Preparing for Potential Pandas
Posted at 9:47 am June 28, 2007 by Suzanne Hall
As we get ready to flip the page on the calendar to a new month, we find that not much has changed with Bai Yun (pictured). She is still behaving normally and doing just fine. Behind-the-scenes at the panda facility at the San Diego Zoo, she goes out into her off-exhibit classroom enclosure daily for a little fresh air and sunshine. She is eating heartily. She participates in regular ultrasounds as the veterinarians reacquaint her with the process. This regular routine will pay dividends later, when her hormones make her more cranky and lethargic; establishing a routine of such exams now will make it easier to coax her into ultrasounds as late as the last week of her pregnancy.
Should there be a pregnancy, of course. That is always the caveat. As far as we know, she has not yet implanted an embryo (or two!). Once implantation occurs, then her behavior should begin to change. Even if she winds up having a pseudopregnancy (that is, no cubs are born), her hormones will likely rise at some point and create these behavioral changes that make it evident to us that “something is going on.” That is when the routine ultrasounds will become even more important. To this day, ultrasounds remain the only certifiable way of confirming a pregnancy in a panda – short of an actual birth, of course.
In the meantime, the facility is in preparation mode. We are getting ready for any contingency. We are having the cameras in her bedroom and den areas serviced, double-checking microphones and video recorders, ensuring we won’t miss a chance to observe her subtle changes or any cubs we have born. We are preparing the nursery area in the event we have twins, or the unlikely event that Bai Yun fails to care for a single cub. Observers are reviewing their mother-infant behavior to record it properly. Staff members are regularly checking in with each other for progress reports and holding meetings to address issues as they arise. We have a lot of experience in this arena now and have a well-established set of priorities heading into this birthing season.
We still have three other bears to care for and consider, so the added items relating to Bai Yun’s possible pregnancy keep our husbandry staff very busy these days. And if you think the idea of keeping four pandas and preparing for a birth keeps us busy, wait until a cub or two is born. That’s when life outside the Zoo stops for many of us, and our focus is consumed by activity inside the den. It’s a brief but fascinating time in a panda’s (and a panda researcher’s!) life. We’ll continue to keep you posted as we march in that direction.
Suzanne Hall is the senior research laboratory technician for the Giant Panda Conservation Unit of Applied Animal Ecology/CRES.
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June 28th, 2007 at 10:26 am
I enjoy the web cam very much. Especially when the cubs are born and we get to see them grow. I am a Panda addict and it makes my day to view the webcam and read the updates on the Pandas.
Thanks to all of you involved in the care of the Pandas. I think that you do an outstanding job and your work is appreciated!!!
Barbara
Montgomery, Alabama
June 28th, 2007 at 11:24 am
Thanks for the update, Suzanne. We keep hoping…. It is a good thing most panda cubs are born in Summer when life for most folks is slower, and even business slows down a bit. Then we have more time to watch the cubs being born and their first incredible days and weeks of life and how amazingly fast they grow.
June 28th, 2007 at 11:55 am
Suzanne, life outside the zoo may stop for the members of the panda team when there is a baby panda, but I can assure you that any of us pandaholics would be glad to trade you for a week of our daily grind. Let me know if you’d like to try Accounting for a week. I’d be thrilled to analyze panda poop and be a bamboo gopher.
June 28th, 2007 at 12:12 pm
I agree with Sharon! I’ll trade my Legal Assistant position for a week in the life of a Panda Researcher! We were out west last week and got to see Su Lin and Gao Gao. All of us back in the midwest are hoping for two little cubs!
June 28th, 2007 at 1:03 pm
… and now we hold our breath and wait! I can hardly contain myself - but will try and be patient. Seems to me I have a week of vacation time I need to use… give me a call - I’d love to help out!! Panda poop, bamboo wrangler, bottle feedings (in the case of twins) - you name it!
June 28th, 2007 at 2:42 pm
It seems like every time I’ve checked out the NZ pandacam in the last 2 weeks, Mei Xiang is sleeping! I sure hope this indcates a pregnancy - one that will result in a panda cub and not turn out to be a pseudo pregnancy. Even though I catch Tai Shan sleeping a lot, I also see him eating bamboo and walking about. With all the cubs they lost with Ling Ling & Hsing Hsing, I hope they now will enjoy the success SDZ has had. It must have been heartbreaking for the staff to have actual live births only to have the babies die in a few days.
June 28th, 2007 at 3:18 pm
If Bai Yun is having a pseudo pregnancy, how long with that continue? At what point will she realize that she isn’t pregnant? What must happen?
June 28th, 2007 at 6:33 pm
Thanks for the update -like all panda lovers wish I could be there to help anyway possible-another exiting time for your great zoo. As an aside Mei Xiang (the Washington Zoo) seems to be acting like she may be pregnant. Also have a question about your famous papa panda, Gao Gao-according your info he only weighs 167 pounds - isn’t that small for an adult male panda?? -when mommy to be weighs 220 lbs??
June 28th, 2007 at 9:04 pm
It’s good to hear Bai is doing well. I’m very anxiously awaiting word that her hormones have changed again, signaling implantation.
I had to laugh at all the pandaholics willing to trade places to scoop poop and haul bamboo. I too, would be THRILLED to trade a MONTH of being a computer programmer/analyst and do some of those not so pleasant jobs! I thank every one of the staff for taking the time to keep us updated with all the news and information on our beloved panda family.
Hope to hear that things are changing SOON!
June 29th, 2007 at 5:41 am
When would you anticipate a birth if one is imminent? August or September? Thanks!
June 29th, 2007 at 6:32 am
I would help too! I will be there for 10 days in mid-July. Maybe that’s a bit too soon, but as we all know, when it comes to babies, you can never tell!
Is there any research about how the full moon affects when cubs are born. I am a Nurse, and I know Labor & Delivery Rooms are much more busy with human births during a full moon. I was wondering if panda cubs “feel the pull” also. It might be an interesting — and easy to do — research study. Many L&D areas staff more nurses during full moon time to accomodate the phenomenon. You could do the same if it were true. (It would also help if you take bets on when a cub will be born.)
Thanks for the information. And thanks for your committment to the animals. I really do appreciate it! — Joy
June 29th, 2007 at 9:29 am
I am sure that with all the talents we have, nurse , Analyst, accountant and me a inventory specialist. we could surely be put to good use counting pandas and guests , giving health check-ups, and generally giving you all a break, so girls get ready maybe [ we can hope ] that they call us. it would be a great change of pace.
June 29th, 2007 at 9:46 am
thank you, suzanne, for the interesting information. i can see that all of you invest your heart and soul in the lives of the pandas. how disappointing for you if there’s no pregnancy! i hope for your sake–as well as ours–that at least one cub will be born soon. patricia
June 29th, 2007 at 10:06 am
#7 Sher,
Both a pseudopregnancy and an actual pregnancy end when the bear’s progestins return to baseline at about 40-50 days post rise. After that occurs, her behavior will also normalize.
#8 Maureen,
Yes, Gao Gao is small in size but big of heart. We don’t know if his small stature is the result of poor nutrition as a youngster or is a matter of genetic variation, but we suspect the latter.
#10 Pam,
If she is indeed in delayed implantation, we would need to know when implantation occurred before we could accurrately predict when a birth should occur. From the date of the secondary hormone rise we expect birth within 40-50 days. But since we don’t yet know if she’s implanted, we can’t yet predict. However, we suspect there is a regularity about Bai Yun which would indicate we should all clear our calendars for August.
#11 Joy,
To my knowlege no one has looked at that. But in checking my calendar: Mei Sheng was born 19 August when the full moon that month was 11 August. Su Lin was born 2 August when the full moon her month was 19 August. So my guess at this point would be “no”.
June 29th, 2007 at 4:43 pm
I am watching the Panda Cam, and our darling Su Lin is currently lounging on a log, with her left front leg hanging on the edge of the log. She looks just like her big brother Mei Sheng sleeping on the big trunk! How cute is that!
June 29th, 2007 at 4:56 pm
Well, my temporary job will be over in about a week, so I’d love to volunteer for panda duty, too. Only I wish we have pandas in NJ (makes for an easier and shorter commute… LOL)
June 29th, 2007 at 5:00 pm
I’m watching the same thing - and just thinking to myself “Wow, that looks really comfy - I would love to be taking a nap like her right now - is it 6:00 yet?” that’s one laid back panda - she sure knows it’s Friday!
June 29th, 2007 at 8:46 pm
Thanks Suzzane - we know Gao Gao is big of heart and important genes - for a small male panda he is sure a super stud.
June 30th, 2007 at 10:43 pm
China Daily reported that on June 20th, Lun Lun’s mother Bing Bing gave birth to a female cub at the age of 21, which is very rare for Giant Panda. It also reported that Bing Bing’s son, Lun Lun’s brother Bing Xing is leaving China for Spain for an international cooperation program on endangered pandas.
July 1st, 2007 at 5:37 am
I cannot wait to see if baby pandas are born. At the Memphis Zoo, they have had a misscarrage, and that must be very dissapointing. In mid-July, I will be home, but then I have to go to my Girl Scout Camp for two weeks. I am hoping Mei Xaing and Bai Yun will work around that!!
July 1st, 2007 at 8:08 pm
This is from the Atlanta Zoo panda update Sun. “About the only news that I have caught wind of, is the that the base in Chengdu had their first baby panda born this morning. The mother, Bing Bing, happens to be Lun Lun’s mom also. So, Lun has a new sister and Mei Lan has a new aunt. I was told that at the age of 21, Bing Bing is the oldest female to give birth in captivity. She went into estrous right before I arrived in Chengdu to collect data for the research project. This put her “gestation” around five months, which is normal for a female giant panda. I am sure that mom and baby are doing well. The keepers are doing all that they can to assure the well-being of the cub.
Joseph T. Svoke
Giant Panda Keeper II”
Great news for an older panda to have a cub.
Maureen
July 2nd, 2007 at 6:08 am
I enjoy the panda webcam at some point every day, and I always check the time lapse video. It would be so nice if the time lapse could be about half the speed it is. Is that even possible? I have no clue how that works, so maybe it isn’t, but it would be such a pleasure to watch it at half speed. Thanks for all of your wonderful work at the zoo.
July 2nd, 2007 at 10:43 am
P.Wong,it would be great if they were in N.J. you know that the panda king was here and we got all that crazy bamboo growing in Avenel, and it would be close to all highways and rail transportation.
July 2nd, 2007 at 11:19 am
Suzanne, I read that Bing Bing (Lun Lun’s mother) is the oldest female still producing cubs. How many other female pandas known to be around 20 years of age are still reproducing? It makes Bai Yun sound like a youngster if she has a cub(s) at the age of 15. If she was only in estrus for one day in 2007, by 2009, she will be 17 years old, and we’ll be lucky if she is in estrus for 12 hours. However, since she and Gao Gao set a record for mating 3 times in 12 hours, they might get the job done anyway. But, will they be in US or Wolong in 2009? If Wolong, she might have another mate by then.
July 2nd, 2007 at 2:07 pm
I think I’ve read that the Chinese have a term for pandas that translates to “bear cats.” I often think how catlike pandas look–perching on something with their heads hanging down; lying on their backs asleep; stretching out their bodies; rolled into furry balls. In the picture with this post, Bai Yun seems very much like a big, beautiful relaxing cat.
Thank you for the update on Bai. It’s great to know what might be occurring in the next few months.
July 2nd, 2007 at 4:01 pm
Oh barbara, you and all the SDZ panda keeper folks (and Gao Gao) just inspired me…
Conversation with Gao Gao #20
Tourist: Wow! Am I dreaming?
Gao Gao: Hee Hee.
T: How did you get here? You’re in NJ!
G: It’s a secret… Secret of Magic Panda King.
T: And what is this you’re building?
G: Scaffolding…
T: Bamboo scaffolding?
G: Yup.
T: For what?
G: Mei Sheng will help me erect a tall greenhouse.
T: Mei Sheng is here, too?
G: Uh huh.
T: So what’s this greenhouse for?
G: It’s going to be a multi-level solar powered bamboo farm.
T: Huh?
G: A level for each cultivar.
T: Here?
G: Yeah. Right at junction 23, 46, and I-80.
T: Wow. Along the borders of Passaic, Morris, Essex and Bergen counties.
Mei Sheng:
(peeks out from behind bamboo pile)
And then we’ll also build near Port Elizabeth.
Tai Shan:
(peeks out from other side of pile)
And we’ll make sure to hire our local inventory specialist from Avenel. (wink)
July 3rd, 2007 at 11:08 am
That is so, so cute P. Wong!! Building a bamboo farm/greenhouse in NJ - I am so envious - and would definitely travel from SD to visit and work the farm with the boys. Keep up the interviews - I can’t get enough. And to all my fellow panda lovers - please have a safe and happy 4th of July - wherever your travels take you. Hugs!
July 3rd, 2007 at 11:40 am
Love your conversation with Gao Gao and the tourist. You’ve overheard quite a number of interesting chats!…Just noticed Mei Xiang at NZP has been hanging out in the den where she gave birth to Tai Shan. Hadn’t noticed that since seeing videos from 2 years ago. Maybe soon?…
July 4th, 2007 at 8:50 am
Everyone is interested in our girl
here is article I found in China paper:
Hua Mei just wants to be left alone. But a couple of scientists at the Wolong Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda keep poking her with long bamboo poles. Hua Mei, who is in heat and (biologically, at least) ready to mate, gets another prod, pushing her in the direction of the neighboring cage where her putative partner, Wu Gong, is watching with placid indifference. Hua Mei reluctantly decides to cooperate and, raising her tail, pads delicately backward toward Wu Gong. The male panda takes one look at her proffered hindquarters and scoots over to the far corner of his cage. Turning his back, he sits down and begins munching on a stalk of bamboo.
July 4th, 2007 at 8:53 am
Hey, P. Wong, I’ll go for that location! It’s close to me too.
Just a couple of nights ago I had a dream of growing such SUPER bamboo that it burst through the ceiling overnight and kept growing. (Maybe I’ve been reading Jack and the Beanstalk too much to my 3-year old neighbor.) It was enough bamboo to sustain human needs and fulfill all the panda wildest wishes.
Maybe it’s also like “Field of Dreams” — If we grow it, they will come!
Anyway, thanks for keeping us informed about the Pandas’ conversations. I am always interested to know what they are saying.
What a thrill on PandaCAM. I just saw both the lovely ladies of SDZ close-up. Su Lin was munching down on green leaves and Bai Yun was laying out and sunning on her log structure. Oh, that’s the life! I will be there to see them in just 10 days (Yes, I AM Counting!!!) I’m so excited I just can hardly wait!
See you soon! Love, Joy
July 5th, 2007 at 11:27 am
Mei Xiang was just acting crazy - did anybody else see it? She was indoors doing somersaults and batting herself about the head as if some flying bugs were bothering her. Then she went into the den where Tai Shan was born and was turning and kicking up bamboo and licking herself and turning some more, very restless and unsettled. Just when I was sure she was in labor she walked back out and climbed to the top of her “mountain” of rocks and lay down. I thought I was going to witness the birth of a cub. This suspense is killing me.
July 5th, 2007 at 12:10 pm
Hello all and Sharon,
I agree with you Sharon!!! Can’t wait to know…
I am always watching Mei on the webcam, anxiously… God! It’s crazy how we care about these maybe mother-to-be… She is so sleepy and lazy… I wish I could be there… Now, Bai Yun…She seems less lethargic…It is so hard to know… Which of these ladies will give us a new precious cub??? What a suspense!!!!
Take care!
Sophie from Montreal
July 5th, 2007 at 12:51 pm
Sharon, it’s about 3:30 est and i have a feeling your right. Mei maybe in labor, she is back in the den area and she seems to be a little uncomfortable and is pushing her paw against the like trying to ease the pain, then she walked back out but was panting and again seems very restless. I hope she is okay but i’m sure that the keepers are watching her carefully. If the web site is correct she may deliver between Sat. the 7th and tues the 17th. going back to watch after my SDZ fix.
July 5th, 2007 at 1:42 pm
I was watching Mei Xiang at 15.55 (Washington) and agree with Sharon #31 that Mei has ‘things’ on her mind. I also noted that Mei was ‘walking the walk’, doing ‘circuits and bumps’ around her enclosure and on and off her platform, no lethargy for her today, guess we will have to wait and see if she is in the throes of early labour or merely keeping us on our toes!
Bai Yun continues to be relaxed and calm as always, Bai has lots of secrets known only to her and the keepers, my guess is she will surprise you all in the near future.
I have watched the PandaCam since when Hua Mei was born - I think Bai’s births follow a pattern as they have all occured in August, my guess is she is thinking why should she consider changing the month when her other births in August have been highly successful, thanks to all concerned.
I tend to agree with Bai, if she does have a cub it will be a wonderful time for everyone who has never witnessed the event, Bai and I have a kind of ‘hands ocross the sea’ rapport.
Carol#29 - thanks for enlightening us what is happening at Wolong, especially as it concerns the one and only, very special lady - Hua Mei.
Ultimately the Panda’s belong to China, we may not always agree with their approach however they have a different culture to us - so fingers crossed all turns out well for Hua Mei.
Happy days to rememeber, I was sad when Hua Mei had to leave SDZ and I think of her often.
I am keeping my fingers crossed that all goes according to plan and all the Pandaholics will be rewarded with a ‘cub’ from Mei or Bai.
Thank you to all the Keepers - to everyone else, keep watching as hopefully you will be in for a pleasant surprise in the near future.
July 5th, 2007 at 5:23 pm
Just curious if the howdy gate is left open for Mei Sheng and Su Lin to observe each other. It looks as if Mei Sheng has been looking in Su Lin’s direction from up in his treetop perch.
Isn’t it time to update Su’s picture on your web page?
July 5th, 2007 at 8:20 pm
I have also been watching Mei Xiang (who sure acts like she’s in labor) As an aside Lun Lun & Mei Lan were a riot this afternoon. Lun Lun would pull Mei Lan off her climbing structure & they’d wrestle, Mei Lan then chased Lun Lun who would then run after Mei Lan & then they’d bounce on & off the hammock. This fun went on for at least 30 minutes-the longest play bout I’ve seen since Tai Shan & Mei Xiang.
July 6th, 2007 at 1:52 am
Carol#29 - - I feel sorry for Hua Mei. The news about her from Wolong are always discouraging. She was once described as an incompetent mother and rejected by other males when mating. I don’t know why they are so mean to her. Anyway, your continuous concerns to her will be much appreciated and useful because a word from Westerner is quite effective. Hua Mei is still apanda star in Wonlong otherwise there should not be another Hua Mei there.
July 6th, 2007 at 9:04 am
Just read that Mei Xiang has had pseudopregnancy at the Washington Post. I was hoping for a cub. All eyes are on Bai Yun now.
Yesterday I read that the Oakland Zoo is in process of getting the building permits for the panda enclosure. It could be early as 18 months to receive the panda bears.
July 6th, 2007 at 9:18 am
Y.H. Ng #37 - I remember reading somewhere that Hua Mei was the only panda mother in Wolong who took care of twin cubs at the same time. I think at the beginning they weren’t so sure about her mothering skills, but I think now that they think she is an excellent mother.
I don’t agree about being poked with a bamboo and be forced to mate.
July 6th, 2007 at 9:31 am
now that Bai is reaching the prime of her life in producing cubs mabe since Hua Mei was born her the Chinese government would consider returning our First Lady to her birth place as a goodwill jester. Maybe she would be happier in her true home and alot more receptive to breeding.
July 6th, 2007 at 9:43 am
Well, I guess Mei Xiang fooled us all with her behavior. Just read the news from NZ that she is NOT pregnant. I am sooooo disappointed, as I am sure are the entire NZ panda staff. All our hopes this year now rest with Bai Yun. Maybe she will make up for it by giving us twins. I read they had twins born in Chengdu.
July 6th, 2007 at 9:46 am
Just read very sad news from the National Zoo - “Zoo scientists have confirmed that Mei Xiang is not pregnant. After she was articifically inseminated on April 4th and 5th, she experienced a pseudo, or false, pregnancy.”
July 6th, 2007 at 10:26 am
Sorry to hear that Mei Xiang is not pregnant. She has looked so uncomfortable recently that I was sure she was about ready to deliver. I can’t imagine having to go through all that whether you’re pregnant or not!
The prodding of Hua Mei with bamboo sticks–is that a common procedure? I would think having 4 cubs already would earn her some rest.
Hope Bai Yun is doing well. Whether she has another cub or not, she is the best and most beautiful Momma Bear!
July 6th, 2007 at 10:44 am
I too am so disappointed Mei at NZ is not pregnant, when I read the blog on their website my heart just dropped. After observing her behavior this past week I was sure she was pregnant! My, what secrets these gentle creatures keep. Maybe since Bai is not acting pregnant she will turn out to be!
July 6th, 2007 at 2:00 pm
NICE photo update of Princess Su Lin! Perhaps Gao Gao is due also? He’s got such a beautiful face, but his looks like he has dirt on his face while he’s eating bamboo.
Perhaps the bamboo “pokers” would enjoy being poked the next time their wives / husbands want to mate. I realize it’s a different culture, but I think it harsh to do such a thing. It will happen on its own OR not. Hua Mei is capable as we all know- perhaps letting nature take its course would serve the humans better, instead of appearing so desperate.
July 6th, 2007 at 3:43 pm
To all who have commented about the article:
In my experience, people often see something they don’t quite understand and interpret it incorrectly. I suspect this may have occurred when this reporter commented about the prodding of a panda with a bamboo stick. One thing that is frequently done to assess the reproductive status of a female panda is to push or prod her rump, above her tail, either with a hand or a bamboo pole (around panda facilities, bamboo is readily available!). The purpose of this is to test her “tail-up” reponse. When a female is in her peak of estrus and is ready to mate, she will respond to such a touch by lifting her tail. I can’t say for sure, but I suspect the reporter may have witnessed such a readiness test, often performed in proximity to a male panda, and misinterpreted the purpose of the prodding. Unfortunately, this translates poorly in an article and appears much more antagonistic than it is. I am inclined to take that aspect of the article “with a grain of salt.”
July 6th, 2007 at 7:28 pm
I am heartbroken to read that Mei Xiang is not pregant after all - she sure had us all ready for a new cub - I was thinking her cub might even be born on Tia Shan’s birthday (July 9th). So now we’ve had two false pregnancies this year - guess it’s all up to Bai now.
July 7th, 2007 at 3:46 am
I was browsing through some old giant panda blog entries and you mentioned back in 2005 about how some female pandas had experienced a fall estrus, including Bai Yun. If no cubs are born from the most recent breeding encounter, is there still hope for Bai Yun (and maybe to an extent, Mei Xiang in DC) during autumn this year?
July 7th, 2007 at 5:50 am
I just read that Mei Xiang from Washington Zoo is not pregnant and I am so disappointed ! I hope Bai Yun will have a cub (or 2 !) this year and keep my fingers crossed.
Anyway, Tai Shan is having a great fun right now : he is running, climbing trees, slipping town from the top to the ground, running and climbing again. Very funny to watch !
Suzanne, can you please tell us more about pseudopregnancy in Giant Pandas ? I know you already wrote articles about that topic on this blog but my precise questions are : why does it occur so often ? Is it more often in Giant Pandas than in other species ? Does pseudopregnancy affect wild panda mothers aswell as captive mothers ? I know you may be very busy. THANK YOU in advance for the information, thanks to the panda keepers and to the Meerkats !
July 7th, 2007 at 3:02 pm
Thank you Suzanne for the wonderful update. I really enjoy hearing about the daily aspects of your beautiful charges. I love Bai, Gao, Su and Mei so much! I watch them everyday on the cam. What beautiful bears they are. You and the rest of the panda team are doing a fantastic job taking care of them.
By the way, that photo of Bai Yun really shows how much she looks like her half-brother Tian Tian in DC! Their eyes look the same!!!
July 7th, 2007 at 4:51 pm
Hi Suzanne #46
thank you for advising what you consider to be the reason for the use of a bamboo pole relating to the intended mating of Hua Mei.
I feel certain you are correct, it must be highly unlikely any person would want to ‘harm’ Hua Mei in any way as she must be one of their most prized possessions.
I am aware of other female animals who will react by holding the ‘tail up’ or tail held ‘to the side’ if they are touched above the tail when they are in estrus.
I am also aware of pseudo pregnancies (sometimes referred to as ‘false’ or ‘phantom’ pregnancies) the reasons which can be various.
Previously you have explained the possible reason it can occur in Giant Panda’s, however I am certain you will explain again as you are our expert on everything relating to Giant Pandas.
It is some time since I heard of Dr.Don Lindberg who was the Giant Panda Team Leader at CRES when Hua Mei was born - has he moved to another post?
I live in UK and was priviledged to take part in two online ‘Live Chats’ with Don Lindberg which was most informative, in those days there were no ‘blogs’.
Like all Panda Cam watchers I am waiting to see signs that Bai is considering giving you a very special gift in the near future, previously she has delivered her suprize package in her chosen month of August.
As always Bai will do things her way, if she has a cub it will be wonderful but if there is no cub this time around, we will still love the Panda with the ’smiling face’…
Moderator’s note: Dr. Lindberg retired from the San Diego Zoo last year. We hope he is enjoying his retirement!
July 7th, 2007 at 10:10 pm
Thank you, Suzanne (#46) for your comments on Hua Mei. The Chinese consider pandas a national treasure and think of Hua Mei a treasure because she is the daughter of the 1st panda bred in captivity (Bai!). I was quite sure that they would never do harm to her so your article was greatly appreciated. We think the world of our U.S. pandas and know the care they get here is top notch and hope that they continue to get as good of care once shipped back to China.
Yes, the news from Memphis and DC was disappointing this year but our Super Mom and Dad, Bai and Gao may pull through for us next month. Keep up the fantastic work!!
July 8th, 2007 at 10:24 am
As a mom (be it an OLD mom), I’m inclined to think a rest between babies is just fine. LOL Of course I love the new babies whenever we are fortunate enough to get them - the more the better in this case. But, we still have babies that have alot of growing up to do and we can enjoy them while waiting for next breeding season. With baby, or not, we love all these pandas!!
July 8th, 2007 at 12:22 pm
Thank you moderator#51
who has answered my question regarding Dr. Don Lindberg.
I likewise hope he is enjoying his retirement, although my guess is he will miss seeing the Giant Pandas on a daily basis, I recall him being at the forefront of things when the Chinese delegation attended Hua Mei’s official naming.
Hua Mei loved her public and presented them with ‘big smiles’ just like her lovely mom Bai Yun, when she was not entertaining her public she would sit and munch bamboo in the same manner that Bai does and would gaze to the sky to keep an eye on every bird or ‘plane’ that entered her ‘air space’.
I have wallpaper and screensavers of that era and often put on the ‘animated’ Walking Hua Mei’ screensaver to watch her walk all over my screen!
However we must look forward, ‘Super Mom’ Bai Yun has given everyone two amazing daughters and one perfect gent of a son, maybe she has another mini Mei Sheng tucked away for safe keeping, we will have to wait and see what suprize, if any, that she has in store for you all.
Thank you to the staff and keepers (and Meerkats) for all the effort it must take to present such excellent viewing for the public both in person and via the PandaCam. - I also sometimes see Sandiego Zoo featured on your K8 News channel.
Kind regards…..
July 8th, 2007 at 8:19 pm
Thanks for updating Su’s picture. She is giving a Paris Hilton over-the-shoulder smile!
July 9th, 2007 at 8:40 am
Thanks Suzanne for clarifying the facts about “prodding.” As I recall, earlier blogs about Bai Yun and testing her receptivity as she approached estrus, this technique was used on her. Since her hormones and behavior changes were not in sync until the last minute, I remember reading that you were using “tail-up” and Gao Gao’s sense of smell to let you know when peak estrus occurred. Since it was sudden, and truncated, it is good that you had such a technique to help determine the timing for their introduction and subsequent mating. I don’t recall anyone referring to it as anything like “poking with a bamboo pole.”
With the unfortunate pseudopregnancy of YaYa and Mei Xiang, all eyes are on Bai Yun.
Since this may be her last pregnancy because of her age, and her truncated estrus, we are all hopeful that she is pregnant with one or two cubs.
Whether she produces any more cubs or not, we will still appreciate and admire her for her beauty and fantastic mothering of her 3 cubs, and we are very thankful for her contributions to the conservation of pandas in the wild. She has set many records, and and that is a huge contribution to the reproductive studies on Giant Pandas. She is the first captive born cub at Wolong to survive, she gave birth to the first cub that survived in the Western Hemisphere and the first US born cub to go to live in her ancestral home at Wolong, and she had the most natural matings in one 24 hour period. As I see it, that is quite a legacy to leave, whether she has any cubs at 15 years of age or not.
LunLun (Zoo Atlanta)’s mother is the oldest female Giant Panda still producing cubs that survive. She had the first cub of 2007 at Chengdu last week. This is also a great legacy to leave behind. May her productive genes be passed on to Lun Lun, and may Lun Lun play a large part in conserving the captive panda population in the US.
We cherish you Bai Yun no matter what happens with cubs this time around.
Kudos to all the Panda Reseach Team at SDZ for taking such incredible care of wonderful pandas, and helping them to help their species survive and thrive.
July 9th, 2007 at 10:47 am
Just looking at Su Lin-wow she’s filthy! Rolling around in the dirt and obviously loving it!!
July 9th, 2007 at 5:31 pm
Happy Birthday Tai Shan!!!
July 10th, 2007 at 4:43 pm
There have been a lot of really great shots of both Su Lin and Mei Sheng today - both being very active - almost like they were looking for something. Investigating every inch of their exhibits - and at one point - standing up against the fence (the one that may be separating their exhibits?) It’s still so hard to believe how big Su Lin is - and acting so grown up. Thanks for the great camera work today… and also - Su Lin looked all cleaned up today - since yesterday she was a very dirty panda. Not very ladylike Miss Fancy Pants!
July 11th, 2007 at 8:46 am
Thank you for the close-ups of Bai Yun. The pics were so close I even saw the 2 staright black hairs coming from her eye. I felt like I could reach out and touch her. Amazing. L
July 11th, 2007 at 9:49 am
Thank you so much for this Panda Webcam. I get such great pleasure from watching the pandas. I know that I cannot visit the zoos mentioned, but “hope” as they say “Springs eternal”?? someday maybe, I will be able to get to San Diego to see Su lin and Bai Yun. Gao Gao is a darling also. Bai Yun looks so nice and round and healthy. I just now that she will give us another baby to watch grow up.
July 11th, 2007 at 6:37 pm
Thank you, Meerkats, for carefully following Su Lin and Mei Sheng around with the camera. It’s such a pleasure to see them go about their daily activities–including a lot of peaceful napping.
It was fun to watch Su Lin today sitting on top of the lair, munching bamboo the way her mother used to do when the Su was a baby and high up in her “old” tree. Does Su Lin think of the play times that she enjoyed with Bai Yun there, the quiet nursing sessions, the rolling around in the fresh dirt inside the lair? Perhaps we need Pamela to give us some idea of what sub-adult Su “remembers” about her past adventures.
July 11th, 2007 at 7:53 pm
There are adorable pictures of Tia Shan on the Washngton Zoo website - hard to believe he is 2 years old already - at 152 pounds he weighs almost as much as papa Gao Gao. Love seeing Bai relaxing & so unconcerned as we all wait to see if she has another cub. News from the Chengdu research center - one of the pandas had twins a couple of days ago and another panda had a cub yesterday. Let’s hope Bai has another healthy cub to add to SDZ great record.
July 12th, 2007 at 6:34 am
I have heard that another zoo might be getting Giant Pandas. Could anyone tell me anything about this???
July 12th, 2007 at 10:00 am
I think it might have been the Oakland Zoo but I’m not sure.
K
July 12th, 2007 at 10:22 am
Yes, it’s the Oakland Zoo. They are expecting to receive the permits soon, so they can start building the panda enclosure. If things go smoothly, the earliest that they can receive pandas is 18 months.
July 12th, 2007 at 11:27 am
I hope it’s not oakland. it should be on the east coast {N.J.} after all we have the cold weather. I would settle for N.Y.at the Bronx Zoo, But I guess any where that we could have our precious babies would be okay.
July 12th, 2007 at 2:03 pm
Hey Barbara,
In the article I read, the other zoos that were looking into pandas are Toronto and I think somewhere in Nebraska.
July 12th, 2007 at 7:20 pm
I’d LOVE to see the Omaha, NE zoo get a pair! That would put us about 3 hrs. from seeing a panda in the flesh!
July 12th, 2007 at 8:58 pm
At least Toronto is closer than SD or Oakland. I agree with Barbara, it would be nice to have pandas in the Northeast where the weather is cooler in the Summer. The bears in Atlanta and Memphis and Washington all spend alot of their time indoors in the Summer because of extreme heat. NZP has cooling mist in grottos and that keeps Tai Shan out most of the day. His parents seem to prefer the air conditioned indoors for their resting although they do nap in the water chilled grottos in the AM.
SDZ seems to have a similar fogging mechanism for keeping the bears cooler outdoors on hot days. Since the humidity is not as high in the West as it is in the East, the bears may not feel the heat as much as they do on the East coast. They are native to foggy, misty mountain ranges so they would like cool/cold moist climate probably.
July 13th, 2007 at 9:40 am
Hi Candy in Iowa (#69)! I presume you are talking about Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo. I wholeheartedly agree with you - they would be a great home for pandas. We visited there 2 years ago & only saw about half of the zoo - it was so big and I can only walk so much due to arthritis. Even missed my favorite - the red panda. I would love to go back and a panda pair would make it a must-see. We are going to see the pandas in Memphis in October (I was so hoping to see a cub then, too, but maybe next year.)
July 17th, 2007 at 10:20 am
I will wish Oakland well in their quest for pandas, but really would love to see some closer to my central IL home!
Closest is Memphis, nearly a 9 hour drive. It would be terrific if Chicago’s Brookfield zoo could get a pair. They were they home of the original US panda, the male Su Lin, back in the 1930’s. I hope to somehow get to both coasts while their respective panda families are still US residents, for a visit. Better start saving my pennies!
July 18th, 2007 at 12:19 pm
Maybe we should write to our area zoos and get petitions started to ask them to consider exploring the possibilities of formally asking China for permission to submit an application for a pair of our babies.
July 18th, 2007 at 3:25 pm
barbara. You don’t suppose Turtleback Zoo in West Orange NJ would be in the running… Just kidding, I guess Bronx Zoo in NYC would be the most viable candidate in our area.
July 19th, 2007 at 6:20 am
P.Wong, now that would be a excellent place but alas space would be a problem. I spent many a saturday there when my daughter was young. I enjoy all the zoos that i have been too and appericate all the hard work and dedication the keepers and all the people provide for the comfort of the animals. The Bronx would be wonderful and another place that is up and coming is the Cape May zoo samall but beautiful but i will be back to D.C. in Sept. to see Tai and I am looking forward to it. I really need a vacation. Happy Keepers Week
July 19th, 2007 at 11:39 am
Barbara # 73 I asked my local zoo (Buffalo NY) about looking into getting giant pandas. They basically said it’ll never happen, too expensive. So I drive down to NZ at least once a year to see them there.
July 20th, 2007 at 6:59 am
Michelle #76, how sad that everything has to come down to dollars and cents, I’m sure that there are some corporate sponsor’s out ther somewhere that would be will to help. A major city like N.Y. with it’s toursim attractions would benefit greatly with jobs tax revenue and businesses would see a increase in sales. What would be a better way to sell your city. Look at D.C. their zoo is free except for parking and yes they have government support but they have a great corporate sponsor Fuji. So come on big cities I’m sure you can do it.
July 21st, 2007 at 4:12 pm
As I recall, the Bronx zoo was supposed to have received Su Lin when Ruth Harkness brought him to the US. Negotiations fell through, and he landed at Brookfield in Chicago. It would be historically interesting to see the Bronx zoo finally get a pair of bears, after all these years!
July 24th, 2007 at 6:42 am
Lisa #78, i inquired as to wether or not the Bronx Zoo would be interested in getting a pair of pandas and their answer to me was a flat no they are not interested. there was no other explanation.