Panda Questions
Posted at 1:04 pm August 5, 2005 by Pamela CroweMany of our readers have included questions along with their comments, and I thought I would take a moment to answer a few of them.
One reader asked if we would be performing another ultrasound on Bai Yun to see if the second fetus is still viable in the uterus. At this point we would not want to intrude upon Bai Yun and her new cub during these very important beginning weeks of life. To conduct an ultrasound procedure at this stage, Bai Yun would have to leave the den and be separated from her cub for quite a long period of time. We prefer to allow Bai Yun and her new cub to grow and bond in a safe, quiet environment.
Another reader asked when we would be naming the new cub. Traditionally the Chinese like to wait 100 days before they name a new panda cub. So, we respect that tradition and wait until the cub is 100 days old before we give it a name.
Someone else asked when we would be able to determine the sex of our new panda cub. Generally within the first few weeks we are able to determine if it's a boy or a girl. In previous years, Hua Mei and Mei Sheng could be sexed during their first or second veterinary exams. We're all excited to find out if our new addition is a boy or a girl!
Another reader asked when we separate Bai Yun from her cubs, and why. Here at the San Diego Zoo, we try and mirror nature as much as possible, and so we separate them when the cub is 18 months old. In the wild, a female panda typically separates from her cub when it is 18 months old because, generally, at this time the female is coming into estrus and is again ready to breed.
Pamela Crowe is a panda research technician at the San Diego Zoo.
View Bai Yun and her cub on Panda Cam.
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August 5th, 2005 at 2:04 pm
We are VERY excited - just as when Hua Mei was born. Can you tell us when the cub will have its first exam and if you will video it so we can watch? Thank you sooooooooooo much for sharing via the panda cam.
August 5th, 2005 at 2:44 pm
Congratulations to everyone there at Panda Central. I am so excited to see another healthy cub born at the San Diego Zoo. I live just outside of D.C. and I am also quite excited by the birth of the National Zoo baby Panda. Now I can keep an eye on two growing Panda babies. It is so much fun to watch as the baby grows and becomes a curious " child" . Again, congratulations to all at San Diego Zoo's Panda Central.
August 5th, 2005 at 3:04 pm
Thanks for blog about the pandas.
How long will Bai Yun go without feeding herself?
August 5th, 2005 at 3:21 pm
Over in Wolong, they're weaning the cubs from their mothers at only six months, to allow the mothers to breed again the very next year. Hua Mei may be having cubs again soon.
August 5th, 2005 at 4:23 pm
Do you plan to upgrade PandaCam to include audio any time soon? I've been an ardent PandaCam viewer and SDZ supporter ever since Hua Mei's birth. However, the audio the National Zoo's cam has is really great, and enriches the experience. It would be so nice to hear Bai Yun and her cub, too!
August 5th, 2005 at 4:55 pm
With the camera already in the den, would you consider including a microphone so we can hear the wonderful sounds that your staff is able to hear? The sounds of a newborn would give us a different insight into the lives of Mom and her new baby panda. Thank you.
August 5th, 2005 at 5:01 pm
We enjoy watching the Panda Cam and reading your logs every day. It seems like all we can see on the cam is Bai Yun taking a nap or sleeping. How much time does she spend sleeping every day? Where does she keep the baby while she sleeps? Thanks.
LJL
August 5th, 2005 at 6:06 pm
I love reading about every aspect of panda behavior–thank you for initiating the blog page. Can we now communicate with Wolong researchers about Hua Mei and her offspring? I have seen only one picture of the cubs on the Net, have never read about their names, etc. Hua Mei's reproductive activities are equally as exciting to me as those of her delightful mother Bai Yun.
August 5th, 2005 at 7:17 pm
Congratulations! Can you give us an idea of how many times a day a cub eats?
August 5th, 2005 at 7:24 pm
Thank you Pamela for responding and so quickly!!!! When the cub will be separated from Bai Yun: Will BayiYun experience separation anxiety? Will the cub be able to fend for itself/live alone in a separate pen? How big will the cub be when separated? (30lbs?) Are they social animals? I have looked on line for the answers to these questions (because I know how busy you are but have not had any luck!) From what I have learned… they don't really have " families" such as lions & prides. I am so interested in the Pandas and cannot learn enough. What is the best way that I can help your program financially? Adopting? I want to contribute to your wonderful program. There is no price you can put on all of the love and caring that you do for the Pandas. Let me know how I can help. And please let me know if I am becoming a pest!!! Best to you and the staff and Bai Yun and her baby. Thank you, Sincerely, Corinne T. Schultz
August 5th, 2005 at 7:59 pm
Our family was at the zoo on Monday, the day before the new cub was born. We enjoyed seeing Gao Gao, the daddy. We have been watching the panda cam with great interest. Thanks for all the updates and info. Can you give us an idea just how big the new cub is?
August 5th, 2005 at 9:09 pm
Congratulations on the birth of the new cub. I have been a big fan of the Pandas that you have in your exhibit. I really enjoy being able to follow up on them through the panda cam. But i had a few questions,
Has Bai Yun licked her baby to make it start urinating yet? If not how long does it take mothers to do so? Do the cubs only drink the mother's milk or some bamboo? Thanks for all your help through the years… I really appreciate it. Good Luck with the cub!!!
August 6th, 2005 at 4:57 am
We excitedly watched Bai Yun the morning after she gave birth to her new cub, but since that first day, the only thing we see in the Panda Cam window is the message " Please wait for Panda Cam to load" . Is it my computer? Do you have any suggestions to make it work? What a terrible time for a computer glitch! Thank you for all your work to bring us the miracle of these pandas!
August 7th, 2005 at 4:28 am
I had no idea there were webcams set up for viewing the San Diego Zoo animals. My life changed when CNN announced the webpage address along with the news story about the birth of Bai Yun's cub. I have been logging on daily to learn about the Pandas. My father was a science teacher and I grew up adoring animals!
I am intriqued about Bai Yun's changes in parenting skills and will share them with my daugther who is expecting a baby in February. There is no need for alarm at every wimper and a baby benefits when a new mother is calm! I contacted my son who is training in Germany now for service in Afghanistan next year…his buddies told him to watch the birth. They could not figure out where the cub was in the video…can you add some arrows to the video? I think it must be under the paws? Thanks for all you do and we will be watching! You can bet your zoo will be on our list as the first place to take our grandbaby! Norma Parrish, Tallahassee, Florida
August 9th, 2005 at 7:40 am
Hi & Thanks! The light we see while looking at Bai Yun - what is that?
Thnaks for the great work!
Sierra