Comments on: The Panda Decade, Part 1 http://www.sandiegozoo.org/wordpress/default/the-panda-decade-part-1/ Sun, 23 Nov 2008 12:53:52 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.2 By: Sayuri http://www.sandiegozoo.org/wordpress/default/the-panda-decade-part-1/#comment-17476 Sayuri Thu, 16 Nov 2006 17:52:39 +0000 http://www.sandiegozoo.org/wordpress/general/the-panda-decade-part-1/#comment-17476 PBS Nature's Panda DVD has video footages of " Hurricane Bai Yun" that I love to watch. I always love hearing about stories about Shi Shi and Bai Yun's early days in San Diego. Speaking of the good old days, it was a year ago yesterday (11/15) that Bai Yun took Su Lin out on her first outdoor excursion. I think it was written in the Su Lin news section. It was an exciting day for us, but Su Lin slept most of the time. PBS Nature's Panda DVD has video footages of " Hurricane Bai Yun" that I love to watch.

I always love hearing about stories about Shi Shi and Bai Yun's early days in San Diego.

Speaking of the good old days, it was a year ago yesterday (11/15) that Bai Yun took Su Lin out on her first outdoor excursion. I think it was written in the Su Lin news section. It was an exciting day for us, but Su Lin slept most of the time.

]]> By: Margaret http://www.sandiegozoo.org/wordpress/default/the-panda-decade-part-1/#comment-17467 Margaret Thu, 16 Nov 2006 16:17:03 +0000 http://www.sandiegozoo.org/wordpress/general/the-panda-decade-part-1/#comment-17467 Thank you, Ellie, for sharing great information about Bai Yun's early days. Ditto Joanne #3. Do you have any old videos of when Bai Yun first arrived? It is hard to imagine her now as a rambunctious youngster. She is such at mature lady and wonderful momma bear now. She does a good job of dealing with lively youngsters of her own who now climb the trees instead of her. I remember visiting Basi and Yuan Yuan in September 1987 with my nephew who was about to turn 2. My home videos of them keep everyone laughing because I do a running narration of the animals at the zoo, and the pandas in particular. I remember her riding the bike and as I recall playing with a big ball. It was so exciting to be privileged to see two visitors from China during their short stay in the US. I am so glad that negotiations were later conducted to bring more pandas to the US for an extended stay for us to study and enjoy. They have brought many hours of pleasure to hundreds of thousands of visitors in 10 years, and unlimited study and learning opportunities. We all hope that on-going negotiations will allow current pandas to stay longer, or even better more of their family members to come and occupy the space that US zoos have already built to hold more pandas. Wolong is getting more crowded as it fills to capacity, so the available space in US zoos may be a welcome outlet for the Chinese researchers in charge of panda conservation. Thank you, Ellie, for sharing great information about Bai Yun's early days. Ditto Joanne #3. Do you have any old videos of when Bai Yun first arrived? It is hard to imagine her now as a rambunctious youngster. She is such at mature lady and wonderful momma bear now. She does a good job of dealing with lively youngsters of her own who now climb the trees instead of her.

I remember visiting Basi and Yuan Yuan in September 1987 with my nephew who was about to turn 2. My home videos of them keep everyone laughing because I do a running narration of the animals at the zoo, and the pandas in particular. I remember her riding the bike and as I recall playing with a big ball. It was so exciting to be privileged to see two visitors from China during their short stay in the US. I am so glad that negotiations were later conducted to bring more pandas to the US for an extended stay for us to study and enjoy. They have brought many hours of pleasure to hundreds of thousands of visitors in 10 years, and unlimited study and learning opportunities. We all hope that on-going negotiations will allow current pandas to stay longer, or even better more of their family members to come and occupy the space that US zoos have already built to hold more pandas. Wolong is getting more crowded as it fills to capacity, so the available space in US zoos may be a welcome outlet for the Chinese researchers in charge of panda conservation.

]]> By: Loh http://www.sandiegozoo.org/wordpress/default/the-panda-decade-part-1/#comment-17464 Loh Thu, 16 Nov 2006 15:40:20 +0000 http://www.sandiegozoo.org/wordpress/general/the-panda-decade-part-1/#comment-17464 I also have a question similar to P Wong's. I do doubt if the pandas scratch themselves merely because they itch ? I notice that Tai Shan always scratches himself when he is seemingly in a situation of hesitation, just like when the keepers coax him back to the indoor exhibit and he is unwilling to do so. I also have a question similar to P Wong's. I do doubt if the pandas scratch themselves merely because they itch ? I notice that Tai Shan always scratches himself when he is seemingly in a situation of hesitation, just like when the keepers coax him back to the indoor exhibit and he is unwilling to do so.

]]> By: Fatima http://www.sandiegozoo.org/wordpress/default/the-panda-decade-part-1/#comment-17340 Fatima Thu, 16 Nov 2006 01:11:07 +0000 http://www.sandiegozoo.org/wordpress/general/the-panda-decade-part-1/#comment-17340 Thanks Ellie for the histroy of the SDZ pandas. That picture of Shi Shi is so cute. It looks so diffrent from the one in the meet the pandas page. Thanks Ellie for the histroy of the SDZ pandas. That picture of Shi Shi is so cute. It looks so diffrent from the one in the meet the pandas page.

]]> By: P Wong http://www.sandiegozoo.org/wordpress/default/the-panda-decade-part-1/#comment-17315 P Wong Wed, 15 Nov 2006 20:38:27 +0000 http://www.sandiegozoo.org/wordpress/general/the-panda-decade-part-1/#comment-17315 Thank you, Ellie, for sharing so much information with us. One thing I seem to notice is that the pandas do scratch themselves when they itch. Now do you know what causes the itch? Is it bugs? Is it dry skin? Or impacted oil glands? Do they molt? (I don't seem to notice large patches of bald spots or discarded clumps of loose fur/hair.) Or perhaps they itch as they grow when the skin stretches, sort of like growing pains in humans? Thank you, Ellie, for sharing so much information with us. One thing I seem to notice is that the pandas do scratch themselves when they itch. Now do you know what causes the itch? Is it bugs? Is it dry skin? Or impacted oil glands? Do they molt? (I don't seem to notice large patches of bald spots or discarded clumps of loose fur/hair.) Or perhaps they itch as they grow when the skin stretches, sort of like growing pains in humans?

]]> By: Margot http://www.sandiegozoo.org/wordpress/default/the-panda-decade-part-1/#comment-17314 Margot Wed, 15 Nov 2006 20:02:27 +0000 http://www.sandiegozoo.org/wordpress/general/the-panda-decade-part-1/#comment-17314 Thank you, Ellie, for the fascinating historical information on the pandas at SDZ. Bai Yun's draping herself over uncomfortable branches sounds like Miss Su Lin. Also, when you mention Shi Shi's age, it seems clearer why there were natural mating problems. Sometimes those " May-December" romances are difficult! Thank you, Ellie, for the fascinating historical information on the pandas at SDZ. Bai Yun's draping herself over uncomfortable branches sounds like Miss Su Lin. Also, when you mention Shi Shi's age, it seems clearer why there were natural mating problems. Sometimes those " May-December" romances are difficult!

]]> By: Shirley Sykes http://www.sandiegozoo.org/wordpress/default/the-panda-decade-part-1/#comment-17306 Shirley Sykes Wed, 15 Nov 2006 18:06:19 +0000 http://www.sandiegozoo.org/wordpress/general/the-panda-decade-part-1/#comment-17306 I remember those earlier days so well, Ellie. Thanks for recalling them for all of us. One particular moment I'll never forget was when Basi and Yuan Yuan were first presented to the general public back in 1987. Yuan Yuan ambled out first to a general murmur of oohs and aahs, turned his back to us, and pooped!! They were a great pair and there was such disappointment when their all-too-short visit with us was over. Let's hope we'll always have pandas here and continue to learn from them! I remember those earlier days so well, Ellie. Thanks for recalling them for all of us. One particular moment I'll never forget was when Basi and Yuan Yuan were first presented to the general public back in 1987. Yuan Yuan ambled out first to a general murmur of oohs and aahs, turned his back to us, and pooped!! They were a great pair and there was such disappointment when their all-too-short visit with us was over. Let's hope we'll always have pandas here and continue to learn from them!

]]> By: Joanne http://www.sandiegozoo.org/wordpress/default/the-panda-decade-part-1/#comment-17303 Joanne Wed, 15 Nov 2006 17:19:33 +0000 http://www.sandiegozoo.org/wordpress/general/the-panda-decade-part-1/#comment-17303 Do you have any videos or pictures of Bai Yun when she was younger? It would be good to see the likeness to her cubs. Not all pandas look the same and a comparison would be great. Do you have any videos or pictures of Bai Yun when she was younger? It would be good to see the likeness to her cubs. Not all pandas look the same and a comparison would be great.

]]> By: ROBIN http://www.sandiegozoo.org/wordpress/default/the-panda-decade-part-1/#comment-17292 ROBIN Wed, 15 Nov 2006 14:10:02 +0000 http://www.sandiegozoo.org/wordpress/general/the-panda-decade-part-1/#comment-17292 That is awesome. I like hearing about how Bai was when she was younger, thanks so much for sharing That is awesome. I like hearing about how Bai was when she was younger, thanks so much for sharing

]]> By: Joy :) http://www.sandiegozoo.org/wordpress/default/the-panda-decade-part-1/#comment-17248 Joy :) Wed, 15 Nov 2006 04:34:14 +0000 http://www.sandiegozoo.org/wordpress/general/the-panda-decade-part-1/#comment-17248 WOW! 10 Years and still going really strong. I feel blessed to live at a time when pandas are in the US and we are able to see these awesome animals and watch as they live, grow and have babies. Thanks to all who pioneered this opportunity! Here's to the NEXT 10!!! :) WOW! 10 Years and still going really strong.
I feel blessed to live at a time when pandas are in the US and we are able to see these awesome animals and watch as they live, grow and have babies.
Thanks to all who pioneered this opportunity!
Here's to the NEXT 10!!! :)

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