How Intriguing!
Posted at 6:07 pm September 1, 2007 by Ellie Rosenbaum
Four weeks old and still no gender! There is so much about this latest cub; in fact, this entire breeding season has been so different. It’s been great “enrichment” for the humans, I can tell you! Remember how erratic Bai Yun’s pre-estrus behavior was? And how one day it seemed that she would not be ready for mating for a while, and then the very next day it was mating season, according to the most reliable authorities: Bai and Gao Gao! Some of Bai Yun’s previous gestations had been around 4 1/2 months; this one, closer to 3 months. Perhaps this is due to Bai Yun’s maturity - she will be 16 years old on September 7 - but it has kept everyone on their toes.
This newest cub appeared to be smaller than Bai Yun’s three previous cubs, but its traditional coloring was fully visible by seven days of age. (Hua Mei’s did not begin to appear until day 11.) The most amazing thing to me is that, contrary to what we’ve seen before, this little critter has skipped the not-so-attractive “fetal panda” stage, moving from newborn “icky” to downright CUTE in record time! (Its sibs took six weeks to two months to reach true panda cuteness, in my opinion.) Is it any surprise that this little one continues to perplex and confound us? That the cub continues to grow and thrive, gaining size and strength, is most important, and Bai has been allowing us all so much visibility with this little one.
Keep you fingers crossed — perhaps we’ll all know by the next exam! (or not….)
Ellie Rosenbaum is a panda narrator at the San Diego Zoo.
Listen to an iZoofari Chat about the cub’s exam on August 30 with attending veterinarian Geoff Pye.
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September 1st, 2007 at 6:34 pm
Hello, Dear Panda Experts,
I keep flipping back and forth from Mei Lan photos to the SDZ panda cam attempting to envision size and fur! Bright Star does seem to be right on schedule 
What a total JOY to watch the Panda Cam! Thank You All!
This little baby known as Bright Star, is just that! Bai Yun is one fantastic Momma! I see that she appears to be on a certain time schedule for leaving the den. What a treat to see Little One and then how much more fun it is to see Bai re-enter and cuddle Little One. The nursing seems to last 20 minutes or so in the early morning. How long are you panda-keepers seeing this last? and Also, how many times a day? Is baby now on the every 4 hour schedule we humans seem to think a baby needs?
Sincerely,
Bobbie Wood
September 1st, 2007 at 6:53 pm
oh c’mon, i think you are just having fun with us!
i know i for one just can’t stand this wondering, ?boy ?girl… for me i’m hoping for another little girl.
i get teary just watching the beauty of bai and her love for this little roly-poly.
just another panda lover,
joan
painted post, n.y.
September 1st, 2007 at 9:25 pm
What was the latest weight & length of the cub. It’s also fun to know information about when it’s eyes are open and if it’s started to hear yet. This has indeed been an interesting one to watch! Keep up the good work with the Panda cam. Any chance of adding a microphone so we can hear them? Thanks!
September 1st, 2007 at 10:11 pm
Ellie - you really threw out some interesting facts! I did not realize how short Bai’s gestation was this time, or how quickly the color change happened on this one compared to the previous cubs. It’s hard to believe that Queen Bai could possibly be turning that old already! I’ve never seen them in person but she is just as gorgeous today as she was when Hua Mei was born!
We pandaholics will try hard to be patient and wait word on boy/girl and remain content that it truly is getting stronger, cuter and ROUNDER every day! What an adorable little butterball!
September 1st, 2007 at 10:20 pm
We should name this panda cutie pie! Very adorable. I can hear him squawking in my sleep.
September 1st, 2007 at 10:39 pm
Ahhhhhhhhh I just started recently watching panda cam. I DIDN’T KNOW IT EXISTED!!!!!! This past summer i got to go to SDZ for the first time and saw su lin, and mei sheng. They were my favorite part! I wanted to check back on them in mid august so i checked the sight and saw panda cam how surprised i was to see a little baby cub so tiny! Ever since i watch everyday.I love seeing the cub grow (with such a big round belly which makes cubby even cuter)and excerise size those muscles (my how strong this little one is)plus bai yuns wonderful care constantly cuddling,cleaning,nurseing she is rather amazing . I am eager to know boy or girl but either way i am eager to watch cubby grow and interact with wonderful mom bai yun. Intill the announcement of boy or girl and cubby gets a name having got tired of calling “it” “cub” and such terms i have adopted a name for it for personal use. How exciting when cubby will get a name i am sure it will be appropriate. I would like to thank SDZ for their wonderful care(and the hours of reasearch ) of the pandas and allowing us to share in the joy of watching such wonderful animals live via panda cam.
September 2nd, 2007 at 7:50 am
Thank you, Ellie, for the information that compares the growth of the cubmuffin to its siblings–fascinating! Not only was Bai Yun’s estrus truncated, it seems, so was the cub’s gestation. But the baby is adorable and looks so strong. The latest picture of it pushing up on its front legs could be captioned “I am panda.. hear me roar!” Again, thanks to you and everyone at SDZ for taking such wonderful care of the latest panda treasure–and for taking the time to provide us with so much information.
September 2nd, 2007 at 8:12 am
There is a very simple way of determining the cub’s gender. First, put the cub in front of two television sets. Turn one to football and the other to Oprah. If the cub turns towards Oprah, it’s a girl. If it turns towards football, it’s a boy. How much more scientific can you get than that?
September 2nd, 2007 at 8:54 am
Hello Ellie
thank you for your ‘intriguing update’ regarding Bai’s latest cub, I noted the saddle markings quite early however after watching the previous three cubs grow, without checking data it seemed natural that they appeared when they did.
You mentioned that this cub appeared smaller than Bai’s previous cubs - has it since played ‘catch up’ ? - could the development data difference between this cub and those of Hua Mei have any bearing on the fact that Shi Shi is the father of Hua Mei?
Like all pandaholics I am delighted with Bai’s energetic cub who has such a ‘get up and go’ attitude that he/she has adapted, Bai will have her ‘arms’ full when this one gets fully mobile!
Regarding being slightly ‘undersized’ compared to previous siblings, we must remember that the most priceless things arrive in small packages - think ‘Diamonds’… and Gao Gao.
I am looking forward to when we learn the gender of this priceless little Diamond…. this could be another suggestion for a ‘name’ - I am certain the Chinese language can easily incorporate it in a selection of names?
Must return to ‘Bai Watch’…….it has been an ‘intriguing’ 30days….
September 2nd, 2007 at 11:11 am
I am wondering how long the baby gets to stay with Mom? when will they be separated? Why are they not left together? I’m sure there are reasons….just do not know what they are.
Thanks!
Cherie
September 2nd, 2007 at 11:17 am
I have been “Hooked on Pandas” since the birth of Tai Shan at the National Zoo. I just recently got DSL (believe it or not!) and found a whole new world of cam-watching. Now I can watch Tai Shan, Mei Lan, and our new little cutie-pie. I can hardly wait til we know what sex it is and name him/her. My thought for a name is Beautiful Joy. The joy of watching this little spirit is truly beautiful. And what a wonderful mother Bai Yun is. Have the baby’s eyes opened yet? I cannot remember how long it takes.
September 2nd, 2007 at 1:09 pm
I love pandacam! So wonderful to see Bai Yun & her cubbie.
I wonder if the den or any of the panda areas have air conditioning? Or are those big ole furry pandas okay with the heat?
September 2nd, 2007 at 1:10 pm
Thanks for confirming what I thought - that this cub became very cute, very fast! It quickly developed that panda pear shape and started looking like a little bear. And it’s always fun to watch Bai taking such wonderful care of her babies.
September 2nd, 2007 at 2:53 pm
Go to You Tube and type “Panda Sneeze”. This little video is incredibly funny. I am certain the video is from Wolong, and the female MIGHT be Hua mei.
September 2nd, 2007 at 5:15 pm
For the truly addicted pandaholics, the Vienna Zoo (Tiergarten Schoenbrunn) has a baby panda diary. The link can be found on their home page. As far as I can tell it is in German only but the baby seems to be growing and is starting to display the black and white markings. They do not have a panda cam but do show stills.
)
TWO panda babies to keep up with! Woooooohoooooooo!!!!
September 2nd, 2007 at 5:54 pm
OH OH….I just took a peak at cubmuffin…our wee one is captured on camera up close and sound asleep. What a doll! I am pretty convinced that it is a “she”. What in the world would we do if we didn’t have this little angel to ease the sadness at saying goodbye to our Mei Sheng?
September 2nd, 2007 at 6:24 pm
This is for whomever has been at the panda cam controls between 5:45PM and 6:20PM on Sunday 9/2: THANK YOU!!!!I have had a ball watching and clicking! Bless You!!! Baby up close! Bai dining! Su dining!
Sincerely,
Bobbie Wood
September 2nd, 2007 at 7:26 pm
Ellie - thanks so much for providing us with long awaited info about Bright Star. You’re right about the markings & the cute stage being early. While being smaller (wonder if this has anything to with pappa Gao being small for an adult male) the cub seems to be growing rapidly & looks strong. I had great view of the cub ealier this evening while Bai was eating bamboo -Bai was away for the 20 minutes I watched while the cub squirm all over. And now I see our cubbie some distance from Bai.
Many thanks for the info & the panda cam.
September 2nd, 2007 at 7:40 pm
I, too, am anxious to learn the gender of cubmuffin. I watch frequently throughout the day. I’ve been lucky enough to see baby alone, then I watch and wait till mom comes back for a snuggle. She’s just the best mom! I also watch Mei Lan in Atlanta. He’s at that rolly polly stage where he has a mind of his own, and sometimes his mom is NOT of the same mind- that’s when I watch her drag him down from his climbing adventures. He rarely stays on the ground very long, tho. The minute mom walks away, he’s back to his climbing; he reminds me of our Hua Mei when she was learning to climb. I hold my breath KNOWING he’s going to take a tumble, and he does, but gets right back up, just like Hua Mei did.
September 2nd, 2007 at 7:59 pm
it’s just before 11 pm her ein Michigan on Sunday evening and just LOOK at the close up of Cubmuffin!! Just sleeping so happily right there next to mom. The pictures from the 2nd exam are wonderful too!! Cubmuffin looks like it is gaining great strength in its front legs…back legs look like they are really gaining too! I am so tickled with how baby-kins has grown these last 4 weeks.
SDZ staff thank you over and over again for all the wonderful blog entries and all the videos and the panda cam! This is such a wonderful opportunity!! Thank you, thank you , thank you!!!
September 2nd, 2007 at 9:19 pm
This little one is a real cutie. This is my 3rd baby panda and I have to say that Bai Yun is really giving us the best show yet. I don’t remember ever seeing so much of the cub so early. With the previous births, we’d just get glimpses now and then. This has been wonderful!
September 2nd, 2007 at 9:21 pm
It has been a joy to watch this little cubmuffin who does seem to be growing so fast. Bai is such a wonderful mom. I am just fascinated by her maternal instinct and gentle way with this baby. My 11 year son just loves to watch them together also. We have also followed Mei Lan for the past year and hard to believe she will be a year old in a few days. Working night shifts I have my crew hooked on this little one as we pull up the web site to check out how they are doing and have seen some great shots during the over night hours. Thank you for doing such a great job. It’s so great watching a new born again.
September 2nd, 2007 at 9:25 pm
It’s funny because when I tuned in tonight to see Bright Star, I thought “Who is that cub? It’s way too panda-ish to be just a month old!” The cub has really developed quickly.
Just last week I showed some of my non-panda friends a photo of Bright Star and Bai Yun and they tried to find the words to nicely say it wasn’t as cute as they thought it would be. Well, now they think that cubmuffin is down-right adorable! My little neighbor thinks Bright Star looks like her Beanie Baby panda. I’m glad, as you said, Ellie, that this cub skipped much of the “icky” stages.
The photo you have from the exam looks like a 2-month old cub. Bright Star sure is OUTSHINING all the others! Go Pandas!
Love, Joy
September 2nd, 2007 at 9:54 pm
I THOUGHT THIS ONE LOOKED LIKE A MINITURE PANDA SOONER THEN THE OTHERS….FOR BEING LIGHTER THAN HER SIBILINGS OOPS! I SAID HER….THAN ITS’ SIBILINGS. HE/SHE SEEMS SO MUCH MORE AWARE AND STRONGER….WE HAVE A “SUPER CUBBIE”…FIRST I CAN’T WAIT TO SEE WHAT GENDER IT IS AND THEN TO SEE IT ROLL OVER, CRAWL AND INVESTIGATE AND DO ALL THE CUTE THINGS BABY PANDAS DO….WE LOVE YOU, BE A BOY OR A GIRL…JUST STAY HEALTHY….AND MAMA TOO….GOODNIGHT LITTLE…….FISTY TEDDY BEAR…..
September 2nd, 2007 at 10:41 pm
#19 Barbara. I believe Mei Lan in Atlanta is a ’she’. A very energetic one at that. She has such personality = a real joy to watch. She turns one on Sept. 6 - I can hardly wait to see all the partying the Zoo has planned. It should be great fun. Between her and ‘Bright Star’ I hardly get anything done. Then, of course, I have to keep tabs on Tai Shan as well - he has been so playful lately, what with all the new toys ne’s been given. Indeed, there’s plenty to keep us, pandaholics, getting our ‘fix.’
September 3rd, 2007 at 2:51 am
Don #14
Panda Sneeze is actually from about 7 years ago! And yes, it was in Wolong. I remember watching the documentary when it was shown on either National Geographic or Animal Planet (can’t remember - it was that long ago!) and especially the scene of the baby sneezing and startling momma! Altho at the time, I just thought it squawked rather than sneezed.
September 3rd, 2007 at 3:20 am
Barbara, our Atlanta Beauty (Mei Lan) is FEMALE! Indeed she is a pistol. I’m glad her antics bring others outside metro Atlanta joy.
September 3rd, 2007 at 5:59 am
I have been watching the various panda cams since the day Mei Sheng was born. I have come to the conclusion that if they could bottle this action in pill form, it would make a great blood pressure medication and antidote to the horrific world news that we are subjected to every day. I no longer even attempt to read the headlines until getting a calming Panda Cam look. It’s hard to believe our “little cub” is one month old today. It won’t be long before “it’s” scooting around the den and trying to get out the door on it’s own.
September 3rd, 2007 at 6:11 am
Cherie #10
It is likely that Suzanne or other qualified person will answer your question regarding how long a young cub remains with it’s mom.
Separation usually occurs when the cub is about 18 months old and showing some signs of independence.
The Panda Keepers and staff who are in constant touch with a cubs development decide when the time for ’separation’ is appropiate.
If you read the Panda items in earlier blogs or in the Archives, they contain a mine of information.
I hope you enjoy watching our wonderful mom Bai Yun with her 4th cub…
September 3rd, 2007 at 9:49 am
This is so fascinating!! What a special little baby! You know, I was also marveling at how darned cute it was…something felt strange to me and I only realized it when you pointed it out - that this little cubmuffin is way ahead in terms of ‘cuteness development’! I’m so eager to find out if it’s a boy or girl…but no matter what I love this little one. It is precious beyond words.
September 3rd, 2007 at 11:58 am
hi to barbara, re mei lan, SHE is i little female.
her keepers dub her the ” atlanta beauty”
yes, she is a very busy gal.
joan
painted post
n.y.
September 3rd, 2007 at 1:44 pm
I’m wondering how Bai Yun and baby are handling this intense heat. Today is the worst yet and I wondered if staff does anything to help maintain the temperature for them.
It is indeed interesting to see the baby so developed. Could it be that with age comes faster gestations and quicker aging for the baby? Bai Yun is certainly more confident than ever and that confidence allows her to give more visibility I think. She knows that she is safe and that no one is going to hurt her baby so she relaxes just a bit more.
September 3rd, 2007 at 2:31 pm
To Barbara #19 - Mei Lan is a princess not prince! She is just as ornery as Tai Shan in DC but she is just a VERY feisty little girl!
I’ve been gone for a couple days and I swear our cubmuffin is rounder in just that short of time! It’s starting to get what one of our other pandaholics call ‘ the diaper bottom’ look! I can never wait until the next milestones and at the same time want them to stay tiny forever!
September 3rd, 2007 at 6:09 pm
It seems that Bai now has a regular schedule for eating & leaving Bright Star alone for longer periods. The past 2 nights about 8:30pm Eastern Time I’ve seen the cub alone for at least 20 minutes - & she (must be a she) has squirmed all over - & is growing like a weed. She sure has became a panda looking cub much faster than others I’ve watched.
As far as Mei Lan in Atlanta - go to youtube.com & type in” Mei Lan - my bestest fwiend” if you want to see something funny. Also on youtube - type in YangYang & Jay for an amazing training session with Mei’s daddy & his keeper. These are smart bears - except for mating (Bai & Gao the exceptions to that).
Our newest cub will be a terror before we know it.
September 3rd, 2007 at 7:33 pm
Here it is 10:30 eastern time & our cubbie is alone again - Bai must be very comfortable leaving her alone for all this time.
Maureen
September 3rd, 2007 at 8:22 pm
Maureen, 18, et al:
This is Bai’s 3rd cub w/ Gao. Perhaps this cub shall be taking after Mom’s side of the family…..
September 3rd, 2007 at 8:43 pm
Well, Panda Lovers, we for one (or two?) couldn’t care less about what gender the baby is. However, does it have an official name yet? If not, we propose Ming Ming. Think about it, it rolls off the tongue, and the name could be the panda version of Pat or another ambiguous name.
September 4th, 2007 at 8:52 am
Bai just did a little redecorating in the den. She came back in and started fluffing, almost completely covering the cub in the process. Then Bai went back outside and brought in some new straw, or maybe bamboo, it was hard to tell. Then the cub was completely covered, but Bai quickly retrieved her baby and settled down for some nurturing.
Tomorrow is Mei Lan’s first birthday and she has been having a blast with all the enrichment items she’s been given over the last week. Yesterday I watched her terrorizing Lun Lun for quite a while. She definitely seems to be getting a little feistier these days. It’s been so wonderful watching her develop over the past year and now having a sweet new baby to observe.
We are so lucky to have 24/7 Panda Cam time in SD!! Thanks again to all the Panda team and the Cam team for all you do!
September 4th, 2007 at 9:48 am
I saw the cubmuffin resting by itself this morning and I think, as Candy said, it does have a diaper bottom look–and it’s a BIG diaper. Can’t believe how fast it’s rounding out. Can it be making up for time it didn’t spend in utero?
September 4th, 2007 at 10:05 am
Something to watch for at the next cub exam is whether or not the eyes are partially open. ZooAtlanta’s Mei Lan was pictured at 36 days old with little peepers starting to show. I believe comment at the time was that the cub may not actually be able to see clearly at this stage and it take a few more weeks for the eyes to open fully.
September 4th, 2007 at 10:40 am
Very, very interesting blog… and I agree… our chubby little cubby is super cute!! This little one does seem very strong and aware of it’s surroundings - and a bit older that it actually is. Bai is doing a tremendous job as usual - what a super star mom. So how is the temperature in the den - as it has been miserable hot here in SD this past weekend - with Monday being downright unbearable (pardon the pun!)? Congrats on our newest addition to the panda family here - I just couldn’t be more happy - and love every minute I get to watch Bai and baby - it really is a miracle!
September 4th, 2007 at 10:42 am
Hi everybody, Mom said I am going to see vet again soon. I liked the nice soft blanket, it felt like mom’s fur. I am getting stronger and my body wants to go but my feet say no. Miss Maureen has seen me try to wiggle around, I feel like a little turtle trying to move. Mom said I have to be patient. Mom told me that people say that I am different then my brother and sisters because I got cute faster and was smaller , but i grew faster. Mom’s birthday is this week and maybe what I am will be her birthday present. Mom has water in her eyes because my brother is going to panda home. I told mom that she still has me and Su Lin here with her. I have to go now, it’s time to eat. I wish a happy birthday to Miss Mei Lan on her first birthday.
September 4th, 2007 at 12:03 pm
Thank you to you all i love watching cub and mum, thank you SDZ ,for all you are doing for the pandas ,i could just sit for ever looking at the baby, and Bai Yun
September 4th, 2007 at 12:57 pm
Hi, you all! I fail to see how you can miss finding out the gender of this very cute little cub!! Atlanta Zoo and National Zoo were able to find out that Mei Lan was a girl and Tai Shan was a boy during those 2 cubs’ first exams without any problems at all! I did read the latest blog on this website about how hard it can be to detemine the gender, but it shouldn’t be that hard for the vets to see if this cub is a boy or a girl. Please end the suspense, ok? Hope you all can find out in the cub’s next vet check!
Happy One Month Old Birthday to the cub! Big milestone here! Been watching the pandacam off and on over the last few days, and got a real good chance to see the cub on the pandacam today, and he/she has grown quite a bit over the last 30+ days. You can actually spot the cub on the hay without trying to look for him/her now that he/she’s grown some and have the black markings firmly in place. Next milestone: eyes and ears starting to open up! If I remember right from the Atlanta Zoo’s panda cub timeline, that usually occurs at around 3 months or so. Let me know if I’m right on that, ok?
Speaking of birthdays: Happy Birthday to Mei Lan in Atlanta! She’ll be a year old on Sept. 6, and they have their week long birthday celebration going on now. Just saw her on their pandacam, and she’s just oblivious to all of that and taking her naps in her usual spots!
Well, gonna go and do some more cub watching. Hope to find out about the cub’s gender this week!!
Love ya Bai Yun and Baby!
Chari Mercier
St. Pete, FL
September 4th, 2007 at 1:15 pm
Cherie (#10), got an answer to that question of how long cubs stay with their moms. I’ve read a lot of updates on the National Zoo and SDZ websites over the last 2 1/2 years about that subject, and both Su Lin and Tai Shan were both weaned from their moms at around 17 to 20 months old. Both were carefully done at both zoos to ensure that Su and Tai were not stressed out during their seperation times from their moms. Now, both Su and Tai are doing very well on their own, eating their bamboo and treats, participating in their training sessions, and just enjoying life as single pandas. I’ve read that in the wild, panda moms will usually try to wean and seperate from their cubs at around 18-24 months. With such slow breeding seasons and very few estrus days, these moms need to seperate from their cubs as soon as they are old enough to live on their own so that they can find a mate and breed again. I also read that at Wolong and Chengdu research centers in China, baby pandas are seperated from their moms at around 6-8 months old, but I don’t think that’s a good time for those cubs at that age to leave their moms yet. They have so much to learn from their moms and need the mom’s milk for growth and nourishment. Cubs don’t usually start eating bamboo until after they are 6 months old or older, if I’m right on that. So, I hope that this will help answer your question on this mom and cub seperation subject. Glad that you are learning everything panda and watching this cute cub keep growing! I AM!!!
Keep on learning,
Chari Mercier
St. Pete, FL
September 4th, 2007 at 1:35 pm
Wow! I was out of town and unable to watch cubmuffin for 4 days. Has he/she ever grown. Compare the photos of the first exam with the second to see how much BIGGER he/she really is. It looks like exams could already become interesting because of the cubs size and therefore ability to squirm. This cub seems to be developing faster than Mei Lan did last year, as it is already holding its front quarters up and is “scooting” around and it is only 1 month old yesterday. At this pace it looks like it is definitely favoring Bai Yun’s genetics and those from Pan Pan. Most of Pan Pan’s progeny are large pandas. If that is the case, I hope it is a male so that the handstands done will provide a really interesting scenario for the pandas in SDZ and Wolong.
At what weight/age are shots for diseases, or other pro-active procedures done? I notice from the NZP messages that they just did the first blood draw on Tai Shan. Are any similar procedures done on the young cub for DNA testing for sex? Or, are such procedures too stressful for the cub and Bai Yun? She seems to be ok with the cub having exams and appears to know the cub is developing great under her care.
September 4th, 2007 at 4:05 pm
Welll, well, well- the cubbie is growing by leaps and bounds! I was hoping cubbie would push and pull to get to the opening of the den today- but a good college try was made- It will happen soon enough. As long as cubbie is healthy, the sex doesn’t matter to me. I agree that cubbie seems to be taking on Bai’s genetic structure. I’m amazed at the rapid growth and development of this cub and am enjoying from 2,200 miles away, the great video adventure. Su Lin and Mei Sheng were snoozing during my August trip to “Insane Diego”, and it was great to see them- precious as they are. I appreciate all the hard work that goes into this endeavor called “Panda upbringing!”
I have introduced some friends to the SDZ, Atlanta. Memphis and DC cams and they are now checking them as soon as they get home from work! The few, the proud, the devoted Pandaholics!
September 4th, 2007 at 5:58 pm
Hi Bright Star - enjoyed your update on how things are going in the panda den. I’ve also checked back on MeiLan at your age & you’re much cuter. You also must be a female to have such feelings for your mom, Bai - I sniffled when I read your comment that she had water in her eyes about your big brother returning to China.
As far as weaning - I also don’t think the Chinese method of weaning the cubs at 6 months is helping. While the females may have more cubs they have not developed all the skills they need from their mothers. Take a clue from pandas in the wild & the zoos here in the US & let them wean naturally.
September 5th, 2007 at 5:20 am
I’ve just been looking back at Su Lin’s stats in the weblog and at 4 weeks she was a couple of oz lighter and just 0.4 inch smaller than this cub, and in my opinion just as cute
I’ve been watching them since Hua Mei was born and still love it. If you count the other 2 USA panda cams I’m on my 6th cub!
September 5th, 2007 at 7:28 am
Hi everybody. it has been a little warm here, but mom makes sure that everything is clean and fluffy including me, it helps everything feel better. Mom says all the visitors are concerned about all of us because of the heat. Miss Ellie always answers alot of questions about us,Mom says she is very smart and knows alot about us. I can’t wait for everyone to see me and to see you too. Well it’s time for my bath, mom’s waiting. bye for now
September 5th, 2007 at 6:20 pm
Here is the old RN wondering if the newest little cubmuffin might be a premie–premature baby. With the short gestation and the smaller weight????? Premies do so well now days that she (it has to be she) will be fine. Bai is so expreicned, and loving Jo
September 5th, 2007 at 6:22 pm
Twinkle, Twinkle, little Star.
How I wonder What you are.
Rolly-polly and in grand care
I hope to see you always wiggling there.
September 5th, 2007 at 7:30 pm
Distressing news from the Atlanta Constitution today - “The cub, born a year ago at Zoo Atlanta — she popped into this world Sept. 6, 2006, a sightless, hairless little thing — may be here about a year longer, said Dennis Kelly, the zoo’s president and CEO. The zoo is celebrating her birthday all this week.
Then she’ll be off to the misty, bamboo-dotted hillsides of Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding in China, the native land of the Ailuropoda melanoleuca.
There, scientists hope Mei Lan will rise to the standard set by her mother Lun Lun, and get pregnant. She may be bred by the time she is 3 to 4 years old, Kelly said.”
Bred at 3 or 4??? Seems way too young - they are only teenagers then. Why do the Chinese have to push the beloved animals into something they are not ready to handle?
Is there something wrong with the panda cam - haven’t seen a thing all day - but “Bright Star” loved hearing about life in the panda den.
Maureen
September 5th, 2007 at 8:42 pm
Re: Mei Lan. I have loved following her antics this past year, but I would also be very happy to think of her in the “misty, bamboo-dotted hillsides of Chengdu.” I know how important it is for research, etc. to have pandas captive in zoos here & elsewhere, but I am sure they are more content in a much more natural setting.
I’m longing for a cubbie fix soon!
But like you, Maureen (#53), I hope they’ll wait a bit longer to breed her. She’s sure had a great model of motherhood in Lun Lun though!
It seems all the cams are down today?
Might we know late this week whether s/he’s a he or a she? I’m betting she’s a little girl!
Moderator’s note: Yes, we are having problems with the cams at the Zoo and are working to resolve the problem. Thanks for your patience.
September 5th, 2007 at 8:58 pm
Maureen #53…the original contract and understanding is the cubs stay in U.S. for 2 years and then go back to China….It seems that they want the females sooner and the males stay 4 years???? We still have our baby girl Su Lin….We have been very fortunate in all ways with our panda experiences…. At SDZ….
September 6th, 2007 at 6:33 am
I have read that the youngest female pandas to be pregnant were 4. I believe the Vienna female is 4. It appears from reading I have done that females are not physiologically and sexually mature until 3.5-4 and males around age 5-6. So, it is not likely that she will have a cub the first time she breeds. Besides females are not “forced” into breeding at a young age as evidenced by the reports of breeding attempts in China and around the world. Each Chinese research center has there own rules and guidelines, but the are being assisted and supported by US zoos. It is likely that the Atlanta zoo curator and research staff will be closely involved with any breeding attempts that are done with Mei Lan down the road. They are doing breeding studies and send researchers to Chengdu each year during breeding season.
September 6th, 2007 at 7:22 am
I didn’t think that they were sexually mature at 3-4!
Someone broke the camera!
I am missing my “human enrichment”
September 6th, 2007 at 8:31 am
I read the article that Maureen #53 wrote about and time has gone to fast and the next year will probably go even faster. the article also had some great photos of Mei Lan at different stages of her 1st year and I remember the day she was born and poor Lun Lun looked so scared of this poor little squeeky creature. It now reminds me of our little Bright Star and what we have to look foward to. I have this crazy feeling that this baby is going to be a superstar and surpass all her siblings. Folks this one is special, our little cubbie is just waiting to break loose, can’t wait to see what she/he is.
September 6th, 2007 at 8:59 am
Hi everybody, Mom says I’m lucky to live here in this land, because I get to stay with her for a longer time. Miss Loriann saw me trying to get away today, but mom didn’t like it at all.Mom talked about my brother to me and told me all the nice things and how worried everyone is about him and why she had water in her eyes. She said it’s love and said love is feelings, now I understand. I love everybody because they care about us too. I gotta go now stuff is going on and moms calling. Love
September 6th, 2007 at 9:02 am
Hi Ellie et al.: How are the pandas doing? The cam has been down.
September 6th, 2007 at 9:18 am
Sorry the cam is down, am trying to get a fix on the birthday girl but she sleeping! So this may be a no-panda day for me…am making up by looking at the LCNessie videos on youtube, they are incredible and there is a new posting for Mei Lan’s birthday, so sweet. Hoping to soon hear news of the cub’s gender, but I am thinking it is a girl!
September 6th, 2007 at 9:36 am
celfyddydau Says: I am missing my “human enrichment”
You said it perfectly! Me too!
September 6th, 2007 at 10:03 am
A lot of panda addicts are going through withdrawal symptoms. When will the panda cam be back online?
Moderator’s note: We don’t know, but the problem is being addressed.
September 6th, 2007 at 10:36 am
The PandaCam can be down (things happen), but I’ll still be clicking on my link frequently because I don’t want to miss news of the next exam and — please? — news about the gender of our cubmuffin.
September 6th, 2007 at 12:25 pm
There are new pictures of an exam that occurred today - the cub is more adorable than last week!
September 6th, 2007 at 12:40 pm
I saw the pictures from the exam for today and am waiting anxiously for the update! Can’t wait to find out the sex of our little cubmuffin!!!
September 6th, 2007 at 12:43 pm
OK, I see new exam photos. Was three times a charm?
September 6th, 2007 at 1:01 pm
Did you get a look at the 3rd Cub Exam this morning? Boy has cubmuffin grown. He/she is getting bigger while we watch. I read that it is difficult to tell the sex on a young panda cub as male genitals develop slowly. Since this cub was born earlier than the other 3, it is possible that the genitals are catching up. From the comments people have heard from both vets, they may think it is a girl, but are not sure as of exam #2.
Patience is a virtue Bai Yun and Gao Gao have mastered, and so should we. They patiently wait for the
“right moment” for mating, birth of a cub, etc. We need to let nature take its course. Besides, it doesn’t matter what sex it is. We other enjoy watching and preserving or we don’t. All that will change is gender references in our dialogs.
More important is that we use our fondess and attraction for its cuteness to work to preserve all endangered animals.
Happy 1 month and 5 week Birth Anniversary “Bright Star.”
September 6th, 2007 at 1:13 pm
Check the NEWS - cub just had 3rd exam- still no news on gender!
September 6th, 2007 at 1:17 pm
Panda Cam is back up! Thanks SDZ for the hard work to resolve the issue.
September 6th, 2007 at 2:44 pm
Third exam and no desicion on sex the yet?!? I guess SDZ does not want to make the same mistake they made in China, read below:
BEIJING, China (Reuters) — A panda once believed to be male and sent to Japan to breed with a
female without success gave birth to twin cubs this week, state media reported on Thursday…..
The panda, “Jinzhu”, gave birth to two female cubs on Monday at the Wolong Nature Reserve in the mountainous southwestern province of Sichuan, 11 years after being declared male at birth in 1996, Xinhua news agency said.
Our Cubby Wubby is looking so chunky and cute…I do not mind knowing the sex as long as it is healthy!
September 6th, 2007 at 2:52 pm
FOR THOSE INTERESTED IN THIS PECULIAR STORY REFERENCED IN#65
HERE IS THE ENTIRE ARTICLE…
BEIJING, China (Reuters) — A panda once believed to be male and sent to Japan to breed with a female without success gave birth to twin cubs this week, state media reported on Thursday.
An estimated 1,600 wild pandas live in nature reserves in China’s Sichuan, Gansu and Shaanxi provinces.
The panda, “Jinzhu”, gave birth to two female cubs on Monday at the Wolong Nature Reserve in the mountainous southwestern province of Sichuan, 11 years after being declared male at birth in 1996, Xinhua news agency said.
“Jinzhu was believed to be male owing to her inconspicuous secondary sex characteristic and behavior,” the agency quoted Wei Rongping, assistant director of the reserve’s research center, as saying.
Jinzhu was sent to Japan in 2000 to mate with a female, the report said.
“When the pandas showed complete disinterest, experts decided to turn to artificial insemination, leading to the discovery that Jinzhu had no penis,” it added.
Jinzhu was sent back to China in 2002, with experts arguing the panda was either a hermaphrodite or had “undeveloped” sexual organs.
“The penis of an adult panda is only about 3 centimeters (1.2 inches) long,” Xinhua quoted Li Deshen, a panda expert, as saying, as a possible reason for the mix-up.
It was not until 2005 that scientists discovered nine-year-old Jinzhu’s ovaries were positioned in the wrong place, and gave her a two-hour operation to make her a “normal girl”, Xinhua said.
Jinzhu subsequently mated with a male in March 2007 and gave birth 142 days later, Xinhua said.
The giant panda is one of the world’s most endangered species and is found only in China. An estimated 1,600 wild pandas live in nature reserves in China’s Sichuan, Gansu and Shaanxi provinces.
September 6th, 2007 at 2:58 pm
Just when I thought the gender of our cubmuffin would possibly be revealed, today, the vets still aren’t ready to tell the world if Bright Star is a boy or a girl…! I truly don’t know how much more of this suspense pandaholics around the world can take…!!! I know; patience is a virtue, but having already waited five weeks, and now perhaps another one…our stress levels are escalating every day! Somehow, we will cope until the long awaited news is finally determined for certain…! At least the panda cam is back in working order…!
Apparently, the 3rd exam showed the little one has gained another pound & grown 2 inches in length, which is such good news. I can’t wait to see the video of this exam; it is wonderful seeing the obvious differences in growth on the same page, so thank you for sharing that with us!
September 6th, 2007 at 3:28 pm
Is the baby able to roll from its back to its abdomen…has this milestone occurred yet?
September 6th, 2007 at 3:53 pm
Jin Zhu and Bai Yun share same father, Pan Pan, if you are interested.
September 6th, 2007 at 4:03 pm
At least we are fortunate to have a strong healthy cub - but the agony of no sex determined yet is killing us all Thanks to SDZ team for getting the panda cam back up.
Today is Mei Lan’s 1st birthday - check youtube.com for Mei in her car - a bright yellow convertible birthday present. Gives us some idea of what out little Bright Star will be like in another year.
September 7th, 2007 at 7:59 am
Since the issue with JinZhu, it is a good thing that SDZ is being cautious and wants to be sure before they announce the gender. Once we know we will know for the lifetime of the panda. A few days, or weeks, to be certain won’t affect that fact.