Comments on: Swinging in the Rain http://www.sandiegozoo.org/wordpress/default/swinging-in-the-rain/ Thu, 08 Jan 2009 08:49:29 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.2 By: Virgil http://www.sandiegozoo.org/wordpress/default/swinging-in-the-rain/#comment-23152 Virgil Sat, 06 Jan 2007 15:02:51 +0000 http://www.sandiegozoo.org/wordpress/general/swinging-in-the-rain/#comment-23152 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. 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.

]]> By: Margaret http://www.sandiegozoo.org/wordpress/default/swinging-in-the-rain/#comment-21577 Margaret Wed, 20 Dec 2006 14:34:59 +0000 http://www.sandiegozoo.org/wordpress/general/swinging-in-the-rain/#comment-21577 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!) 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!)

]]> By: narrator1 http://www.sandiegozoo.org/wordpress/default/swinging-in-the-rain/#comment-21396 narrator1 Tue, 19 Dec 2006 04:11:32 +0000 http://www.sandiegozoo.org/wordpress/general/swinging-in-the-rain/#comment-21396 Carrie... I have heard he is doing well even though he is so old. Keep him in your thoughts. Kay Carrie…
I have heard he is doing well even though he is so old. Keep him in your thoughts. Kay

]]> By: Carrie http://www.sandiegozoo.org/wordpress/default/swinging-in-the-rain/#comment-20777 Carrie Thu, 14 Dec 2006 13:12:43 +0000 http://www.sandiegozoo.org/wordpress/general/swinging-in-the-rain/#comment-20777 I was wondering if you could post how Shi Shi has been doing since his return to China? He sounds like a funny bear! I was wondering if you could post how Shi Shi has been doing since his return to China? He sounds like a funny bear!

]]> By: Margot http://www.sandiegozoo.org/wordpress/default/swinging-in-the-rain/#comment-20474 Margot Wed, 13 Dec 2006 00:17:24 +0000 http://www.sandiegozoo.org/wordpress/general/swinging-in-the-rain/#comment-20474 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. 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.

]]> By: Debora http://www.sandiegozoo.org/wordpress/default/swinging-in-the-rain/#comment-20458 Debora Tue, 12 Dec 2006 21:31:33 +0000 http://www.sandiegozoo.org/wordpress/general/swinging-in-the-rain/#comment-20458 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. 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.

]]> By: Panda Queen from New Orleans http://www.sandiegozoo.org/wordpress/default/swinging-in-the-rain/#comment-20413 Panda Queen from New Orleans Tue, 12 Dec 2006 17:30:42 +0000 http://www.sandiegozoo.org/wordpress/general/swinging-in-the-rain/#comment-20413 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. 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.

]]> By: Chet Chin http://www.sandiegozoo.org/wordpress/default/swinging-in-the-rain/#comment-20336 Chet Chin Tue, 12 Dec 2006 04:36:56 +0000 http://www.sandiegozoo.org/wordpress/general/swinging-in-the-rain/#comment-20336 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! 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!

]]> By: Margaret http://www.sandiegozoo.org/wordpress/default/swinging-in-the-rain/#comment-20277 Margaret Mon, 11 Dec 2006 16:01:13 +0000 http://www.sandiegozoo.org/wordpress/general/swinging-in-the-rain/#comment-20277 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. 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.

]]> By: A.Y. http://www.sandiegozoo.org/wordpress/default/swinging-in-the-rain/#comment-20262 A.Y. Mon, 11 Dec 2006 08:49:04 +0000 http://www.sandiegozoo.org/wordpress/general/swinging-in-the-rain/#comment-20262 Thanks for the ShiShi story, since we rarely hear about him. Thanks for the ShiShi story, since we rarely hear about him.

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