Like Father, Like Daughter
Posted at 4:43 pm November 11, 2009 by Anastasia HorningIn my blog post about my time as a keeper (see Pandas: From Both Sides), I had mentioned that Zhen Zhen exhibited some behaviors that were very similar to her father, Gao Gao, and she’s still surprising me. Typical behaviors that I’ve seen are mainly shown right around when she’s about to be fed: when the keepers call her to come inside, she won’t come right in; most of the time she’ll do another lap around her enclosure and then make her way into her bedroom. And then there are her eating habits: she’ll move bamboo far away from where it is put down, and once she’s comfortable she won’t move for anyone.
Zhen Zhen herself has a certain calmness about her that I think resembles her father more than any other cub. Very rarely does she get surprised by sounds from the crowd, and she is more than content with a piece of bamboo to keep her occupied. I think the only real time that I see her run around or even vocalize is when she is getting ready to be fed, just like her father. Gao Gao has always been a rather quiet bear, and I think that Gao Gao finally has a cub who might take after him.
Male giant pandas have no knowledge of their offspring, nor knowledge if breeding was even successful, and Zhen Zhen wouldn’t have picked up these behaviors from her mother since Bai Yun doesn’t do any of them. Zhen Zhen does show some behaviors similar to her mother as well, but that’s understandable, since she spent the first 18 months of her life with Mom.
When Zhen Zhen comes out for her evening feed, for some reason (and there isn’t a good explanation for it) she will promptly sit with her back toward the crowd and ignore them while she eats. This has been happening since the beginning of summer, and at first I thought it could be a way for her to have some privacy, or de-stress from a long day, but I noticed even on days where it’s been really quite here she will turn her back. I remembered that Bai Yun does the same thing when she goes on exhibit, and I have a feeling that our little Zhen Zhen may have picked up the same behavior.
Another behavior that panda observers, narrators, and guests love to watch for is the girls tapping their paw. Both Zhen Zhen and Su Lin tap one of their back paws as they fall asleep, and they are usually draped over a tree branch when they are doing it. When they first go up the tree, you can see it tap very often, and as they start to drift into sleep the tapping gets less and less frequent. I have always looked for this particular behavior in the kids because I know exactly where they get it from: their mother, Bai Yun. She taps her paws as she goes to sleep no matter where she happens to be. I’ve seen it when she’s on a flat service or when she’s hanging her foot down somewhere. Several of our observers think it’s funny to watch the kids perform this behavior, and when we watch them we all wait for the foot tapping.
Keep watching the Panda Cam for activity of our little boy, and I hope to see you at the panda exhibit real soon!
Anastasia Horning is a panda narrator at the San Diego Zoo.
You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
November 11th, 2009 at 4:57 pm
Thanks Anastasia for the insight. They sure are fun to watch. I too have noticed Bai tapping her foot, she does it also sometimes when she is nursing our little chubbie! They are all such beautiful bears unique in their own way. I hope to make it out there someday, would love to come while the baby is still small. As always, I love reading all of your insights on their behavior and learning about why they do what they do! Thanks SDZ, I wish we could keep them all here forever!
November 11th, 2009 at 4:59 pm
That is so interesting about the tapping of the paws because I have noticed, while watching the den cam, Bai taps cubby while he is nursing, like a mother patting the back of her child ever so lightly. I wonder if it is a sign of contentment and relaxing? Hmmmm!
November 11th, 2009 at 5:03 pm
Fascinating! I too had noticed the one-rear-foot-tapping of Bai Yun on the cam – it seemed to come in the beginning of quiet moments with the cub. So maybe it happens when she is tired, and anticipating some slow time…
November 11th, 2009 at 5:15 pm
Wow, isn’t gene amazing? there should be a major called ” genetic zoology”.
By the way, I read a news yesterday that the fifth brown giant panda in the world was found in Shanxi Province, China.
November 11th, 2009 at 5:19 pm
What an interesting, lovely blog! I love how we are able to study the similarities and differences in their behaviors, inherited or not. There is no way for humans to document any of the observations in the wild, but we are fortunate to house 5 pandas now to do this.
Thanks for another lovely read!
November 11th, 2009 at 5:24 pm
Anastasia : Great to hear about ZZ and her common traitswith Mom & Dad….One question though,is she still being ZZ Top with her humming or was that a limited edition concert? My wife gets cheered up in her Hospital Bed where she has been for 11 months hearing about the antics of the Panda Clan and the amazing Staff at SDZ……The first thing she asks me every day is how are the babies as we still consider Lin Lin and ZZ as Panda Babies and now our soon to be named wonder boy…..It is great to be able to get her mind off of her Degenerative Bone Joint Disease and its complications and watch her cheer up when SDZ and Pandas which have become her favorite diversion from her paonful condition…..We hope that she is released soon and that we have to see her SoCal Doctors and more importantly the little boy will be on exhibit as well as say a goodbye to Lin Lin before she moves to China…..Again we only wish that somehow Lin Lin could be mated with Tai Shan from the NZ and possibly both stay here as a mated couple……Oh well we can at least dream and hope our 2 youngsters can stay somehow….Again many thanks to all involved with helping us Pandaholics get our daily fix as well as the Meercats wonderful video coverage…..
November 11th, 2009 at 5:27 pm
YES I have seen the foot tapping also with Bai Yun, mostly the right foot and while the is nursing. OK this is weird but I move my feet alot when I start dozing, and let me compair it to something else, my cat “Kneads” when feeling comfortable. SO maybe its a comforting thing, what does everyone think? Pandas are not known to “stay” together like some in the bird family where the dad helps out, or well, you do keep all the bears separate, but I guess in the wild it is so also. In other words there is no family group.
November 11th, 2009 at 5:27 pm
Wow, the information is so interesting
November 11th, 2009 at 5:27 pm
I, too, believe that Zhen Zhen is her father’s daughter. He and she is so calm and not the Diva her sisters have been. The tapping is a relaxng technique from China – believe it or not. I learned “tapping” to relieve stress. This is an ancient technique that originated in China. How did the Pandas learn it though?
November 11th, 2009 at 5:29 pm
once i saw Mr Gao Gao pull in/out his tongue while he was sleeping. i think he was dreaming the moment.
November 11th, 2009 at 5:31 pm
oh, how sweet! i tap my foot when i’m falling asleep, too…as does one of my nephews…it is a very cute behavior even in human children!
November 11th, 2009 at 5:35 pm
It’s so interesting to hear this. I can imagine the picture of Gao and Zhen: they keep on eating boo whatever happen in the crowd. It’s amazing for Gao to be so calm after go through previous experiences, I think he knows beatter than other bears how to enjoy every moment of his life in peace and quite.
November 11th, 2009 at 5:42 pm
Talking about tongues’……I think I have seen the cub with his tongue sticking out as he sleeps. I have two small dogs that do that same thing while sleeping. It is so hard to see many details with the cam quality. I also notice that the cub moves his feet while sleeping…..my one dog does that a lot.
November 11th, 2009 at 5:43 pm
#6 Dennis, hope your wife will leave hospital and have a happy trip to the zoo soon. With my best wishes.
November 11th, 2009 at 5:50 pm
Bai Yun’s little brother at the National Zoo, Tian Tian, is a foot tapper as is Bai’s nephew, Tai Shan. Tian likes to tap his foot on the walls of his outdoor grotto when he sprawls out to take a nap on his back or on the rock “mountain” in the indoor show area. Tai does the exact same thing. Inherited traits are a powerful thing!
November 11th, 2009 at 5:54 pm
Today is not the 12th… it’s the 11th!! You are a day ahead! I’ve seen Bai Yun swerve her foot in a circle when she’s almost asleep. It’s hilarious!
Moderator’s note: ???
November 11th, 2009 at 6:03 pm
Just in case if anyone wanna know, here is the information about the brown panda cub:
Age: 1 month to 2 months old
Weight: 2 kilos
Condition: eyes unopened
Mother’s color: black and white(They later found his/her mother near the location.)
The first brown panda was discovered in 1985. She was really sick then and was rescued after being found. She gave birth to 3 pandas, one died immediately after birth, one died two days after birth. The only survivor didn’t leave any offspring. Such a pity that her gene didn’t pass down….
November 11th, 2009 at 6:10 pm
Oh keep the information coming! Love to read about all the behaviours, the gifts that panda parents pass on to their off-spring, and what we might expect to see in little Chubbs as he grows up. It’s all fascinating, and I am so thankful that you all take the time to share these findings with us. After all, you are a research institution, and the info could be kept to yourself. Instead, you are so willing to share with all of us pandaholics, who wait anxiously for more! Thanks, thanks thanks!
November 11th, 2009 at 6:36 pm
Fascinating blog
The studies you all do are amazing & so much fun for all of us to comment on 
November 11th, 2009 at 6:36 pm
I have noticed Bai Yun tapping her foot. ALso little baby panda taps her feet too. I thought maybe she is getting exercise to strengthen legs to be able to walk. I find the web site enthralling. Today it seemed that Bai Yun had an entire tree in the den with them. Thank you for all the useful information.
November 11th, 2009 at 6:44 pm
Kathy #9 — maybe the Chinese learned it from the pandas!
Thanks for the information. I want your job!!! : ) Heck, I’ve had 3 full days of panda keeping experience. I think that is qualification enough, she says laughing.
ZZ does seem so calm and confident. She’s good at what she does and she knows it. Love her attitude. Su is a bit more pensive (except when her hormones rage). Hua Mei, when I saw her in China, was very much like that. Mei Sheng just loved his trees. No comments yet on No.5. Papa is papa .. ‘nuf said.
November 11th, 2009 at 6:46 pm
Thank you, Anastasia, for this very much appreciated info of Zhennie! I can’t get enough of you talking and sharing about her, she is my baby. She is extra amazing, isn’t she? And I bet I know which foot she taps, is it the right one?
I am always watching while momma Bai feeds baby, she sits very calmly while baby is eating, shifting him from one side to the other so sweetly, just like a human, all the while wiggling her right foot. So patient, I adore watching this. I snap screen shots, but of course you can’t tell she’s wiggling her foot in pictures, but I know. So, the girls had to learn from this, I bet!
Thank you again, A, for sharing, I miss her so much. I live in L.A., and SDZ is not far, but I’m afraid to visit, because I will go down there to see Zhennie and get so frustrated that I can’t hold her and hug her! You know, it gets to be a hankering…..boy, that sounds…..kinda weird, hu?
November 11th, 2009 at 6:58 pm
Wow talk being oberservant! this is a cute story….I’m gonna keep my eyes open to these behavior…everytime I watch pandas..all I feel is calmness and sorrow, happy ..just alot of emotions…but I don’t get so deep as in watching weird behavior haha…thanks Anastasia! wasn’t for you guys we wouldn’t know all the deep analytical details…
November 11th, 2009 at 7:08 pm
Oh he is so funny when he kicks his mom in the nose and she moves him away so kicking to her nose!!
Here is a story about Bai Yun and Chubby Cubbie in the den. Enjoy! 
Bai Yun
Cubbie
B: Oh i got to clean him again. Oh boy! tap, tap, tap
C: Mom, what are you doing? Kick!!! Kick!!
B: Walking in love, walking in love, tap, tap, tap
C: ZZZZZzzz
B: Goodnight baby boy. tap,tap,tap
November 11th, 2009 at 7:35 pm
Thank you Anastasia! It’s very interesting!!
How interesting! I love these bears!!
#6 Dennis and Lynn, best wishes for your family. Hope Lynn feels better each day.
#9 Kathy “This is an ancient technique that originated in China”. Really?? I do feel it’s quite common but is that because I’m Chinese?
November 11th, 2009 at 7:57 pm
#16 is referring to the date above the blog entry that is showing on the panda cam page.
Very interesting what they inherit! I’ll have to look for the tapping. Thanks for sharing with us.
Moderator’s note: Thanks, Lisa. I’ll look into it.
November 11th, 2009 at 8:09 pm
zhen zhen is sooo precious!!! I LOVE HER
November 11th, 2009 at 8:37 pm
Thanks Anastasia – I just love all of the updates. Kindest regards from the city soon to be hosting Wang Wang and Funi from China – only 38 days until I can see them at Adelaide Zoo
November 11th, 2009 at 9:17 pm
Is the teething process familiar to observers? What is Bai’s reaction likely to be? Human babies seem to feel pain at that time. Might Bai give Fatboy bamboo to chew?
November 11th, 2009 at 9:29 pm
24. Britney – your stories are very cute!
November 11th, 2009 at 9:44 pm
On the Panda Cam page your blog has the date of 11/12/09. Your blog is dated 11/11/09. Thanks for the interesting blog. I also have noticed Bai Yun tapping her foot – I’ve always been amused by it. It’s amazing how many behaviors are passed on by genetics. Can’t wait for the naming of our big guy.
Moderator’s note: Thank you. We’ll correct it.
November 11th, 2009 at 11:22 pm
Love these updates, and look forward to them. Thanks for the smiles!
November 11th, 2009 at 11:31 pm
I don’t want to take away from the girls, but the exercise program I have just witnessed this early am between Bai Yun and precious cubbie 5 has me exhausted. This mom intends for her baby to be fit and in shape. It was so awesome just to watch the interaction between mom and cub. It was a twirling good time.
November 12th, 2009 at 12:27 am
Thank you Anastasia, that is very interesting. So, we’ve got a humming bear, a foot tapping bear; would Gao Gao or Su Lin play the spoons by any chance? You could have yourself a Panda Band hitting the charts!
November 12th, 2009 at 1:22 am
I guess they will win tap dance competition then! Ha ha ha …
Dennis & Lynn Carney, just hope SDZ pandas will do the dance while you are visiting them.
Perhaps Lynn disease will be healed miraculously, thus she can join them in tap dancing.
Thanks for sharing, Anastasia.
November 12th, 2009 at 3:37 am
Wonderful post Anastasia. I too for a long while have noticed when Bai is nursing she taps her foot. I got a big kick out of it. I believe when shes doing this she is also saying LaLala LaLaLa! DoxieMom again thanks for the Bai spinning Chubby video. I did miss that event. For many who worry how Bai handles her little guy, watch this video and observe. Notice toward the end little guy tries to walk as Bai watches. She knows all her efforts to excersize him accomplished the end result of making him stronger. Also in this interaction you see him nipping her.Another normal stage. With most animals they have sibblings and this would be anormal exchange between them. Our little guy only has his mom. Because she is such a great mom she incourages all the new stages in his growing life. Yes we are witnessing a great new stage in his life and Bai just takes it all in stride. Proudly as she introduces him to what he is capable of doing. We are sooo lucky to witness this. But the love she shows her little cub is so warming. I know we don’t know this yet, but I think Bai knows this is her last baby and shes giving him all shes got.
November 12th, 2009 at 4:33 am
Anastasia, thanks for sharing such very funny and educational information about the girls and their parents. It is wonderful to learn about the family traits and how they may have been passed from parents to offspring.
It is really interesting about the paw tapping. I wonder if it is akin to counting sheep? Maybe she hears Mei Sheng’s music in her brain, or maybe a cub lullaby and it puts her in a restful mood for sleep??
All the data recording helps to document this type of behavior and allows you to show the similar behavior traits too. Incredible!!!
November 12th, 2009 at 4:33 am
Sure enough! As I write this (7:32am east coast time) Bai is lying down and cubby is nursing. And Bai’s right back foot is tapping!
November 12th, 2009 at 4:57 am
Wow…I love it! I’ve seen Bai Yun tapping her foot many times and it is always when she seems very relaxed like she’s just “hanging out” doing what she has to do…
And, guess what…I’ve seen cubbie sticking his little tongue in and out in his sleep like Daddy Gao. I always thought it meant he was about to wake up and want to nurse???
Please keep sharing….we love it…thank you.
November 12th, 2009 at 5:03 am
Sing to the tune of “Forty-Second Street”
Come and meet those dancing feet,
In the panda den I’m taking you to,
San Diego Zoo.
Hear the beat of dancing feet,
Mamma Bai and Zhen Zhen, too,
San Diego Zoo.
Little pandas love their handlas,
Innocent and sweet;
Su Lin taps while Gao Gao naps,
Cubbie’s gotta eat.
They’re side by side, they’re glorified
Where the giant bears can sup on fresh bamboo,
San Diego Zoo.
November 12th, 2009 at 5:27 am
Anastasia, great article and very interesting. Your love for all the Panda’s show through in your writings. Girlfriend, you’re “hooked” just like we are, aren’t you? I nominate you for “Godmother” to all SDZ Panda’s.
I think we have all noticed the foot tapping of Bai Yun. There hasn’t been a day that has gone by, that I have not seen her do her, tap, tap. Our soon to be named, Chubbie Cubbie, also has the foot tapping thing going on. He does it alot when he is asleep. It looks like he does it alot when he is trying to go back to sleep, also; after a nursing session with mom. I have also caught him, sucking on this own front paw on more occasions than I can count. I have also seen him grooming his paws, so to speak, if they get anywhere near his mouth. Just like a human baby will do. It’s is adorable.
I would like to think that the “foot tapping,” is a form of contentment among the Panda’s that exhibit, Bai’s behavior’s. Bai will also pat, pat her son with her foot, while he’s nursing. Bai and baby had quite the play session yesterday around noon, SD time. She was biting him and he was biting her in return. It was precious. She is not only showing Cubbie how much she loves him, but also teaching him how to play; I would like to believe.
My favorite moments are when Bai Yun enters the den and seems to just stare at her baby. In the human world, we would like to think that Bai is admiring her little one and is fascinated by him. She may then wake him up, for a rear end cleaning and a little face bath. Then she has a loving nursing session with the cubbie, switching him back and forth between teats. Bai was flat on her back yesterday with cubbie on top on her belly, just resting together. All of these are such endearing moments. Just like her foot tapping. How could you not love these incredible animals?
Thank you again, Anastasia for your wonderful postings about some Panda’s behavior’s, from our SDZ bear family. These bears can be so human-like in their actions, that they almost DO seem human. I’m a fan for life…
November 12th, 2009 at 5:50 am
Thank you so much for sharing! I look forward to reading up on the Pandas. It’s so interesting. I think it is so cute how they have picked up some of their parents habits.
You all are doing such an awesome job!
November 12th, 2009 at 6:21 am
Dear Anastasia, thanks a lot for this entry!! I understand that most animal and human behavior is learned by the offspring… It seems (in the case of Gao Gao and Zhen Zhen) that their shared temperament might be due to similar neurological or physiological traits… could that be the case?
# Dear Kat w (from previous entry) I hope you are having a wonderful day today… being a single mom is no simple endeavour at all… but I am sure you are a superb mother (a warrior in these times of tribulation) … my best vibes to you!
November 12th, 2009 at 6:28 am
Thank you Anastasia for a very interesting update with observations many of us thought we have ‘imagined’ for a long time!
When Hua Mei sat with Bai I recall she also turned her back on the crowd when eating boo with mom, with Bai advising which was her own supply!
Zhen Zhen is just a magic ‘junior’ panda who has enthralled us from the begining, from an early age ZZ did her own thing and has her own set of rules what to do and when. I agree she is very similar to super dad Gao Gao – they are all little individuals wearing a black and white panda coat.
Shortly our new kid on the block will have his name revealed – like Mei Sheng he is not in a hurry to go any place he does not wish – once he gets going Bai will never be able to keep up with him. Bai loves all her cubs but Mei Sheng was definitely a moms boy – as her latest cub progress I think this young man will be much the same. When caring for him Bai is very adept with her ‘twirling’ technique, he often relaxs with his legs in the air – with his break dancing training he could be competion for Zhennie…..
November 12th, 2009 at 6:33 am
When I visited the Panda Research Center in Chengdu, China, I was able to hold a baby Panda and fell in love. It has been so incredible watching this little guy grow up, and his personality develop. Thank you so much for this webcam and this awesome experience!
November 12th, 2009 at 6:52 am
I knew there had to be a little of pappa bear in one of them. =) Thanx Anastasia. One thing that Bai also does, which I find very cute, is when she is in with her cubs in the den, she wiggles her back paw when she is sitting while the cub is nursing. I’ve always thought that was the cutest thing.
November 12th, 2009 at 7:29 am
It is my morning routine to open up the Panda Cam and watch Bai Yun and our baby boy. Even when I am up in the middle of the night I check on them. I think that a Pandaholics is exactly what I am. Thanks you so much for all the interesting information that you relay to us.
November 12th, 2009 at 7:37 am
#17: Thank you for the information of the Brown Panda. You mentioned they found the mother of the brown panda a “few days later” I hope they did not disturb the cub and take him from mom’s care!??
November 12th, 2009 at 7:50 am
Fascinating information. It would appear that our cubs have two sets of behaviors. One is genetic and might be from mom or dad and the other is acquired behavior, that is observing what mom does and copying. Since they don’t see their father they can’t pick up anything from his daily behavior unless it is genetic. Would you say that genetic behavior mostly seems to be from mom in all the cubs. It is good to see that dad is getting some credit for at least one cub. I suppose we dont’ really know enough yet about their DNA and how it works for them. Do they have recessive and dominant genes as we do?
Thanks for the info Anastasia. It really makes one think. Our beautiful pandas are more than just looks.
November 12th, 2009 at 8:38 am
Great blog. I love animal behaviour and am working my way towards a degree in applied animal behaviuor. It’s great to see the nature vs nuture in animals. My own horse has never met his father and yet displays some of the same behaviours. He also (mostly) has his father’s calm nature rather than his mother’s volitile one. Not to say that he can’t make his opinion known when he wants to!
Maybe Zhen Zhen should be renamed Zen Zen!
November 12th, 2009 at 8:55 am
Hi! I read a couple of the comments about the rare brown and white baby panda, so I went to the Pandas Live On website to see if they got more info about this cub. They did! With a cute pic of the cub, too! You can see the light brown color showing up on the cub’s body in the picture. Nice job to the people on this comment page for picking up this story! Now, scientists and animal biologists will be doing alot of studies and research into gene therapy to find out why this cub got the brown color instead of the black color. The only thing we don’t know about this cub is if the cub is out in the wild with the mom or in captivity, and whether the cub is a boy or a girl. Hopefully, someone will be able to find out that info soon. Also, PLO’s director has just gotten back from a big trip to 3 out of the 4 zoos that have pandas; went to National Zoo, Memphis Zoo, and Atlanta Zoo, and will have pictures up on the PLO website soon as soon as the director and staff sort them out. The only zoo that they didn’t get to was SDZ! Hope they will get to SDZ to see the pandas there real soon!
Got on the NZ pandacams, and all of the pandas are indoors today. DC has had some nasty rainy weather over the last couple of days or so due to the leftovers from Ida, and this weather system is a slow mover that won’t leave for awhile! The Eastern Seaboard states, including Virginia where NZ/CRC is located at, are getting hammered right now!
Also got on the SDZ cam, and it was on ZZ’s cam, but she wasn’t anywhere in sight! Then it switched to cam14, which was out, then went to the cub’s den. The cub is napping! He was moving a little bit, but went right back to sleep! I did see Doxiemom’s youtube vid of Bai and cub in the den having their fun! That was fun to watch! Thanks, Doxiemom! Still have more panda youtube vids to watch still!
Well, gonna go for now. Will check back in later on. Gotta get on AZ’s pandacam to check on Xi Lan!
Chari Mercier
St. Pete, FL
November 12th, 2009 at 9:20 am
I noticed that on the wish list, people can buy Bai Yun a meal. Any chance that we can buy the other pandas a meal? Why not make it into a panda feast for Thanksgiving?
Moderator’s note: I’ll find out.
November 12th, 2009 at 9:41 am
Great news for me, my daughter was pregnant and due November 27. Sunday we got a call to come now because he couldn’t wait, I guess. #4 for me and both my kids say enough is enough so I must make the most care of this newborn and you all know how fast they grow. He dosen’t look much like panda but he will have to do!
I didn’t even have the chance to write and tell you about this because we had to pack and drive 14 hours straight though to South Carolina. It is windy and cold, and usually I am maryellen from fl. Will be here for 2 weeks covering my b day and Thanksgiving. Then in 2 weeks home 2 weeks in fl and then back here for Christmas. Gratefuly we don’t have to drive straraigt through this time. There is misletoe all over so I can bring some home (wish I could send some to Bai Yun) then next time Bai could persuade Gau Gau to give her big kisses.
I should go now hold David again. Yeah!
me
ps: I have missed watching our baby (cloud) but now I am happily back to watch him again.
Moderator’s note: Warmest congratulations on the arrival of your newest grandchild!
November 12th, 2009 at 10:00 am
As soon as you mentioned Zhen Zhen turning her back to the visitors’ area, I knew exactly where it came from, because I’ve seen Bai Yun do it for years on the panda cam, and she was doing it the one time I was able to visit the San Diego Zoo. I’ve always been fascinated with genetics, and love to see examples of inherited behaviors (such as those Zhen Zhen got from Gao Gao) and learned behaviors, such as this one, which she obviously picked up from Bai Yun. I seem to recall the whole idea of recessive and dominant genes (Peggy #49) was the result of study by a long-ago monk named Gregor Mendel and, if I can reach back in my mind to high school science, his work was done with guinea pigs. So I’m pretty sure pandas, as well as other animals, have the same kinds of dominant and recessive genes people do. Unfortunately, the opportunity for genetic variation in pandas is vanishing as panda habitats are being slashed in the name of “progress”. The time when the father was just a passing sperm donor from a different geographical area will soon be over, and we may see faults resulting from inbreeding in Giant Pandas, the way we see them exhibited in some purebred dogs. The fate of our beloved panda is dubious at best, but I’m glad zoos and breeding centers such as SDZ and Wolong are trying to keep this beautiful species alive.
November 12th, 2009 at 10:41 am
Hi Anastasia, thank you for another fascinating insight into the Panda world, I’m learning so much anout these gorgeous creatures.
November 12th, 2009 at 10:44 am
Hi! Got on AZ pandacam, and Lun Lun & Xi Lan were outside having a great time enjoying the nice cool weather Atlanta’s having after the drenching rains that got from Ida this week! They were by the climbing structure having some fun.
Did little fluff muffin have his vet exam today? Waiting on the results of this one, the pics, and vid to come in! Just got on the SDZ cam again, and he did move around a little bit but went back to napping again! He must have had a big breakfast and lunch from his mom! He is very quiet today!
Well, gotta go! Will check back later on!
Chari Mercier
St. Pete, FL
Moderator’s note: He did indeed! Details to follow.
November 12th, 2009 at 10:50 am
When will Dr. McAwesomesauce’s next exam be?
Moderator’s note: He had one this morning.
November 12th, 2009 at 10:53 am
Thank-You Meercats for the great closeup of the sleeping Prince and his paint brush dipped black tail tip…If he isn’t perfection in a Panda’s Body for major cuteness factor I don’t know what is ….i saved the postcard to dhow my wife in the Hospital as everybody at SDZ is helping with her recovery as the first thing she asks me is how’s the baby ?……Hoping she gets released and we have to schedule a SoCal Doctor’s appointment with a side trip to SDZ…..
November 12th, 2009 at 10:57 am
#48： No, they found the mother at the same day near the location. It seems like they just took a picture of the cub and leave. He has a mother so there is no need to take him into capativity. In fact, except for the first very sick one, none of the other four brown panda was disturbed. Local famers and researchers just saw them and reported to the panda reserve center.
November 12th, 2009 at 11:11 am
I noticed lil panda boy also taps his paws during sleep too. This is definitely the maternal traits for Bai Yun!
November 12th, 2009 at 11:43 am
How interesting that our little explorer and zoomer and somewhat fretful sleeper, Miss ZZ, has turned out to be the calm one! She is my first cub, so i continue to think of her as being very very special. A number of us also continue to be curious about her humming–has it continued?
I agree with Brandy #36–I think there’s a definite LaLaLa that goes with the foot tapping. Someone who visited with Hua Mei in China saw her nursing a cub and tapping her foot, remarking how much she resembled Bai Yun doing the same.
When I see cubbie sticking out his tongue in his sleep, I think of it as prelude to chewing in his sleep, as Gao Gao sometimes does. Since #5 doesn’t chew yet, he hasn’t progressed that far yet–but I predict that he will take after Mr. G in his prodigious bamboo consumption. Of course, we’ll have to wait and find out.
Did cubbie have an exam this morning?
Moderator’s note: He did indeed!
November 12th, 2009 at 12:33 pm
Thanks, Anastasia, for this informative blog. I love the descriptive way you write. There is always more to learn about our favorite bears.
#15 Deb…I too have noticed Tian Tian tapping his foot while sleeping, and he passed it on to Tai Shan, who has a rather pronounced tap. I guess he taps to a different drummer?
#9 Kathy…I read somewhere that early Chinese admired the pandas for their habits. Perhaps they picked up this trait from the pandas, and it is now passed to Chinese generations.
#4 Lucy…There is a picture of the brown cub at pandasliveon dot com. Also information of the sighting.
On a previous comment page, someone noted a poem from Pam G, called “Mei Xiang’s Lullaby”. I also read it. Since Tai Shan is my first panda-love, this was particularly poignant for me to read….lots of tears and heart twinges. I may need to go back to NZ to see him one more time. Has anyone seen a time-line for his journey? I emailed a query, but have no response as of now. My daughter and I will go to Atlanta soon to see Mei Lan (her first love) before she has to go.
THIS IS GETTING TOO SAD!!! I DON’T WANT ANY OF “OUR” PANDAS TO GO.
November 12th, 2009 at 12:35 pm
Thank you Anastasia for the wonderful updates and information on the pandas. They are certainly the highlight of my day! Love little chubby cubby, I can’t wait to see his video of his exam, I love seeing him in the arms of the keepers, it really shows how big he’s getting. It’s hard to tell when he’s sleeping by himself in his den. I love the little noises he makes, I watch them over and over.
Thanks for all the interesting facts, I also spend alot of time on you tube watching the pandas at SDZ and others. They’re so amazing.
Let me know if you’re ever going to quit your job, I’ll send you my resume right away, lol………. life is boring without my black and white friends to look in on every day.
November 12th, 2009 at 12:37 pm
I was wondering on what you commented today about the male not knowing about his offspring. What is to say that they do not in later years become their mates? Do you know if this happens or is there a scent of some kind that will signal them to ignore that particular panda?
Thank you for all of your information.
I have enjoyed learning and watching since this baby was born. This was the best e-mail a friend sent to me I have been hooked ever since. My co-worker and I check in on Mom and cub on a daily basis. Am really looking forward to seeing them play together.
November 12th, 2009 at 12:53 pm
Nothing cuter than watching both male cubs simultaneously napping in the same position 3000 miles apart via Daniel’s multiple web cam. Many thanks Daniel for this price-less opportunity to be viewing the panda world at all 4 zoos at the same time.
November 12th, 2009 at 1:06 pm
Moderator: When you put the blog in, it said November 12th, in the top left corner. When I saw the blog, it was the 11th. That’s what I meant!!! Will there be a video of the naming ceremony? I won’t be able to make it.
How old was Shi Shi when he came to the zoo? And Bai?
Moderator’s note: Thank you for alerting us. We are working to resolve the “time change.” And yes, there will be video of the naming ceremony. Age info can be found on our Meet the Pandas page.
November 12th, 2009 at 1:15 pm
Judy #45 – I’m sure I’m not alone when I say, “I am SO-O-O-O jealous.” Tell us more, please, as I’m sure cuddling my gigantic Maine Coon Cat, Smoochie, is nowhere the same experience of holding a baby giant panda.
Moderator’s note: I’ll tell you more: the latest exam photos are now posted in the Panda Photo Gallery!
November 12th, 2009 at 1:25 pm
celfy #50 – I had my horse’s mother and specifically picked his father for traits Dad had proven excellent as passing down to kids. It worked! Instead of a ‘difficult’ temperament (like his mom), my horse is ‘Mr. Mellow’ like his dad! As you said tho, he can have his moments!
I was interested to hear about Tian Tian and Tai Shon and foot tapping – I haven’t noticed that! I do love watching Bai tap her right back foot when el cinco de Bai-o is nursing.
ZA has also commented (admitting unscientific observation/opinions) that Mei Lan seems to have inherited Yang Yang’s *goofy* gene!
Very, very interesting!
November 12th, 2009 at 1:28 pm
To Page #40: Very Clever!!!
To All: I am so impressed with all the very creative songs, poems, conversations which have been inspired by watching the Panda Family! These ‘right brain’ moments are so much fun to read! Then, we are given our ‘left brain’ stimulous through all the wonderful writings of the panda staff! I think between the left brain and the right brain training we panda fans are receiving, we all are certainly finding ourselves as content as a human being can be. Kind of makes one want to tap ones feet in tune with the clicking of fingers on our keyboards, huh
And: Thanks to the camera-keeper…The close-ups today of ‘little about to be named’ are GREAT!!!
Question to moderator: On the 17th, what time will the announcement be made? Also, where at the SDZ will the naming take place?
Moderator’s note: It will take place at 11 a.m. at the Zoo’s Hunte Amphitheater, located across from Big Cat Trail in the Africa Rocks zone. See you then!
November 12th, 2009 at 1:59 pm
Ooh–picture #3 from the new exam–that is one devastatingly cute panda. Not that I had any doubts–but what a great picture!
November 12th, 2009 at 2:01 pm
Anastasia, fascinating information! Thank you so much! I’ve thoroughly enjoyed watching Bai Yun tap her paw while she’s feeding her cub. And earlier today you showed Su Lin asleep up in the tree. She briefly woke up, but went right back to sleep, and you could see her foot – tap, tap, tap!! LOL!!
November 12th, 2009 at 2:03 pm
Some great views today of both Zhen Zhen and Su Lin sleeping in trees.
November 12th, 2009 at 2:14 pm
How appropriate that a column about ZZ is written while I’m watching her sleeping in her tree at this very moment. She is still our little girl and I do agree she is alot like her daddy in her mannerisms but I do see Bai Yun in her as well. With such great parents it’s no wonder all the cubs are so precious to us! Thank you for sharing your observations with us. Oooohh…a close up of ZZ, thank the cam operators too, they just zoomed in on her
November 12th, 2009 at 2:18 pm
Google just posted a story about Fu Long leaving Vienna for China with a picture of him in his crate. I can’t imagine how tough that will be for the Austrian fans. He’s been so much fun. Hope he stays safe and sound and has a blast in his ancestral home.
Moderator’s note: Godspeed, Fu Long!
November 12th, 2009 at 2:32 pm
Me again sorry but Anita posted another photo of Hua Mei and her cub that I thought her fans and SDZ would like to see!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/bartyork/4094838428/
November 12th, 2009 at 2:35 pm
Thanks, Cam Operator, for the shots of Miss Precious, snoozing away on her limb. Didn’t see any tapping though. Guess that stops when the snoring starts. From the camera angle, it looked as though some leaves wanted to tickle Zhen’s nose. I kept trying to will the leaves to make contact and wake her up. But I know it was one of those optical illusions, and the leaves were probably not even closer to her nose. Any way, I loved waching her, if only for a few minutes, until you switched back to “butter-ball”.
I’m now awaiting the video of the exam. Soon?
Moderator’s note: Soon!
November 12th, 2009 at 3:06 pm
Looks like the little boy has his teeth. I looked at the comparison chart for Bai Yun’s cubs and it shows day 99 as teeth erupted. Oh boy Bai, I hope you are ready. I too am anxious for the naming ceremony.
Maryellen in (South Carolina) Florida – congrats on the new grandbaby.
Dennis and Lynn, You are in my prayers that Lynn will be released and you get that special trip to SDZ. It is a gorgeous place. Enjoy the pandas and all the wonderful plants and animals.
November 12th, 2009 at 3:38 pm
#52 Nancy
Our Wish List Team thinks that’s a great idea and have added some more menu items. Thank you for the suggestion!
November 12th, 2009 at 3:57 pm
Thanks, kathy #75–no need to apologize for letting us know about another lovely Hua Mei picture.
And thanks for all the great pix of beautiful Miss Zhen Zhen today asleep in her tree.
November 12th, 2009 at 5:18 pm
We saw Su Lin up in the tree tapping her paws the other day as she waited for her lunch.
It almost seemed as if she was keeping time to music only she could hear.
After all this time I still get a kick out of watching them tap their paw when falling asleep.
November 12th, 2009 at 9:27 pm
#40–
I know that song and the poem was funny.
November 13th, 2009 at 7:23 am
Perhaps the Chinese actually learnt the foot tapping relaxation technique from pandas.
There is much to be learnt from their behaviour. How they eat and the problems they have with this dry food, has helped me understand and reduce my irritable bowel problems. How similar to us they are!
Your blogs over the last few years about Bai Yun have been especially informative.
Thank you so very much.
November 13th, 2009 at 8:59 am
#59 Lucy, thank you for the explaination on the brown panda cubs!:) I was worried because I had read before that in China if they would happen upon a bear cub they thought was abandonded they would take the cub to nuture. I could not imagine moms feeling coming back to an empty nest for any reason.
November 14th, 2009 at 10:36 am
Thank you for such interesting little individual traits about the bears! We are all so much alike it is reassuring to see species and see our common links…..#6 Dennis&Lynn, I’m glad the bears stay in your minds and hearts! Hoping and praying that Lynn will get better and that the bears bring her much comfort and relaxation!
Sincerely, joellen from Iowa