Mei Sheng: A Smaller Crate
Posted at 4:27 pm November 30, 2007 by Lisa BryantGiant panda Mei Sheng moved to Wolong, China on November 5, 2007. Lisa Bryant of the San Diego Zoo accompanied him on his journey and is sharing the trip with us through blog installments. See Lisa’s previous blog, Mei Sheng’s First Night in China.
Hi, everyone. I last wrote about Mei Sheng’s overnight stay in Shanghai where we witnessed him go from demure, sweet boy panda to a big boy panda. After we had gotten Mei Sheng all settled in for the night, Dr. Desheng and the Chinese keepers asked for our assistance in getting Sheng ready for the last leg of his trip. We needed to leave our overnight accommodations in Shanghai and fly to Chengdu in the morning. We were flying commercially and our plane was sizeable but smaller than the cargo plane we’d started on. What that meant was a crate change for Sheng. As you can imagine, it had to be a smaller crate than he had traveled in this far. Would he go willingly? was all I thought about for those 4 to 5 hours of sleep. Of course, with the uncertainty of his level of cooperation we wanted to give him enough time to consider our request of him. Our driver met us in front of the hotel at 5 a.m. We wanted to begin at 5:30 a.m. Surprisingly, the streets were vacant so early on a Wednesday morning except for a few heavily loaded bicycle “rickshaws,” I called them: cyclists piled so high with goods that they needed a wide-load escort.
When we arrived, we wound through the empty trails of the animal park to the hospital. Once at the hospital I was, again, pleased to see that Mei Sheng had eaten his leaf eater biscuits and some bamboo and drank water overnight. The staff showed us the crate Sheng was to transfer to. It was smaller and kind of bare; nothing a little renovating couldn’t take care of! Keepers were prepared to cover the sides and top of the crate to give him a secure feeling while continuing his travels. I asked for some hay for the crate bottom but they didn’t have any. Instead they had quite comfy bamboo mats that would serve him nicely. He could lay on them as is or “fluff” them to suit himself. We got the inside and some of the sides ready for him. We came up with a plan to best use the facility to crate Sheng with the least amount of stress to him.
With a bedroom door between Sheng’s crate and the one we wanted him to go into, I kneeled at the far end of the empty crate with Scott, the keeper who would care for him in Wolong, at my side. Scott had given me some apples, carrots, and bamboo to entice Mei Sheng into the crate. With doors opened and the crate stabilized, I called to our boy, “Mei Sheng, come.” He stared back at me like I had lost my mind. “C’mon Sheng, it’s alright,” I called. I got the recognition look from him but still he was skeptical. I broke out the secret weapon: apples.Now we’re getting somewhere! One step closer, another step closer, and he gave a little sniff of the air. I recognized that look. “Are those apples?” was my interpretation of the look on his face. Back to the rear of his crate he retreated. We went on like this for a few minutes. Slowly he got closer to me and the apples. Two steps forward, three steps back. Four steps forward, one step back until he was coming into the crate a little more with each effort. “Good boy, Sheng,” I told him as I tossed a couple of apples into his new crate. I wanted to reward him a bit for each huge effort he made and every ounce of trust he put in me. It took about 15 minutes, but he finally came all the way in the crate in baby steps with my coaxing him every step of the way. Far enough for the door to close him in.
He was surprised to find himself closed in and startled at first until, you guessed it, more apples came. That was good news to Sheng! Scott ran off to get more because now was not the time to run out of the most awesome fruit there was, at least in Sheng’s mind. As we put the final touches on his new crate he ate apples from me and Scott. Wide eyed but focused he ate, occasionally inspecting the busy fingers close to the crate lest we forget he is a big boy bear. I asked him to do a couple of behaviors he knows well: down, with an open mouth. He did not oblige; instead, I got the “You had better be happy with me in the crate. Don’t push it, lady.” attitude. I got the message and I was indeed very proud of Sheng once again. The crate with sides covered by “welcome home coming” graphics on top and one end was ready with panda aboard to go to the airport. Add a little bamboo for a snack and away we went.
Lisa Bryant is a team area lead at the San Diego Zoo.
From the San Diego Zoo’s Public Relations Department: Thank you for your comments regarding the recent addition of a sponsor to the Panda Cam. Please understand that the Panda Cam’s popularity means that it is very expensive to maintain. From the many comments we have received from all of you, we want to continue to make live cams and videos available, but to do this (and ensure that we are not taking away funds from the important work of conserving endangered species like the panda) we offer these outlets for sponsor support. Please join us in thanking Wowwee for supporting Panda Cam - so everyone can see baby Zhen Zhen.
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November 30th, 2007 at 4:47 pm
Goodness, your blog posts become more and more like a great novel with every installment! I love his “Better be happy I got in the crate!” attitude
By the way, I am SO glad I am reading this with the knowledge he arrived safely and all is well. If you’d been posting “from the road,” I wouldn’t have been able to stand it!!
November 30th, 2007 at 5:08 pm
Sniff.
I hate it when blogs make me sniff.
November 30th, 2007 at 5:17 pm
I’m loving these installments, but feel like it’s a cliffhanger every time! I’m with Mary #1 - if I didn’t already know that it had turned out well, I’d be going crazy!
Thank you so much for all the details. Every one is special.
November 30th, 2007 at 5:20 pm
Lisa, another great installment! Even tho we know how the story ends we can’t wait for more! tho Mei Sheng as such a trooper, I surely appreciate that you are one too…such a long way from home and trying to make everything as smooth as possible for Panda & people too! Great work, this is better than ‘the Forsyte Saga!’
November 30th, 2007 at 5:23 pm
Thank you so much Lisa for sharing all the details of Mei Shengs journey with us.
How lucky you are to have so much close contact with our boy and for all the pandas come to that.
Like Mary above #1 i too love his “Better be happy…..” attitude. He certainly is a character which is good as it makes him even more interesting and lovable.
I do hope there will be another installment on the journey. I will miss them when they end.
November 30th, 2007 at 5:30 pm
I’m with you Mary if they were still traveling I wouldn’t be able to wait for the next installment. I like the Big boys attitude too. Anxiously waiting fo next installment.
November 30th, 2007 at 5:38 pm
Lisa, Have you thought of making a children’s book of this? It’s fantastic! (For us adults, too!)
November 30th, 2007 at 5:53 pm
Thank you Lisa for the great information about Sheng’s smaller grate adventure. I bet you were happy he likes apples so much. I am glad to hear he finally went into the crate and he was OK, even if he didn’t want to do what you wanted him to do; best to leave big panda boy alone when he is eating his apples and being awakened to go yet again and this time in a smaller crate and plane.
November 30th, 2007 at 6:16 pm
#2 KK - I’m with you about the sniffing
To Lisa - oh my, the details of Mei’s journey are amazing. We thought we might get “we had a long flight but Mei arrived in Wolong safely” - but you have given us such a great description we feel like we were there swith you. You have such a wonderful relationship with Mei that even though cautious he still trusted you enough after a long day & flight to get in another crate for the final trip.
Scott sounds special also - we know he’ll take extra good care of his world famous panda.
Am waiting for the next installment - the arrival in Wolong.
No way to thank you for your love & devotion.
November 30th, 2007 at 6:31 pm
Again ..Thanks Lisa…it looks for sure as though many of us have been awaiting this chapter of the trip. It is wonderful that you were taking the trip with Mei Sheng, and so great for you to let us in on how it went. What a trooper Mei Sheng is!! It is no wonder that so many of us love that panda boy and keep his well-being in our thoughts and prayers.
November 30th, 2007 at 6:53 pm
Wow Lisa! Thanks for the awesome update! I too, like the other bloggers, hung onto every word even though I knew the outcome.
(You’re a very animated and humourous writer and I think it’s also because you love Mei Sheng so much!) So glad my boy is doing ok - he’s da most awesome bear!
November 30th, 2007 at 7:33 pm
Lisa, thanks so much for a continuing update and sharing Sheng’s travels with us. I love the ‘tude!
November 30th, 2007 at 7:38 pm
Lisa’a part 3 of her blog was pretty interesting as I knew it would be! Mei Sheng’s “don’t push it” attitude said it all—”I’m here in China, I’m here in this small crate, and I want my snackies! That’s all!! Now, let’s get going!” Sheng is owning his own personality, and he’s letting everybody know it, too! Lisa, I bet that during those 2 days or so travelling with Mei Sheng, you were really trying to figure out which type of personality Sheng was going to come out with, did you? Well, it looks like that you were finding that out with every step of the trip! You have done a great job with Mei Sheng during this whole process, girlfriend! Looking forward to part 4 of your blog, which should really be called a journal. Hope this does become a book that could be titled “My Trip to China with Mei Sheng”. That would be a great idea, and you could sell it at San Diego Zoo to raise money for the conservation efforts in saving the pandas in China. I’m sure that a lot of people would love to read about your journey with this beautiful panda to China, and how you were able to handle it. It can be a great teaching lesson for the kids, too.
Well, gonna go and check the pandacam. I was just on there a little while ago, and saw Zhen in the big room in her favorite corner. Cam C11 was a little dark, so it was a little hard to spot her and see if she was making any moves or not. It was around 9pm EST here in Florida when I got on the cam. So, I’ll go back on the cam and see where she’s at.
Love to all the pandas,
Chari Mercier
St. Pete, FL
November 30th, 2007 at 8:15 pm
Wow, Mei Sheng has come of age! He is more than capable of fending for himself and has lots of sense! You go, Boy! Make us all proud, son!
Thanks again for Pt. 3 of Mei Sheng’s journey to Wolong, Lisa! Blessings to you and all the panda staff!
November 30th, 2007 at 8:53 pm
Lisa, I hope you’re going to make a book out of all this! You are such a talented writer and I am sure it would be a great seller! I’d sure buy it! Can’t wait for the next installment. Thanks for taking the time to give us all the details of Mei Sheng’s journey. It’s a fabulous story!
November 30th, 2007 at 9:19 pm
Lisa, Thanks for this chapter in the story about how Mei Sheng got to Wolong. My biggest concern was about how Mei Sheng felt about all of this. I’m glad to hear he still enjoyed his favorite treats under very stressful circumstances. I had heard it took him a half hour to go into the other crate and there was much concern about that on another blog. I’m looking forward to the rest of the story.
November 30th, 2007 at 10:50 pm
What a gripping story!
I like apples too. Sheng knows a good thing when he smells it! I always said he is such a smart panda.
It was nice to hear the news accounts when it was happening, but this is SOOOOOO much better! It’s like being there. Thanks for sharing the journey.
Love, Joy
November 30th, 2007 at 11:20 pm
I am so thankful that Mei Sheng arrived safely and is adapting to his new environment even with jet lag. How many of us humans would have adapted as well as Mei Sheng? I would not have!! Will Scott be his keeper for a while?
Lisa, thank you for sharing with us such a detailed narrative. It is absolutely fascinating especially for lay people (me) who do not normally deal with animals.
I feel for you Lisa. You have left a love (Mei Sheng) to be cared for by strangers. You have a job that requires you to leave one love and then to move on to another love. I am a teacher, but I do not think I could do your job.
But, then again, my students do move on, graduate, and live their lives without me. So I guess we are dealing with the same issues. We love them when we have them, but we when they have to go, we love them from a distance.
Please continue to update us with news of Mei Sheng. I love reading about how he is doing.
Will he ever be placed in the general population after his quarantine? Will he have contact with other pandas or will he prefer to be isolated from other pandas?
December 1st, 2007 at 12:04 am
It’s like watching a show on TV…the details really help us to picture it as it happened. Lisa, he must trust you a great deal to move forward into the crate, even with the lure of apples!
Thanks for sharing this with the panda fans who love to read the blogs/posts here!!! Sure hope he likes his new enclosure and the “Chinese Cuisine.”
December 1st, 2007 at 2:42 am
Lisa, Thanks for the precious update. Whew. Vicariously, I could feel what you went through. That must be like walking on egg shells. I guess it will take some time before Sheng could really feel at home. I’m glad that Scott would be around to take care of him.
But I’d be happy if he’d come back here. And so with Hua Mei - she could have more babies in SDZ.
December 1st, 2007 at 2:54 am
Sorry for Mei Sheng. The crate that carried him from Shanghai to Wolong was really small and that made the journey not be easy for him. Though, the welcome ceremony was very, very, very grand.
December 1st, 2007 at 7:43 am
Lisa, you are really a good writer! Reading the adventures of Mei Sheng makes me feel like when I’m reading a really good book and I don’t want to put it down! Mei Sheng must really trust you to have gone into the other crate. I’m sure not even apples would have gotten him in there if he didn’t trust you. I have to admit this entry brought tears to my eyes. I’m sure Scott knows now to keep apples on hand!
December 1st, 2007 at 8:51 am
I feel like I’m reading a great mystery novel, have to put the book down and can’t continue for a couple of days! Like everyone else has mentioned, I’m SO thankful I know the ending of this book and everything turns out fine. I hate that Mei Sheng had to go through so much to get to his new “home”, but at least we know he’s there and that Scott is taking good care of him. I do like reading more about Scott, it sounds like our boy is in good hands.
Thank you Lisa, for these updates.I’m anxious to hear more and to know how he’s doing at Wolong. Please tell Scott to let Mei Sheng know that we all love him!
December 1st, 2007 at 9:07 am
Mei Sheng’s already adorable and lovable personality is apparently enhanced by apples! Thanks for sharing all of your experiences, Lisa. They are a joy to read! I hope you’re more comfy with the computer now that you’re writing We’d never know you were a self described “compu-phobe!”
December 1st, 2007 at 9:22 am
This entry seems to me to show very clearly the care and concern all you keepers have for the pandas. Thank you so much for taking time to share all these details with us. We eagerly await the next one!
December 1st, 2007 at 9:26 am
I want to hear about his arrival in Wolong, and the rest of his journey there, poor baby. I hope he got a super reward for being in the small crate.
December 1st, 2007 at 9:32 am
Lisa, I agree with the other comments, your blog posts are really wonderful! And, Mei Sheng was so lucky to have you as a traveling companion — I’m sure that had a lot to do with how well he handled the whole experience.
December 1st, 2007 at 9:46 am
Lisa, you may be compu-phobic, but you are a great writer. Maybe you can turn Mei Sheng’s journey into a book to raise money to assist his friends.
I like his attitude. It shows he was acutely aware of his surroundings and cautious about what was happening to him. The best news of all is how his trust in you built on 4 years of close working relationship paid off, and Scott got to see and experience it first hand. He saw both of you training at your best. You had something very challenging for Mei Sheng to do, and he did it with positive reinforcement and encouragement. I am very thankful that Scott was there with you from the beginning as that will go a long way toward making Mei Sheng’s transition smoother and faster now that you are no longer there.
A1 job for you, and your colleagues at SDZ, for developing Mei Sheng into such a fine animal with as great a personality and incredible trust. He is no longer the panda that left with you from San Diego. His is now a fully independent mature adult male panda. Each step he took from his old crate and old world to that smaller new crate and new world was huge for him and you. His world has become a totally new life experience in the past month. He is now on to new adventures and experiences.
December 1st, 2007 at 9:48 am
DITTO #1……”TO BE CONTINUED”………………..! LISA YOU’RE DESCRIPTIONS ARE GREAT….
December 1st, 2007 at 10:00 am
Dear Lisa,
Each installment you write is fabulous! I cannot thank you enough for the beautiful work you have created!
December 1st, 2007 at 10:52 am
Hello, Lisa, I agree with my “co-bloggers”, another great instalment of your and Mei Sheng’s journey. Apart from the apples I am pretty sure that the thorough training in San Diego did contribute to getting Mei Sheng acquainted with the smaller crate. But he certainly has got a mind of his own, good boy. And you have got so much patience. I am eagerly looking forward to your next instalment.
December 1st, 2007 at 11:19 am
Read on the SD website that Mei Sheng is experiencing some jet lag. I may get some grief from those who don’t believe that animals possess human emotions but I can’t help but wonder if some of what he is experiencing is being homesick. He is in an entirely new environment, with new people, new climate, the whole shebang. I can’t help but think that he is missing his familiar and beloved keepers and seeing little sis Su Lin at the howdy gate. I am sure that in time, he will adjust but I do believe he is missing the “home sweet home” he has known since birth. Hang in there, Sheng! We are missing you too!!
December 1st, 2007 at 2:51 pm
A tad off subject but congratulations to Lungile and WAP on the new baby elephant!
December 1st, 2007 at 3:56 pm
Thank you, Lisa, for another gripping, well-written blog. The details you include and your interpretations of Mei Sheng’s reactions make your essays outstanding reading. I assume you must be exhausted from the trip to Wolong since you had very little sleep and lots of worry. Writing these blogs might be one job you’d gladly pass on to someone else if you could. But as you have learned from reading the comments submitted by all the panda lovers, you have provided a much valued and appreciated service. I am so glad that Mei Sheng was in your good hands and also so glad that you take the time to share with us. OK, so when is the next blog coming?????
December 1st, 2007 at 4:44 pm
#32 Kris. I was thinking the same about him being homesick. He must be wondering what has happened. New enclosure new people new language it’s all so strange to him. Even the smells that he is used to are all different. I just wish he had never gone to Wolong so that we could still see him and love him more than we already do - if that’s at all possible.
I can imagine that Su Lin misses him at the howdy gate. She must be wondering where he’s gone. I keep going on to Wolong website but there’s no new information about him since his arrival.
Lisa your blogs are very much enjoyed and welcomed by us panda fans. Your accounts of what happened are so enjoyable that when you have told us everything, i will miss not reading what happened next….
December 1st, 2007 at 7:37 pm
Interesting metaphor, Margaret, about Mei Sheng’s steps into the new crate also being steps into his new life in China. Well said, Kris. I’m sure Mei Sheng is homesick.
December 1st, 2007 at 11:25 pm
Kris, #32, I am no expert, but I totally agree with you…I hope he’s not depressed, sad or homesick, but I would guess that’s a real possibility…Personally, I’m convinced that animals possess human emotions, I see it in my dogs every day..I hope our big boy acclimates to his new surroundings quickly, maybe being out of quarantine (isn’t that coming up soon?) will help him…
December 2nd, 2007 at 10:19 am
I love this blog Lisa. You give us a really good feel for all that is going on with Mei Sheng as he makes his way to his new home. We are getting a much clearer picture as well of his disposition and how you work with that to assure his safety and well being above all else.
I know I’d be crying a lot in private thinking about the day coming when I’d have to leave this sweet bear. Still you have to be pleased with the cooperation of the Chinese staff. They want him happy as much as we do.
It is a bit like a novel reading all this but it is a real adventure too.
Thank you for sharing with us.
December 2nd, 2007 at 11:42 am
Great story Lisa!! Yes, you could do a book and everyone would love to have it (including me). However, we don’t EVER want to lose you as the wonderful friend, teacher, and companion to our beloved pandas!!! Maybe you could write the book in your “spare time?’ I say this “tongue in cheek” as I doubt that “spare time” is in your vocabulary. LOL Once again, thank you for your loving care of our boy. I hope Scott has a heart like yours’.
December 2nd, 2007 at 7:58 pm
# 32 Kris - I know that animals have emotions - when our beloved dog died last year our cat moped around for days as she missed her friend she’d grown up with. When we decided to bring another dog home from the animal shelter, she knew it wasn’t her good friend but because she was also lonesome it only took an hour before our old cat & new pup were were romping around like old friends. They sleep cuddled up to each other. And somehow the 85 pound lab knew our cat is old & is very gentle when playing with her (can’t say the same when he plays with me - he’s knocked me off my feet a couple of times.!!)
We can tell that Wolong had the best interest of Sheng in mind, when they brought the keeper, Scott & also asked Lisa’s help for Sheng’s final leg of his trip. They knew the relationship of trust between Lisa & Sheng. It was also obvious that Scott knew that pandas love apples. While we are having diplomatic problems with the Chinese I read an interesting story in the travel section of our paper today - an American tourist was having trouble finding a battery for her camera so the hotel assigned an English speaking employee to help - he refused “to lose face” by returning without a battery. Am sure, Scott was not about to “lose face” if there were problems with Sheng so he did everything he could to help Lisa get Sheng, who showed his change from an easy going panda to “a big boy panda”, into his crate for the final trip to Wolong. If apples were the answer, Scott ran off to get more apples. Thank goodness for the apples, how else does one can get a “scared, big boy panda” into a small crate _ Happy honey as the last resort I guess - so glad that wasn’t needed. Lisa, you are one in a million & Scott you are not far behind - take care of our panda for us.
Trying to see our Miss ZZ has become difficult.
December 3rd, 2007 at 6:44 am
Thank you, Lisa for sharing your lovely feelings with us.
December 3rd, 2007 at 8:37 am
To all who are concerned about Mei Sheng being homesick and depressed, one of the things that was repeatedly mentioned by the Chinese that they are looking for, and monitoring, in any panda brought to Wolong from abroad is their mental attitude and whether they are eating ok. They said they would assess Sheng after his night’s rest in Shanghai and he would travel on only when his attitude was ok. Apparently it was, with a lot of help from Lisa, as they did proceed to Wolong as scheduled. The Chinese then said that part of his quarantine is to monitor his appetite and mental attitude as he adapts to his new environment. When they deem him adapted and ready, he will be presented to the public, possibly in another big ceremony (?) We must not be the only ones concerned about how he would react to all the changes in his life, routine, environment, diet, etc.
December 3rd, 2007 at 9:03 am
I’m confused about Scott. He has an English name but comes from China. Is he Chinese or American? If Chinese, can he speak English?
December 3rd, 2007 at 10:38 am
Every time I go to the Panda Cam an ad comes on. Is that the way it will always be? It is very distracting. Paula
December 3rd, 2007 at 10:39 am
I am happy that you all have a sponsor for PandaCam, so I can continue to be addicted to it. I don’t mind watching a little commercial before the stream starts.
That said, I hope the Wowweee folks don’t mind if I close my eyes when the commercial comes on, because RoboPanda is one of the creepiest toys I’ve ever seen. I’ll take the little plush Panda without a voice, thank you!
December 3rd, 2007 at 10:40 am
Is the commercial on Panda Cam going to be permanent? It is extremely irritating. I think it will severely cut down on the number of people watching.
Thank you for your comments regarding the recent addition of a sponsor to the Panda Cam. Please understand that the Panda Cam’s popularity means that it is very expensive to maintain. From the many comments we have received from all of you, we want to continue to make live cams and videos available, but to do this (and ensure that we are not taking away funds from the important work of conserving endangered species like the panda) we offer these outlets for sponsor support. Please join us in thanking Wowwee for supporting Panda Cam - so everyone can see baby Zhen Zhen.
December 3rd, 2007 at 10:47 am
Thank you for all the details on Mei Sheng. It’s nice to hear about our friend and his adventures.
On another topic, I have to say I don’t care for the sponsorship on the panda cam. I like to click on and view whenever I can. I can’t take sitting through that commercial one more time. Bad idea.
December 3rd, 2007 at 10:56 am
I understand about the Wowwee ad on the Panda Cam, but if there were an option to have the ad not start without sound, that would be best, as the automatic sound makes it hard to check the panda cam at work or in the library.
December 3rd, 2007 at 11:33 am
#48, I second that one……. don’t much care for the commerical, sorry
December 3rd, 2007 at 11:35 am
Ok, I just read the moderator’s comments above, we can put up with the ad if it means we can continue to watch the Panda cam?? Right everyone???
December 3rd, 2007 at 12:22 pm
I don’t mind the commercial, everything costs money! thank goodness we have access to the cam at all!
December 3rd, 2007 at 12:24 pm
I totally understand why the commercial sponsorship is necessary (and I’m grateful since it allows us to see all the panda family!), but I gotta agree with Louise #45 that RoboPanda is…scary. Where’s the cute? Where’s the cuddly?
December 3rd, 2007 at 12:40 pm
Margaret (#42),
I know that all the folks at SDZ and Wolong are doing everything in their power to make Mei Sheng’s transition as smooth and easy as possible. I did not mean to imply in any way that his needs were not being met. But I still believe that even in the best of circumstances, he will still miss the people he has come to know and love over the course of 4 years at SDZ as well as his familiar environment. He will forge new friendships and bonds with new people and some lucky lady pandas in the near future. I wish him and his Wolong family the best and look forward to up-dates on our dear boy Sheng. Hope you take after your Daddy Gao Gao, Mei Sheng and provide us with a bunch of adorable cubs!
December 3rd, 2007 at 12:44 pm
I have to agree with Louise when she says that RoboPanda sort of creeps her out
The little plush toy is really cute and cuddly, but Robo doesn’t exactly inspire me to say, “Awww…” However, I don’t really mind having the commercial if it means we can keep PandaCam up and running to feed my addiction.
Thanks for the newest installment of Mei Sheng’s voyage. Lisa, your blog is both entertaining and informative. It makes me wish I could send a whole truck load of apples to him.
December 3rd, 2007 at 12:46 pm
Let me know when that annoying commercial is gone. In the meantime, I’ll be watching Mei Lan in Atlanta instead.
December 3rd, 2007 at 12:49 pm
I have to say I’m not tickled about the new ad either. I certainly understand that these things cost money but I do wish there was another way. Even a pop up…just not a video. Since I don’t have the availability in my area of any kind of internet except dial up, it has effectivly taken away my ability to view at home. I can sneek peeks at work but it is frowned upon.
But…on a brighter note…ZZ will grow each time I can view her! Hopefully I’ll be able to catch her zooming around.
December 3rd, 2007 at 1:47 pm
Sometimes, it’s really hard to get over jet lags. I can imagine Mei Sheng demanding to be fed around San Diego feeding times, though.
“Hello? Excuse me, it’s time for lunch!”
“Mei Sheng, it’s 4 in the morning. Go back to bed.”
By the way, I have a feeling that Bai Yun is ready for a den move.
December 3rd, 2007 at 2:04 pm
A suggestion to raise money for the zoo - Why don’t you offer a special “behind-the-scenes” encounter with Zhen Zhen for a $500 - $1000 donation? I believe many panda-lovers would gladly pay that amount to be able to have a special encounter with ZZ. The special encounter would consist of a viewing of ZZ behind glass or behind fencing in a private room or other area, for a 30-minute period before the zoo opens. Of course, I understand that you cannot allow any direct contact with ZZ or any of the other pandas, and I also realize that you cannot guarantee that ZZ would be awake or active. I think this would be a great way to raise much-needed funds for the zoo.
On a side note, during this season of giving, I would like to remind everyone to please check with your employer to see if they will match your donations to the zoo.
December 3rd, 2007 at 2:12 pm
I understand the importance of having a sponsor for the Pandacam. My only complaint is that it stops and starts and seems to take forever to finish playing. Wish there were a volume control, too. Oh well, can’t have everything we want, can we?
December 3rd, 2007 at 2:13 pm
Lisa, thanks for the continueing story on Mei Sheng’s trip. Muchly appreciated!!
December 3rd, 2007 at 2:36 pm
Yes, the ad has taken away my cam veiwing too. I wonder how much it would be a month to keep the cam up. I would be happy to contribute.
December 3rd, 2007 at 3:09 pm
I can understand the need for funds but if the cam has to have a sponsor, can they do something about the video - sometimes it stuck so am waiting several minutes and wondering what Miss Z is up to.
December 3rd, 2007 at 3:25 pm
I can certainly understand the expense of continuing with the Panda cam. I will gladly wait to see Zhen Zhen following a commercial. They are everywhere these days. It is a minor inconvenience if you think that otherwise the only way to see her would be in person at SDZ. Most of us would never see her.
December 3rd, 2007 at 3:58 pm
I enjoy keeping up with what’s happening to the babies once they are also grown. Thank you for taking the time to keep us updated. It’s very appreciated.
December 3rd, 2007 at 8:08 pm
I understand the benefits/need for a sponsor and have waited while the Robopanda message plays each time I check the Panda Cam (usually 4+ times a day). Tonight I was very happy to see a skip>> bar was added to opt-out of watching the entire message before going to Panda Cam. Thank you so much to SDZ and Wowwee for adding this!!!
December 4th, 2007 at 6:48 am
What is a little minor inconvenience compared to not being able to view the most precious creatures on earth at all, nothing is cheap any more and I for one would rather have more money available for the research and care of our animals. Speaking of money how about a little something for the Dec wish list.
December 4th, 2007 at 6:52 am
I agree that the commercial is most annoying. I hope they made you an offer you just couldn’t refuse, and I am really hoping it is just for the Christmas season? The volume of the thing will really cut down on sneak peaks at the cam at work places. But it won’t keep me from checking on the precious pandas from home–just maybe not quite as often.
December 4th, 2007 at 11:11 am
I will GLADLY put up with anything for the chance to see our pandas. I hope that all who are complaining are doing what they can with donations, etc., to make the need for advertising unnecessary.
December 4th, 2007 at 11:39 am
Thank you for the “skip” button. I haven’t visited the web site as frequently since it the commercial was installed. Panda Cam is what precipitated my visits to the San Diego Zoo. I had never visited before, now we plan entire vacations around visiting the SDZ and seeing the pandas. Ending Panda Cam, or even discouraging people from using it, would be a big mistake, in my opinion.
December 4th, 2007 at 2:55 pm
#69 - Barbara - I’m with you. I’ve never been to San Diego and I would gladly travel from NC to CA just to see precious Zhen Zhen. My kids think I’m crazy. Panda Cam is advertising for the zoo. Fundraising is a necessity but there should be boundaries. Please no commercials. Raising money this way is a turn off, literally, me turning off my panda cam. Thank god for widgets!
December 4th, 2007 at 10:04 pm
My whining comment regarding Robopanda was rejected (sniffle) and I was sent an email that the crew was working on a better way….they FOUND it. As I click into SDZ, I first mute, then hit the “skip” and off we go as usual. Thank you for helping us to fix that glitch. We realize our wonderful nursery eye costs a lot of $$, and however you can raise it, GO for it! We so appreciate watching lil miss ZZ and would be desolate if we missed one day. Lisa, we are so glad to hear your wonderful reports. It is just like being there. I cannot say enough about your caring attitude to Sheng….I still tear up when I think I won’t see him again. I have tried getting on the Wolong cam, but it is just somehow too impersonal…. I feel like I need field glasses to see the pandas. I started to become a “professional observer”, but hesitated when they insisted on my email address. Has anyone else done this? Does it give you a closer view of the pandas? I swear if I were driving down the road next to that pasture, and saw all those pandas, I would be in the DITCH!!
December 4th, 2007 at 11:17 pm
# 70 Angie, that’s funny that your kids think you’re crazy. My daughter says the same about me - she says that I have a “Panda Disorder”! ha ha! Darn kids, think they know everything!
December 12th, 2007 at 12:02 am
Sniff, Sniff. I watched as our baby boy popped into the world. Now I watched as our big boy goes to his new home. I appreciate the journals and they would make a great book fo us adults. Thank you.