Progression: A Weaning Update
Posted at 11:38 am February 14, 2007 by Suzanne Hall
Last Friday, February 9, we instituted the third step in our weaning protocol with Su Lin. We combined elements of the first two steps by closing the door between dam and cub at 4:30 p.m. and leaving it closed for 18 hours. This means the bears were able to reunite at 10:30 a.m. each day.
Thus far, neither bear has sought out the other within the first 30 minutes after doors have been opened. On some days, Su Lin has been a bit anxious about being separated from her mother in the morning, but most days she is relaxed about the change. She has continued to nurse each day. The length of time she spends nursing varies between 15 and 25 minutes and depends upon the willingness of Bai Yun to sit still for the session. Momma is always responsible for terminating the nursing bouts: it seems Su Lin would go on nursing forever if Bai Yun would let her!
We are encouraged that Bai Yun is taking this process very much in stride. Recordings of overnight behavior have shown us that she is resting or feeding on bamboo all night and doesn't check the gate between her and the cub. She spends nearly all of her morning feeding on bamboo and must be pleased to have no competition for the choice pieces her keepers select for her. On days when she wanders into Su Lin's space first, she often pillages the bamboo stash she finds in that area, if Su Lin has left any behind. Bai Yun is an eating machine, and we hope that once she is no longer nursing the cub she will be able to add some weight to her 205-pound (93-kilogram) frame.
Su Lin has also shown us some signs that she is developing routines that are independent of her mother. The last two mornings, she has been up and waiting when her keepers come to greet her at about 6:30 a.m., a change from the past. She is starting to rely more heavily on her handlers for filling her belly and for social contact. This is a good sign and confirms for us that she is adapting to the changes in her life. Experience has taught us that the keepers will be instrumental in the next part of Su Lin's life, as she will solicit them frequently for contact and affection. It is our hope that in a few months her big brother, Mei Sheng, may be able to help her too, by providing companionship and some rough-and-tumble play. We'll let you know when we begin to test those waters.
We have a few more days before these two bears will say the final farewells. This process, which began nearly a month ago, could not have gone more smoothly for the staff or the bears. We are pleased to see Su Lin move into the next phase of her life and are satisfied that we have managed to aid in her transition in such a way that both bears have adapted with a high degree of comfort. Although we'd like to think our experience is the deciding factor in Su Lin's success with the weaning process, the truth is that when we try to mimic the wild situation as much as is possible for bears in managed care, their natural instincts and preferences will be the driving force in allowing them to succeed.
Suzanne Hall is the senior research laboratory technician for the Giant Panda Conservation Unit of Applied Animal Ecology/CRES.
You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Scroll to the end to leave a comment. Pinging is not allowed.
February 14th, 2007 at 12:20 pm
Suzanne, thanks for the update. So far it appears from watching Bai Yun that she is still content to have contact with Su Lin for a few hours during the day. She doesn't appear to run away from Su Lin, like Mei Xiang sometimes has to do from Tai Shan. He also seems to be adapting, and his " alone time" appears to take place mostly indoors, since he is in a more sensitive climate situation. Both cubs are obviously adapting to life on their terms and learning to occupy themselves with napping in their favorite spots, and exploring new things by themselves. They both spend several thoughtful minutes scoping out new toys or items given to them by their keepers. Their keepers will soon be their " best friends" as they are for Mei Sheng. Sheng seems to still be very dependent on his keepers which will help him in his transition and journey to China.
In which enclosure do Bai Yun and Su Lin tend to spend their " together time?" It appears to me that they are in Bai Yun's area one day, and Su Lin's the next. They have not developed a pattern that I have observed yet, or else it is during the time that I can't watch them.
Kudos to everyone for keeping the anxiety and stress level as low as possible. Hopefully Pandaholics are not as anxious either so they won't pester you about going too fast.
February 14th, 2007 at 12:42 pm
Suzanne, I very much appreciate the detailed description of the weaning process and progress. I have two questions.
Is it correct to assume that Su Lin no longer physically needs the nutrition that comes from her mother's milk? If the answer is yes, would her continued nursing be more of a " psychological" or " behavioral" need?
Will her new diet be similar to that of the rest of her family (except for quantity) or will she receive milk supplements?
February 14th, 2007 at 1:21 pm
Margaret #1,
The bears choice of exhibit varies from day to day, but I would say it seems that Su Lin is usually joining mom on the side with the lair (the one she has lived in most of her life).
C. #2,
I think it is definitely the case that Su Lin nurses for behavioral reasons… although she does still get some milk, the quantity of calories she derives from this must be very small compared to her energy needs. Her diet will be the same as the other three bears at the facility, and keepers have noted that since overnight separations began she is consuming nearly 2.2 kg of bamboo on some nights… as much as her mother!
February 14th, 2007 at 2:10 pm
C. Johnson, great questions. Thanks for asking them. I would love to know the same info.
February 14th, 2007 at 2:43 pm
Thanks Meekats for the great pictures today of Bai and Su and their afternoon bamboo tea for two. Su Lin looks like she is playing a flute for her mom as she eats. Too cute!
February 14th, 2007 at 4:08 pm
Thanks so much for the update. I am very much looking forward to Su Lin meeting her big brother in the coming months. That will be a wonderful treat for them, and for us pandaholics to see the siblings interact and frolic! Thanks so much to all the keepers, meerkats, and of course Suzanne for taking such wonderful and loving care of Bai and her family!
February 14th, 2007 at 5:32 pm
Does this mean Mei Sheng will get to interact with Su Lin?? That would be so wonderful!! It would be very nice if little Su can meet her big brother…I'm sure Mei Sheng would love the little companion as well.
Please keep us updated!! I'm glad the weaning is going over smoothly…and can't wait for further news!
February 14th, 2007 at 8:47 pm
How long after the weaning process is over will Bai Yun be " in season" ? I'm sure Gao Gao will let us know when that's happening!
February 15th, 2007 at 9:26 am
Suzanne, if pandas are solitary by nature what is the point of putting Su Lin and Mei Sheng together? Is it really necessary for them to " play together" when this normally would not occur in the wild? I would think Mei Sheng would be aggressive to another panda as a natural part of being solitary and wanting to keep his food to himself. I'm curious what the reasoning on this is.
February 15th, 2007 at 1:47 pm
Has it been documented that juvenille and adolescent cubs play in the wild similar to how they are reared in Wolong? My guess is that is what you are going to research when putting Su Lin and Mei Sheng together. Since you and others have observed and written that Mei Sheng currently gets his social contact and interaction from human keepers, and Su Lin obviously still craves social interaction with her mother, it would appear that both would benefit from interaction with young pandas.
It is also noteworthy that the pairs brought to zoos all over the world were brought as matched pairs of adolescent (not sexually mature) bears. Since Mei Sheng will not be sexually mature for another 2-3 years, it seems to me that he would not be " agressive to another panda" as a sexually mature male or female guarding their territory might be. Am I drawing a reasonable conclusion based on scientific evidence?
February 15th, 2007 at 2:03 pm
Kathy #8,
Bai Yun has had a fertile estrus within 50 days of a completed weaning period in the past.
Michelle #9,
Young pandas can be social at times. We have seen our young bears solicit the attention of keeper staff frequently, at a rate much higher than our adults do. Even adults in a captive setting, where food is abundant and there is no need to compete for resources, can play together. In Wolong, young pandas weaned from their mothers are often housed together to allow them social contact and provide an enrichment opportunity.
For Su Lin and Mei Sheng, time together would be an enrichment experience. It would likely not be a 24-hour a day situation, but occasional play bouts so that they can enjoy some contact with another young bear and expend some energy. In the wild, though pandas are generally solitary, we think that youngsters weaned from their mothers can develop relationships with other bears in the area, shadowing them as they learn more about their habitat. In that sense, social contact between our youngsters isn't terribly out of line with the wild situation.
February 15th, 2007 at 2:10 pm
Michelle adult pandas are solitary by nature. but in the wild panda sub-adults will sometimes meet and play and I think that I've read that sometimes they stay together for a little while.
I would love to see Su and Mei playing together. Please keep us updated on this.
February 16th, 2007 at 6:51 am
I personally can't wait to see Su and Mei together!!!. Mei Sheng probably would love the company since he has been alone for a while. I hope to see this before he heads to China to begin his new life.
February 16th, 2007 at 12:15 pm
Is it true that Su Lin will call for her mother once the doors are closed forever? Will this not have an effect on Bai Yun?
February 16th, 2007 at 12:17 pm
Is the primary reason a mother does not attempt to raise twin cubs in the wild that she only can produce enough milk for one, and can only defend one at a time? When they are born in captivity, and keepers care for one while the other is with the mother, the issue of nutrition and sustanance is taken care of by human assistance. Once they are less dependent on nursing from their mother, are the cubs ever together with their mother present? (not like in the Wolong Panda Kindergarten) If they are, at what age is this theoretically practical?
If Bai Yun has twins who both survive, and they are alternately cared for by keepers and Bai Yun, will they be on exhibit together with her? It occurred to me that as they become mobile and independent at 6 months or so they might be put together with her to get more social interaction and enrichment.
If they are on exhibit together how would a mother with twin cubs react? Previous blogs have alluded to the panda mother in China that successfully raised two cubs " by herself" but with some human assistance. If they were at Wolong, it is likely that the twins were both separated from their mother at 6 months, but would they ever have been together so that they got to interact as a pair with their mother?
Although Mei Sheng and Su Lin are two years apart in age, they are both now adolescent bears. The social contact and enrichment opportunity would be similar because they would be interacting with a bear more their age, interest, and activity level than they would get from interacting with their adult mother.
February 16th, 2007 at 2:25 pm
Sandie #14,
Su Lin may bleat for her mother, and Bai Yun may hear her. However, unless the bleating becomes very persistant it is not likely to cause any stress to Bai Yun. So far in this process, Su Lin has been virtually silent.
Margaret #15,
Panda mothers take exceptional care of their young. They need to be constantly holding their newborns, covering them for warmth, even foregoing food and water themselves for several days to ensure that their cub is kept warm and well-fed. Performing such a labor intensive task for two cubs who may have different schedules and needs proves to be a herculean task for any panda mother. Pandas who have tried to rear their twins without assistance in captivity usually fail due to exhaustion: they wind up accidentally crushing a youngster when they finally succumb to their extreme fatigue. More seasoned females will simply choose: they will deliberately ignore one newborn and focus on the other. One seems to be the number they can manage on their own.
If Bai Yun ever gives birth to twins (we confirmed via ultrasound that she has been pregnant with multiples twice, but only one cub was born each time) we will adopt the twin swapping protocol that has been successful in China. While the cubs are very young (the first 4-6 weeks) Bai Yun will only care for one cub at a time. As they grow and can be alone in the den, she will likely be given opportunities to work with both cubs simultaneously. Ultimately, when all danger has passed, both cubs will be left with her 24 hours a day.
February 16th, 2007 at 3:06 pm
How exciting it was for me to read about the possibility of Mei and Su to interact! The visuals I'm getting alone are worth the idea. I suppose that I never even considered the possibility (let alone the appropriateness) of this situation. Let alone the thought that Mei would be leaving for China soon. Oh, I so hope that this happens…what fun, what joy, what learning!…
February 17th, 2007 at 2:11 pm
I have 2 questions, are Basi and Yuan Yuan still alive? and will Bai Yun have another cub in San Diego? i sure hope so
February 17th, 2007 at 3:02 pm
Gong xi fa cai, xin nien kaui le. To all the pandas and their keepers. I can't wait to see the youngsters play together. It's great to see that Su Lin is taking everything in her stride.
February 17th, 2007 at 3:10 pm
Thanks Suzanne. I think I read that Mei Sheng was twin but that he was the only surviving cub.
It is exciting to think of the prospect of her having two surviving twins and the learning that will provide you with your research. Since there are fewer bears to care for at one time in the US, it could afford a closer observation opportunity, and rare research chance that might not happen in Wolong or Chengdu. It gives me goosebumps to think of the prospects.
I hope to be able to make a trip to San Diego this year and see Bai Yun's next cub(s), Su Lin, and even Mei Sheng if we are privileged to still have him here.
February 18th, 2007 at 2:18 am
As I read the comments about both Su and Tai during this time of their lives, I shake my head at the way some people criticize the zoos and policies. No matter how wonderfully the zoo staff explains that the mama bears are the ones calling the shots. Reading about the chinese breeding centers and their panda kindergartens, how after the naming ceremonies the cubs are moved together away from their mothers all at once, it just underlines how well off (dare I say spoiled?) the U.S. cubs are. We love them all.
February 18th, 2007 at 6:10 am
I have read that Mei Mei of Adventure World in Japan is the only panda mother to raise her own twins on her own, and not just once, but at least twice. She's the one who gave birth to her latest pair on 23 December 2006. Her twins were named way before the 100 days, and are already on exhibit.
February 18th, 2007 at 3:38 pm
KUNG HEE FAT CHOY (Happy New Year) to the amazing pandas.
Hope you have a wonderful first day of Year of the Boar. Enjoy your day!
February 18th, 2007 at 5:09 pm
When Bai Yun and Su Lin are reunited the morning, and one seeks the other out, how long do they stay together before they separate themselves and each goes to their own exhibit space? It appears from the time-lapse videos last week that they spent an hour or two together in the mid-morning, and then around 2-3 PM. Otherwise there is only one of them on the cam which I think means that either Su Lin is in the tree in Exhibit one, while Bai is on the ground, or she returned to exhibit 2 to do " her thing."
I am hoping that you will be doing an update on Monday morning, as it seems to me that you must be down to 2-4 or fewer hours per day that they are together. When you get to 2 hours are they consecutive, or one in the AM and one in the PM? As of Tuesday's video, it appeared that Su Lin was still nursing once a day. Will she likely do that until you close the door the final time, or will you wait until she stops? If she is still nursing, behaviorally more than nutritionally, will that make it more likely that she will call her mother after the door is shut? Bai may not answer since the nursing is behavioral and not nutritional, and she knows that Su Lin doesn't need it to survive.
February 18th, 2007 at 5:16 pm
I forgot to ask if Bai Yun appears to be as happy to see Su Lin when they are reunited as Su Lin probably is to see her mother? Or, is Bai Yun very laid back and matter of fact about it? Does she stop eating to greet Su if Su comes to find her mother? Obviously if Bai goes looking for Su she would be interested or she wouldn't go to find her.
February 18th, 2007 at 5:41 pm
Su Lin had such a great time with Bai Yun on Saturday afternoon. Today, Sunday, she is bewildered and pacing, looking for her caretaker. Has total separation come?
Both Su Lin and Tai Shan seem to be scratching a lot since weaning was started. Would the decrease in fat in their diet have anything to do with this?
February 19th, 2007 at 11:45 am
Monday, President's Day…looks like it's raining in San Diego. Su Lin and Bai Yun both look like they are pacing. Missing each other? Hungry? Want to go inside? Su goes up the tree, comes back down, around the yard, then up the tree again. Bai in a tree, looking, looking–for what? She's quite a sight to see off the ground. Am I mistaken?
February 19th, 2007 at 1:48 pm
Are Bai Yun and Su Lin together at all anymore? If so, during what hours? It appeared that they were not together at all on the panda cam on Sunday. On Monday, at 12:45 PM, which on Friday and Saturday seemed to be the time they were together, Su Lin appears to be pacing up and down a log, over to the fence and back on the log, as if she is looking for someone. It could be a keeper since she went along the fence, or could it be her mother? She has done this for at least 10 minutes which is very unusual from what I have observed of her.
February 19th, 2007 at 2:00 pm
She wanted a drink! Through the downpour, I could finally make out a dedicated keeper coming to the fence and talking with her. She got her drink, the keeper got drenched, and she finally ambled off to have her afternoon chew on bamboo. Can you imagine laying almost straight back and trying to tear off and chew bamboo? What an art form these bears have developed. She is one very wet, muddy back, contented eating girl. Munch, munch, crunch, crunch. What a way to spend an incredibly wet muddy day. At one point she looked like she took a swipe at the mud with her forepaw. I thought she might stop and play in the mud like she and Bai did when she was younger, but hunger called her to the bamboo instead. I can just imagine their backsides after sitting in the mud all day. Good thing they have water repellent coats.
February 20th, 2007 at 2:13 pm
Has the final separation taken place? It appears that after Saturday Bai and Su have not been together at all, at least on camera. If so, how is Su Lin taking to her complete independence. She appears to be searching for her human " playmates" more for social interaction when she gets the lonely urge.
February 21st, 2007 at 5:25 pm
I still see Tai Shan nursing. He seems to be more attached to his mother than Su Lin is to Bai Yun. Is this the case with most male cubs?
February 28th, 2007 at 12:03 pm
Oh they are so cute!!! When will any new babies be coming? Just checking