Comments on: Panda Perfume

by: reaper

Mon, 10 Apr 2006 16:58:37 +0000

thanks so much suzanne. they can separate the different scents in a mixture, wow…that’s one amazing smeller!

by: Suzanne

Tue, 04 Apr 2006 23:35:39 +0000

Reaper #47 and Barbara #51,

Yes, bears have an excellent sense of smell. I often tell people that we can smell a cake baking, but bears can smell eggs and flour and sugar and vanilla and….

by: reaper

Tue, 04 Apr 2006 22:09:36 +0000

thank you barbara. my knowledge of bears is rather limited. that’s great to know, i would think that bears in general would have to have great olfactory senses in the wild.

by: Barbara

Tue, 04 Apr 2006 03:04:23 +0000

To reaper, #47 — I understand that bears have MUCH better olfactory senses than dogs. I would suppose that this would apply to panda bears also.

by: Susie

Mon, 03 Apr 2006 04:42:05 +0000

I have been wondering if giant pandas have tongues similar to cats. I’ve noticed that Bai Yun and Mei Xiang both groom Su Lin and Tai Shan, respectively. I cannot recall reading anything regarding “tongues”. Thanks so much!

by: BettyB from Mass.

Sun, 02 Apr 2006 20:40:33 +0000

So cute–Su Lin was just sleeping in her tree and looked as if she was using her paw to shade the sun from her eyes. Whatever she does is so adorable. A couple nights ago, the cam showed the lair and in the background you could see into the bedroom–I had never before seen the light on in there at night. It was great. Bai Yun was having a grooming/ play session with Su Lin, tossing her around a bit, but not so high as in the younger days when Su was so much lighter…I was also so happy to hear that Lun Lun in Atlanta had received AI. How exciting to anticipate another American-born panda cub…Seems Tai Shan is having a great time in his new tree. Since last Saturday, he seems to be up high in the branches daily. The keepers are having a tough time coaxing him down. I bet if he had the chance, he’d be like Su, up a tree for much of the night.

by: Candy Crane - Pandaholic from Iowa

Sun, 02 Apr 2006 20:33:56 +0000

To Stacy (#37) - Good luck to Lun Lun and the Atlanta Zoo!!! I nervously watched last year on word of her possible pregnancy only to hear with great disappointment that she was not Since SDZ & NZ in DC will not be having cubs this year, we have to pull for Atlanta. It is definitely their turn!! I’ve tried to look but have not found any info on the Memphis pair Ya Ya & Le Le. Are they still too young to breed? Thought this might be their first year.

by: reaper

Sun, 02 Apr 2006 15:34:38 +0000

one more question please? i’ve read where humans do not detect panda scent. according to what i’ve read here and on that other zoo site (lol) the panda droppings don’t have a scent humans can detect, and neither do the scent marks. is it possible that pandas have noses comparable or better than dogs? has anyone ever taken a scent marked item and presented it to a canine? okay, that was more than one question, but these bears are so delightful and this amateur panda behaviorist wants to know everything that you do about the bears. thanks for all your extensive work on these treasures, and much thanks too, for telling us about it!

by: Betty

Sun, 02 Apr 2006 00:54:26 +0000

I just got home from the zoo and from seeing the pandas for the first time in 4 1/2 yrs. I used to go to the zoo 2 or 3 days a week, but I became disabled 4 1/2 yrs. ago and haven’t been able to go. It was so exciting to see the pandas! I had forgotten what a big momma Bai Yun is. She was eating bamboo with her back to the crowd. Su Lin was up in her tree — which was surprisingly close overhead to where visitors were walking, and Mei Sheng was sleeping on top of his hollow tree. Wouldn’t you know — I forgot to take my camera!! Well, at least they weren’t doing anything cute or unusual. I hope I can get back more often to see them, but it wasn’t easy. The zoo was VERY crowded today.

by: Cuquis

Sat, 01 Apr 2006 16:39:22 +0000

I visited the zoo yesterday and Mei Sheng was so active.. running around his exhibit, climbing up the sleeved tree and his structure.. he was having so much fun.. we visitors were delighted to see him being just a beautiful healthy young panda. Thanks SDZ for taking such good care of our pandas ..