Revelations
Posted at 12:22 am August 24, 2005 by Suzanne Hall
We have collected a ton of behavioral data on the mother-infant relationship since the birth of this cub on 2 August. We can use this data to evaluate the activities of both mother and cub. Since we also did a bang-up job of recording data when Hua Mei was born in 1999 and again with Mei Sheng in 2003, we can use data from previous years to make a comparison of this cub to our previous ones.
What does our data tell us so far? This cub started off a little quieter than Mei Sheng did, with less crying, squawking, and croaking in its first several hours. As time wore on, however, this cub became more vocal than Mei Sheng was, particularly with regard to squawking. The squawk is a mid-level vocalization that generally signals a need for comforting by its mother.
What's really interesting to me is that Bai Yun offered comfort to her cub as a result of these vocalizations at about the same rate as she did for Mei Sheng. From day four to day nine of the cub's life, her percent of squawks comforted mirrored Mei Sheng's almost exactly- despite the variability in daily vocalizations emitted by the cubs. How did she do that? Is she pre-programmed genetically to respond at a certain rate now that she is an experienced mom?
Many of you have commented that you see differences between Bai Yun and Mei Xiang with regard to their mothering styles. I can't speak to the differences in personalities of either the mothers or their cubs, but I can say that we have seen great differences in Bai Yun's maternal skills from her early days with Hua Mei until now. She was more attentive to Hua Mei's every vocalization. She did not allow Hua Mei to rest in contact with the ground as much as she has with subsequent cubs. As a seasoned mother, she doesn't seem to sweat the small stuff. It is likely that Mei Xiang will demonstrate a similar attitude with her next cub(s).
One day, perhaps Bai Yun will give birth to twins. It should be very interesting to see if she treats each twin differently, based on its personality, or if she hits the same markers with each cub as she did with previous ones. Keep your fingers crossed that some day we may get the chance to find out!
Suzanne Hall is the panda research technician for the Office of Giant Panda Conservation.
View Bai Yun and her cub on Panda Cam
See our slideshow images of the first exam
See photos of Mei Sheng's birthday
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August 24th, 2005 at 4:55 am
One day if Bai Yun will give birth to twins, I wonder how could you get one of the twins from her ? How could you get milk from Bai Yun for the other cub in your nursery-rearing while Bai Yun is caring for one cub ?
August 24th, 2005 at 5:06 am
Thanks for the great comments - especially about Bai Yun and Mei Xiang. I'm constantly flipping back and forth between the two web sites and sometime I get pretty nervous watching Mei. She flip flops that little baby around so much I'm afraid she's going to drop him on his head or something. I didn't have the ability to watch Bai Yun and Hua Mei together - as a first time mom, was Bai Yun like that with her?
Thanks again for all you guys do for the pandas and us panda fanatics - these blogs are wonderful.
Jeannie
August 24th, 2005 at 6:18 am
It is so awsome to be able to watch this wonderful panda world first hand. I actually was wondering if there is any data on how old is too old for a panda to give birth and rear her cubs, not so much biologically, but when would it be too tiring or too much for her to handle? I just want to say thank you for the opportunity to be able to watch all of this on panda cam and the blogs. Thank you, Diana
August 24th, 2005 at 9:16 am
The thought of twins makes my heart skip a beat. Two panda baby siblings growing up together at the same zoo — oh, what an adorable sight that would be!
August 24th, 2005 at 10:20 am
I've been watching both panda mothers in S.D. and D.C., and Mei Xiang at times seems to forget she has a baby. The other day as soon as she heard her bamboo meal hit the floor in the exhibit room, she dumped the baby and headed out the door. One day she brought so much bamboo into the den that the baby was totally buried in it. She proceeded to eat with gusto, and then all of a sudden she remembered she had a baby and she frantically started digging into the bamboo to find him. Another day the baby was lying close to her while she ate. She waved the bamboo back and forth as she bit it off, and the end of the bamboo kept sweeping across the baby's face. He was on his back, and he'd try to swat it off, but Mei kept whipping it back and forth. He finally squawked and she picked him up.
(Editor's note: Mei Xiang is at the National Zoo in Washington, D.C.)
August 24th, 2005 at 11:06 am
This is fascinating data! It's interesting how the cubs each produce increasingly higher squawks per hour, but Bai Yun still continues the same routine without trying to minimize the rate. Perhaps she is indeed more confident with her mothering skills and knows that the cub will grow up just fine. Sounds a little similar to humans… almost.
Thank you!
August 24th, 2005 at 11:55 am
As many of the other panda-cub devotees, I am amazed at the rapid progress of these first three weeks. What a privilege to be able to peek in on the intimate moments between mother and baby as their learn about each other. I spend more time on the San Diego cam than the D.C. but was pleased to note that some of the comments being emailed echo what I have been thinking. Experience certainly does make a difference- -in both the animal world and the human world. Blessings on all of the staff and their volunteers. What a gift you give to the world with your tireless hours of care and observation. Jeanine
August 24th, 2005 at 12:27 pm
I, too, have been watching both panda mothers and cubs since the births. I agree that the mothering seems different, but I think it is simply because Bai Yun has had more experience. I saw Mei Xiang eating in her den, but it didn't harm the cub. I'm sure they do this in the wild, where the dens are much smaller. Mei knows how to take care of the baby, and she is doing a wonderful job. She seems to want to hold it more than the cub really wants at this time. In time she will calm down a bit, just as Bai has done. It is wonderful to have the opportunity to see inside these dens. Thanks to all of you!!
August 24th, 2005 at 12:34 pm
Betty,
Bai Yun has done this too! She will shuffle around the bedding in her den, and in doing so, flip the cub over or send it flying a foot or two across the den. She has been known to bury a cub in debris. She will occasionally leave abruptly to get a meal, particularly if the keepers have just added new food to her room. Every mother (including myself!) has occasional minor lapses which result in momentary discomfort in their offspring. The important thing is that the cub is never injured in these episodes, and overall Bai Yun (and Mei Xiang) appear to be doing a good job of taking care of their babies.
August 24th, 2005 at 5:21 pm
ALL TOGETHER,AWWWWWWWWWWWW. I AM IN SUCH AWWWWW OF THE PROCESS OF WATCHING THESE TWO BEAUTIFUL ANIMALS GROW AND BOND TOGETHER. WHAT A MOM,SO LOVING AND CARING TOWARDS HER BABY. AND WATCHING THE BABY TRYING SO HARD TO USE HER LEGS TO GET AROUND. I AM WAITING FOR THE DAY WHEN THAT LIL BABY WALKS OUT OF THE DEN. THANKS SO MUCH FOR THE ED. OF PANDAS,GOTTA LOVE IT. CAN'T GET MUCH BETTER.,GAIL
August 26th, 2005 at 1:13 am
I was born and raised on a horse ranch… and dearly love animals.. Watching how instinct and nature guides new animal mothers is amazing.. On the Ranch a Mare if she falls will always fall away from her foul so as to not hurt it… They are so loving with them.. The Panda Mom almost seems human.. So much so I want to cry… Animals are such a blessing to our lives and to be able to watch and experience the baby grow is tear inspiring.. It has been very hard to get my work done…
I would rather watch the Pandas..
August 29th, 2005 at 6:50 am
It is a delight to read your comments. I have been mystified (I'm not a " math person" ) by the requirements for statistics in zoo-tech programs and am beginning to understand why they are important. One can learn a great deal about how and when the mother Panda responds to the baby's individual cries for attention.
My daughter is a zoo-tech student at Friends University and we have both been curious about the need for statistics. Thanks for clarifying! And for humanizing the process of note-taking!
I have so enjoyed reading the responses you made, as well as those of others of your team. I am grateful that you are all giving us words to go with the pictures.