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RussianLook Who’s Talking: New Research on Panda Vocal Communication
Posted at 11:50 am March 20, 2008 by Ron Swaisgood
I’d like to take the opportunity to introduce a new scientific program on panda vocal communication. I’d also like to introduce you to Jen Keating, who will be writing blogs about this program from Wolong, China, our long-time partner in panda conservation.
Any visitor to our panda exhibit at the San Diego Zoo or our Web site knows that we’ve had a long-standing interest in how pandas communicate. Why are we so interested in knowing what pandas are saying to each other? There are many reasons, but mostly because communication is fundamental for successful reproduction. Without communication, mates would be unable to locate one another or negotiate the delicate courtship process leading to mating. Our previous studies into the olfactory communication behavior of the giant panda have shown that scent-marking signals convey information about individual identities and readiness to mate, as well as facilitating sexual motivation prior to mating. Wolong’s use of this information to change the way their pandas were managed for breeding contributed to the dramatic increase in successful reproduction seen there.
In contrast to olfactory signals, however, less is known about the role that vocal signals play in giant panda reproduction. While quiet and solitary most of the year, pandas use a bewildering array of vocalizations when they come together for mating. It is likely that these elaborate vocalizations help pandas negotiate the delicate transition from their normally solitary and aggressive tendencies to mutually beneficial sexual behaviors, and they also may play a role in female choice of a mate. More than two decades ago, Devra Kleiman and Gustav Peters conducted some very interesting studies on the two pandas at the National Zoological Park. These studies gave some valuable insights into panda acoustic communication, but a study on more animals using new technology is needed.
So that’s the “why;” next comes the “what.” This kind of work requires expertise in a very specialized field known as bioacoustics. We have partnered with Zoo Atlanta, who last year hired just such a person, Ben Charlton. Ben recently received his Ph.D. in this field and is spearheading a major collaborative effort to learn more about how pandas produce these vocal signals, define the acoustic structure of the vocalizations, and, ultimately, understand what they mean to pandas and how they contribute to breeding readiness. This research is a collaboration between us, Zoo Atlanta, the Wolong Breeding Center, and the Chengdu Giant Panda Base. Ben is working mostly in Chengdu, and Jen is working mostly in Wolong. Jen is another person with extensive experience in bioacoustics, which is why we hired her to assist with the San Diego Zoo’s part of the collaboration. Over the coming weeks, Jen will report to you from Wolong and you will learn more about her, Wolong, the research program, and, most of all, pandas! Enjoy!
Ron Swaisgood, Ph.D. is co-head of the San Diego Zoo’s Giant Panda Conservation Unit
New video of Zhen Zhen is now posted…
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March 20th, 2008 at 2:25 pm
We all look forward to hearing more about Ben and Jen’s research from Chengdu on ZA website, and Wolong on SDZ website. We also hope that Jen can provide us with an update about Mei Sheng and how he is doing in his new surroundings.
March 20th, 2008 at 5:00 pm
This all sounds very interesting and we will all learn more about communications from panda to panda. Obviously the more zoos that join together the more research that will be covered.
Like Margaret #1 i too am hoping that Jen will be able to get us some information on Mei Sheng. I did think that maybe Wolong would let SDZ know what has happened and how our big boy is.
March 20th, 2008 at 9:26 pm
What a neat research topic! I hope the pandas in the many facilities give you lots of vocalizations… that is, that they are big talkers.
I have had several dreams where I, like Dr. Doolittle, could talk to the animals and they could talk to me. I enjoyed thinking about those dreams during waking hours also, imagining what I would say and what questions I would ask the animals of the world.
I think I would ask the pandas, “What do you like to play with when you have the time?” and “How do you find the tastiest patches of bamboo in the wild?”
Thanks for updating us on the research you are doing, and let us know what the pandas have to say. Love, Joy
March 21st, 2008 at 7:49 am
Would it be possible to put up a podcast of some of these vocal communications, with a narrative?
Thanks!
March 21st, 2008 at 9:39 am
Wow. That will be great if we could hear some of the vocalizations. Thanks.
Conversation with Gao Gao #33
Tourist: Hello, Gao Gao.
Gao Gao: Hello, Mr. Tourist.
T: Now what’s going on here? You’re on your PDA again.
G: Oh, I’m managing a sperm bank.
T: Sperm bank?
G: Uh huh.
T: You mean you collect sperm?
G: Well, not quite. But I do keep good records.
T: You mean the donors as well as recipients.
G: Yup. And history, age, condition of sperm, etc.
T: So you’re going to be a geneticist?
G: Well, not quite.
T: So what are you doing?
G: Well, I kind of distribute matchmaking manuals.
(meanwhile, in National Zoo)
Mei Xiang: Hey, Tian Tian.
Tian Tian: Huh?
M: Didn’t I see a shadow gliding across the full moon the other night?
T: Yeah. Looked like Gao Gao riding his bicycle pedalled ice cream cart.
March 21st, 2008 at 11:15 am
That Su Lin is on a tear today. Up and down the trees, rolling in the dirt right at the front of the exhibit (much to the delight of the visitors), playing with her toys, splashing in her pool. What fun! Could it be that spring is in the air..?
March 21st, 2008 at 12:27 pm
Just read the notes on the ZA website and it made me curious about something and I am hoping one of the SD keepers might address the issue and help solve the mystery. ZA talks about how Yang Yang is in full out ready to breed mode (the pacing, being off his bamboo, etc) yet Lun Lun tests show that estrus isn’t likely anytime soon. Then we have the bears in Memphis, where there blog tells us that their female Ya Ya has a very unpredictable estrus that can pretty much happen any season. I wondered what happens if the male and female are not in sync. How long is the male ready to mate? Is his readiness a seasonal thing dependent on his own hormones? Or is it somehow related to “sensing” the timing of when the female will be ready? I am guessing that this is part of why pandas are endangered. I know that their window of opportunity to breed is very small. Even when the opportunity presents itself, all doesn’t necessarily go as planned (as we witnessed with Mei Xiang and Tian Tian this week). But if the male and female are not on the same schedule, so to speak, it would seem to make the opportunity all but impossible. Just curious…
March 21st, 2008 at 12:44 pm
P. Wong, if only Gao Gao really did distribute matchmaking manuals, and give great education to his US zoo male panda friends. Let’s hope that Tai Shan is a bit better at “finding his way around” than his papa. At least Tian got the right end and knew what he was supposed to do, just not exactly in the right location.
Thank goodness for modern veterinary and reproductive science. With AI, the chances that there will be a sibling for Tai are greatly increased. Too bad Gao wasn’t able to be there “in person” as he would surely have gotten the job done.
March 21st, 2008 at 3:09 pm
Welcome to the new researchers! I hope they will be very successful in understanding and helping the panda population.
As other readers of the blog, I’d love an update about our beloved Mei Sheng. How is he doing and did he start dating panda girls? Thank you in advance.
Maybe P wong has already some hints about Mei Sheng’s new life? And by the way thank you for all your poems.
March 21st, 2008 at 3:16 pm
… an ice cream cart - I’m still giggling over that one. Thank you P. Wong! I was having a dreadful afternoon (yes, even in beautiful SD a person can have a really tough Friday) - but you made it all better! Have a great weekend.
March 21st, 2008 at 3:29 pm
I am so excited that I got to visit the zoo for the first time on Mar. 18 & 20. I got some great photos of Su Lin eating, eating and eating and Bai Yun eating and sleeping. Of course, Zhen Zhen was sleeping high in the trees. Even after 20 times going through the exhibit at different times of day, I still did not get to see Zhen on the ground. Oh, well it was worth the trips and standing in line. I couldn’t believe I was really seeing pandas. As I entered the exhibit and got my first glimpse of Su Lin, the tears started to well up in my eyes. What beautiful creatures! Thank you to Chris for her informative narration in the exhibit. Everyone was great at the zoo. The security people even printed out a map and directions to my hotel for me. Wow!!! Can’t wait to go again.
March 21st, 2008 at 7:16 pm
It would be wonderful to understand what the pandas are “saying” to each other. And it really did seem that the arrival of Spring had set the pandas in motion, around and around and around and in Su Lin’s case, up and down the tree.
You all who get to see the pandas in “person” are sooo lucky–and the time-lapse camera seems to be broken so I’m having trouble catching up on their days. Off to the new video!!
March 23rd, 2008 at 1:23 pm
Happy Easter to all at SDZ and pandaholics everywhere.
Thank you so much for the new latest video of Zhen Zhen. It is lovely to see her on the ground for a change! With the time difference between UK and USA i never seem to find Zhen Zhen to be seen let alone on the ground. It really shows how much she is growing. She is certainly ‘filling’ out nicely. What i would give for a cuddle with her!! Wishful thinking on my part!.
March 24th, 2008 at 8:10 pm
Happy Easter Monday all. Although I am a total SDZ fan, I am vacationing in DC and get to see the whole family over here! Yippee! Tai is a lot bigger than the cam shows but it was great to see them and their enclosures. Makes it easier to identify where they really are. The pandas were quiet today, too bad, whould have loved to hear them.
Next I have to get to San Diego and see the family there!