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RussianEarly Mornings in Wolong
Posted at 4:32 pm March 21, 2008 by Jennifer Keating
It is just before the sun rises here in Wolong and quiet enough to hear a pin drop. I am on my way into the China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda to take audio recordings of the giant pandas before the keepers arrive with the long-awaited carts of fresh bamboo. As I make my way through the facility, some of the giant pandas are still asleep in positions that could make it impossible for any human to walk the next day! Some are in trees with their heads hanging upside-down, while others are passed out flat on their back with their arms and legs sticking out in all different directions. Several of the giant pandas are munching away on pieces of bamboo they have saved from the day before. It is clear that their eyes are focused on me, just in case I might have tasty treat in hand.
The breeding center tends to be lively if one of the giant pandas is interested in breeding. There are ten exhibits in the breeding center and I make a stop at each one to see if I can record any males bleating or females chirping. This is the perfect time of day to collect recordings because the only background noise I have to compete with is the whistling of birds in the trees of the steep mountainsides.
Once the keepers arrive, I head off to breakfast, because the only thing giant pandas can focus on now is their massive pile of bamboo. By the time I return, the giant pandas are interested in each other again and tend to start vocalizing. During my check-in with the keepers I make sure they haven’t moved any of the giant pandas during morning cleaning. This process always involves a lesson in Chinese pronunciation, sign language, and my list of all the giant pandas here in Wolong. Everyone involved in this process always ends up laughing by the time we are done! Throughout of the rest of the day I watch for changes in any of the giant panda’s behavior that could be signs of wanting to breed and listen for bleats and chirps throughout the facility.
Jennifer Keating is working in Wolong, China as a research scientist for the San Diego Zoo. Read more about her project in the blog, Look Who’s Talking: New Research on Panda Vocal Communication.
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March 21st, 2008 at 6:14 pm
Wow! Any news on Mei Sheng?
March 21st, 2008 at 6:37 pm
Dear Jeinnifer - thanks for making us feel we are there in Wolong with you. Am very intersted in your study as Tian Tian & Mei Xiang certainly were vocal - fascinating to find out more about the mating ritual. Many blamed poor Tian for “not getting it right” when it seems like Mei Xiang, while ready was not in the “right position”. So frustrating for Tian - he tried so hard for hours.
As you seem to have intenet acces-any info you can provide us about Mei Sheng will be appreciated, We hope his Wolong keeper, Scott, is doing ok after the escape.
March 22nd, 2008 at 12:23 am
What interesting research. I hope you get to record lots of “love songs” — maybe there’s even a new hit record on the horizon!
For the Classic Rock Ballad Lovers: “I love you as much as my bamboo, it’s true I really do, Your dark brown eyes say it all, in them I’ll always fall, in love again…”
For the Rapping Younger Set: “S,B&W,F seeking handsome male for discreet liason, so text me now if you’re in the mood and want some, one encounter does it all and you’ll be my cub daddy, but I won’t take any of your boo ‘cuz I’m such a lady…”
For the Romantic Old-Timers: “Up in my bamboo tree, there’s room for you & me, we’ll sing and we’ll dance, you’ll be in my trance, up in my bamboo tree…”
And, for the Jazzy Pandas: “BeBe Bop, DoWop, DoWop, Love ya tonight. Boop, Whoop, Oh ya, it’s all right!…”
I guess all you’re really going to hear is “Bleat” and “Chirp” but now we KNOW what that means in the pandas’-love language!
Love, Joy
March 22nd, 2008 at 9:08 am
Hi,
Would you know if Basi and Yuan Yuan are still with us? I remember seeing articles about Basi’s 25th birthday, and about an eye problem she had, a few years ago, but nothing since. Are they/were they at Wolong?
Thanks so much…we’ve been panda lovers for quite a long time now!
March 22nd, 2008 at 9:53 am
Hi, you guys! First off, HAPPY EASTER WEEKEND TO ALL OF YOU AND THE PANDAS! I’ve been reading the last couple of blogs on the vocalization project going on in Wolong, and about the SDZ pandas and their crazy activities. Interesting reading, too. Been on pandacam watching Su Lin, Gao Gao, Bai Yun, and ZZ. ZZ has had the best shots of her high up in trees lately! Also today, I’ve been watching the Weather Channel to check on my local forecast, and they have segments from their road crew reporter every once in awhile. Today, he was in Atlanta, Georgia, visiting the Atlanta Zoo, and who did he do his report on? Lun Lun, Yang Yang, and Mei Lan, their 3 lovely pandas!! He also did an interview with one of the panda keepers about the pandas there, and showed video of the pandas eating and playing. That was a great segment, and it was a very good synopsis of how Atlanta Zoo and the other 3 zoos are doing in caring for and raising these pandas while they are here.
To all of you Georgia Bulldog fans in California, SORRY! Georgia tried to keep their miracle run going against Xavier in the NCAA tourney, but got beaten! At least the Bulldogs showed that they can turn a bad situation like a downtown Atlanta tornado during the SEC tourney into something positive for their fans! Better luck next season, Georgia Bulldogs. I’m also glad that the Atlanta Zoo was away from the tornado zone! To all of you San Diego University Toreros fans, WOW!!! Your team has turned the Tampa, FL Region upside down with that huge upset yesterday (just one of 4 upsets there)! Good job, SDU!!!!!!!! Now, its 13th seed SDU and 12th seed Western Kentucky on Sunday in Tampa! Good Luck to the Toreros!
Well, gonna go, get back on the pandacam, and watch some more of this NCAA tourney March Madness!
Chari Mercier
St. Petersburg, FL
PS: Love all of the pandas at all 4 zoos! Nothing new from Memphis as far as Ya Ya yet. Still waiting on her!
March 22nd, 2008 at 11:00 am
Thank you Jen, this is riveting reading. I’m looking forward to some more. I love the way they sleep too. I sleep in what I call a ‘normal’ position and still can’t walk in the morning!! One of the pandas at the NZ a few days ago was flat out on his/her back with legs splayed out and it looked hilarious. Mind you, they WERE tired! And Su Lin, hanging in the top of a tree with 4 legs dangling and her head down makes me feel dizzy.
March 22nd, 2008 at 2:21 pm
Thank you for this interesting post Jennifer. Well, the first conclusion of this study is that panda researchers eat while pandas are eating too
) Just kidding!
And by the way, thank you for the new video about Zhen Zhen. She is quite a big girl now and seems very self-confident.
March 22nd, 2008 at 4:42 pm
Thanks for the update at Wolong, Jennifer. Any news about our precious boy Mei Sheng? How is he? Any pictures? We miss him so much. I keep waiting to hear something about him. Please let us know. Thank you.
March 22nd, 2008 at 6:16 pm
ZA reported Fri. that Lani & Lun are doing fine - eating & sleeping as pandas do all day. Lani is doing very well her training - has learned to “target” & present her nose to the mesh when asked - treats are a great motivator. This training makes it easier for the keeprs to shift the pandas from one area to another.
March 23rd, 2008 at 9:20 am
What a wonderful article - I feel like I am right there! When I travel to Wolong in September it will seem familiar based on your descriptive writing. I can’t wait to hear all of the sounds and play with the toddlers. Seeing all of them in one spot - playing, eating, “talking” must be so exciting. Xie Xie Ni for keeping us informed!!
March 23rd, 2008 at 12:19 pm
Hi, you all! HAPPY EASTER TO ALL OF YOU AND THE ANIMALS AT SDZ AND WAP! Any animals get their Easter eggs today?? Got back on Jennifer’s blog and looked at those pics of the Wolong pandas sleeping in their various, crazy positions. I sure do hope there are no neck aches and headaches, because their sleeping poses are so contorted! The one that caught my eye was the panda on top of the steps spread out with his/her head upside down on the step! Now, that will really give me a headache if I slept that way! It is so funny how pandas are able to sleep in these weird ways and not have aches and pains after they get awake. I’m also waiting for word from Jennifer about Mei Sheng. I hope she will be able to find out something real soon and let us know what’s up with him lately. Have been reading some of the earlier comments from all of you, and what you said about Mei Sheng’s actions have me a little concerned. I just hope that he’s doing fine and not getting into any more problems there.
To all of you San Diego University Torero fans, got some basketball news for you! The SDU Lady Toreros lost their first round NCAA tourney game yesterday–badly! Oh well, better luck next year, SDU girls! The SDU guys have their game today in Tampa, FL against Western Kentucky. Hope that they can continue their “Cinderella” run and win it! GO TOREROS!!!
I did get on the pandacam today and saw Bai Yun walking around, and little ZZ on the ground sniffing and exploring to her heart’s content! Gonna get back on the cam to catch them again! Will also continue to keep monitoring the National Zoo, Atlanta Zoo, and Memphis Zoo websites on the female pandas there. We know that Mei Xiang (National) had her AI last week. Just waiting on Lun Lun at Atlanta and Ya Ya at Memphis on when they will start their estrus and the staff’s decisions on natural mating or AI procedures. I’ll try to keep you posted when I know something, and you all can get on their websites on the panda pages to catch any news about the panda girls. I’m really hoping that all 3 of these zoos will have panda babies this year. Won’t that be a fun project for all of us pandaholics?? Getting on all 3 zoos’ pandacams to watch new babies, and keep up with little ZZ on the SDZ pandacam as well! Keep praying and your fingers crossed!
Well, gonna go back to pandacam and watch the NCAA tourney! Thanks, Gloria, for letting us know about the new video about ZZ. Will check it out!
If anyone can do this, will you please let the elephant keepers at WAP know that a lot of elephant lovers are waiting for some new updates about Lungile, and some new pics of the elephants on the photo gallery? Punga celebrated his first birthday this month, and there are no birthday pics of him yet! Will appreciate it alot!
Thanks,
Chari Mercier
St. Pete, FL
March 23rd, 2008 at 1:03 pm
Jennifer, thanks for a most interesting update on your activities in Wolong. Sounds like perfect “peace” early in the morning before “breakfast.” Must be a dream come true for you to have all the pandas to yourself to enjoy and listen and learn from without the daily hubbub of human activity around them. The are probably very atuned to your every sound and step because they have their senses totally focused on the source of their next meal. That would make your job even more interesting because they would be paying more attention to you then than they would after their food has been provided.
We look forward to more updates on your research. It is really exciting because you and Ben are collaborating with both major Panda research centers in China that have important connections to “our” beloved SDZ, NZ, ZA, and Memphis Zoo panda families. It is the first time that I will have a chance to hear much from both of you in your respecitive assignments.
March 23rd, 2008 at 1:36 pm
HAPPY EASTER TO SDZ, JEN AND PANDAHOLICS EVERYWHERE.
Jen you sure are one very lucky lady, Pandas everywhere you look. I guess it’s a dream come true to be in Wolong working on Panda conversations?.
As others have said, we would love some up to date news on Mei Sheng, photos would be an added bonus please.
Pandas do have a lovely day eating, sleeping and playing when they feel like it. Something we all would love to do at times.
March 23rd, 2008 at 9:41 pm
Well, as the day and nite comes to an end, and everyone gets ready to go to sleep, the SDU Toreros men’s basketball team are on their way home from Tampa, FL. The guys lost to W. Kentucky earlier today! Oh well, better luck next year, SDU! They did great when they were there!
Is there anyway that you all can lighten up the areas of the pandacams? There are a lot of areas where the cams are located at that are dark, and we can’t see Su Lin, Gao Gao, Bai Yun, and ZZ on the cams at nite. Hope you can do something to bring a little more light in those areas. I think that we would all love to see the pandas when we get on the cams during the nite. I did get the chance to see the videos of ZZ today. She was so cute, especially when she was climbing on top of that huge box and trying to figure out a way to get in there from the top, then tumbling off of it! Tough kid!! Knowing her, she probably tried it again! The next video, I watched her try to get on a tree limb from on top of a big box. Unfortunately, the video stopped before I could see whether she made that climb! I’m pretty sure that she made it tho, knowing how persistant she is.
Well, gonna go and get to bed. Will check the pandacams tomorrow!
BYE,
Chari Mercier
St. Pete, FL
March 24th, 2008 at 9:24 am
Thanks so much for the interesting information, Jennifer! Please let us know how Mei Sheng is, I too am interested and concerned about him! Also, did you see Hua Mei?
March 24th, 2008 at 10:48 am
Moderator - is there a problem with the portion of the website that allows you to send postcards from the panda cam? I have not been able to get it to work for over a week now. I don’t think it is my computer as it isn’t functioning on any of the computers I use, whereas it worked fine before..
Moderator’s note: Thank you for the alert. We’ll get it fixed.
March 24th, 2008 at 11:08 am
OMG–our little adventuress is high up in the trees.and she’s walking on the twigs–they’re too small to be called branches!
Thanks for the song stylings, Joy #3.
March 24th, 2008 at 1:07 pm
Hi, Jennifer! Got a question for you. Are the Chengdu and Wolong Panda Research Centers in Sichuan Province in China? The reason why I am asking is that I got on the MSNBC website to check on news headlines, and one of them was about some riots going on in Sichuan Province. If Chengdu and Wolong are in Sichuan, then I am greatly concerned for everyone who works and volunteers at those centers, and for the pandas themselves, and for you as well, Jen! I just hope that both of those centers are far enough away from the turmoil as possible! Please let us know how you are doing over there, and if all of the pandas are ok, especially Mei Sheng. All of this is the result of what’s been going on in Tibet over the last couple of weeks, and with the Beijing Olympics coming up in August, this has been a real serious issue for the Chinese government to handle. I don’t condone the crackdown and arrests of the Tibetan protesters at all, and the UN needs to step up to help resolve this situation there. Tibet has been under Chinese rule for over 50 years, and there needs to be a resolution of this matter. This is all spilling over into some parts of China now, and Sichuan Province has seen the worst of it in these riots. To anyone at SDZ Panda Center that’s in contact with Jennifer Keating, please let us know how things are there, ok?
Will be praying that this situation will calm down, and that everyone at Wolong and Chengdu are safe and away from the turmoil there.
Just got on the pandacam, and watched Bai Yun be the great mom that she is when she went to ZZ to check on her baby girl! I think ZZ was ready to have some milk for lunch!
Gonna go and get back on pandacam! Please let us know about Jen, Mei Sheng, Wolong, and Chengdu!
Thanks,
Chari Mercier
St. Pete, FL
March 24th, 2008 at 2:10 pm
Is there something broken on the Time-lapse for March 21,22,23,24? I have tried for three days to look at ZZ’s cute antics that bloggers keep writing about, but the time-lapse doesn’t seem to be working for me at home or at work.
Moderator’s note: Thank you for the alert. We’ll get this fixed, too!
March 24th, 2008 at 2:19 pm
I just read the new leader of Taiwan is now ready to accept the Giant Pandas offered by China - now the problem is which zoo gets them!! Such a problem (haha)
March 24th, 2008 at 6:46 pm
#18 Chari Mercer - agree with all you wrote - the situation in Tibet seems to get worse everyday. China needs to realize the Olypmics are coming up & many planned on traveling to Beijing & then going to Wolong or Chengdu to see the pandas -something needs to be done soon. So if anyone can let us know how the researchers are please let us know - we are all concerned about you.
March 25th, 2008 at 8:02 am
11 am edt - GREAT early morning work meerkats!! Little Miss Fluffy butt is certainly giving us cam viewers a show right now..bouncing on branches and dangling all over the place!! Too bad the zoo is not open yet…early arrivers would certainly have a site to see! It’s hard to tell how far up she is, but it is fun watching her climb and move around on those branches!!!
THANK YOU!! It’s brought a little sunshine to my gloomy Michigan day today!! : )
March 25th, 2008 at 9:02 am
Horrah! The time-lapse is fixed and we can view today.
Horrah for Taiwan also! Now they can enjoy one of Hua Mei’s first twin boys! No matter where they find their new home, they are getting a national Chinese treasure!!!!
March 25th, 2008 at 9:11 am
Yes, at least three zoos of Taiwan want to keep the panda cubs from China , one in the north, one in the middle and one in southern part of Taiwan. They all have built their own new panda exhibit to strengthen their competitiveness of getting the panda cubbies.
BTW, the male cubbie is a son of a beautiful mother - Hua Mei.
March 25th, 2008 at 10:48 am
Taiwan getting pandas from China?? WOW!!! Now, that’s a breakthru of humongous proportions! At least the people at Wolong and Chengdu are much nicer to Taiwan and Taiwan’s 3 zoos than the whole entire Chinese government has been towards Taiwan over the last 59 years! Hope this will help towards a better diplomatic resolution of their differences. Pandas have a way of bringing people together somehow!! CWT, you’re right on one thing—those 3 zoos are going to be very competitive as to which one will get the pandas. I hope that the zoo in Central Taiwan will get them because it is a lot more centralized for everyone to get to in order to see the pandas. Hope we get some more news about this result ASAP. Maureen in Michigan, thanks for agreeing with me about the Tibet problem. Just pray that this will get resolved very soon, and that Chengdu and Wolong panda centers are away from this mess. Just hope Jennifer Keating will be able to write to us and let us know how things are over there real quick, and if she was able to find out about Mei Sheng and Hua Mei. Keep praying for the people of Tibet! They do need our prayers right now.
Well, gonna go back and check pandacam.
Chari Mercier
St. Pete, FL
March 25th, 2008 at 7:57 pm
Beijing to get more pandas for Olympic Games. I was excited to hear this news on CNN this weekend and tracked it down with Google News. I got this story on sending some of our lovely Pandas from Wolong down to Beijing’s Zoo as an attraction during the Olympic Games.
If anyone at SDZ knows whether our beloved expats will be going down to Beijing please let us in on the news. Wouldn’t it be fun if Mei Sheng could be part of this gathering of VIP’s (very important Pandas) for visitors to Beijing this summer.
So, in keeping with my respect that urls are not allowed on this blog please indulge me the opportunity to formalize the address to access this story: start with http colon backslash backslash dot xinhuanet dot com backslash english backslash 2008-03/13/13/ content_7783834 dot htm
There it is from thee China View news which is three ww’s dot chinaview dot cn
Or go over to http colon backslash backslash news dot google dot com
and search for Pandas and Olympics and Beijing Zoo. That should yield up some more news stories.
Moderator’s note: Cathy, our blog section no longer allows excerpts from other sources, due to copyright issues. Hopefully, those interested in the news article you included can find it from your instructions above.
March 26th, 2008 at 8:28 am
Conversation with Mei Sheng #22
Tourist: Hello, Mei Sheng.
Mei Sheng: Hello, Mr. Tourist.
T: Hey, how’s your new restaurant business?
M: Not bad.
T: So did you get your fortune cookie shipments from Gao Gao?
M: Yup. But they’re really wowotou biscuits, by the way.
T: Oh, yeah. That’s right. Wowotous. Are they tasty?
M: Yup. My customers like them very much. They also like the numbers.
T: The numbers?
M: Yeah, they play the numbers on the fortune strips.
T: You mean lotteries?
M: Oh, don’t be silly. The numbers convert to love songs.
T: Oh, so is that what I hear from the recordings playing outside?
M: No, those are actual recordings of courtship calls.
T: So do the recordings excite you?
M: Not yet. This way I can concentrate on my business.
T: Now what’s happening? I hear some commotion outside.
M: Oh, I’m taking delivery of an American style ice cream truck.
T: Huh?
M: It pipes music, too. You know, the kind that drives around a neighborhood…
T: Yeah, I know.
M: And includes marketing material…
T: For selling ice cream?
M: On sperm bank promotion and matchmaking manuals.
T: So Gao Gao expands his distribution lines…
March 26th, 2008 at 10:56 am
OK, P Wong! Great stuff from this conversation that you wrote between the tourist and Mei Sheng! Haven’t seen one from you in a while, so this one was a funny one! Thanks!! Keep these up! They make our day!! Hope you are trying to keep track of what’s going on in Chengdu and Wolong in light of the recent riots in Sichuan Province, China. Gotta go and do some things, but will keep on checking pandacam.
Chari Mercier
St. Pete, FL
March 26th, 2008 at 11:52 am
#26, People’s Daily says that the 8-10 pandas going to the Beijing Olympics are being selected from the 16 that were born at the research center in 2006 - which would not include our beloved Mei. However, that’s the press report, so we won’t know for certain until the pandas are announced.
And, I want to echo everyone’s praise of P Wong’s “conversations”. They’re wonderful, creative and always make me smile. Thanks.
March 28th, 2008 at 10:08 am
There is a good article on Panda Club which tells about Mei Sheng’s escape and move out of Wolong. It didn’t say how hurt he got in the fight with the other pandas but that ….he is okay. I’d like to know how he is doing with the new move and new keepers.
March 28th, 2008 at 4:00 pm
I am delighted to learn that Jennifer Keating is leading San Diego Zoo’s study of auditory communication at Wolong. We have already learned so much from the work of Dr. Ron Swaisgood about the importance of olfactory communication, and focusing in on vocal communication is the next logical step. Panda experts realize that scent plays an important part in males and females getting together for mating, but we know much less about the vocal behavior that kicks in when potential mates are face to face. Jennifer’s comment on sleeping positions reveals that she is perceptive of the finer points in panda behavior, and additionally that she writes well about her observations. I have no doubt but that this project will provide another example of the excellent work of the researchers at the San Diego Zoo.
March 28th, 2008 at 4:16 pm
Hey I got an update on Mei Sheng! I get the newsletters from the Pandas International and their April newsletter had a picture of Mei Sheng an update.
I did a search on the internet and found all kinds of sites to watch pandas overseas at night of course, because they are all sleeping when we are awake over here in the states. Hope that was helpful. I even asked about Mei Sheng on the panda club website, which is from the Wolong Panda Reserve, but no one wrote back yet. And they are still showing old news about when Mei Sheng arrived in November of last year. So it was nice to hear something from someone! Love those Pandas!!!!
Moderator’s note: Many of you have included the text from the Pandas International newsletter. Please be aware that due to copyright issues, we cannot include these excerpts in our blog comment section.
March 28th, 2008 at 5:39 pm
I just love to see how pandas sleep. They are so funny and cute even when they are catching some shut-eyes.
To answer the earlier post about Wolong and Chengdu panda reserve centers: Yes, they are both in Sichuan, but Sichuan is a big province, and the riots were not in either Wolong and Chengdu.
As for the pandas going to Beijing for the Olympics (sounds like they are competing for the game =))…..I read from somewhere several days ago that a group of pandas is chosen, and people can vote on which one they want to see in Beijing. I forgot where I read it though. Sorry.
March 28th, 2008 at 5:41 pm
Hi. The Pandas are the cutist animals at the Zoo. I like the tigers too.
Bye,
Jamie
March 29th, 2008 at 6:12 pm
Dear Jennifer
I think it is brilliant that you are spending time at Wolong. I was inspired by a visit to San Diego Zoo to go to Wolong. I was at Wolong in September and worked as a volunteer for a week. I have so many pictures of the pandas asleep in the trees in those funny positions you describe. In fact I spent many hours while there completely mesmorised at them. I was so very impressed by the ‘masters’ and their dedication to their charges. Our master was ‘lu shau chen’ (spelt phonetically) we looked after 4 3 year old pandas 3 boys and a girl (two of them twins). The 4 of them weighed around 85kg each I found it amazing to think they grew so big in such a short time.
Wolong has done a great job of being able to breed the pandas, the 2006 crop of babies was tantamount to that. But I was left wondering whether the panda communities they had built up were too good. The pandas reall love to be with their brothers , sisters and peers and play together all the time. But how can Wolong develop better capability in terms of putting them back into the wild?
I hope you learn lots there and that the state of the road and the building work has moved on, and say hi to lu shau chen for me a very dedicated young man. Best Christine