Comments on: News from Panda Canyon

By: Margaret

Margaret — Thu, 01 May 2008 19:16:40 +0000

Basi, who visited SDZ in 1987 for 200 days, and was a very talented athelete, is now 26.5 years old. They had a special celebration for her when she turned 25 in 2006. She had catarac surgery just a couple of years ago, and it made her a whole new bear.

With better nutrition and medical care in captivity, pandas can easily live to be 20+ years old. Bai Yun is getting up there too, as are her father and mother in China. Shi Shi is one of the oldest pandas, and his declining senses are a testament to that fact. They bang his dishes on the floor so he knows his food is there. He is greatly beloved by his keepers and his fans, and they take wonderful care of him. One of our Chinese SDZ blogger friends keeps up with him for us. Maybe he can get us an update for all our new panda blog readers.

By: lainie

lainie — Thu, 01 May 2008 18:38:29 +0000

Wow an overwhelming response regarding Ling, Ling. =) Thank you everyone for the information.
# 83 Barbara - your description of Shi Shi brough tears to my eyes….=( Your story made me a tiny bit sad.

Giant pandas have qualities that have captured the public heart on several occasions. Each panda is a unique individual and an important representative of the species. Ling Ling, the panda who recently passed away at the Ueno Zoo in Japan, lived there for many years and was a beloved member of that community. We extend our sympathies to the animal care staff in Tokyo. We know they are mourning his loss.

By: barbara

barbara — Thu, 01 May 2008 17:33:22 +0000

I was sad to hear of the passing of Ling Ling which brought back memories of our old friend Shi Shi who is now in his thirties. I goggled his name and found a sight from someone who last saw him in Oct of 2007. His compound has a lot of bamboo trees and a large outdoor area, sadly Shi Shi is totaly blind and is not allowed outdoors, but his inside area is large and he knows his way around with ease. His keeper is able to walk up next to him and place his food and water dishes. The lady who adopted him visits once a year and is able to hold his paw, but the pictures of him shows just how time has taken a toll on him, with is head hung low I felt a sense of sadness for this beautiful animal. He is just a old old man with all the ailments of his age which I figure in human years is about 100, but after all he is still our honorable old gentleman and Hua Mei's father.

By: Margaret

Margaret — Thu, 01 May 2008 15:11:57 +0000

Now we see a bear with a partial left ear in C2. It looks like you have had a lot of rain because the ground is wet, and there are big puddles. I see the yams near the pool that Gao hasn't quite reached yet. He is busy sniffing and exploring. Too bad the snow was all melted by the time he got there. Who knows he might have surprised all of us and taken a slide or two himself. Mei Sheng got the ham side of him from somewhere, maybe " hurricane Bai Yun?" Maybe Su Lin got her sedate side from her Daddy. Glad to know that in recent weeks she has started to come into her own, and started being more outgoing and interact with her audience. Perhaps she has finally gotten over not having big brother to play with and act up with anymore.

Moderator's note: You are all keen observers! Yes, the keepers swapped Su Lin and Gao Gao, so Gao will now be on exhibit for a few weeks while Su enjoys some time in the off-exhibit classroom area.

By: Rita

Rita — Thu, 01 May 2008 15:06:11 +0000

What was Gao Gao up to this morning? Unusual to see him climbing up the trees.

By: Margaret

Margaret — Thu, 01 May 2008 14:55:10 +0000

P.S. Now I can see two full size ears, so I know it is Su Lin. Must be time to change up the pandas and give Gao Gao a chance to be with his adoring public. Too bad she won't be able to put on a show for her fans for a week, if you follow previous exchange pattern, but she will have a blast exploring new territory.

By: Frances in NYC

Frances in NYC — Thu, 01 May 2008 14:53:10 +0000

OK–have you switched Su Lin and Gao Gao, or is that Gao Gao climbing everything in sight on C28?

By: Margaret

Margaret — Thu, 01 May 2008 14:51:56 +0000

Are my eyes deceiving me or did I see a panda climbing a tree on C28 at 7:45 AM PDT? Did you switch yards for Su Lin and Gao Gao? Gao Gao normally doesn't climb, and he tends to be a ground hugging bamboo eating machine. So, either Su Lin is exploring the new area, including the trees, or Gao has suddenly decided to start climbing.

If it is Su Lin, we look forward to a note from keepers about the exchange, and her reaction, as well as changing the legend for the locations of the cams. Meerkats are going a fabulous job of zooming in on the active panda, which appears to be very high in a tree. If it is Su Lin, she is getting a very full enrichment week, first the snow, and then changing exhibits.

Thanks.

By: Helen Rainier

Helen Rainier — Thu, 01 May 2008 12:57:33 +0000

#69 — Lainie — Ling Ling, Japan's oldest panda, has indeed died. He was thought to have been the fifth oldest panda in the world, according to an article in the Chicago Tribune. The pictures I have seen of him he did, indeed, look like an elderly panda. But other animals also show their age as they get older. Had a black lab once who had developed grey in his fur particularly around his nose and mouth. It's just a part of the never-ending cycle of life and death.

May Ling Ling rest in peace — he lived a long life.

By: pandafan

pandafan — Thu, 01 May 2008 03:37:12 +0000

#69 Iainie - yes, according to several news sources, Ling Ling was found dead by his keeper on the morning of April 30th. Apparently, he died of heart failure. I guess his decline started back in August when they noticed he had lost both strength and appetite. They had pulled him off exhibit just the day before. If you want to check the news reports, just google " oldest giant panda" .