Comments on: Conserving Ursids: Giant Panda http://www.sandiegozoo.org/wordpress/default/conserving-ursids-giant-panda/ Fri, 08 Aug 2008 19:01:57 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.0.2 by: racso http://www.sandiegozoo.org/wordpress/default/conserving-ursids-giant-panda/#comment-302380 Thu, 03 Jul 2008 07:28:44 +0000 http://www.sandiegozoo.org/wordpress/default/conserving-ursids-giant-panda/#comment-302380 As everyone knows, there are about 1,590 wild pandas live in China, especially in Sichuan there are 154 captive pandas in Chengdu, Bifengxia and Wolong. And Wolong nature reserve is a very important base for panda. However the earthquake occurred in Sichuan on May 12 let Wolong panda base seriously destroyed. Fortunately no dead body found till now except one. Almost all captive enclosures are collapsed, so most pandas of Wolong now have been transferred to Bifengxia for the security reasons to pandas. As everyone knows, there are about 1,590 wild pandas live in China, especially in Sichuan there are 154 captive pandas in Chengdu, Bifengxia and Wolong. And Wolong nature reserve is a very important base for panda. However the earthquake occurred in Sichuan on May 12 let Wolong panda base seriously destroyed. Fortunately no dead body found till now except one. Almost all captive enclosures are collapsed, so most pandas of Wolong now have been transferred to Bifengxia for the security reasons to pandas.

]]> by: anne futch http://www.sandiegozoo.org/wordpress/default/conserving-ursids-giant-panda/#comment-258724 Fri, 16 May 2008 14:49:32 +0000 http://www.sandiegozoo.org/wordpress/default/conserving-ursids-giant-panda/#comment-258724 As my thoughts and prayers go out to all involved in the earthquake disaster, my mind began to wander down a similar path as TonyMo's (#111). I can't help but wonder if the situation might make conditions unfavorable for sending Tai Shan to China when originally planned. However, if Mei is pregnant there may not be enough enclosures at the NZ to accomodate them all. As with Mei Sheng, the thought of sending Tai out into the big, bad (and dangerous) world makes me feel so helpless. As my thoughts and prayers go out to all involved in the earthquake disaster, my mind began to wander down a similar path as TonyMo’s (#111). I can’t help but wonder if the situation might make conditions unfavorable for sending Tai Shan to China when originally planned. However, if Mei is pregnant there may not be enough enclosures at the NZ to accomodate them all. As with Mei Sheng, the thought of sending Tai out into the big, bad (and dangerous) world makes me feel so helpless.

]]> by: Susan (UK) http://www.sandiegozoo.org/wordpress/default/conserving-ursids-giant-panda/#comment-258547 Fri, 16 May 2008 08:35:26 +0000 http://www.sandiegozoo.org/wordpress/default/conserving-ursids-giant-panda/#comment-258547 Cathy, thank you so much for your very informative post. So many different stories coming out. Although I'm not religious, your way of dealing with stress is a lovely idea and I have adapted it to myself and put a little virtual note under my pillow. My thoughts are with the people and pandas in China. Cathy, thank you so much for your very informative post. So many different stories coming out. Although I’m not religious, your way of dealing with stress is a lovely idea and I have adapted it to myself and put a little virtual note under my pillow. My thoughts are with the people and pandas in China.

]]> by: Chari Mercier http://www.sandiegozoo.org/wordpress/default/conserving-ursids-giant-panda/#comment-258431 Fri, 16 May 2008 01:59:50 +0000 http://www.sandiegozoo.org/wordpress/default/conserving-ursids-giant-panda/#comment-258431 Hi, you all! Got my first 2 Pandas International email newsletters today. I created a special folder on my email inbox--Pandas International News--and that's where I am sending my PI newsletters to for future reference. Haven't checked my cable news channels much today because I've been busy with other things, but my heart and prayers are still with the Chinese people and the pandas. I'm gonna be watching one of the news channels later tonite, probably CNN, to get any new updates on the situation in China. I'm expecting the death toll to go up some more, but I am also hoping and praying for more miracle rescues as well. Lili(#141), I liked your comments on all of the rescues that you have read/heard about from China. Those are remarkable rescues, and the Chinese rescue workers and other peoiple helping out should be very proud of themselves on the hard work that they are doing in getting these people out. LIke I said, still praying for more survivors, but it's been about 3-4 days since the quake hit and survival is getting slimmer. One more thing from Panda International; they said in their update today that they will be working 15 hours a day, or longer if it's needed, to try to get supplies and other necessary things over to the reserves in China. They are asking for donations as well. If I do hear of anything brand new about the situation in China, especially about Wolong and the other reserves, on the news tonite, I will let you all know. I'm also with some of you about Mei Sheng! Let's get him back to SDZ ASAP!! Don't know if that will ever happen, but it's worth a try! Let's not forget about Hua Mei either! Gonna go. Talk at you later on! Chari Mercier :) St. Pete, FL Hi, you all! Got my first 2 Pandas International email newsletters today. I created a special folder on my email inbox–Pandas International News–and that’s where I am sending my PI newsletters to for future reference. Haven’t checked my cable news channels much today because I’ve been busy with other things, but my heart and prayers are still with the Chinese people and the pandas. I’m gonna be watching one of the news channels later tonite, probably CNN, to get any new updates on the situation in China. I’m expecting the death toll to go up some more, but I am also hoping and praying for more miracle rescues as well. Lili(#141), I liked your comments on all of the rescues that you have read/heard about from China. Those are remarkable rescues, and the Chinese rescue workers and other peoiple helping out should be very proud of themselves on the hard work that they are doing in getting these people out. LIke I said, still praying for more survivors, but it’s been about 3-4 days since the quake hit and survival is getting slimmer.
One more thing from Panda International; they said in their update today that they will be working 15 hours a day, or longer if it’s needed, to try to get supplies and other necessary things over to the reserves in China. They are asking for donations as well.
If I do hear of anything brand new about the situation in China, especially about Wolong and the other reserves, on the news tonite, I will let you all know. I’m also with some of you about Mei Sheng! Let’s get him back to SDZ ASAP!! Don’t know if that will ever happen, but it’s worth a try! Let’s not forget about Hua Mei either!
Gonna go. Talk at you later on!
Chari Mercier :)
St. Pete, FL

]]> by: PandaGirl http://www.sandiegozoo.org/wordpress/default/conserving-ursids-giant-panda/#comment-258185 Thu, 15 May 2008 19:39:43 +0000 http://www.sandiegozoo.org/wordpress/default/conserving-ursids-giant-panda/#comment-258185 Didn't Wolong just do a bunch of renovations in the last year or two? I remember reading someplace they had made a lot of improvements to the facility. I hope there is not a lot of damage to the primary structures. Didn’t Wolong just do a bunch of renovations in the last year or two? I remember reading someplace they had made a lot of improvements to the facility. I hope there is not a lot of damage to the primary structures.

]]> by: Cathy in NW Indiana http://www.sandiegozoo.org/wordpress/default/conserving-ursids-giant-panda/#comment-258170 Thu, 15 May 2008 19:24:59 +0000 http://www.sandiegozoo.org/wordpress/default/conserving-ursids-giant-panda/#comment-258170 I recommend subscribing to the pandasinternational dot org newsletter available on their home page. They have Earthquake Updates with -Survival at Wolong -as well as the newsletters to your e-mail address. I suggest using their website for updates since I find the newsletter updates are not updated as often as their homepage updates are. The home page now has archived updates which is helpful to use. When I got my newsletter today they were reporting yesterday's update which was distressing since the State Forestry Department, the only official authority releasing information about China’s pandas, are reporting many reserves in Minshan and Qianlaishan were seriously damaged and many protection stations have collapsed. They report that the Wolong pandas are safe. However, the official government Xinhua news agency has started to report the General Brigade of Sichuan Forestry Armed Police rescued 40 trapped pandas from the Wolong Nature Reserve in Wenchuan. Pandas International is seeking confirmation and further information. At this time Pandas International believes our sources have verified the staff at the Wolong Reserve has survived and are working hard. They are waiting for further reports before confirming the health and well being of all the Wolong pandas and their cubs as of May 14. I also recommend that you use the Google News site and if you have customized your own Google News page you can keep track of topics of your choice and I have everything from Wolong Earthquake, Wolong Pandas, China Earthquake, China Dams, etc. These sub topics yield a vast array of news articles, not all of which are duplicated which is why I suggest searching and entering different topics into your Google News Search / at the bottom of your search page you will see offerings of whether to add this search to your customized Google News page. Finally, bless all the SDZ blog monitors for allowing so much generosity in reporting news here. This site has given the most information that I have been able to find anywhere on the web. You know our hearts are with the caretakers of our Panda family as well as their panda family. I hope we find a panda-copter and pilot and can somehow get food and medicine into Wolong from the air. We need panda angels for this work. There are so many issues involved to keep an eye on, not the least of which are the needs of the people as well as the pandas. News is like a roller coaster. Just when you think all is well there is further news that it may not be. I use a God Box to keep my stress issues in perspective. It's where I put requests for help dealing with things over which I have no control. Since the only thing I can control is ME, it does no good for me to get stressed out about things that I cannot control. All it would do is make me sick with worry and frustration. That's how I handle stress, hope it may help even one person is why I offer it here with love. I have just placed a note in it to ask God to take care of the people and pandas in China during this crisis. I recommend subscribing to the pandasinternational dot org newsletter available on their home page. They have Earthquake Updates with -Survival at Wolong -as well as the newsletters to your e-mail address. I suggest using their website for updates since I find the newsletter updates are not updated as often as their homepage updates are. The home page now has archived updates which is helpful to use.

When I got my newsletter today they were reporting yesterday’s update which was distressing since the State Forestry Department, the only official authority releasing information about China’s pandas, are reporting many reserves in Minshan and Qianlaishan were seriously damaged and many protection stations have collapsed. They report that the Wolong pandas are safe. However, the official government Xinhua news agency has started to report the General Brigade of Sichuan Forestry Armed Police rescued 40 trapped pandas from the Wolong Nature Reserve in Wenchuan. Pandas International is seeking confirmation and further information. At this time Pandas International believes our sources have verified the staff at the Wolong Reserve has survived and are working hard. They are waiting for further reports before confirming the health and well being of all the Wolong pandas and their cubs as of May 14.

I also recommend that you use the Google News site and if you have customized your own Google News page you can keep track of topics of your choice and I have everything from Wolong Earthquake, Wolong Pandas, China Earthquake, China Dams, etc. These sub topics yield a vast array of news articles, not all of which are duplicated which is why I suggest searching and entering different topics into your Google News Search / at the bottom of your search page you will see offerings of whether to add this search to your customized Google News page.

Finally, bless all the SDZ blog monitors for allowing so much generosity in reporting news here. This site has given the most information that I have been able to find anywhere on the web. You know our hearts are with the caretakers of our Panda family as well as their panda family. I hope we find a panda-copter and pilot and can somehow get food and medicine into Wolong from the air. We need panda angels for this work. There are so many issues involved to keep an eye on, not the least of which are the needs of the people as well as the pandas.

News is like a roller coaster. Just when you think all is well there is further news that it may not be. I use a God Box to keep my stress issues in perspective. It’s where I put requests for help dealing with things over which I have no control. Since the only thing I can control is ME, it does no good for me to get stressed out about things that I cannot control. All it would do is make me sick with worry and frustration. That’s how I handle stress, hope it may help even one person is why I offer it here with love. I have just placed a note in it to ask God to take care of the people and pandas in China during this crisis.

]]> by: Chari Mercier http://www.sandiegozoo.org/wordpress/default/conserving-ursids-giant-panda/#comment-258093 Thu, 15 May 2008 17:32:32 +0000 http://www.sandiegozoo.org/wordpress/default/conserving-ursids-giant-panda/#comment-258093 Hi! Just writing to let you all know that I have signed up for Panda International's email newsletter. Hope to get some news from them soon about what they plan to do to rebuild the panda centers and other relief efforts. Carol Blake, Phoenix--you all are doing a great thing starting a donation fund for China thru one of the banks in town. That will help! So, like Carol says, anybody in the Phoenix area that want to donate to the China relief fund at Wells Fargo Bank, please do so. The reserves will be needing much needed supplies and equipment to replace what was lost and damaged in the quake. With alot of female pandas due to have babies in June, these supplies can't get there quick enough! Been getting some news updates about the rescue efforts in the quake zone. The rescuers are finding more people alive in all of the destruction! Some of them have been under that rubble for more than 50-72 hours. Emergency medics had to amputate a person's both legs in order to free her from under extremely large, very heavy concrete beams in order to get her out. She'll miss her legs, but I know that she is grateful to be alive. Rescue efforts are still ongoing, and the US will be sending their relief supplies in there. Unfortunately, the Chinese government and rescue personnel fear that the death toll will go much higher when they finally get the big equipment in the quake zone to start clearing away the heavy debris. No doubt that there will be bodies under all of that destruction that will need to be ID'd soon. Just got on the pandacam, and saw Gao Gao (GG) eating his boo. He looked very relaxed and comfy! Gonna go. Will check back later on. Praying for China and Burma! Chari Mercier :) St. Pete, FL Hi! Just writing to let you all know that I have signed up for Panda International’s email newsletter. Hope to get some news from them soon about what they plan to do to rebuild the panda centers and other relief efforts. Carol Blake, Phoenix–you all are doing a great thing starting a donation fund for China thru one of the banks in town. That will help! So, like Carol says, anybody in the Phoenix area that want to donate to the China relief fund at Wells Fargo Bank, please do so. The reserves will be needing much needed supplies and equipment to replace what was lost and damaged in the quake. With alot of female pandas due to have babies in June, these supplies can’t get there quick enough!
Been getting some news updates about the rescue efforts in the quake zone. The rescuers are finding more people alive in all of the destruction! Some of them have been under that rubble for more than 50-72 hours. Emergency medics had to amputate a person’s both legs in order to free her from under extremely large, very heavy concrete beams in order to get her out. She’ll miss her legs, but I know that she is grateful to be alive. Rescue efforts are still ongoing, and the US will be sending their relief supplies in there. Unfortunately, the Chinese government and rescue personnel fear that the death toll will go much higher when they finally get the big equipment in the quake zone to start clearing away the heavy debris. No doubt that there will be bodies under all of that destruction that will need to be ID’d soon.
Just got on the pandacam, and saw Gao Gao (GG) eating his boo. He looked very relaxed and comfy!
Gonna go. Will check back later on. Praying for China and Burma!
Chari Mercier :)
St. Pete, FL

]]> by: Cat http://www.sandiegozoo.org/wordpress/default/conserving-ursids-giant-panda/#comment-258090 Thu, 15 May 2008 17:23:35 +0000 http://www.sandiegozoo.org/wordpress/default/conserving-ursids-giant-panda/#comment-258090 I just rechecked the MSU Special News Room and there's an update. As I've mentioned in previous blogs, a grad student from MSU was in the Wolong area last winter trying to collar wild pandas so they could learn more about their patterns. Even though the area she was working in had previously had many wild pandas, her team was unsuccessful in even finding much evidence of pandas, much less catching one to collar. Jack Liu, leader of MSU's Center for Systems Integration and Sustainability project there, is now speculating that the pandas may have sensed that the earthquake was developing and avoided the area. We can hope that, if that is the case, the wild pandas may be less affected than we suspect. Also, MSU's panda research team has expanded an existing fund, HELP PANDA (Health and Education for Local People in Protected Areas and Destitute Areas) to also provide assistance to the earthquake victims. Now, especially since SDZ has been so generous in providing this blog which has been so valuable to all of us, I completely support donations to whatever fund they establish. I just wanted to let folks know about this other project which will also benefit our beloved pandas and the people who share their world. I just rechecked the MSU Special News Room and there’s an update. As I’ve mentioned in previous blogs, a grad student from MSU was in the Wolong area last winter trying to collar wild pandas so they could learn more about their patterns. Even though the area she was working in had previously had many wild pandas, her team was unsuccessful in even finding much evidence of pandas, much less catching one to collar. Jack Liu, leader of MSU’s Center for Systems Integration and Sustainability project there, is now speculating that the pandas may have sensed that the earthquake was developing and avoided the area. We can hope that, if that is the case, the wild pandas may be less affected than we suspect. Also, MSU’s panda research team has expanded an existing fund, HELP PANDA (Health and Education for Local People in Protected Areas and Destitute Areas) to also provide assistance to the earthquake victims. Now, especially since SDZ has been so generous in providing this blog which has been so valuable to all of us, I completely support donations to whatever fund they establish. I just wanted to let folks know about this other project which will also benefit our beloved pandas and the people who share their world.

]]> by: Rose N. http://www.sandiegozoo.org/wordpress/default/conserving-ursids-giant-panda/#comment-258087 Thu, 15 May 2008 17:20:09 +0000 http://www.sandiegozoo.org/wordpress/default/conserving-ursids-giant-panda/#comment-258087 Cheryl - #126 Viewing the photos on MSNBC Animal Tracks really uplifted my spirits. The pictures of the animals from all over the world are spectacular. Animal Tracks is now in my "favorites folder" so that I'll be reminded to check on it weekly. Thanks for sharing. Cheryl - #126

Viewing the photos on MSNBC Animal Tracks really uplifted my spirits. The pictures of the animals from all over the world are spectacular.

Animal Tracks is now in my “favorites folder” so that I’ll be reminded to check on it weekly. Thanks for sharing.

]]> by: Diana S. http://www.sandiegozoo.org/wordpress/default/conserving-ursids-giant-panda/#comment-258080 Thu, 15 May 2008 17:06:41 +0000 http://www.sandiegozoo.org/wordpress/default/conserving-ursids-giant-panda/#comment-258080 Many thanks to the moderators for keeping us posted and for allowing all of our posts. And just as I was wondering to whom I should send my donation: the moderator pops up with a note to check back for an update on donations! You people at SDZ are awesome!!! This is truly the place we come for info on our beloved pandas as well as a source of help. Regarding the wild pandas, the only thing that I have found online (at Shanghai Daily) is that 40 wild pandas were rescued by the "forest police team" in the Wolong National Nature Reserve. My heart goes out to the people of China..... Many thanks to the moderators for keeping us posted and for allowing all of our posts. And just as I was wondering to whom I should send my donation: the moderator pops up with a note to check back for an update on donations! You people at SDZ are awesome!!! This is truly the place we come for info on our beloved pandas as well as a source of help.
Regarding the wild pandas, the only thing that I have found online (at Shanghai Daily) is that 40 wild pandas were rescued by the “forest police team” in the Wolong National Nature Reserve.
My heart goes out to the people of China…..

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