Swinging in the Rain
Posted at 1:02 pm December 8, 2006 by Kay Ferguson
Soon we will have some rain in San Diego, hopefully! The pandas at the Zoo’s Giant Panda Research Station really enjoy the cooler weather and their mood changes as they relax more and just hang out while I get wet. It doesn’t make any difference what type of rain gear I have, I always get wet!
Su Lin (pictured with her mother, Bai Yun) will sleep through the day; even if it is raining, she will swing with the breeze in the tree, enjoying the change. Lately she is more active: coming down to eat, playing with the bushes, rolling down the hill, even trying to catch her own tail. She is eating more bamboo now, taking small branches of bamboo up into the tree to enjoy a quiet spot while eating. A few weeks ago, we had a light rain and she actually watched the rain falling from the sky. I just wish I knew her thoughts at that time. Rain or shine, this little female panda loves her tree, so she spends lots of her time way up high.
When we do have rain here it is time to come and watch the animals; believe it or not, they are very active in the rain. As I stroll through the San Diego Zoo, it is interesting to see the big cats sitting in the rain, or the birds flying around really enjoying the wet stuff. Many people avoid coming at that time, but let me encourage you–-this is a good time to come and watch their activity. You will be surprised at how many animals enjoy the change of weather.
Mei Sheng really gets active in the rain, climbing the trees, running around the enclosure, and just being a silly bear. Bai Yun is only interested in her food and when it’s coming again. This panda loves to eat, like most of them, but she really gets into eating; rain does not seem to slow this female down. Gao Gao–-what can I say about this fantastic bear? He is fine no matter what the weather, always ready to eat and he always looks so sweet.
I must tell you about old Shi Shi. When Shi Shi came to us in 1996, he was kinda grouchy and I just loved to watch him; in fact, he was my favorite for many years. One very rainy day in ‘97 he was so upset with the rainfall he went to his exhibit door and started banging on it to be let in. Not tapping, but banging and bleating. He was so loud that the keeper came to see what all the racket was about. We stood and watched Shi Shi for several moments and her comment was, “A wild bear that can’t deal with a little rain!” By this time it was really pouring and he was just going on and on, so she said, “I guess I’ll give him access to his bedroom.” Once she opened his den door he disappeared into the back. Content, he hung his head out the doorway, but not too far out because it was still raining out there! I really liked that old bear and still do. He was a grouchy, funny bear and it payed off. Even now, when it rains I can hear Shi Shi banging on that door. Memories are so wonderful!
So even if it rains, grab your rain gear and spend some time here watching Su Lin swinging in the rain.
Kay Ferguson is a panda narrator at the San Diego Zoo.
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December 8th, 2006 at 1:37 pm
“Swinging in the Rain”– Kay, you are fabulous. We love to read your remembrances; we all agree that these marvelous animals are special!
December 8th, 2006 at 3:44 pm
Sweet, sweet story and even sweeter picture of Bai Yun and Su Lin. What a big girl she is - looking all grown up sitting there eating her bamboo with mom. I hope it rains this weekend too - and I will be sure to grab my coat and head to Balboa Park to visit my panda family. Thanks for the story - at least some San Diego residents like the rain (me - not so much).
December 8th, 2006 at 4:18 pm
Su Lin seemed to be in a very playful mood this afternoon, swinging upside down from a tree over her mommy’s head while her mommy ate bamboo. At some point she came tumbling down into the pile of bamboo. I feel very fortunate when I get to see her on the ground interacting with Bai. She is so much less inclined to pester her mom than her cousin Tai who can be a real nudge.
I look forward to your blogs.
December 8th, 2006 at 5:37 pm
That’s SOOOOOOOOOO funny about Shi Shi and the rainy day!
Sometimes I feel like that myself.
I am glad, though, that the “panda younguns” enjoy the wet stuff, and know that
When God sends rain, you go find a mud puddle and PLAY!
Aren’t babies of all species great?!!
Thanks for brightening my day with your stories, Kay
December 8th, 2006 at 7:13 pm
I visited the San Diego Zoo every day from 11 to 14 November. 14th was my last day there and that was when it started to rain. I remember the narrator sharing the story about Shi Shi banging on the door. Thanks for writing about it, too, Kay!
December 8th, 2006 at 11:44 pm
I can just see that loveable old curmudgeonly gentleman Shi Shi thundering on his door and making demands! He’s a Walter Matthau/”Grumpy Old Men” kind of bear!
Thanks, Kay, for the memories.
December 9th, 2006 at 1:53 am
That is a funny story. Personally I would be just like Shi Shi and bang on the door to get in! I live in the U.K. so we see our fair share of rain. I will be coming to the zoo on Christmas Day so I hope it doesn’t rain! lol I last saw Su Lin last December so I am looking forward to seeing how much she has grown. Can you tell me who will be on exhibit that day, Mei Sheng or Gao Gao? I would love to see Mei Sheng before his return to China but I would love to see Gao Gao also as I have never seen him yet,too many cute pandas, I want to see them all!
December 11th, 2006 at 1:49 am
Thanks for the ShiShi story, since we rarely hear about him.
December 11th, 2006 at 9:01 am
Thanks for wonderful stories about all the bears, Kay. Especially the note about Shi Shi. He may have been grouchy, and a curmudgeon, but he played a very important role in Hua Mei’s birth. So, he deserved to be pampered in the rain. He sounds like quite a bear, too. It is interesting to hear about the personalities of the different bears and how they react to similar stimuli. Rain sounds like it is a great enrichment opportunity for all of the animals.
Your writing style makes me feel like I am right there witnessing the action. That is great because I live 3000 miles away in Virginia. For those who are upset that Su Lin is up in the trees when they want to see her, I have made three trips to visit Tai Shan in DC, and he has been asleep all three times, twice high up in a willow tree where you could “bearly” see him. So, it is part of being a young bear to enjoy your high perch for safety and comfort, and watching all below you. Their mother’s probably wish they could climb up and get away from them, but alas they now weigh too much and are too big to do so safely.
December 11th, 2006 at 9:36 pm
My recent visit to the San Diego Zoo happened over 4 days and during that part of the week when they rotated Mei Sheng and Gao Gao, so I got to see both father and son! The rotation wasn’t supposed to happen until Tuesday the 14th, but because of excessive construction nearby, the public display area was closed on the 13th, and visitors were allowed into the classroom area. This meant I got to see Gao Gao one day earlier, on the 13th. I was there all day, and towards the end of the display hours, he was waiting for his pandananny to open the back door to let him in. She was late - very late! - and he kept pacing and walking by the door to see what was happening. A couple of times, he even banged on the door! He also did a pretty mean handstand. And then he climbed up to the tree structure and kind of lifted his head to see over the fence for his pandananny! He was SO cute!
December 12th, 2006 at 10:30 am
Once, well over thirty years ago, at the Audubon Zoo in New Orleans, I was at the zoo when we had a terrible thunder storm. All the animals were going nuts pacing up and down and roaring. I was soaking wet trying to stay dry under a huge oak tree. We were the only people left at the zoo. It was the best time I ever had at the zoo. Finally we had to leave in fear of being struck by lightning.
December 12th, 2006 at 2:31 pm
The third time I saw Pandas was in Washington DC two years ago. We had only a few days in town and had scheduled this particular day to go to the Zoo. When we awoke, we were very disappointed that the sky was so threatening, but we had only the one day to visit the Zoo, so we went. And am I glad we did! The Zoo was not crowded, so we really felt as though we had the place to ourselves. All the animals were beautiful, and Mei and Tian were incredible. They weren’t playing, but had already begun a mid-morning nap on the rocks. What amazing bears! We stood there for what seemed like an eternity totally undisturbed watching these beautiful creatures. I wish I could go back and see Tai. So, I can just imagine Gao, Mei Sheng, Su and Bai Yun in the cool air following a refreshing rain! Nature is awesome.
December 12th, 2006 at 5:17 pm
Thanks, Kay, for your observations about pandas and the rain. The photo of the girls enjoying a bamboo feast is so cute. Su Lin looks more and more like her mother. I even think her ears are getting more fluffy and upright like Bai Yun’s. It is hard to believe that the cub was just starting to explore the outer world last December. She’s so robust and healthy-looking.
Thanks also to the Meerkats, who have provided some adorable shots of Su Lin enjoying her very high perch in the last few days.
December 14th, 2006 at 6:12 am
I was wondering if you could post how Shi Shi has been doing since his return to China? He sounds like a funny bear!
December 18th, 2006 at 9:11 pm
Carrie…
I have heard he is doing well even though he is so old. Keep him in your thoughts. Kay
December 20th, 2006 at 7:34 am
Kay, any word on how Basi is doing? They showed a big party for her 25th birthday last December, complete with cake (which she was fed with a fork!)
January 6th, 2007 at 8:02 am
Kay, I was really laughing when I read about how the pandas love the rain. Except Shi Shi, seems he likes the warmer weather. I also look out my door when it is raining but I don’t bang on the door (yet). I hope to visit the zoo someday when I am in California. I will hope it is raining too.