at 11:48 am
I’m so Happy for Bai Yun and Gao Gao! Congratulations to the Power Couple of the Panda World!! I wasn’t a bit surprised, I watched Bai Yun off and on all day yesterday and could see the signs. I felt for her too, having delivered a child in the summer months myself.
I can’t wait to make a visit when our newest baby is out. Thanks to the San Diego Zoo team and all they do to enrich our lives with the wonderful creatures.
August 5th, 2009 at 11:49 am
CONGRATS TO SDZ, BAI, GAO, ET AL. I had been watching Bai most of the evening but fell asleep (darn)!
August 5th, 2009 at 11:53 am
This is just the best!!! Congratulations to amazing Bai Yun and Gao Gao. SDZ staff — you are the greatest!
August 5th, 2009 at 11:54 am
Question for you Suzanne, will the news conference be aired on Panda Cam?
Moderator’s note: No.
August 5th, 2009 at 11:54 am
congratulations from Germany!!! I hope to see the newborn as soon as possible!! I’m so excited!
August 5th, 2009 at 11:54 am
What a blessing!!! Congrats to Bai Yun & all at the SDZoo!!! Thank you for the tremendous job you do & constantly sharing & enriching all our lives & the world! You all make an enormous difference for everyone now & in the future!
August 5th, 2009 at 11:55 am
Congratulations to Hero Mother Bai Yun and Gao Gao the Great on the birth of another precious cub!
Congratulations to the SDZ and especially everyone on the panda staff! Thank you for the outstanding love and care you give to these beautiful bears.
AND a special message: WELCOME TO THE WORLD, BABY PANDA!!!!
August 5th, 2009 at 11:55 am
Congratulations to all the panda cuzzins in Sandy Eggo from your cuzzins in Washington!!! Cuzzin Zoomie, you is a big sister now!!!
Love,
Tai Shan, Mei Xiang, & Tian Tian
August 5th, 2009 at 11:58 am
Thanks for that wonderful recording! (I think it’s a boy.)
Sure hope we’ll get the cam back on the den sometime today! Thank you Susanne and the rest of the crew for keeping us informed nevertheless! (shoot, and I was going to paint the kitchen today . . . oh well.)
Bai Yun: whatta panda!
Whatta ZOO!
Joy!
August 5th, 2009 at 11:58 am
What wonderful news : ) Thank you to all the wonderful SD staff for opening up their world to us via web cams and blogs. We’ve all learned so much and look forward to learning more in the days to come.
August 5th, 2009 at 12:00 pm
great news – glad cubbie arrived safe and sound. And that s/he has their own birthday but it’s cool that the 3 have birthdays one after the other.
August 5th, 2009 at 12:01 pm
Thanks for posting the cubs’ cries!!! I can’t wait to see him/her. How adorable!
And I almost clicked “Submit” and there they are!!! Thanks for switching the cam to momma and cubbie!
August 5th, 2009 at 12:03 pm
Congratulations! Thank you for taking time to post the information and the audio of the cub cries. I cannot wait to see the little one and Bai in the den when you think it is time.
Best wishes to the SDZ staff and panda “family.”
August 5th, 2009 at 12:06 pm
And now there they are! What a crystal clear image, too.
August 5th, 2009 at 12:07 pm
I was one day off, on my prediction. I said the 4th !! =) Congratulations SDZ, and it’s wonderful keepers!
August 5th, 2009 at 12:11 pm
A baby Yheng Yheng!
August 5th, 2009 at 12:13 pm
Wonderful news! Congrats to all at SDZ. Bai Yun is the greatest panda, and thank goodness the birth happened before we leave on Friday. I don’t know how China could even entertain the idea of not leaving Bai & Gao at SDZ, with the wonderful record they have. What jewels they are! Now I can go without too much reservation, knowing Bai can take care of that cub just fine.
August 5th, 2009 at 12:15 pm
I’m sitting here watching the lovely Bai Yun cradle her newborn and listening to Joe Cocker’s “You Are So Beautiful.” For just this moment – there is nothing more beautiful and all is right in the little world I am seeing on my computer screen.
Congratulations to the entire panda family – from the faithful panda fans, to the amazing pandas and especially to the SDZ staff. What a day for celebrations and panda dancing!!
August 5th, 2009 at 12:17 pm
Wonderful news!!! I am so glad that I was not the only one … hanging around the computer monitor … for the past two days. Well done … San Diego Zoo!
August 5th, 2009 at 12:18 pm
First photo of baby is up on SDZ’s Facebook site!! Looks and sounds like a boy to me
August 5th, 2009 at 12:22 pm
…and so now we all SIT…minute after minute….hour after hour…for that ONE sneak peek of this precious new cub!! How GREAT!! Aren’t we LUCKY!!!!
August 5th, 2009 at 12:24 pm
what fantastic news,a new baby to watch,there goes the housework,that will have to wait!
Moderator’s note: There will always be housework!
August 5th, 2009 at 12:25 pm
Congratulations to everyone involved…SD Zoo, Bai, Gao, the keepers, the trainers, the moderators (for keeping us informed), the volunteers!
Listening to the new cub’s cry just after birth was thrilling beyond belief! Thank you for providing that audio! You could tell Bai Yun was doing her job!!!
August 5th, 2009 at 12:25 pm
Congratulations to Bai Yun and the zoo staff. Every cub birth is so vitally important for the preservation of this beautiful animal. I have kept my computer tuned in for days waiting for this to happen. The wait was well worth it. Love to everyone there.
August 5th, 2009 at 12:27 pm
What a lovely shot of Bai cuddling her newborn. Thanks to whomever is runing th camera – you’re doing great.
August 5th, 2009 at 12:29 pm
I am with you, Barbara! (#100) Bai and Gao and the staff of SDZ have brought SO MUCH to panda conservation and research. China is getting all these wonderful cubs back in return. Hua Mei has proved to be a supermomma much like Bai and Mei Sheng appears to be a chip off the old Gao’s block! Wouldn’t be wonderful if Bai and Gao could retire at SDZ and become permanent residents there? China could surely send another pair of pandas of breeding age to pick up where Bai and Gao left off and the champs would be right on the premises to give counsel to the young’ns. This would likely entail enlarging of the current exhibit in panda canyon or perhaps the construction of a new one. For this I would surely donate!! Sigh…
just wishing out loud but it really would be wonderful..
August 5th, 2009 at 12:30 pm
CONGRATULATIONS Bai Yun and Gao Gao & sdz ! I hope everything is fine with the little one and mommy.Thanks for the info. love thos panda bears
August 5th, 2009 at 12:33 pm
Way to go, Bai Yun!!! I’m sure the news of the birth brought tears of joy to a lot of your fans.
August 5th, 2009 at 12:34 pm
WHOOP-DEE-DOO!!!
Congratulations Mom and everybody at SDZ. I’m over the moon!
August 5th, 2009 at 12:39 pm
Wow! The baby cub is so small and yet what strong lungs! I saw a quick peek of Bai cuddling her baby, so gently and snug, before curling into a new position for another nap! Beautiful!
August 5th, 2009 at 12:39 pm
I kept checking all morning because my workplace will not allow live cams and I knew the blog would have it and I’m so excited. I called my other pandaholic here and she is also just as excited. Bai Yun is a queen.
August 5th, 2009 at 12:47 pm
Congratualations Bai Yun! I’m so happy with this new addition to the panda family. I look forward to watching the video later today. Yahoo!!!!
August 5th, 2009 at 12:55 pm
YAY!!!!!! I’m so happy we have a new cub! Can’t wait to watch the little one grow!
August 5th, 2009 at 12:57 pm
OMG, I’ve just returned from lunch and find this. I am too happy for words. I am jumping up and down, turn around and everything, and I am at work right now, so people can tell I went nuts with joy.
August 5th, 2009 at 1:05 pm
Congratulations to Bai and Gao on the birth of your 4th cub, not forgetting all the wonderful staff at SDZ who have been exceptionally patient with the pandaholics who have been eagerly awaiting the good news.
Hope everyone, including super mom Bai and her new cub has more relaxing time tonite – this calls for a virtual champagne celebration.
August 5th, 2009 at 1:07 pm
CONGRATULATIONS!
DOING THE
PANDA CUB
D A N C E
with tears streaming down my face!!!
Joy
August 5th, 2009 at 1:07 pm
To Staff: Fabulous Video!!!! Thank you so much!!! Good Blessings to All
August 5th, 2009 at 1:08 pm
Add my congrats to all those you’ve received -what a pair Bai & Gao are – while iit seemed like a long wait for the birth it was only a few days. Super job SDZ – wonderful, dedicated staff!!!:):)
August 5th, 2009 at 1:12 pm
Wonderful news. i’m so happy to read that:) congratulation to the panda family and the san diego zoo staff. i wish the best for the little panda cub
August 5th, 2009 at 1:13 pm
The birth video is wonderful! Thank you for posting it so quickly.
August 5th, 2009 at 1:14 pm
Good to see finally Bai had her cub. She sure hids the cub. It looked like a lizard when it was born…it was so tiny. She looks now like she is still having heavy breathing but it is all she has been through. I wish the best to Bai and the wonderful zookeepers. Thanks again
August 5th, 2009 at 1:14 pm
CONGRATULATIONS BAI YUN!!! A new mother for the fifth time! How amazing. You did such a wonderful job of scooping up the baby as soon as it started crying. You are the best mother ever!!!!!
If there was ever inspiration from one female panda to the other, you would be it.
August 5th, 2009 at 1:17 pm
Thanks for the video! That was fabulous. Bai is naturally a wonderful mom. I hope this new baby is a brother for the girls.
August 5th, 2009 at 1:23 pm
Congratulations, Mommy, Dad ad all of Panda’s team!
Thank you for the birth video. The cub looks like very healthy!
August 5th, 2009 at 1:36 pm
Congrats to Bai and everyone at the SDZ.
Re your press release headline – I doubt Bai Yun weighs 300 lb. 250 lb at most.
Moderator’s note: You’re right, Sayuri. Guess we were too excited to see the error!
August 5th, 2009 at 1:39 pm
I just watched the video ! Bai is just such a great mom !! Brings a tear to your eyes. =)
P.S. I’m hoping for a boy too.
August 5th, 2009 at 1:45 pm
P. Wong, what does Big Daddy have to say about this. I just watched the video and one word comes to mind AMAZING
August 5th, 2009 at 1:45 pm
Great going Bai Yun, Gao Gao, San Diego Zoo staff and off course all pandaholics in the world. This is fantastic news for all of us. It’s great to add a member to the giant panda family, Let’s cross our pseudothumbs that it will grow up to be a healty cub. To my eyeapple Zhen Zhen: way to go girl, your a big sister now….
August 5th, 2009 at 1:46 pm
Congratulations to Mama & Papa Bear and the entire panda team!
It’s so exciting! Our guess: a boy!
August 5th, 2009 at 1:47 pm
Oh my it took me forever to get to this box to type….So many responses…!!!! I have been around for every panda….This one has me physically and emotionally drained…It is wrapped around the prospect of a second cub…I know you guys have the facts….You see I have had 2 experiences in a 10% survival and here I am….I just keep hoping lefty will show up….just give me a little time….
We have an adorable robust baby that is sooooooo happy to be in mommies paws…I think he’s a boy, also….Its so great to have all of you guys who understand our crazy emotional moments…..
August 5th, 2009 at 1:51 pm
Well What can I say, everyone else has said it all. It is so wonderful to see Mommy Bai and her little one, and know she had a safe delivery, and a healthy baby. Like Eva, my birthday is the 4th also, I was hoping, as you could see she was in labor last night, but, I could not stay awake, but, still hoped she would have it before midnight, ah well. Congratulations to you all SDZ Keepers, and Daddy, and the other little Girls. Now we will get to watch our Bai do what she does best, raise her baby. A cute sweet little Panda.
August 5th, 2009 at 1:58 pm
Bai certainly has earned all these kudos. My hat is also off to the amazing San Diego team that has documented twins in two (or is it three?) pregnancies so far. Maybe all pregnancies start that way, and only about half of them result in the actual birth of twins. My hope is that other zoos will adopt the ultrasound technique so we can learn what is truly going on in a female panda’s womb.
I am wondering if the Zoo has received any word from China on this new success.
August 5th, 2009 at 2:09 pm
Hi Don #135!
It’s 3! Mei Sheng, Su Lin, and now this current cub. Bai Yun is batting better than .500 for twin pregnancies.
August 5th, 2009 at 2:09 pm
Wooooooooo hooooooooo…..Bai Yun is such a great Momma Bear and I am sooooo glad all went well for her and she gave birth to a very lively Baby Bear. Last nite I was watching Bai and I just knew the baby would be here soon. I am happy she had what looks to be a very healthy little one and it is making lots of noise already. lol Gao you did it again Big Guy and you deserve extra goodies for a job well done. Thanks to all of you at the SDZ for keeping all of us so well informed as it is unbelievable how attached one gets to these bears seeing them on cam every day. I had tears watching the new little one and felt relief for Bai. Thanks again for the wonderful work you all do there and we sure appreciate all of you. Am anxious to learn the sex of this little one and am so looking forward to watching it grow and become another beautiful panda.
August 5th, 2009 at 2:09 pm
Great video . . . and thanks for having Dr. Meg answer my question about ultrasounds!
August 5th, 2009 at 2:15 pm
Congratulations to the panda team at SD Zoo. I have been boring everyone at work about my six year panda obsession and my return to the Zoo in Nov. Hope cubbie grows big and strong and just has a name when I come to visit. Hope you will have a way of viewing cubbie before he goes on exhibit as I think Nov will be too early.
August 5th, 2009 at 2:22 pm
I think the pandas are the most popular attraction at the zoo! How great that they have a new member to add to their family! FYI, the quickest way to get to Bai Yun’s new baby is to head towards the Fern Canyon stairs and look for signs pointing towards the pandas!
Moderator’s note: Just a reminder that the new cub won’t be on public view for several months.
August 5th, 2009 at 2:32 pm
C’mon Chinook!! Now it is your turn!!
August 5th, 2009 at 2:36 pm
Congrats to Bai and her significant other Gao Gao. Hope baby cub is healthy and al goes
well, great day this is my nephews birthday also. Good luck to all the keepers and cant wait
to enjoy watching Bai taking care of the little one and watching it grow.
yeah SDZ. The pandas are awesome!!!!!!!!!!!
August 5th, 2009 at 2:36 pm
Great video. Now the mothering starts. It occurs to me after reading all my Google alerts referring to the cub as about “the size of a stick of butter” that this should be updated for today’s audiences. How about “the size of an ipod” as a substitute?
August 5th, 2009 at 2:49 pm
Congratulations Bai Yun! You are a fabulous mother. Congratulations to Gao, Sheng, Su and ZZ on your expanding panda family. SDZ, you are an amazing organization. Congratulations and thank you for all you do for our beloved pandas.
August 5th, 2009 at 2:51 pm
Oh wow!!!! I am so thrilled to know that baby cubby has been born and both mother and baby are doing well!!!! I so look forward to watching another little Panda grow!!!! Congratulations to everyone!!!!
August 5th, 2009 at 2:51 pm
Great news! Congratulation to Bai Yun and Gao Gao. Thank you SDZ.
August 5th, 2009 at 2:54 pm
congratulations to all the staff at the zoo ,who are taking care of the pandas., and thakyou Bai and Gao .you have come thru again. to SuLin and Zhennie what great big sisters you will be. We missed out this year on the east coast , but I am so happy for all you guys.
August 5th, 2009 at 2:55 pm
Congratulations Bai Yun, Gao Gao, big sisters Su Lin, Zhen Zhen and the giant panda staff!!
I am So Happy for you!! I saw the cub on Panda Cam! So Cute!!!
Love,
Seiko
August 5th, 2009 at 2:59 pm
YAY!!! Another SDZ miracle! Congratulations to all the staff and the pandas. How wonderful! And the Baibee looks like another robust little panda, full of p & v right off the bat. I’m so happy for us all!
August 5th, 2009 at 3:02 pm
Yay! We had a safe birth of the new cub. Mama bear did a great job. She sure is a pro, isn’t she? Thanks to the dedication of the staff to ensure that everything was smooth and safe as possible for mom and baby. Zhen Zhen’s finally a big sister now!
Congratulations to Bai Yun and the SDZ. Can’t wait to see what the cub’s first exam will reveal.
August 5th, 2009 at 3:02 pm
Just can’t shake this wonderful feeling and have been thinking what can I do? Soooooooo, I found the area to go and adopt a Panda Family. So, that’s what I did…. Just my contribution to help with the work that is being done in San Diego for these beloved bears.
In about 5 minutes I rec’d my adoption package via email… What a nice surprise, that was so quick…
Again, thanks to everyone at the SDZ for giving us this constant window so that we can all see from a distance what you do…..
Moderator’s note: Thank YOU, Darlene, for your panda adoption through our Adopt an Animal program! This month’s featured critter is the giant panda. What a thoughtful way to celebrate the arrival of the world’s newest panda!
August 5th, 2009 at 3:04 pm
CONGRATS BAI YUN AND GAO GOA I am soooo happy for you new arrival. Thank you all at SDZ for taking such good care of the pandas. She or He is soo cute and wow what a voice…Love Lyn
August 5th, 2009 at 3:04 pm
Congradulations to Bai Yun what a trooper you did it again. Bai Yun your born natural Mother Panda Bear
Thanks to the staff at SD Zoo for caring for these beautiful panda bears. I really am excited to get there this month to see the whole family at least Sue Lin and Zhen Zhen and maby Gao Gao I just cant wait!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Congradulations from the city of Seattle Bai Yun , We love you 
oxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo
August 5th, 2009 at 3:08 pm
I love watching Bai Yun’s right foot twirl as she cares for her little one. So sweet!
August 5th, 2009 at 3:20 pm
Congratulations, Mama Bai, Papa Gao and the San Diego Zoo! Great news in pandaland!
August 5th, 2009 at 3:28 pm
Wonderful news, you all do a great job. The panda’s that I see on line are much more content there, then in other zoo locations I see on the net.
Keep up the great work
August 5th, 2009 at 3:32 pm
OMG!!! OMG!!!Congratulation!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Knew that Bai and Gao would pull through for us. This is definitely the highlight of my summer. Best news ever.
To SDZ staff: don’t get drunk with the champagne now
August 5th, 2009 at 3:34 pm
Happy day, happy day!!! Congratulations to everyone at SDZ, Bai and Gao have given us one more bundle of joy. I just saw a strip running along the bottom of the news screen that Bai Yun and Gao Gao are the most prolific panda pair in captivity. Well, we pandaholics all knew that already. We love our pandas.
August 5th, 2009 at 3:36 pm
Seems to me to be a shame, all of the dedicated Panda Cam watchers out there that click on every day and the cam is turned off at the birth but yet there is a video of the event, just don’t see why the cam has to be turned off but yet the cameras are rolling to video tape it, is there any reason for that?
August 5th, 2009 at 3:38 pm
Congratulations!!!
August 5th, 2009 at 3:56 pm
Congrats Bai Yun. Now I will have to plan a trip to SDZ to see the cub.
August 5th, 2009 at 4:01 pm
How exciting. Another cubbie to watch and love. Congratulations to Mama Bai, Papa Gao and everyone at SDZ.
August 5th, 2009 at 4:06 pm
Congratulations to Bai Yun, Gao Gao and everyone at the Zoo. Wonderful news, I will be keeping up with Bai and her new cub on the cams.
August 5th, 2009 at 4:08 pm
Just woke up to the wonderful news. Best wishes to mum and dad and all concerned with the birth.
August 5th, 2009 at 4:21 pm
Thanks for reposting Pamela G’s poems – if you missed them check the last blog-comments #107 & 116–they will bring tears to your eyes. Some time ago Pamela mentioned she was having health problems – hope she is able to see the latest miracle. Her poems are priceless.
August 5th, 2009 at 4:27 pm
Joe #159, yes, I think there is a reason the birth isn’t shown live on the pandacam. We all dream about watching it live, of course, but what if something went wrong? Births are dangerous. If children were watching, we wouldn’t want them to see a tragedy.
So, much as I would have liked to have seen it happen live, I agree with the policy. However, the Zoo got that video up pretty quickly, and with sound! The audio recording of the cub is pretty exciting too.
I might add that Suzanne has been posting updates all weekend, when this blog is usually idle. The Zoo has been more than kind to all of us here on the blog.
Pretty much disrupted my whole day, but it’s more than worth it.
August 5th, 2009 at 4:39 pm
This is very exciting news!! Congratulations to Bai Yun and all the panda staff. Oh I don’t want to forget the daddy, the great Gao Gao!!!
August 5th, 2009 at 4:42 pm
OMG! I am weeping as I write…but they are tears of happiness. Congratulations to Bai Yun, Gao Gao, Hua Mei, Mei Sheng, Su Lin and Zhen Zhen. And, of course, congratulations to the SDZ team — well done. My husband and I are planning a trip in the spring; perhaps there will be a polar bear cub or two as well!
August 5th, 2009 at 4:48 pm
CONGRATS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I just got on my computer late this afternoon my time (7:30pm EDT), and got this great news about Bai Yun’s baby being born. True to Bai’s birth timing, she had her cub when a whole lot of us were sound asleep in the early morning hours, unless there were some pandafans that were very determined to stay up all nite to wait for this! I was out all day on busses taking my son to his eye doctor and back home. Saw the great pic of the baby panda and the video, too! Thanks for letting us hear the audio on that vid of the cub sqeaking after he was born. That sounded soooooo good!! (I refuse to say IT, so I’ll say HE until we all know what the gender is in a few weeks.) Also, my prediction of between Aug. 4-6 was right on! YEA!!! I pretty well knew that she was going to give birth sometime in the next 12 hours or so last nite when I watched her on the cam before it got switched to ZZ. Bai was getting pretty restless, and after checking the cam for almost 2 hours before going to bed and kept seeing ZZ or Gao Gao, I knew that something was up with Bai. This was after 12 midnite last nite my time. The other thing is that Bai Yun has kept the streak alive of 6 years in a row of seeing baby panda cubs born here in the USA! That’s an awesome record to be proud of, you all! I take it the left cub did not make it, because I was sure Bai was going to have twins! DARN!! Oh well, she has one very healthy, squeaky loud, very active cub to take care of. Now, I’m hoping for a boy this time around for Bai. Just saw the pandacam, and Bai was laying down resting but couldn’t see the tiny cub because of her large arm hiding him to keep him warm. Bai Yun, the experienced mom, is on the job again! Gao Gao, the stud muffin dad, has done it again! He’s got to be “smiling” right now!
Well, gonna get back to the cam to watch her and hopefully see the cub. I was astonished to see 164 comments about this today alone! WOW!!! All of us pandafans are very happy campers now!!
Suzanne, you all have had a great week this week with 2 birthdays and a new baby panda cub to celebrate! Congrats to all of you for a great job!
Chari Mercier
St. Pete, FL
August 5th, 2009 at 5:01 pm
Welcome to the world, precious little one! Bai is an outstanding panda mom, and it will be a pleasure to watch her raising another beautiful cub. Congratulations to all the panda staff at SDZ who do such a great job of caring for these priceless and beloved bears.
August 5th, 2009 at 5:08 pm
Bai, youve done it again! We love you sooooo much! Congragulations. Also, congrats to Gao, our super-dad, all of babys siblings and the panda staff.
I think we should nickname this cubbie Peanut. What does everyone else think?
August 5th, 2009 at 5:19 pm
Way to go Bai Yun and Gao Gao! Congratulations to SDZ team! A new sibling for Hua Mei, Mei Sheng, Su Lin, and Zhen Zhen. A new nephew or niece for Uncle Tian Tian, Aunt Mei Xiang, and a new cousin for Tai Shan. What a wonderful panda family.
August 5th, 2009 at 5:19 pm
I’m so happy about that, and I hope Bai Yun it’s also.
Many congratulations to all in SDZ. I’ll ever watch the growing up of the cub.
August 5th, 2009 at 5:34 pm
Congratulations! And well done Bai Yun!
August 5th, 2009 at 5:36 pm
A conversation between Su Lin and Zhen Zhen while eating breakfast:
Su Lin: Hey, ZZ!
Zhen Zhen: Yes, Su?
SL: Did you hear something squeaking very loud early this morning?
ZZ: Yea, I did, Su!
SL: Sounds like our mom, Bai, had her new baby panda this morning!
ZZ: Yep, it sure sounds like the new baby panda to me!
SL: Now you are a big sister now, just like I was your big sis when you were born.
ZZ: Yes, I know, and I will enjoy being a big sis, too!
SL: We won’t be able to see the new baby panda for quite a long time…..
ZZ: but, we will be thinking about our mom and the new baby every day!
SL and ZZ: SIGH!!!!
Su and ZZ go back to eating their breakfast of boo and biscuits.
Chari Mercier
St. Pete, FL
August 5th, 2009 at 5:39 pm
YIPPEE!!!! Welcome Cub#5!!!! Bai Yun, you are spectacular!!! How wonderful that the girls Su and Zhen got to have their special day, and recover from it before welcoming the latest edition to Bai and Gao. From the sound of the cub, Bai will have her hands full again…’-))
Let’s see, Dec, January…can’t wait to see the new baby in person…
Also, can’t wait to find out if cub#5 is male or female and what the name choices will be…
So much to look forward to…
August 5th, 2009 at 5:45 pm
Watching momma Bai as I write this….you look kinda uncomfortable, momma…are you asleep in that position? guess there will be a lot of weird positions as not to roll over baby. is this why she constantly holds baby, as if she dropped it, she could roll over it? I bet she’s already getting tired, as she’s been up and down forever now, just like a new human parent…running to warm up the bottle. I sure hope it’s a little boy, and sounds like quite a few here, hope so too!
p.s. can we choose which panda we want to “adopt” or what? Maybe now that momma’s busy with the new cubbie, she won’t miss if I adopt Zhennie !
The birth video was just awesome and watching all of your reactions and what you had to say was great too. What excitement, all around! Much love and thank you.
Moderator’s note: Yes, you can choose any panda you wish to adopt through our Adopt an Animal program!
August 5th, 2009 at 5:46 pm
Conratulations Bai Yun and welcome new cub. On my birthday which made it even more special.
Moderator’s note: Happy birthday to you, Helen. What a special day!
August 5th, 2009 at 5:51 pm
Congrats to the elegant Mama Bai and the studman himself, GaoGao. What wonderful news!!!!! As always, thanks SDZ for all you do for us panda aunties and uncles.
Aloha,
Noreen.
August 5th, 2009 at 5:51 pm
Soooooo exciting, congratulations to Bai and SDZ!
August 5th, 2009 at 5:53 pm
Congratulations to Bai Yun and her girls and also Big Daddy and all the staff to San Diego Zoo!!! What a great news and how great to know that this new birth was easy for our experiment mommy!!!
At 17:52, I can see Bay with her little one in her paw, sleeping peacefully!!! It’s so beautiful to watch!!!
Thank you for permitting us to be part of this “real life” big event!!!
Sophie
August 5th, 2009 at 5:59 pm
Oh what a beautiful picture of Bai with her little one tucked between her chin and her arm. She had been doing a pretty good job of keeping him/her hidden, but there is the little one! Did anyone really think we were going to spend less time watching now that the cub is born? I’m glued.
August 5th, 2009 at 6:09 pm
Bai is sleeping on her side right now and you can see the little cub under her chin, I see a little leg or an arm..not sure as her arm is covering part of the little munchkin. I’m guessing mama bear must make quite a comfy pillow for someone that teeny
August 5th, 2009 at 6:10 pm
Thank you cam operator for the great shots of Bai and baby!! (6:09 PDT)
August 5th, 2009 at 6:10 pm
Congrats to everyone!! And I’m so grateful that we have a healthy cub!
I’m obessesed!!! But it’s the best addiction, I must say!
I was watching a close-up with Bai holding the cub under her chin. And I noticed that little thing was not moving for awhile and then I started to get really nervous – and then I forgot to breathe for a while until I saw it wiggle. Whew!! What a relief!! I can really go crazy.
Thank you all ! SDZ panda team!! Yay!!!
August 5th, 2009 at 6:12 pm
OMG what a great picture of the cub!
August 5th, 2009 at 6:32 pm
Thank you for the fabulous Panda Cam shots of mom and cub going on right now. The way it’s squirming around and repeatedly waking up mom, I KNOW the little one is squalling up a storm!! Being able to hear the sounds it made when first born was incredible. (Wish we could hear it now.)
Also Darlene #151, thank you for reminding me that this is a great time for us panda addicts to show how much joy these cams give us–and maybe make a small donation in support. I’m on it!
Thank you and congrats to SDZ Panda team!
August 5th, 2009 at 6:33 pm
This evening I got a peek at Bai new cub she was laying on her side and you could see part the cub under her chin I got a postcard shoot. hooray:)
August 5th, 2009 at 6:36 pm
Speaking of the Bai-Gao dynasty, has anyone heard any recent news of our beloved Mei Sheng? Hua Mei’s “meet the pandas” section is updated, but nothing recent on everyone’s favorite boy. Thanks in advance for sharing any info!
August 5th, 2009 at 6:39 pm
What a fabulous attentive mom Bai is. I have watched her for 2.5 hours and with the exception of a 20 minute “nap” she has been constantly attending to her cubs needs either feeding it or cleaning it. Her experience shows big time as she is very relaxed in how she holds and manipulates it. She doesn’t squash it against her when she naps, but has it nestled up against her chest and chin allowing her the freedom to relax her legs and lie more comfortably in her snug and cozy den she meticulously built from her bamboo peelings. She is a pro for sure. Earlier tonight she must have been warm because her abdomen was again in great motion. I couldn’t tell if it was labor for a second cub or just heavy breathing. When she sat up for a long time looking down at her tail end again, I wondered for a few brief minutes if maybe there could be a second cub after all. But she continued to sit in her hunched over pose for almost an hour and I concluded she must be nursing the cub, and perhaps dozing in the process. Her abdominal movements also seemed to relax, and so far no more deliveries. So, as we are all very thankful for the birth of a robust and healthy cub, we must not think of what “might have been.” Bai’s body knows best what she can handle.
August 5th, 2009 at 6:44 pm
Joe, #159, Zoo Atlanta had their camera live when the near tragedy happened after the birth of Xi Lan. That was enough to stop everyone’s heart. They switched it immediately of course so that they could tend to the cub’s emergency in peace. We should be thankful that during the commotion going on while the staff is intently watching the birth for any potential emergency that would require human intervention that they were able to video tape it so we could have the privilege of watching it as close to live as possible. I completely understand why they chose to turn it elsewhere during the birth and return when they are certain everything is OK. It is amazing to watch no matter whether it is live, or delayed viewing by a couple of hours.
August 5th, 2009 at 6:50 pm
#143 Jan – great idea—Ipod is better than a “stick of butter” In fact that’s a great nickname for our latest cubbie – how does IPod or Pod sound – -China will never go for it but we can fun until the naming ceremony. When our son saw our grandson’s ultrasound he called him Tadpole – which became Tad – & even after our grandson was born son called him Tad for an hour or so much to my dismay – but he did become Billy
To those wondering about the use of ultrasounds – all the US zoos have trained their pandas to participate – But & it’s a big but – if a panda is pregnant or having a psuedopregnancy she may refuse to cooperate – as stated here Bai would not cooperate for one but did later in the day. Also note that a panda is not a human & because of the bamboo consumption a fetus is difficult to see.
Have been watching Mama Bai taking great care of (oh well, let me call him Pod):)
August 5th, 2009 at 6:54 pm
YAY!!!!!! Will now be watching the price of plane tickets almost as often as I watch the panda cam, looking ahead to the 100 days! woohoo!!!!!
August 5th, 2009 at 6:56 pm
I am so delighted and I hope and pray for good health for the new cub. I announced the birth on my blog and the comments have been pouring in! CONGRATS!!!!!
August 5th, 2009 at 6:58 pm
Congratulations to all of you, especially beautiful Bai. Nothing is more exciting than a new panda cub!
August 5th, 2009 at 7:11 pm
This is wonderful news! Each new birth is as exciting as the 1st one! Bai you are SO amazing!
A huge thank you to the staff at SDZ for another perfect pregnancy and birth. You must be SO thrilled again!
August 5th, 2009 at 7:18 pm
Congratulations one and all, pandas and staff. Thank you so much for the excellent video and audio of the cub. What a wonderful sound to hear that strong voice!
August 5th, 2009 at 7:25 pm
Baby cubbie was the TOP story on the local news website here in Sacramento. More people will learn about the pandas — the joys and education that simple story may bring!
August 5th, 2009 at 7:29 pm
Congratulations to everyone at SDZ who made this day possible! How exciting that Bai has delivered a new addition to her and Gao Gao’s beautiful family. Thank you for all you do to care for these wonderful pandas and to keep pandalovers up to date on their progress.
August 5th, 2009 at 7:40 pm
So happy for Bai Yun and SDZ!
August 5th, 2009 at 8:27 pm
Congratulations SDZ, Bai Yun and Gao Gao. Thank you so much for allowing all of us to share this amazing event. The audio was fantastic, strong and healthy.
August 5th, 2009 at 8:33 pm
Congratulations to Bai Yun and the staff of the San Diego Zoo! What a strong baby! Oh how lucky we are to have Bai Yun!
August 5th, 2009 at 8:50 pm
As I was watching Bai Yun resting tonight with her cubbie gently cradled in her paw, In my mind I could hear Louis Armstrong’s version of “What A Wonderful World”. I cannot think of a more appropriate song to close out this wonderful day.
I see trees of green, red roses too.
I see them bloom, for me and you.
And I think to myself… what a wonderful world.
I see skies of blue, and clouds of white.
The bright blessed day, the dark sacred night
And I think to myself… what a wonderful world…
The colors of the rainbow so pretty in the sky
Also the faces of people going by,
I see friends shaking hands, say how do you do?
They’re really saying, I love you.
I hear babies crying, I watch them grow.
They’ll learn much more then I’ll ever know,
And i think to myself… what a wonderful world
Yes I think to myself… what a wonderful world
Welcome to this wonderful world little one.
August 5th, 2009 at 9:12 pm
Yahoo!!! Another adorable cub!!!!! Congratulations Panda Keepers and also what a great Mom Bai Yun is!Looking forward to watching this little adorable baby grow up.
August 5th, 2009 at 9:28 pm
The staff at the SDZ is fantastic. So glad another healthy panda cub has arrived. Thank you for the video, it made my day.
August 5th, 2009 at 9:38 pm
9:38 PM Look how peaceful Madam Bai is.
August 5th, 2009 at 9:40 pm
You know that little cub has to be even happier all snuggled in.
August 5th, 2009 at 9:43 pm
9:43 Bai is awake and tending to her little one. Great shot camera crew.
August 5th, 2009 at 9:56 pm
Congratulations Bai Yun!
I haven’t been blogging due to the death of my sister but on this special occasion, I had to send my best wishes and love to Bai and her sweet cub.
Moderator’s note: Welcome back, Rose N. We hope this new little bundle helps to ease your heartache.
August 5th, 2009 at 10:04 pm
Between attempting to keep my vigil watching Momma B, trying to get a few last chores done before bedtime (got home kinda late frm watching Momma and baby at work!) will have to go back later and finish all the wonderful comments from everyone… but I am just wondering if this has been touched on yet….is having another baby still a possibility for Momma or is that not going to happen now? She was looking down,a bit ago, giving her tail area a lot of attention, I got nervous there for a moment….
So, is there a possibility for baby #2?
Also, thank you for your answer, I can adopt Zhennie….may I send her some cute little dresses and dollies? And, of course, some $$ towards her dowery!
August 5th, 2009 at 10:06 pm
Congratulations to Bai Yun, Gao Gao and the panda family. And a special thank you and congratulations to the San Diego Zoo. I’m curious, I know there was a 24 hour watch before the cub was born…but does it continue for awhile after the cub is born? How long or how often is Bai Yun monitored to make sure mama and the cub have no complications?
August 5th, 2009 at 10:10 pm
p.s. Momma Bai is the most attentive, sweet, loving momma I’ve ever seen. It’s amazing, maybe surpassing her human sisters….I am in complete awe.
August 5th, 2009 at 10:50 pm
Congratulations to Bai Yun, great job! Welcome to the world, little cubbie!
August 5th, 2009 at 10:54 pm
Great to see new birth. Congratulations to SDZ and staff, Bai Yun and Gao Gao family.
Conversation with Gao Gao #63
Tourist: Hello, Gao Gao.
Gao Gao: Zzzzz… Oh, uh, hello, Mr. Tourist.
T: So did you hear Madame Bai Yun delivered this morning?
G: Huh?
T: Yeah, it’s your baby, your fourth.
G: My baby?
T: Yes. Your progeny.
G: But what would I do with progeny?
T: Uh, well, uh… I guess, not much.
G: See! I gotcha there!
T: Hmmm…
G: Yet I will celebrate new birth. (then sings)
Twas month before Harvest Moon,
Midst mountains and mist.
The lone panda dam
Seeks cave hollow’s rest.
She packs bamboo shreds.
She fluffs up her bed.
She gazes above,
Bright stars out ahead.
She rolls on her side.
She stretches her toes.
She hunches full frontward.
Her passage she cleanses.
She bides her time…
She sleeps and she rests.
She wakes then again.
She packs up more shreds.
She bed fluffs again.
She gazes above,
Bright stars up again.
She shifts her positions.
She stretches her toes.
She hunches o’er forward.
She cleanses again.
She bides her time…
By then fated hour,
She grunts and she groans,
She rolls and she pulls,
She scratches, she paws…
Then out comes small cubbie.
It squeaks and it squawks.
Oh, I am cold,
To home I am wanting,
To Mama’s tummy,
With warm fluids, soft wadding.
Oh, I am hungry,
To home I am yearning,
To connect to the cord
With sustenance lifegiving.
Then Mama’s cupped paws
Wee cubbie lifting,
Then Mama’s warm breath
From cold air shielding,
Then Mama’s moist tongue
For cubbie bathing
Then Mama’s swoll’n breast
Upon cubbie suckling,
Then Mama’s soft bosom
Full cubbie caressing.
So rests small cubbie,
It sleeps and it muses.
Oh, I love Mama.
Her time is come.
Oh, a new home.
Now I can hum.
T: Wow. Nice song.
G: I remember Mama very well.
August 5th, 2009 at 11:56 pm
I turned on my computer this morning (07.50 UK time, 23.50 SDZ time) to find a very contented sleeping Bai Yun. I think the whole street must have heard my “Oh you lovely sweetiepie”!!! Then I saw the photo of Bai and her tiny cub. I’m gone. That’s made my day! Now I’m going to watch the video, which will probably reduce me to tears.
August 6th, 2009 at 2:25 am
Congratulations to great mother Bai yun and great father Gao Gao!
Thank you all!
August 6th, 2009 at 4:39 am
P.Wong: What a beautiful poem and wonderful way to honor our newest cub and all the panda moms! If you don’t write for a living..you definitely should!
August 6th, 2009 at 5:00 am
It was great this morning to be able to wake up and see momma with the little Peanut!
August 6th, 2009 at 5:00 am
I had a feeling something had happened yesterday morning. And I had to go with my sister (she was in town) to the nursing home to celebrate my dad’s birthday a few days early. The nursing home is temporary for rehab.
Congrats to all at SDZ especially Bai Yun and Gao Gao. Wow, five babies over the years for Bai Yun, that is amazing to me.
A special thanks to the SDZ staff for recording not just the girls birthday parties but the birth for those of us who were not able to stay glued to the cams. You guys are just so extra special.
August 6th, 2009 at 5:21 am
WOW…………Excellent.
Well done to everyone involved, especially Bai Yun and Gao Gao. Lots and lots of transatlantic love.
August 6th, 2009 at 5:28 am
GREAT NEWS!!! I am glad all went well, congratulations to everyone at SDZ!
It’s so sweet to see Bai Yun taking care of the new cub. She is such a loving and great momma bear.
August 6th, 2009 at 5:42 am
P.Wong, boy that one got me.
August 6th, 2009 at 5:48 am
Rose N (#209), sorry for your loss. You have our thoughts and prayers.
P. Wong, Thanks for Gao’s lovely song and tribute to Madame Bai and her/their new cub. She really is an amazing mama bear, isn’t she?
I’ve already marked my calendar for the 100 day naming ceremony. It’s hard to get work done now because I want to watch the PandaCam even more.
Moderator’s note: We know the feeling!
August 6th, 2009 at 6:08 am
As a follow up to #191’s comment on AZ having the cam on during Xi Lan’s birth and the near tragedy that followed: Xi Lan was born on Saturday, August 30 @ 10:10 p.m., but it was not until almost 2 days later on Monday, September 1 @ 6:30 p.m. that the decision was made to intervene and put Xi Lan in the incubator. The near tragedy (that was so very frightening) was not during the birthing window. AZ is a wonderful zoo and I was honored to be able to witness Xi Lan’s birth.
August 6th, 2009 at 6:17 am
I was so excited when I read we have a “new” baby panda. With the world in so much turmoil, this is such a wonderful occasion. Congratulations to mom and dad!
August 6th, 2009 at 6:48 am
Once again Bai Yun has proven what a wonderful mother she is. Congratulations to all at the SD Zoo. I will look forward to watching the panda cam and following this new baby’s progress.
August 6th, 2009 at 7:16 am
P Wong, #214, beautiful song for a beautiful mother and a wonderous birth. Bai is the best, no doubt about it. She knows exactly what to do when, and her body has the timing down to a science. It helps all her keepers and staff know exactly what to do when as well. The new bamboo cooler came just in time to fatten Momma up so she has plenty of rich milk for her cub.
Question for Suzanne and keepers – does a dam’s body produce any more milk when they are pregnant with two cubs instead of one? I realize that in the wild they normally reject the weaker cub, and I have read that one of the reasons may be that there is only enough milk for one. Reading in the poem about mother’s swollen breasts, made me wonder if Bai Yun’s breasts and nipples were any larger than previous births because she was pregnant with twins until close to the actual birth.
August 6th, 2009 at 7:24 am
Wonderful News!! To #171 Emma, After watching the birth video many times, my daughter came up with
the nickname, Squeaky.
August 6th, 2009 at 7:32 am
What happened to the other twin ?
HOW MANY MORE CUBS WILL BAI YUN BE EXPECTED TO PRODUCE ? YOU’VE HEARD OF PUPPY MILLS – IS THIS GOING TO BE A PANDA MILL ?
AND WHAT ABOUT USING THE SAME GENE POOL ALL THE TIME ? NOT A GOOD IDEA.
I love watching the cubs as much as anyone, but I’m starting to wonder how many more times ?
August 6th, 2009 at 7:34 am
Ever sense I heard Bai Yun was pregnant I had been saying to myself she’s gonna give birth on August fifth. Congratulation
August 6th, 2009 at 7:41 am
P Wong # 214: Beautiful! You have created the best conversation ever!!!!
To All who saw ‘parts of the cub’ around 6:00 Pacific time on the 5th: I missed this because I was fixing dinner! Talk about not having my priorities straight! I loved the comments!
To Bruce in KC # 203: The Louis Armstrong song is perfect
To All: Have a great time watching the panda-cam this weekend
August 6th, 2009 at 7:55 am
I am so excited about the new cubbie but now I am worried because the panda cam is not working. I hope that everything is all right. I did clear my cache to make sure it was not my problem and now I am worried. Is anyone else having problems with the panda cam?
Moderator’s note: High traffic (for some reason!). Please try again later.
August 6th, 2009 at 7:57 am
Donna #229: I would hardly call Bai Yun a ‘Panda Mill’ nor any of the other pandas. Pandas are an endangered species that are threatened with extinction so every birth counts as a blessing and is needed. Second of all the ‘pandas’ are not being bred for money and pets like puppies that are sold to humans. As for the gene pool – Gao Gao is a panda from the wild, his genes are unique and very valuable to the preservation and future of the pandas. He is one of the few pandas that is able to breed naturally and his genes are new to the ‘panda pool’ so to speak.
I would suggest you read up on pandas and animal extinction in general. YOu will be surprised at how few pandas are left and how fast they can go extinct. 1,600 pandas (the estimate) is not enough to sustain a population and we don’t even know how many were lost during last years earthquake. Another serious natural disaster could wipe them out entirely. As I do voluteer work with Peregrine Falcons – who themselves were endangered- I understand how serious the issue is. And even though the PF has been downgraded to ‘threatened’ status now, we have new challenges cropping up like fire retardent chemicals which are once again threatening all the progress that has been made in the past 10-15 years. It’s a never ending battle and one that SDZ is helping to fight in it’s own way.
August 6th, 2009 at 7:57 am
Just went on the cam and Bai Yun Stretched and I got to see the little chubby one.
August 6th, 2009 at 7:58 am
Um, Donna from California, Bai Yun would be breeding every two years if she lived in the wild. The zoos in this country are committed to keeping pandas from becoming extinct, but are also committed to their welfare. To refer to what San Diego has been doing to help giant pandas as “panda mills” is ignorant and woefully misinformed.
August 6th, 2009 at 8:12 am
Congratulations to SD Zoo and staff!!! I love watching the pandas. Sweet Bai Yun…
August 6th, 2009 at 8:14 am
To #229 Donna – the staff may be too busy to address your concerns but those of us who have read updates since Hua Mei’s birth probably can.
The other twin was not viable and was just reabsorbed like her previous ones.
This may very well be Bai’s last cub. Bai is allowed to raise her cubs until they are 18 months old just like in the wild so she is NOT pushed to just have cubs. 5 cubs is not a large amount. The last 4 are Gao’s and his genes are VERY important to pass on to the gene pool since they are his ONLY offspring. Her 1st cub Hua Mei even more so since she was Shi Shi’s only offpsring. The Chinese know the lineage of their pandas and as well of those they have sent to zoos around the world for the breeding program. They are not going to risk the future of the pandas by breeding closely related animals.
These animals are priceless and are VERY well taken care of in our US zoos, other zoos around the world and in the Chinese breeding facilities.
August 6th, 2009 at 8:25 am
Jane (#224): What was the near tragedy with Xi Lan??
August 6th, 2009 at 8:29 am
P Wong, GREAT conversation/song. Thank you.
I’m glad I wasn’t the only one having problems with the cam this morning. I was totally freaked out.
August 6th, 2009 at 8:38 am
P. Wong….you are amazing. Your latest conversation and song were immensely touching.
#229 Donna….yikes! I’m not sure why you would have such a negative impression of all of this. Please be assured that all of the pandas in “captivity” are given only the very best care in order to help preserve this precious breed. Every panda birth is nothing short of a miracle.
I, for one, hope and pray that all of our female pandas here in the U.S. can have more babies (unless Bai Yun has reached the end of her cubbie-bearing years – if that has happened, then….thank you forever, Bai, for being such a magnificent mama). I think #233 Kathy and #237 Candy provide valuable information.
August 6th, 2009 at 8:43 am
Beautiful, P Wong!
rosemarie getty #228–I agree with your daughter–I’ve been calling the cub Squeaky too.
Has the cub continued to be vocal now that Bai Yun is attending to it? I remember that everyone thought ZZ a very quiet cub until she needed something or wanted to express her displeasure, at which point she became VERY vocal.
August 6th, 2009 at 8:49 am
Welcome baby panda! you certainly sound healthy! Congratulations to the proud parents. Bai is such a wonderful mother, I especially loved seeing her rocking her new cub as soon as she picked it up! SDZ is truly an amazing place, you keepers are incredible. These pandas are so happy and contented that they feel comfortable sharing all the big life moments with you. Live cam appears to be down right now. Can’t wait to see live footage.
August 6th, 2009 at 8:49 am
To marna232 yes i cant get the cam up either, i put it down to a lot of people out there viewing, please dont let it be my computer, not now i need to be baby waching a lot.
August 6th, 2009 at 9:03 am
Congratulations to Bai Yun, Gao Gao and all involved at the San Diego Zoo on a job well done! What a cute and robust little baby you have.
Thank you for the great blog, pictures videos and everything else you do for the pandas.
I was wondering if you had any Chinese colleagues present before/during the birth?
Greetings from Switzerland.
Moderator’s note: No, just our Panda Team members.
August 6th, 2009 at 9:05 am
WAHOO!! A new baby to watch grow up!! Xi Lan in Atlanta is almost a year old so it is nice to have a new infant!! Mama Bai you are wonderful!! SDZ staff – you are STUPENDOUS!!
P. Wong – thank you for conversaiton #63 and accomanying poem!! You are Awesome!!!
p.s. – anybody know if there was a baby yet in Memphis? Or was it a pseudo-pregnancy?? I haven’t been on their site in a while.
August 6th, 2009 at 9:06 am
Congratulations to Bai Yun & Gao Gao. I’m so excited for the new Panda cub and looking foward of watching it grow up. I enjoy watching the Panda cam everyday. Also congratulations to the SD Zoo & staff on the new addition to the zoo family. You guys do a great job!
August 6th, 2009 at 9:20 am
YES! YES!YES! Is there anything else I can say? YES!
August 6th, 2009 at 9:24 am
It has been said by everyone already, and so passionately and well, but congratulations to all on the arrival of a new panda cub! It’s wonderful news and it’s all down to the knowledge, skill and dedication of all the research and zoo staff at the zoo. And of course the wonderful Gao Gao and Bai Yun played the most important part! I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve sneaked a look at panda cam at work today – Bai looks so relaxed and comfortable – what an amazing panda mother she is. Looking forward to reading all the updates, albeit sneakily behind the boss’ back!!
August 6th, 2009 at 9:36 am
#238 – Janae — Xi Lan’s actual birth was natural and everything was fine. Almost 2 days later on the evening of September 1, Lun Lun put him down (right by the grates where the keepers were) and walked to the other side of the den, which is an extreme sign that something is wrong. Panda Mothers do not do this at that young of an age for the cub, as he/she needs constant heat from Mom. They incubated Xi Lan ASAP and believed that Lun Lun had a reduction in her milk production due to possible bacteria. Xi Lan was reintroduced to Lun Lun after 19 hours of separation, with great success. For the next several days, Xi Lan was removed from the den for examinations – and now he is almost 1 year’s old!
August 6th, 2009 at 9:40 am
Wow, P. Wong! (#214) You last conversation with Gao turned on the waterworks for me and I am not easily teary. Thank you for your touching contribution to this wonderful event. I had to laugh at your comment Moderator (#223) about not getting much work done due to watching panda cam. Is that what your job is? I would glady trade you places! I am truly offended Donna (#229) that you would even attempt to compare this miracle to a puppy mill. Those puppies are bred for no reason other than profit for the breeder, most often kept in deplorable conditions. There are already too many homeless pets! You obviously don’t know how few pandas remain in the world and how SDZ and other zoos are contributing to their preservation and conservation – not their exploitation! And certainly not for profit! Also, The zoos in the US take a different approach to the panda breeding centers in China. The mothers are allowed to raise their cubs until they are about 1 1/2 years old, much as they would in the wild whereas the Chinese programs wean the cubs at about 6 months so that the mother can be bred again the following year. I am going to agree with Maria (#235). You need to educate yourself on the subject.
Moderator’s note: We moderators do not control Panda Cam and have to catch glimpses while we do our other work
August 6th, 2009 at 9:41 am
Aww! Thanks for the video! That baby is going to be a STAR! ( #5 is really LOUD!) My family and I are calling the baby #5 until it gets named. P.Wong, great job on the poem!
August 6th, 2009 at 11:08 am
Janae # 238
On September 1th, 2 days after birth, the cub in Atlanta, Xi Lan was put in an incubator. I think Lun Lun knew something was wrong with her cub and put it down on the floor and step back. The keepers stepped in and removed the cub. The keepers kept the cub in the incubator and administer a broad spectrum anti-biotic to the cub and Lun Lun. The cub was fed with Lun Lun’s milk and formula. After 19 hours separation the cub was successfully reintroduced to Lun Lun. I don’t think it was ever established what the cub’s problem was, but the anti-biotic and close monitoring by the keepers proved to have saved Xi Lan. If you go to the Zoo Atlanta Pandacam site, you go to the bottom of that page and open the “October – August 08” site and you can read the entire story of the fight to treat Xi Lan. As you can see know, the little guy made a full recovery.
August 6th, 2009 at 12:12 pm
Thank you to those who addressed Donna’s concern about the twin. Hopefully, the information made her feel better about the loss.
August 6th, 2009 at 12:25 pm
P. Wong — Darn it — that was so beautiful — but where’s my Kleenex!!
August 7th, 2009 at 2:33 pm
Congratulations Bai Yun and Gao Gao on your beautiful baby cub and Hua Mei, Mei Sheng, Su Lin, and Zhen Zhen on their little sibling. I can’t believe that Zhen Zhen is already a big sister as I remember when she was just a baby herself. Looking forward to following the journey of these precious bears and to see them in person soon!
August 7th, 2009 at 2:38 pm
I am so Happy, Bai Yun we love you so much! I will be watching as much as I can, did miss the day it happened, but it is ok, was a little before I get up in the morning. Wow, just wish the would be sound in the den and at all the web cams at San Diego. Keepers and Vets and Mods have such aloving time with your new baby panda! When will daddy Gao know he is a father, LOL.
August 7th, 2009 at 4:25 pm
What wonderful and joyous news I woke up to this morning. Good job and congrats all around to MaMa, P)aPa and staff and of course, new baby.
August 7th, 2009 at 4:54 pm
P. Wong – you have outdone yourself. Wonderful post.
August 7th, 2009 at 6:40 pm
OK, so I check the elephant blog posts now and then, and yesterday the link I bookmarked, http://blogs.sandiegozoo.org/blog/category/default/elephants/ , wasn’t working. After looking around the site a bit I found out just *why*. Best reason for a site crash ever!
Congrats to the whole family! 
August 7th, 2009 at 8:14 pm
Thanks Jane #249 and Danielle #252 on the Xi Lan news. That’s amazing that Lun Lun was smart enough to “tell” the keepers to take care of Xi Lan! These pandas sure are smart!
August 7th, 2009 at 11:01 pm
Forget the crash of ‘39! We now have the Crash of ‘09! I haven’t been able to access this blog since the night of the 5th. Web site says heavy traffic, but there was also a hacker that caused a lot of computer problems, but don’t know if they are connected. Anyway, I’m accessing now through a regular email from SDZ. I don’t even know if this will post.
P Wong…what would we do without your beautifully written sentiments? They bring tears now and then, but this one brought “boo-hoo! tears”. And Bruce in KC #203, thank you for reviving that beautiful song for this occasion. That made me sniffle also.
What is it about a panda birth that makes our hearts get so soft? Never mind! I know the answer.
BTW, Donna #229: I hope you realize now that you tread on thin ice when you attempt a slam like that on this blog. And we all hope you now understand the urgency of promoting the survival of the Giant Panda species.
August 7th, 2009 at 11:13 pm
YAY! I finally accessed it. Also, I was able to get short views of the cub today, as I was glued for hours. Lovely little bundle of joy. Man, the comments really grew in 2 days.
August 8th, 2009 at 1:52 am
AAAAgh! I couldn’t find the blog….I felt lost somehow….watching momma and baby now…how she lovingly cleans, kisses baby, so softly. She’s such an awesome mommie, but everyone here knows that, for sure…yes Bruce # 203, that’s what it’s all about, that beautiful song. Sums up what this planet, every animal-human and furry and feathery and scaling-are all about. we are so lucky to be alive and experience what we are experiencing now, what mommy B and baby are reminding us of right here, right now. I hope what the wonderful people at the SDZ, and all other zoos around the world can continue forever, the magnificent work they do with such love and devotion, into infinity. Making this a better planet for humankind, for animal kind. Watching this site, constantly reminds me how lucky we are to share this planet with these awesome creatures…rambling…babies make me do that..(love you ZZ).
August 8th, 2009 at 2:01 am
Bless you for that poem, P.Wong. A tear in my eye, I can go back to bed now……
August 8th, 2009 at 5:06 am
Congratulations, Bay Yun and the team of the Zoo, I visited the Zoo 3 weeks ago (I come from Brazil), and I loved the Pandas place.
August 8th, 2009 at 8:57 am
Oh Congratulations to all…isn’t it wonderful…hope to visit soon
August 8th, 2009 at 9:07 am
Kathy #233 You people watch a CAM and think you are experts , wouldn’t be so sure of not breeding for money, do you have any idea how much money the Zoo forks over to CHINA for producing the cubs! If not then why doesn’t CHINA reduce how much money the ZOO pays to CHINA for displaying the PANDAS since we are helping out with CONSERVATION by producing more cubs. I am in no way saying that BAI YUN is a PANDA mill we travel to San Diego twice a year just to visit the ZOO and THE WILD ANIMAL PARK from the east coast and maybe you should know all the facts first before you judge anything.
Moderator’s Note: In 2009, a new loan agreement between the San Diego Zoo and the Peoples Republic of China was reached allowing the Zoo to continue to study giant pandas for another five years. Since giant pandas arrived in San Diego in 1996 the Zoo and its Chinese partners have together learned a great deal about giant panda biology and reproduction and have been able to make changes to enrich the life of giant pandas, including increasing the survival rate of hand raised giant pandas. The agreement provides the Zoos $500,000 yearly contribution directly to efforts to rebuild the Giant Panda Center for Research and Conservation at Wolong Nature Reserve after the devastating 2008 earthquake.
August 8th, 2009 at 11:13 am
The only way I can get to the Panda blog now is to go to the archives and bring them up. The main column with the regular blogs is blank with a message that says Error 404 this blog is the only one that does this all the other ones are fine is anyone else having the same problems? The right column to that page is still there just not the keepers blogs and all the panda bloggers.
Moderator’s Note: The problem has been fixed. Enjoy!
August 8th, 2009 at 3:33 pm
CONGRATULATIONS to Bai Yun and Gao Gao, and of course to all the Panda team at SDZ. I do have one complaint, I would love to see what Zhen Zhen and Su Lin are doing.
August 8th, 2009 at 5:29 pm
“Thats amazing that Lun Lun was smart enough to ‘tell’ the keepers to take care of Xi Lan! These pandas sure are smart!”
Yeah! It reminds me of how in 1996 a human toddler fell into the gorilla exhibit at Brookfield Zoo outside Chicago and Binti Jua took him to the keeper entrance to “tell” them the same thing: take care of this little one who is in more trouble than I can fix. Now I know that not only primates can figure this out!
August 8th, 2009 at 8:25 pm
Just checking in..Momma…and baby…lookin’ good…real good…wow, baby popped up above mom’s arm a bit, is it my imagination, or is she/he getting around a little more in just 4 days?! oxo
August 9th, 2009 at 6:05 am
Welcome to new born panda cub.
Congrats to SDZ team.
August 9th, 2009 at 6:27 am
Congratulations on another special panda “born in the USA!” Kudos to everyone that contributed to this great day. Wishes to the new baby for a long, healthy and happy bamboo filled life.
August 9th, 2009 at 7:37 am
I’m so glad i get to see another baby panda grow up, they are so cute, and fun to watch. I wish the mom well. I did want to ask when does she get to come out and eat and drink?
August 9th, 2009 at 8:25 am
I am absolutely delighted that Bai Yun has produced another healthy cub. I watched Hua Mei grow up via the panda cam, 10 years ago and was fortunate to be able to travel over to San Diego and see her for real. Ever since then I have watched everything that has happened at the best zoo in the world. Congratulations to you all, you must be so proud of her, she is a wonderful Mum. Hours will now be spent watching this little one grow up!
Sue Baker. UK.
August 9th, 2009 at 8:33 am
Cubmuffin is absolutely beautiful.
August 9th, 2009 at 9:18 am
Congratulations to Bai Yun on the birth of her baby. Also, belated birthday wishes to Su Lin and Zhen Zhen.
August 10th, 2009 at 9:04 am
Well, the “den watch” is once again on all our screens. Bai Yun is such a awesome mother. The Republic of China is getting its money’s worth out of the Panda loan, for sure. Your staff is simply amazing!!
Back to checking my monitor every time I pass it during the day. Please capture any peeks you get of little PeeWee and let us have a look?
August 10th, 2009 at 9:35 am
I picked up my airline tickets on Saturday and I will be in California for 8 days the 10th to 18th and I am waiting for the 100th day naming. If it’s on Nov 14th which is my ? birthday that would be even better. I got a peek at Bai moving and there was a tiny little arm sticking out.
I would like to comment on the panda mill statement. A mill is a place were no thought is given to the animal what so ever and it’s only for profit. Panda breeding is closely controled and is done only for the survival of the species. there is NO inbreeding, the records and family relations are maintained with the strickest of standards and every birth is a joy to behold knowing that we are moving to ensure the future of this planet. The Keepers, Vets and all the people involved in the reproduction area have worked very hard to make Sure that Bai Yun is a healthy bear and only Bai will know when her time is over. Sorry for being so long
August 10th, 2009 at 1:45 pm
“The Republic of China is getting its moneys worth out of the Panda loan, for sure.”
Time to nitpick! The Republic of China is another name for Taiwan. The People’s Republic of China is the nation-state lending out its native pandas to other countries, including Taiwan in 2008 (and lending Tuan Tuan and Yuan Yuan to Taiwan made some international headlines for being so symbolic to many people arguing over whether Taiwan is and should be an independent nation).
August 10th, 2009 at 5:45 pm
Bai Yun, congrats ! can’t wait to meet the little one. I will see you in a few months !
August 10th, 2009 at 10:54 pm
The little one could not wish to have been born to a better mother!!
Congratulations Bai Yun!!
August 11th, 2009 at 4:06 am
CONGRATULATIONS Bai Yun, my lovely wonderful super panna!!
I’m just beaming with pride for you…sweet Gao Gao…and of course the little one!! Three cheers for the panda family and the hooman panda team!
January 10th, 2010 at 6:34 pm
I would like the recording of Yun Zi’s birth cries as a ringtone. Can that be arranged?
Moderator’s note: Your request has been forwarded to the appropriate department.
January 11th, 2010 at 1:15 pm
hopefully you wont get clawed and get a long lasting reminder you know what i mean?