Panda Birthdays
Posted at 11:44 am August 1, 2008 by Michelle Thompson
Our sibling pandas will be celebrating their birthdays this weekend. Zhen Zhen is turning one this Sunday, and Su Lin will be three on Saturday. What a treat it has been to watch each of these two pandas grow. Just think about how small they started out, only ounces in weight!
We will be celebrating this joyous occasion with extra-special treats for our birthday girls. The birthday treats will be put out both in the morning and again in the afternoon. Come stop by the Giant Panda Research Station to wish the girls a happy birthday or catch a glimpse of the fun on Panda Cam!
Michelle Thompson is a research technician at the San Diego Zoo.
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August 1st, 2008 at 12:05 pm
Are you celebrating Su on 8/2 and ZZ on 8/3 or both on 8/3? Please advise.
Moderator's note: We will celebrate both girls' birthdays on Sunday, August 3.
August 1st, 2008 at 12:32 pm
Hi Michelle -
Yes indeed, what a treat! We can't believe how quickly the years are passing. Su Lin, Zhen Zhen and all our pandas are the sweetest. They give us so much joy and happiness – we love them all. We will be attending this momentous birthday event. Thank you for the invitation.
August 1st, 2008 at 12:43 pm
Happy Birthday, Girls!!! I've enjoyed watching you two from birth — what lovely girls you've become. Enoy your special day.
August 1st, 2008 at 1:00 pm
Happy Birthday to our beautiful girls, Su you are a beauty and Zhen what a grown up girl, you both have given us hours of pleasure and joy, before you know it she will be weaned from Bai and will begin a new phase in her life. Su, we will continue to watch, when your not up in you tree and hope that you will be able to stay with us for a while longer but until that day we will be watching every day and savor every milestone with you. HAPPY BIRTHDAY hope for lots of treats and of course presents. To all the keepers Thank You for taking care of these magnificent animals and allowing us into their world
August 1st, 2008 at 1:25 pm
I hope there will be video(s) of the birthday celebrations. It has been a long time since the last one. Can't wait!
August 1st, 2008 at 1:36 pm
How exciting this weekend will be. Happy Birthday Su Lin and Zhen Zhen!!!!
Maybe you will get a cousin (or 2) this weekend at NZP. If this was last year, it might have been a 1/2 sibling. We just hope there is at least one cub born in USA this year. Since China seems to be having a very successful breeding/birthing season in 2008, we hope the luck continues " across the pond" at NZP and ZA.
Mei Xiang continues to hold everyone in suspense, and LunLun doesn't seem ready to reveal her secrets either. Maybe they don't want to overshadow your birthday celebration! If so we will look for new cubbie on starting on Monday.
August 1st, 2008 at 1:59 pm
I sending a BIG HAPPY BIRTHDAY to two of the most beautiful girls in the world. First Happy 3rd Birthday to Miss Su Lun and Saturday and Happy 1st Birthday to our baby girl Miss Zhen Zhen on Sunday. May their weekend be filled with many treats and gifts. I'm sure many of us will be watching and helping them celebrate with our own parties. lol
August 1st, 2008 at 2:28 pm
Hi! I'll be sure to catch Su Lin and ZZ on the pandacam for their birthday parties this Sunday! That will be fun to watch! Just saw little Miss ZZ on a tree brand on the SDZ pandacam! FINALLY!! YEA!!! She was as snug as a bug on a tree branch rug sleeping the afternoon away with her back to the cam! She's a lot bigger, too! She covers more of the branch than she did just a couple of months ago!
Well, gonna go. Need to get back on the cams again!
Chari Mercier
St. Pete, FL
August 1st, 2008 at 3:01 pm
Happy Birhtday Sue Lin & Zhen Zhen , I cant wait till the end of August to see you guys again.
Love all you Bai Yen , Gao Gao ,Sue Lin , & Zhen Zhen
Lots of love to the staff who take care of you
August 1st, 2008 at 3:22 pm
Wonderful to watch them grow up in front of our eyes! Happy birthday to both Su Lin and Zhen Zhen!
August 1st, 2008 at 3:23 pm
A clarification for our many panda fans –the girls will be celebrating their birthdays together on Sunday, August 3.
Stop on by to join in the fun!
August 1st, 2008 at 4:18 pm
Just had to say a big Happy 3rd Birthday to Su Lin, and Happy Birthday to our precious one year old Zhen Zhen. What a joy it's been to watch both of them grow. No day can be too bad if these girls (and Momma and Poppa of course) can be seen on the cam! Will try my best to get logged onto the web cam on Sunday—but it may be crowded!!!! Good thing that there will be video on Monday.
Not sure when my day may come to go to China—with lots of luck next year. But my current goal is to just get down to San Diego. That may be more doable in the foreseeable future. I have a 27 month old great nephew who might enjoy the trip! I was wishing he was just a little older for the Fisher Price weekend. That will be so much fun to just watch all the kids playing.
Received my two books from ShopZoo today. They were so quick. I just ordered on Tuesday. Another great experience with the SDZ. Thank you!
August 1st, 2008 at 4:39 pm
Happy Birthday to Su and Zhen! Congratulation to Bai and Gao and all the wonderful staff at the SDZ!
If the NZ gets another surprise, I'll be flipping back and forth all day long!
I certainly will be spending a large portion of Sunday watching the celebrations on the pandacam
Hooray! Hooray! Sunday will be a Panda Holiday!!
August 1st, 2008 at 4:42 pm
Happy Birthdays!! You beautiful girls.
August 1st, 2008 at 4:57 pm
Party on Girls!! Sunday — it's all about you!! What a great day it will be — can't wait — and will try and be first in line to join the festivities. Should be a beautiful So Cal day — and with the added joy of watching our panda girls celebrating their big day — it's going to be lots of fun. Thanks everyone at the SD Zoo for all that they do to make every animal in their care happy, healthy and celebrated — you're the best!
August 1st, 2008 at 5:41 pm
HAPPY BIRTHDAY to Su Lin and Zhen Zhen!! What a treat for us to celebrate with them, whether in person or from any point across our world. And–a special thanks to all the keepers, vets, and scientists who have helped them arrive to their landmarks days with good health and comfort.
August 1st, 2008 at 6:18 pm
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO 2 VERY Beautiful Panda Girls!! I can;t beleive " our" little girl is already 1 year old!! The year has just gone too fast!! ZZ is my first cub of what I hope to be many, MANY more!
Maybe Mei will give you girls a " present" of a cousin for your birthday. Wouldn't THAT be fun! More babies to participate in Santa Paws come Christmas!!
THANK YOU SDZ keepers and meerkats! You give us a view into a world we would not nromally get to see. We are so blessed to have this opportunity! Thank you always!! Keep up the wonderful work you do, day in and day out!!
August 1st, 2008 at 6:36 pm
Happy Birthday to Su Lin and Zhen Zhen, Sweet and Pretty Girls. I hope you're having a wonderful day and enjoy your birthday treats on Sunday! I'll be watching the birthday celebrations on the Panda cam. Best wishes to your beautiful parents Bai Yun and Gao Gao and to your sweet brother Mei Sheng as well.
Pandas Le Le and Ying Ying at Ocean Park in Hong Kong will also be celebrating their birthdays this month (Le Le's birthday is on 08/08 and Ying Ying's birthday is on 08/16.) Happy Birthday to the lovely panda couple as well.
August 1st, 2008 at 8:11 pm
It seems like just a month or so ago that Su Lin was weaned, and soon it will be Zhen Zhen's turn.
But the happier part is to think of the prospect of them interacting on the ground or in the trees like Su Lin and Mei Sheng did before he went to China. Since she might get to stay longer while the " new" Wolong is built for her to move to, she might have more opportunity to play wiith " little" sister. What fun that will be, and it will help to ease the anxiety we all feel when the " baby's" time to leave momma comes.
It seems like panda cubs are tiny for only a matter of days, moving in slow motion until they start to crawl/walk, and then " bang!" they are out of the starting gate and off into to trees to grow grow grow. Before we have time to blink, they are adolescent pandas ready for independence. Bai is a world-class mother, and Gao, well let's just say that " He's the man!" He knows how to get down to business and get his job done. He is an excellent father, producing strong, healthy, and gorgeous cubs.
Happy Birthday girls! Enjoy the celebration one and all! I hope the parents get something special on the big day too! After all, if it wasn't for their outstanding breeding record, we wouldn't have these precious girls in the world.
August 1st, 2008 at 8:35 pm
Happy Birthday to the 2 most beautiful girls in the world! And a special blessing to all the SDZ staff who provide such loving care! Claudia ( PS: I'll even be giving up my precious Nascar on Sunday.)
August 1st, 2008 at 8:52 pm
Tai Shan asked me to send along the following to his two dear cousins: " Happy birfday to cuzzin Su Lin and cuzzin Zoom Zoom! Cuzzin Su Lin, you are definitewy a widdle bit of sumfin beary cute, and cuzzin Zoom Zoom is weally livin up to her name fing. Hab fun wif your ginormous birfday fwootsickow, and smile for unkie Bwuce when he comes ta bissit you next week!"
Tai Shan adores his San Diego cousins, and hopes he has a little brother or sister soon.
August 1st, 2008 at 9:07 pm
For anyone looking for a trip to Chengdu (home of Lun Lun and Yang Yang) and Bifengxia (new home of Mei Sheng and Hua Mei) to play with panda cubs, and potentially see SDZ's own first two panda " cubs" now full grown adults, NZP has a trip coming up Aug 31 - Sept 14. Lisa Stephens the NZP's curator of pandas and primates is the tour guide. It would be like going on an SDZ trip with Ron Swaisgood as the tour director. I can't even imagine how awesome that will be.
My guess is that the SDZ's 2008 China trip to see pandas will also have an itinerary switch to go to Chengdu and Bifengxia as well, since the pandas have all been moved from Wolong to other conservation areas around China. I read recently that they are getting a couple hundred guests a week at Panda facilities now compared to several thousand per week. Due to the shortage of bamboo, the daily rations per panda are about 25-40% at some facilities of what they were pre-earthquake. I am sure they will welcome visitors from their partner facilities in the US.
Either trip will indeed be the " trip of a lifetime."
Moderator's note: The San Diego Zoo does indeed offer trips to China to see the pandas. The next one will be sometime in April 2009. We will post the itinerary and more information when it is finalized.
August 2nd, 2008 at 1:37 am
Happy Happy Birthday to Sweetie (a little bit of something very cute) Su Lin on her 3rd Birthday today. And a Happy Fluffy Birthday to that gorgeous Zhen Zhen (whose name I finally learned how to pronounce properly), tomorrow. I've booked my place at the party (bet it will be packed at the Zoo) and am looking forward to it.
At the moment Britain is cold and wet (again!). Last week our temperatures were comparable with yours, now we're all shivering. I wish I had Dr Who's Tardis, then I could pop over whenever I wanted!
Happy Birthday Girls.
August 2nd, 2008 at 2:36 am
Happy Birthday to miss Sue Lin and to Zhen Zhen, hope you have a wonderful day, with lots of treats, thanks to all the staff for looking after theese beautiful pandas, and letting us enjoy them as well
August 2nd, 2008 at 4:43 am
Happy birthday to adorable Su Lin and Zhen Zhen.
Baby Zhen, my sister will also be celebrating her nth birthday with you on the same day ^^
Sending love and greetings from Hong Kong to the lovely panda family and staff of SDZ ~
August 2nd, 2008 at 5:11 am
I can't belieeeeeeeeve Su Lin will be 3 tomorrow. It seems like yesterday that I watched her as a wiggling cub (weighing only ounces) on the panda cam! It has been amazing to watch her grow up. HAPPY 3rd BIRTHDAY SU LIN!!!!! Enjoy your birthday treats!
Little Miss Zhen Zhen will be 1 tomorrow. WOW, how quickly time flies! She's a great treat to watch! HAPPY 1st BIRTHDAY ZHEN ZHEN (ZOOM ZOOM, ZZ). I hope you enjoy your birthday treats!
August 2nd, 2008 at 5:31 am
Su, You've become " A Whole Lot of Something Cute" . Happy Birthday. Enjoy your special treats.
Zoomy, You are following in the tracks of your famous siblings with cuteness and aplomb. Happy First Birthday. Can't wait to see who demolishes the big " 1" on your cake, you or Mommy.
I'm sure Hua Mei and Mei Sheng are sending all sorts of good vibes from China.
Girls, hope this year you'll have lots of chats up in the trees, maybe even in the rain.
Congratulations to Bai and Gao on your two beautiful girls. You can be very proud of yourselves.
August 2nd, 2008 at 6:00 am
Happy birthday to " our" babies. Just like their human counterparts, they sure do grow up fast, don't they? Can't wait to see the festivities…
My friend and fellow Panda Pal here at MSU, Lynn, shares her birthday tomorrow with ZhenZhen. Funny how even she didn't notice until this year that their birthdays fall on the same day! Happy birthday to all the girls.
August 2nd, 2008 at 6:50 am
happy birthday to the sweetest little panda girls in California!
August 2nd, 2008 at 7:35 am
Happy Birthday Su and Zhen! May you enjoy the blessings of a long and happy life and may you grace the earth with your own beautiful cubs some day. Hope you get lots of yummy treats!
August 2nd, 2008 at 8:05 am
Happy Birthday sweet girls! You're both growing up to be beautiful, just like your parents. I can't wait to see what your wonderful keepers have planned for your big special celebration tomorrow.
August 2nd, 2008 at 9:13 am
Love and boo to the two of you!!!
August 2nd, 2008 at 9:18 am
Happy birthday, beautiful Su Lin! You were my first panda cub and I fell in love with you from the first moment I saw you on the cam. It's been such a joy and marvel to watch you grow these three years. Many thanks to everyone at SDZ who has taken such wonderful, loving care of you and enabled us to see all the stages of your growing up.
August 2nd, 2008 at 11:35 am
Dear Su Lin and Zhen Zhen,
Happy Birthday!! My daughter and I wil be there for your birthday celebration!! We are so excited!! See you tomorrow!!
Love,
Seiko and Melodie
August 2nd, 2008 at 12:29 pm
Hi I was just watching Su Lun on the cam looks like birthdays are hard on her and she has to have a nap. LOL
August 2nd, 2008 at 12:38 pm
Happy Birthday to our girls! Here in Arizona we'll be celebrating with a cake and ice cream. And thanks, as always, to the Zoo staff for taking such wonderful care of the San Diego Four.
August 2nd, 2008 at 12:47 pm
Happy Birthday little ones. We look forward to seeing you in November when we come for holidays. I plan I passing through the exhib quite a few times to keep catching glimpses of my babies.
August 2nd, 2008 at 9:33 pm
Happy Birthday, Su Lin and Zhen Zhen! Hope you girls are enjoying all the treats!
August 3rd, 2008 at 4:04 am
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ZHEN ZHEN AND SU LIN
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU.
WOW 1 whole year of watching baby cubbie Zhen Zhen, ive watched her grow up from a few hours old to today. Happy 1st Birthday Zhen Zhen. Happy 3rd Birthday to Su Lin.
I am so looking forward to watching Zhens birthday celebrations on panda cam, Wonder what she will make of her panda cake?.
There have been some wonderful play times between Bai Yun and Zhen Zhen just lately. It's so beautiful to watch, it puts a smile on your face.
Congratulations to Bai Yun and Gao Gao on another beautiful baby in Zhen Zhen. Congratulations must also go to SDZ for helping to raise another wonderful panda cub.
August 3rd, 2008 at 6:29 am
Happy Birthday to our two beautiful girls,, Su Lin 3 years old already where does the time go,,, and to little Zhen Zhen first birthday,,, I hope they both have a wonderful Party,,
lots of love all the way From Worcstershire in tht U.K.
Chrissy Beahan,
XXXXXXXXXXXXX
P.S.
I don't think the Panda Cams are working at the weekends,, are they ??????
August 3rd, 2008 at 7:13 am
Happy Birthday sweet, wonderful, precious little girls! You are such beautiful treasures, we love you little ones
August 3rd, 2008 at 9:13 am
I'm watching ZZ and her mum with the cake. ZZ just HAD to get that number one off the top didn't she? What a lovely tumble she did with it. Great fun.
August 3rd, 2008 at 9:46 am
Congratulations ZZ and Su Lin!! Just watched ZZ enjoy her birthday cake…she was literally right on top of the whole thing and then fell off. She tried to keep mom away but mom got her licks in there also. When ZZ finished enjoying her cake, she proceeded to climb, climb, climb up as far as she could and ended up laying on a branch that I would think would not hold her…but it did! Hope to get to see Su Lin later.
August 3rd, 2008 at 10:27 am
Conversation with Zhen Zhen and Bai Yun (apologies to P Wong):
Ms. Tourist: Bai Yun, you must be so proud–both of your girls celebrating birthdays today…
BY: (Crunch, crunch) …so proud…(crunch, crunch, crunch)
MT: And you, little one, how are you enjoying your special day?
ZZ: Wow! Today's my birthday! I never had a birthday before, so I didn't know what to expect. I got this cool green thing called a " cake" or something that I could climb on and Mommy could eat and I could eat some too and I could climb on Mommy and then I could play with this purple box and Mommy could eat it and then I could play with the cake some more and we knocked it over and THEN I could eat some more AND get all muddy! A double treat! La la la, where's Mommy? Oh, she's over there on top of the hut…la la la…here I am near my tree I think I'll climb up and see what's going on up there–wow, leaves and branches and twigs! What a great day! Yawn–I think I'll just take a little nap. zzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.
BY: (Crunch, crunch)…they grow up so fast…(crunching and smiling).
ZZ: ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ.
August 3rd, 2008 at 10:51 am
HAPPY BIRTHDAY SWEET SU AND PRECIOUS ZHENNIE! I'm so happy your mommy and daddy gave you to us! You girls have been a pleasure to see everyday on the cam. I hope to see you both again very soon. I'll never forget theday I visited you and your handsome brother last October when you looked right at me Suzie! It was as if you were just smiling at me and I will always treasure that moment. You and your little sister a wonderful blessing to everyone. I hope you both enjoy your birthday treats and I'll be with you always on the cam. I love you girls!
August 3rd, 2008 at 12:08 pm
Congrats to our Cali Panda baby gals! Can't believe Su Lin is already 3! It seems like it was yesterday when she was a cub tugging on Bai Yun for play sessions! They sure are growing up fast! Happy and blessed birthday and many more to all of our pandas! Hugs and more hugs to you baby girls! Love you all!
August 3rd, 2008 at 1:30 pm
Happy Birthday you two beautiful panda girls! We have watched you grow-up on the panda cam. Wish your big brother could be here to celebrate with you. Mei Sheng is truly missed. I'm sure he is sending the both of you great big birthday kisses. Does anyone know how Mei Sheng is doing?
August 3rd, 2008 at 1:35 pm
Happy birthday to you Su Lin and Zoum Zoum!!
You are both beautiful and so lovely!! I wish you all the best and hope this next year will bring you a lot of new and great adventures!!!
I wish I could hugh you both!!! Enjoy your day ladies!
August 3rd, 2008 at 2:04 pm
What a wonderful day for the panda girls - and supermama Bai! Thank you so much SDZ for providing them with those beautiful ice cakes and other treats. I've been watching pandacam for HOURS today. Happy birthday Su Lin and Zhen Zhen!
August 3rd, 2008 at 3:59 pm
To ALL the Staff who created The Birthday Party:
THANK YOU!!!! THANK YOU!!!! Watching the pandacam this morning was absolutely a THRILL! Beginning with Gao Gao eating his breakfast and continuing to the den where the little Birthday Girl was bugging Bai and sneaking out the door, to Su Lin enjoying her cake, to Zhen showing her curiosity and acrobatic skills, to her momma suggesting with her right paw that the cake was not simply for Zhen
What a way to spend a Sunday morning 
August 3rd, 2008 at 7:58 pm
Hi, you all! Got on the SDZ cam at 12 noon EDT today to watch Su Lin and ZZ have their birthday fun. Su Lin did a lot of investigating of her ice cake with the 3 on top, sniffed it, then licked it. She looked like she was saying to us, " Been here, done that the last 2 birthdays! Nothing new!" She looked very content just looking at it. Then, the cam switched over to Bai Yun and ZZ. Little Miss ZZ was having a blast! She went up to her ice cake with the 1 on top of it, sniffed it, then proceeded to try and climb it! She made it to the top not once but a few times! She would climb up the cake, then fall down, then climb back up the cake, etc., doing a balancing act. She was after that no. 1 on top! Finally after getting on top for the umpteenth time, she broke the 1 off, then got off to get a piece of the broken 1 to eat it. Then, her mom muscled in to take it from ZZ! Little ZZ decided to go back to climbing the cake again. She was just having so much fun. Neither Su Lin nor ZZ were too interested in their packages, tho. Left the site to do some things, then got back on a half hour later to see what the 2 girls were up to. The cam was on Su Lin, and she had put the cake on the side with the 3 broken off. She was also about ready to take a nap, too! Then, cam was back on ZZ and her cake was on its side! The next thing I knew, ZZ was headed to her favorite tree to either play or take a nap. These 2 birthday pandas just made my day because I had gotten some aweful news about my son's teacher this morning, and I needed to have something to make me smile. My son's math teacher from his school was killed real early this morning, and we were all hit pretty hard about this just 2 weeks before school starts. Not a good way to start the school year! Be praying for my son's school personnel, students, and parents; we all liked this teacher very much!
I did check the NZ cam earlier today, and Mei Xiang was sleeping the day away!
Well, I'm gonna go for now. Will check the NZ pandacam again.
Chari Mercier
St. Pete, FL
August 3rd, 2008 at 9:02 pm
Yesterday, when we arrived at the Panda Exhibit, the front row was packed with professional photographers. Fortunately, we arrived early enough to see Su Lin already enjoying here birthday ice cake. Zhen Zhen, on the other hand, enjoyed climbing all over her birthday ice cake
Bai Yun was working hard trying to scrape the treats from the cake. The scrapping noise was very audible.
A shoving match ensued where Bai and Zhen tried to get at the cake at the same time. This was very funny to watch. The visitors and photographers all were laughing. Fearless Zhen continued time after time to climb on top of her cake and each time she would fall down. One time she fell right onto Bai's tummy.
After a while, Zhen decided it was time to take a rest. She climbed up her favorite tree and settled in for a long nap. Bai left the cake and started foraging for other treats around the exhibit.
August 3rd, 2008 at 9:12 pm
To All Panda Fans:
To view a two-minute video of yesterday's birthday celebrations, goggle Union Tribune Sign on San Diego, and then click on Panda Party. Lisa Bryant narrates.
Enjoy!
August 4th, 2008 at 12:35 am
Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you!
No doubt I mean Zhen Zhen and " Su" .
You've grown so much becoming tall,
on Sunday you will have a ball
with special treats and lots of boo.
Your cousin Fu Long in Vienna Zoo
will celebrate his birthday, too.
He will turn one on 23rd,
which, I am sure, you must have heard.
For you are a big family
hailing from China, your home country.
Good bye, you too, you've made so proud
your parents and the panda " crowd.
August 4th, 2008 at 8:04 am
Sorry, I forgot to mention that on the SOSD site, there are seven photos of the Birthday Girls - just in case you missed them. After viewing the birthday video, click back to the main page, then click on the Photo Gallery,
CNN com also has a very cute video of the Birthday Stars! After connecting to the site, search for San Diego Pandas Birthday.
I'm sure there are other videos and photos out there. There were news reporters from all over the country photographing the pandas. It truly was a " Pandamonium†Birth Day. Everyone was happy, smiling and enjoying the Pandas. The visitors around us spoke of their love of the San Diego pandas.
August 4th, 2008 at 9:32 am
Happy Birthday! Miss " Z" . I cannot believe you are a year old; it seems like only yesterday you were born. You are a joy to watch; what a spitfire little girl.
August 4th, 2008 at 9:52 am
Bai and Zhen are famous — a video from the birthday celebration is featured on MSNBC's website — under Tech & Science (go figure…?) and is titled " Birthday pandas in San Diego" . It's very short — but cute — and shows Zhen on top of her cake — desperately trying to get the 1 off of the top — then tumbling down. I think they assumed that the other panda with Zhen was Su Lin — but regardless it's sweet!
August 4th, 2008 at 10:15 am
I wish to congratulate the San Diego Zoo on the lovely parties that Su Lin and Zhen Zhen were given on thier birthdays. The cakes were especially beautiful and watching ZZ climb to the top of her cake was a treat for us.
The success you have had in the raising of these wonderful animals is a credit to the staff that so dilgently works toward preserving their kind. We watch and adore these awesome pandas every day. Thank you so much for allowing us to share in your success.
August 4th, 2008 at 10:20 am
Rose#53 thanks for the info, I watched and got tickled all over again. Zhen Zhen sure was determined to get that #1 off the cake. Su Lin is so beautiful, I see a little of her brother in her. What a great time was had by all visitors and pandas alike. Thank you keepers and staff for providing a great time for everyone. thanks to the kitchen for the ice and treats cake, they sure enjoyed them
August 4th, 2008 at 10:36 am
Rose #53, thank you SO much for sharing the links for more pictures and videos of the 'special day'!!! I loved them!!!
August 4th, 2008 at 11:06 am
I laughed out loud watching ZZ yesterday. I missed Sweet Su Lin. Looking forward to seeing the pictures and the videos. Thanks to SDZ for sharing your/our girls. And thanks to all the panda lovers for your posts. I now know that I'm not goofy in my love for our pandas!
August 4th, 2008 at 11:06 am
Well after everyone has enjoyed watching video of the Zhen & Su birthday celebration, check out another video here at SDZ. See the mama Malayan tiger & her 3 new cubs make their debut on exhibit 7/31. With all the intense Mei Xiang watching, I missed this and you gotta love these 3 exuberant tiger cubs.
August 4th, 2008 at 12:40 pm
Thanks Rose, #53 - I missed it on the cam - Thanks for letting us know where we could see the celebration!!
August 4th, 2008 at 1:41 pm
Oh what a day, it was Simply the Best - I am certain everyone enjoyed the joint Birthday celebrations for Su and ZZ.
Thank you to all the staff who made such an effort to ensure their ice birthday cakes were perfection. The girl's certainly had a great time, little ZZ must have known something exciting was about to happen as she was up before 06.00am (SD) pestering Bai to 'get in party mood' - later performing acrobatics on Bai while she was calmly eating while ZZ awaited her appearance.
Beautiful Sue was the first to arrive and she certainly appreciated her cake and gifts, at one time encircling her 'arms' around her special cake.
Zhen Zhen as always was straight to the point - what is this ice cake for - can I climb or eat it? as expected the No.1 was the first item she removed - it was a pleasure to see them all so happy.
Gao Gao made a guest appearance so the party was then complete - happy days, Bai and Gao are excellent at producing 3 cubs in August, Bai and Shi Shi also had Hua Mei in August 1999.
All we need now is an August cub for Mei Xiang - keeping my fingers crossed all goes according to plan and it is not a peusdo(false)pregancy as she will be so very disappointed……
August 4th, 2008 at 1:48 pm
It was a wonderful day for me and my daughter to meet Su Lin, Zhen Zhen and their mom Bai Yun yesterday!! The birthday girls are so charming and beautiful, and Bai Yun is a wonderful mom!! She is beautiful!
Thank you for letting us attend your birthday celebration. We will be back to see you soon!!
August 4th, 2008 at 3:01 pm
Happy Birthday to the girls! It has been a fun weekend. Thanks to the staffs that made the birthday party fun and enjoyable.
Will the pandas rotate their habitats soon? Seems like Gao Gao has been at the back for quite a while.
August 4th, 2008 at 3:28 pm
Happy 1st birthday to Zhen Zhen–how fast she grew up, but how grateful we are to have her reach this day. She is just adorable in the photos and video, scrambling all over the cake. Thanks to SDZ for making such a great celebration for these two beautiful girls.
Just saw ZZ on the cam fast asleep sprawled over her tree branches–worn out from all the partying, maybe?
August 4th, 2008 at 6:21 pm
I missed the festivities yesterday on live cam. Thank you so much all of you for the links to the cute, cute videos and pictures.
Thank you Margaret #22 for the info on more trips to China. And what a happy thought—seeing Zhen Zhen and Su Lin interacting as sisters in the trees. That would be wonderful if we get to keep her longer.
Thank you moderator for the info that SDZ has trips to China to see (and HOLD?!) the pandas. I can't imagine anything better. SDZ keeps amazing me as to all you offer!
August 4th, 2008 at 6:30 pm
HAPPY 1ST BIRTHDAY, ZHEN ZHEN!!!!
HAPPY 3RD BIRTHDAY, SU LIN!!!!
I know that these 2 girls had a lot of fun and we all enjoyed watching them on the cam. My local news station, WFLA Channel 8, Tampa, Florida, had news footage of ZZ climbing her birthday cake. They also mentioned Su Lin, too. I'm sure that other news stations from around the country also had the panda birthday story as well. Frances NYC, loved the conversation that you wrote between Mr. Tourist and Bai Yun. I think P Wong has some company now! Both of you are good at this writing format!
National Zoo has updates written for Aug. 2, 3, & 4 on the main panda page; updates for Aug. 2, 3, & 4 are also available on the pregnancy watch page with new charts and very significant info. Looks like Mei Xiang's 2nd luteal phase could be ending soon. Progestine levels are still above baseline but lower than last week's levels. Also, Mei has been showing more activity, eating a little more. This is more activity than she has shown in the last couple of weeks. She's still showing pregnancy behaviors as well, and at one point during the weekend she spent more than 45 minutes nest building. Watched Mei Xiang on both pandacams tonite, and she was covered in her nest of boo and hay, then she decided to get up on the platform to try and go back to sleep. To me, I think that she maybe showing some restlessness. She's gotta be close to having that possible panda cub! HOPING!!!!!!!!! PRAYING!!!!!!!!
Atlanta Zoo has a new update for Aug. 4 about Lun Lun available to read. Lun's eating is still normal and she goes into her exhibit. Has not started to slow down just yet, but keepers are looking for signs of that real soon. Hormone levels are suggesting that Lun is in her 2nd luteal phase but is not showing pregnancy behaviors just yet. They are sending urine samples to NZ twice a week for analysis.
Back to the SDZ cam, saw little ZZ on her big branch in the big tree this morning sleeping! She was so cute on that branch, and had that very contented look on her face. It was like she was saying to all of us, " I had fun yesterday, but now I'm pooped! Catching up on some sleep! ZZZZZZZZZZZZZs!!!!!!!!"
Well, I gotta go and get back on the NZ cams to see how Mei Xiang is doing now. Will check back in later!
Chari Mercier
St. Pete, FL
August 4th, 2008 at 6:45 pm
how sad it is to think su lin will be leaving for china in approximately a year from now. i am not happy with the lack of photos and video of mei sheng and hua mei. why can't the staff over there email more photos and videos?
August 5th, 2008 at 12:44 am
Hi again! It's 3:30am EDT on Tues., Aug 5, and I have been watching Mei Xiang on the pandacam for about 3 or 4 hours tonite on both NZ cams. She has been pretty restless during the time that I have been watching her. Mei has been laying down on her boo/hay nest, sometimes getting buried under that nest, eating some of the boo, and sleeping on the platform, all the while changing positions and never staying in that one position for more than 10 or up to 20 minutes. Something's up with her, and I'm guessing that she maybe in labor (or false labor if it's a pseudopregnancy). Mei has been in her den since I checked in on her at 9:30pm EDT, Mon., Aug. 4, and she has not left it for one minute, not even to go out into the indoor exhibit to sleep on the rock work like she has been doing for the last week or so. So, Mei Xiang has definitely changed her routine again, and is definitely keeping me in stitches just watching her. She's definitely telling me something, but I will have to wait to see what she is going to do next. As usual, HOPING & PRAYING for a cub!!
Got to get some sleep, but I will keep checking the cam whenever I need to get up for something.
Chari Mercier
St. Pete, FL
August 5th, 2008 at 6:03 am
Happy Birthday girls!
We enjoyed watching your big day. Zhen Zhen was so cute as she explored her birthday cake. Su Lin has grown up so much since we saw her on Thanksgiving Day, 2007. (What a special day that was for my husband and me.) Su was so precious as she hugged her cake.
A special thank you to all the animal keepers at the San Diego Zoo. You are very special people and so willing to share your knowledge with everyone.
I will be thinking of you, Chari, as I start back to school soon.
August 5th, 2008 at 9:07 am
Hi! Just saw Gao Gao on the SDZ pandacam eating his boo. It's been awhile since I've seen him. Looking good!
Checked the NZ pandacams at 7am and 11:30am EDT to see what Mei Xiang was doing. At 7am, Mei was in her den and moving around in there, then she walked out of the den, got on the rock work, and laid down there. That was it! At 11:30am, Mei was still on the rock work all rolled up in a furry ball. What is up with this girlfriend? Don't ask me! I thought something was going to happen last nite when she was changing sleeping positions in her den several times and looking like she was restless. Will keep checking the NZ pandacam as much as possible today as well as wait on their daily update reports to come in later this afternoon.
Also, checked the Atlanta Zoo pandacam a few minutes ago, and it is out due to server problems. They will have it back online ASAP. Was going to look in on Lun Lun to see how she was doing, also. Will get back on that site later on.
I'm not a researcher, but I got very curious on both Lun's and Mei's gestation days for this year. Looked up their AI dates and did some counting. Mei Xiang's AI date was on 3/19/2008, and counting her gestation days thru today (Aug. 5), she's at 139 days since AI. Mei's luteal phase is about to end soon. In 2005, Mei Xiang had 120 gestation days that resulted in the birth of Tai Shan on 7/9/2005. Lun Lun's AI date was on 4/21/2008, and counting her gestation days thru today, she's at 106 days since AI. Lun still has a ways to go in her luteal phase. In 2006, Lun had 160 gestation days that resulted in the birth of Mei Lan on 9/6/2006. I also went back into the SDZ update archives to look at Bai Yun's gestation days. Bai mated with Gao Gao on 4/24/2007, and had 101 gestation days that resulted in the birth of Zhen Zhen on 8/3/2007. I think that this is fascinating info that I dug up because it just shows me, as well as all of you, how female pandas work their pregnancies and how different their gestation days are. I did read somewhere that female pandas will give birth to a cub anywhere from 3 months to 6 months after natural mating or an AI procedure. Mei Xiang is now going on 4 1/2 months in her pregnancy/luteal phase, and we still don't know if and when she'll have a cub or if this is another pseudopregnancy. We'll just have to watch and see what happens one day at a time! I'll admit that this is a little bit frustrating on all of us pandafans, but the rewards will be very nice if and when Mei Xiang has a cub. Keep on checking the NZ cams and check out their updates.
Well, gonna go and check the pandacams again.
Chari Mercier
St. Pete, FL
August 5th, 2008 at 9:22 am
Just a side note friends, with all the endangered species in the world they have found 125,000 lowland gorillas in a swampy area that that was reported by hunters to the World Conservation society, there could also be more according to a spokesman because of the amount of nests they found. With less than 50,00 in the wild this is a great day for gorillas and conservation.
August 5th, 2008 at 9:26 am
Cute! How heavy is Zhen now?
Moderator's note: We'll try to get a weight from her keepers.
August 5th, 2008 at 9:39 am
HAPPY BOO'DAY TO SU LIN AND ZHEN ZHEN!
May your days always be filled with wonderful bamboo and delicious shoots.
And may all your precious cousins living in the 'shaking' mountains in China never run out of bamboo, too.
Have SDZ ever thought of making the goofy Zhenzhen, the Zoo Mascot of the Year? Or have you had a zoo mascot already?
FUN FACT- Did you know that the Chinese people actually eat bamboo too? At least the yummy bamboo shoots.
Moderator's note: We don't have any mascots, but the Zoo has several costumed characters, including one named Bamboo Bear http://www.sandiegozoo.org/kids/syd_and_friends.html
August 5th, 2008 at 11:47 am
I'm probably way behind the curve, but I understand there was another powerful aftershock in China this morning. Any word on the pandas? Have they all been moved to safe areas?
August 5th, 2008 at 1:18 pm
Thanks Zoo-lings for putting the cameras on Miss Z when she got her cake. Watching her crawl over the top of it… Priceless!
August 5th, 2008 at 1:28 pm
I ran across a very interesting article about pandas on MSNBC's website titled " Pandas: Evolution's Big Fat (adorable) Mistake?" which features quotes from our very own Megan Owen. It's very interesting — and for those of you who have read these blogs for the past couple of years — will already know some of the facts presented. Regardless, it's an interesting read — although I do not agree with Mr. Packham's comments — everyone's entitled to their opinion — and I'm glad most people don't feel the same way!
August 5th, 2008 at 6:09 pm
Thanks, Cheryl, for the info about that MSNBC article, Mr. Packham's opinions notwithstanding.
And thanks, Chari # 69, for appreciating my, I mean, Ms. Tourist's conversation with Bai and Zhen Zhen.
August 5th, 2008 at 8:31 pm
Hi, you all! Finally got back on the computer tonite! Checked the 2 NZ pandacams, and Mei Xiang was in her den and then she went out to the rock work, and she is still asleep on that rock right now. Updates for Aug. 5 are on the main panda page and pregnancy watch page along with a chart for the update on the pregnancy watch. The progestin levels are very close to baseline but not there yet. Still waiting!!
Linda A. (#77), you were not behind the curve ball at all, and you heard the news right! There was another earthquake that was 6.0 on the Richter scale in Sichuan Province around the same exact area where the May 12 quake hit. Heard this on my local news station tonite, and it was reported that one person was killed and several others were injured. Any buildings that managed to survive the original May quake and the hundreds of major aftershocks would have fallen down due to the fact that those buildings were so weakened from so much shaking during May and June. This happened just one day after the Olympic torch relay run went thru that devastated region the last 3 days. There was no mention of any landslides from this quake, but I'm sure that there maybe some landslides coming from the mountains that were so badly affected by the May quake. The sides of the mountains are so badly scarred that anything can loosen rocks and dirt, whether it's the heavy rains or an earthquake. I just hope that Wolong Reserve did not suffer any more damage than they already have now. There are only 7 pandas still there along with some staff and keepers with temporary buildings, so hopefully they got out of this one unscathed. Still waiting for someone to give us all some kind of definite info about the wild pandas in those mountains that have survived these earthquakes and aftershocks. Keep China in your prayer list! They still have a long way to go yet in rebuilding, but the torch run that came thru there really lifted up their spirits alot! Olympics start this Friday nite!
Barbara (#74), I also heard on the news about the 125,000 lowland gorillas that were found in the swampy area in the Congo. That was great news to hear! The gorillas have had a rough couple of years with people hunting them down and killing them for bush meat in recent months. Let's just hope that the Congo government will be able to do something to make sure that these gorillas will be fully protected in that area! What a comeback for the lowland gorillas!!
Thanks Lucy (#72) for thinking about me and our family in the loss of my son's teacher. Just talked to his school today, and they are still trying to get their heads together after this senseless tragedy. The school staff and teachers are making the best of it and will keep things going one day at a time. Teachers came back to school this week for meetings and workshops. Keep my son's school in your prayers, ok? Thanks!!
Was on the SDZ cam the first thing, and saw Bai eating boo, and I thought I saw ZZ up on a large tree branch. It was after 7pm PDT (10pm EDT), and the light was not as good at that time.
Well, gonna go and check the pandacams again. Will write in later!
Chari Mercier
St. Pete, FL
August 6th, 2008 at 8:01 am
HI,everyone,I'm from China. Glad to see so many people love pandas.
August 6th, 2008 at 8:28 am
Wednesday, Aug.6; between 11am and 11:30am EDT: Been watching Mei Xiang on the NZ pandacam, and boy is she restless this morning! Earlier this morning, she was on the rock work sleeping, then I got back on the cam during the time I mentioned above, and she was back in the den. She was very restless, played with her Kong toy and even biting it, moved her boo nest around, kept looking at her rear end for any signs of something! Going back to the cam again to see what Mei is doing. Keep your fingers crossed, knock on wood, pray, hope, whatever you need to do, ok? My suspiscion is that she MIGHT be in labor. Also talked to a public relations person at NZ, and she told me that it was the panda keeper's policy to shut the cam down if and when they feel that Mei Xiang maybe giving birth. It's been a long standing policy of theirs for a few years now. So, our chances of watching Mei Xiang give birth live is very remote! She did say that if Mei does have a baby panda, there will be a video of the birth. Anyway, gotta get back on the cam to check out Mei!
Bye,
Chari Mercier
St. Pete, FL
August 6th, 2008 at 8:53 pm
Dong(#82) almost every one loves pandas, and the fantastic people who protect and care for them. In this respect, the people of the world are united. Our hearts go out to all the families who suffered loses from the earth quake, and our prayers are with them.
August 7th, 2008 at 3:41 pm
Getting ready to come to San Diego for 2 weeks and it looks like we will miss Su Lin again looks like she has been taken off exhibit already!!!!
August 8th, 2008 at 3:39 pm
Seems that Su Lin is growing up to be quite a beauty! Love that picture of her in this blog. Thanks to the photographer! I hope to Su Lin again when I visit in mid September! Can't wait!
Moderator's note: The image accompanying this blog is of Zhen Zhen.
August 10th, 2008 at 4:50 pm
Thought you all would like to know the update about Lun Lun (Atlanta Zoo). As of August 8, she has begun lethargic behavior, and is not eating on her usual schedule. Panda keepers are cautioning about getting our hopes up, as no one will know if this is a real pregnancy or pseudopregnancy until they can see a cub on sonogram, or until she delivers…or not. Sure had my hopes up for Mei Xiang, but I'm losing a little hope for a cub in D. C. Of course, Mei doesn't always do things as expected.
August 11th, 2008 at 10:37 am
Zoo Atlanta has an update on Lun Lun, posted Monday, August 11.
Moderator's note: Dianne had included the entire post in her comment, but we cannot post excerpts from other Web sites (we did make some exceptions during the aftermath of China's earthquake). We can accept comments that direct readers to other Web site postings, but we cannot post the exact URLs. Thank you all for your understanding, and thank you, Dianne, for alerting panda fans to the Zoo Atlanta post.
August 13th, 2008 at 8:04 am
I'm sure many of you already know, but NZ announced that the pregnancy watch was over. Ms. Mei isn't going to give birth. My heart hurts for her (and all of us). I know it's all part of nature, but I had such high hopes for you and for China. Bless you Ms. Mei for capturing our hearts once again. And for bringing all of us together to watch you, and for bringing attention to this fragile, precious species.
December 1st, 2008 at 9:46 am
we love pandas so much that we are getting a panda room and we are in love with them hoping that they never go extict!Although RR watched it live on tv/panda tales.WE LOVE US SOME PANDA!ONLY BABY PANDAS DOGH.EVEN IF WE CAN'T GET A BOY FRIEND BY FIFTEEN I WILL DATE A BABY PANDA! OKAY!