The Rotation
Posted at 6:52 am December 19, 2005 by Suzanne HallSome of you have noticed that Mei Sheng appeared to be in Gao Gao's old enclosure over the last few days. You were right! We have initiated a new research and management plan that will have Gao Gao and Mei Sheng swapping pens once a week.
There are several reasons for moving the bears back and forth like this. First, we are interested in studying the bear's response to a change in location. We did a similar study a few years back when Hua Mei and Shi Shi were still here, but we would like to increase the sample size in our study by including two new animals, our current boys. Learning about their response to this management plan will help us to better understand how pandas adapt to spaces saturated with the scent of other pandas, and what affect that has on their well being. Will this process be enriching and stimulating for the animals? Time will tell.
Another reason to rotate the bears is to allow each animal a regular window in which keepers can work with them. Training the animals for various tasks, such as routine health-related inspections, requires the keepers to have unfettered access to a bear. This is hard to achieve when the panda is committed to the exhibit during the day. When they are behind the scenes, however, the bear is close to the keeper area, and the staff can bring him into the tunnel areas for training sessions without having Zoo visitors wonder why there is no panda visible to them.
Bai Yun will not be participating in the rotation study. She is busy raising her cub and adapting to life on exhibit again. We want her to settle nicely into her new routine without any disruption. Besides, she participated in the study the first time around.
A nice byproduct of this rotation for the public is that both Gao Gao and Mei Sheng will be on exhibit for our guests for many days each month. For you regular, repeat visitors to the zoo, both bears will be out every two weeks. You may even get to witness the initial active period in which a panda investigates a space previously occupied by another animal for the first time; this can be a busy exploration, involving lots of olfactory activity and scent marking. We would expect to see this activity on Tuesdays, the day each week we intend to rotate the bears.
To keep up with the changes via panda cam, note that cams 1,2,3, 27, 28 and 29 will be showing either Mei Sheng or Gao Gao, depending on where we are in the rotation schedule.
Suzanne Hall is the panda reseearch technician for the San Diego Zoo's Office of Giant Panda Conservation.
Hear Suzanne narrate our iZoofari Audio Tour about pandas!
View pandas on Panda Cam.
" Adopt" Su Lin!
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December 19th, 2005 at 7:54 am
Thanks for the update Suzanne! I'll be looking forward to watching my 'big DaddyMac' Gao Gao. I just love his big head and ears so far apart. Makes it easy to tell him apart from the little guy. This should be interesting - hope they don't get too weirded out with all the scent markings.
December 19th, 2005 at 9:10 am
I was at the SDZ yesterday! and I saw Mei Sheng
He is such a cutie! I saw that he was in Gao Gao's exhibit area on Friday and was hoping that he'd be there over the weekend because I want to see as much of Mei Sheng as I possibly can before he has to go back to China.
I also got to see Bai Yun and Su Lin:) Wow! she is a fiesty little girl! When we first got there she was sleeping in the lair that is part of the exhibit and Bai Yun was sleeping on the top of the lair. About 20 minutes later, Bai Yun woke up and went to check in on her baby. Su Lin gave a loud bark when her Mommy gave her a little nudge!
We did get to see Su Lin playing with Mom Bai Yun and her nursing after the play session:)
I can't wait to go back to the Zoo in a few weeks!
December 19th, 2005 at 10:22 am
I love the panda cam, and am really enjoying all of the wonderful moments with all 4 bears. Unfortunately, I am trying to figure out why I have the problem of a white screen so often during the day. I can check in one hour and everything is just fine, but one hour later, I have nothing but white. Why is that???? If I go to the time lapse, I can see some of what I would have seen, but it just isn't the same. Meanwhile, I will keep watching whenever the cam will let me.
Thank you,
Barb and Joe Puentes
December 19th, 2005 at 10:57 am
I was watching the camera last night and I noticed that Su Lin was up on a platform by the top of the log. Did she crawl up there all by herself or did Bai Yun put her up there? I was worried she might fall. I'm happy to see that she is resting outside today.
December 19th, 2005 at 11:25 am
Hello again Suzanne,
Thanks for the information. Holly #1 put my mind at rest. Now I know who I will be looking at. Thanks Holly. It will be interesting to see how they do react to each other's scent and so on. I am at this moment oohhing and aahhing over Su Lin and Mum, I just luv it all.
Valerie Warbuton
December 19th, 2005 at 11:26 am
Bai Yun, being an experienced mom, seems to have her baby under control at all times. The other night when she and Su Lin were in their new den, Su Lin wanted to climb the " tree" in there, but Bai Yun wouldn't let her. She wanted to play with Su Lin instead. In contrast — in DC, Tai is running amok — Mei can't seem to control him. He's into everything, and he treats him mom like playground equipment — climbing and pulling at her, chewing her ears, etc. Poor Mei! She's really getting a workout! The keepers are being challenged by Tai, too. Is the difference in baby pandas a male/female thing, genetics, or inexperienced parenting? Our Mei Sheng was a little sweetie, so not all males are like Tai. Tai seems to have a wild streak.
December 19th, 2005 at 11:26 am
I know you train the pandas to open their mouths so their teeth can be inspected. I read somewhere that in China the pandas are taught to have their teeth cleaned without anesthesia. Do you do this in San Diego? I have noticed that Bai Yun's teeth seem to be in good shape for a panda her age.
December 19th, 2005 at 12:23 pm
I was watching Su Lin yesterday and saw her climb the vertical log up to the platform. She apparently was up there for awhile and couldn't get down. Then Bai Yun climbed up there and pushed her down off the platform … we were so worried that she got hurt, but shortly thereafter she climbed the tree again. How high off the ground is the platform?
Your panda cam, blogs and comments are just wonderful!
December 19th, 2005 at 2:59 pm
Our little Su Lin is becoming such a great climber now! As I am writing this, I am also watching her making the climb up that tree in her den! now her Mom is up there with her but she's so much more active now! just as much of a " climbing fiend" as Tai Shan is with the rocks in his exhibit!
I wonder if she's going to be given some toys soon! It would be really fun to watch her play with toys like Tai Shan and his Kong toy or the little plastic tub he has in the exhibit area:)
December 19th, 2005 at 3:08 pm
I also was able to catch Su Lin climb up that log in the bedroom around 2:50pm today. But when she reached the top of the log, it looked like she didn't know how to get off and on to the platform. Bai Yun then went up to the platform, and it looked like she was trying to help Su Lin go on the platform. When Su Lin finally was there, Bai Yun took her and down they went on the log again. All that work, only to have Mom have Su Lin try and try again…
December 19th, 2005 at 3:13 pm
I forgot to ask this question. What exactly is Bai Yun doing/thinking when she goes in and out of the bedroom to the exhibit area many many times? I've been watching for the past several minutes, and she keeps going in and out making her rounds. What exactly is she scouting out for? Or is she just restless and getting her afternoon walk in?
December 19th, 2005 at 3:52 pm
Arlene (#11): Bai Yun starts to circle her enclosure when it's time for her keepers to put out fresh bamboo and treats (along with cleanup). She has a good internal clock for this. There may be other reasons, but I think the food and treats play a role a lot of the time.
December 19th, 2005 at 4:09 pm
What a fun peek into the den I had this afternoon. Is that an upright log in the corner? I think so because Su Lin was definitely trying to climb up it. Right away Bai Yun stood up and pulled her down to the floor. Reminded me of my grandma taking me out of the ancient magnolia when I shouldn't have been climbing it!
December 19th, 2005 at 4:10 pm
Su is getting a lot more energy now but not as much as her naughty cousin back in DC. Can anyone comment on Mei Sheng when he was 5 months old since I didn't witness it? Maybe Tai is one of those who is ultra hyperactive!!
December 19th, 2005 at 4:18 pm
I was wondering what was going on. I know that Gao Gao is not that small and not that active. How long will Mei Sheng be at the San Diego Zoo? I really would like to see him " live" if I can. Thank you!
#6: I saw more than a few moments of Mei Sheng behaving naughtily during his cub days with Bai Yun. On a regular basis, I would see Mei Sheng grab a piece of bamboo away from Bai Yun (despite there being plenty available) and Bai would put up with it for awhile, then smack him with her paw. I even saw her smack him off the bed in their den.
December 19th, 2005 at 4:21 pm
Barb (#3): On my Mac, closing and reopening my browser sometimes gets me through to the cam, or clearing the cache. At times I think the white screen is due to a problem on the zoo's side, maybe the server is overloaded or the cam is turned off for some reason. The elephant cam has had a white screen a lot lately. Think they just had their cam turned off.
December 19th, 2005 at 5:31 pm
#9: I think Su Lin does not really need any " toy." she has a whole world to explore!
December 19th, 2005 at 9:28 pm
Hi!
I just LOVE watching the pandas, but I have noticed that some of your people that work the cameras have NO IDEA what to do!! For instance, today, the camera was on C4…There was NOTHING there for HOURS!!!!!!!!!!! Some of your people REALLY know how to handle the cams! They are RIGHT THERE and adjust according to the behavior of the bears. Can anything be done about this? I LOVE watching them, But sometimes the Cam is stuck for a long time on nothing.
Thanks for your time!!!!!
You guys are GREAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
December 19th, 2005 at 11:07 pm
Dear PandaCam-
I TOO noticed Su Lin climbing the log at 2:57:35pm! I almost had a heart attack! I had to phone my mother to calm me down. You really should think of getting rid of that log. As you can see, we are all very concerned. I've become so attached to Su Lin, I feel like she might be my own daughter instead of Bai Yun's. Is this strange? I think not. She's just so cute! It's much more entertaining wacthing little Su then watching my own kids destroy my house. Come to think of it, I should probably keep my eye on them more than I do on pandacam. Also, I agree with Susan #18.You should think about hiring someone professional, since so many of us watch. It gets tiring staring at a blank screen for hours. I'd be interested in some close ups, especially of Su Lin. Maybe some aerial views? I have a wallet sized portrait of SU, but its all blurry since you never zoom in. If you did a closeup, I could get a nice clear picture of that adorable face. So then I can have her with me at all times, even when I'm not watching PandaCam (which is almost never!) Thanks for your inspiring work, guys!! Keep it up.
December 20th, 2005 at 6:20 am
Susan (#18),
What you see on the panda cam is a product of two things: 1- the cooperation of the bears and 2- the availability of staff. We all have a lot of work to keep us busy, and usually we focus the cam on an animal and then walk away to do other tasks. If the bear stays put, you get to watch; if not, you'll find a gap until someone else is able to adjust the cams. This is also why a camera is not always " zoomed in" … we often figure you'd rather see a bit of a bear very small (so we zoom out so you can see the whole area) than no bear at all (when zoomed in the bear can walk out of view). We will have to continue to balance our regular duties with those of the panda cam.
That's what makes the other aspect of the Zoo Web page so great… you can always go back and view timelapse, special videos or photos to get your panda fix until the cam is giving you another shot of live pandas.
December 20th, 2005 at 6:51 am
Oh….what a lucky caretaker! I just saw someone (6:40a.m.) pick up Su Lin and give her the hugs I've wanted to give her!
December 20th, 2005 at 7:50 am
#14 - Mei Shung had his moments, but he was nothing like Tai Shan. I think Tai is a handful, and would be a challenge even for experienced Bai Yun. Tai is so fun to watch, though. It's like being a grandma–enjoy the antics but someone else has to deal with him.
December 20th, 2005 at 9:15 am
This is my first experience watching those beautiful, playful babies on the cam. I saw Tai in person and I think his playful side loves the keepers. My senses tell me he is going to be very much the protector of mom and their space. He's just a very curious grown-up panda in a baby's body. As far as hurting mom…she loves him and if he really was hurting her she would have let him know. He's a typical active kid…when mom turns her back his determination kicks in and off he goes exploring. We on the other hand have a soft, cute, baby girl panda who started out in a little lower gear…give her time, her sister was the one that climbed high and wouldn't come down from her tree all night long. Mom was up and down calling to her and checking her…they are just two different personalities but both are precious no matter what.
December 20th, 2005 at 9:15 am
It seems that Mei Xiang doesn't like her bed to be occupied by Tai Shan; she pulled Tai off her bed several times. However, a mother is a mother, maternity is the greatest, she eventually tolerated Tai to stay in her bed.
December 20th, 2005 at 9:29 am
#21 - Yeah, I saw that too. A keeper picked up Su Lin. How lucky she is!
December 20th, 2005 at 10:07 am
Has anyone at the zoo thought about letting volunteers operate the cams? Or maybe they would just be in the way? I'd wager that you could have a very long line of volunteers just waiting to handle those panda cams, leaving the paid staff for the other tasks they have to accomplish.
December 20th, 2005 at 10:16 am
Ref to #22, we all watch Tai and Su like grandma. enjoy the fun while someone else has to deal with them.
Su is a sweet girl to mom so far, though it might not be a conclusion since she is still to get more energy and strength. Tai is a handful. I saw him shake his upper left paw to wave his mom away. Mei sometimes lost patience on him while she is a very tolerant mom. She must be very happy and relieved when he is finally fed and in sound sleep. I can imagine Mei will 'shii' any noise that may wake Tai up.
December 20th, 2005 at 10:28 am
Thank you Suzanne for your answer to #18. What you and the team do for our Pandas daily far outweighs our need to see them 24/7! If they are not on screen when I check in I know that they will be there the next time or as you mentioned I can always go to the timelapse to see what they have been up to. I know we all appreciate every precious moment we get to share with Bai Yun and Su Lin and we are very privileged to be able to do this. Whenever I check in and get to experience one of these magical moments I know it is because of all of your care and attention and devotion–THANK YOU!! Luv to All, Judy J
December 20th, 2005 at 10:33 am
Last night, the camera was on C4 for a looooong time, and I saw Bai Yun eating outside after 10 PM. Do pandas have access to outdoor areas through the night too? I found it interesting to see her munching away in the dark. I may be a minority, but I love watching Su Lin climbing up the log and getting stuck upstairs. That's how she learns to climb up and down. Before we know it, she'll be running around everywhere.
I appreciate the Zoo for providing us with the opportunity to witness precious moments via web cams. But I'd like the staff to spend the time and resources to care for the animals rather than entertaining us. I can appreciate every moment you provide. You know, us humans are super greedy and selfish creatures. We want more and more and more, and we want everything our way. I'm sure Zoo staff knows what's best for the animals better than we do anyway. Thank you, SDZ, and keep up the good work.
December 20th, 2005 at 11:07 am
To #22 - Mei Sheng was a little sweetheart compared to Tai. He used to love for the keepers to come into the enclosure with him. I saw him run up to them and want to be picked up. They'd pick him up, scratch his ears and put him in a tree befor going back to work. In seconds, he'd be down from the tree and running over to them again. I saw him do this 5 and 6 times in a row. He seemed to love human contact. On his recent 2-yr. birthday, he rolled his ice cake down to the wall below where the people were, and climbed up on the cake trying to reach up to them. He seems to be a people-panda.
December 20th, 2005 at 11:15 am
I love watching the cams when the keepers are working! It makes you feel kind of like an 'insider' to witness the cleaning and preparing of the exhibit for the bears. It helps with gauging the size of the area to see a human every once in awhile. While watching SDZ cam one day, I watched you guys bringing in the tree branch to Bai and Su's bedroom - and fitting it in the corner there, several times in and out. Then the camera switched to the outdoors. Next time the camera was in the bedroom, the branch was all set and ready to go. At least I got to see how it ended up there. . .
December 20th, 2005 at 11:23 am
Hello and Seasons Greetings to all u pandaparents out there! Just looked in on Tai and he was laying outside, flat on his back, sound asleep. Right beside him was a big ball. My guess is that I missed out on all the fun he probably had with it. Little guy looks tuckered out. (Too much partying perhaps?) What are we going to do when our babies leave home? I actually cried over losing Hua Mei more than once. Did anyone read the article in the China Daily about the birthday celebration they had for the oldest panda in the world? The keepers were right beside her and it looked like she was sitting/leaning on/in some kind of chair. She had a cake and presents, and the woman who saved her when she was floating down the river many years ago was there too. Another tear-jerker for me.
December 20th, 2005 at 11:45 am
Hmmm… I have not seen one glimpse of Su Lin today (12/20, 11:45 PST). Wondering where in the world she could be? Maybe she had one of her exams - but it seems like the camera would have caught her napping in her den by now. Hope our little one is OK. Just a worried auntie!
December 20th, 2005 at 12:15 pm
It's fun to see how Mei Sheng and Tai Shan, the two little guys of the zoos, are so different in their personalities! Mei Sheng was definitely a people panda…a little sweetie. Tai Shan is a sweetie in his own right too! When he chases the keepers, it isn't to get them out of his enclosure - he just wants to play! More than once I've seen him wrap his paws around a leg and chew away.
That seems to be a cub thing - Mei Sheng liked to do it too! Such rambunctious little fellows compared to the gentle Su Lin. 
December 20th, 2005 at 12:19 pm
Wait a minute here–I just read one of the China Daily stories about celebrating the long-lived Basi's birthday, but the picture on the site is the current one of beautiful SU LIN!!! What a shock!
December 20th, 2005 at 12:45 pm
In my previous e-mail I should have mentioned that to see the picture of Su Lin–with a caption about the long-lived panda–go to the China Daily site and search " Basi." When the next page comes up, search " The Site" for Basi. The first in a list of articles that appears will be " China Celebrates Birthday of Long-Living Panda." (dated 12/19/05)
December 20th, 2005 at 12:56 pm
Regarding the webcams: I agree with Judy J and Sayuri (#28 and #29). The webcams are not a right but a privilege. Just a few years ago we would only be seeing these cubs and mothers by traveling to a zoo, paying our money, and taking our chances that they would be available for viewing.
Saving these bears from extinction through the captive breeding program is incredibly expensive. The zoos would be well within their rights to charge us for webcam access rather than providing these wonderful behind-the-scenes pictures free of charge.
I, too, become frustrated sometimes if I can't get my Panda fix immediately, but my impatience has to be tempered by the knowledge that the panda teams put the bears, not our entertainment, first. And that is as it should be.
December 20th, 2005 at 1:51 pm
Is it just me or is this little girl growing right in front of our eyes?! She looks so big today!
December 20th, 2005 at 2:46 pm
I too agree with #28, #29 and #37. I feel so lucky to be able to see the beautiful bears on a daily basis, 24/7. Although I live in Southern California, I am unable to visit the zoo daily (nor do I have $32.00/a day to spend on excursions). My hats off to EVERYBODY (especially the person(s) manning the cameras) at the Office of Giant Panda Conservation for letting the WORLD participate in seeing the growth of these lovely creatures. I'm pretty sure the " camera person" has other duties beside following pandas on the camera all day.
Editor's note: Consider a Zoo http://www.sandiegozoo.org/membership/index.html" >membership for unlimited visits to both the Zoo and the Wild Animal Park year-round!
December 20th, 2005 at 3:02 pm
Marlene, I love the idea of having volunteers work the cameras so that we could have the best views of the pandas at all times. If I lived close by I'd be there in a Boston minute to do the cameras, just to have the chance to see pandas all the time. Can't imagine it would be all that difficult to learn the ropes. How about it Suzanne? A short time having a cam class would probably in the long run give the SDZ staff more actual time with the pandas. Thanks in advance. I too have worried about Su Lin up in the high " bunk bed" . I think the log is fine; she'd be climbing trees a lot higher in the wild. That toss off the platform by Bai Yun really had me worried, but I guess Momma knows best.
December 20th, 2005 at 3:41 pm
Just saw Bai Yun lying up on the high platform in her bedroom, with her head over the edge. She appeared to be watching something down on the floor. Couldn't see Su Lin up with her. My questions were soon answered when the cam panned down to the floor to show Su peacefully snoozing away. I'm one of those greedy ones who wants to see everything when I want to. It would be great if we could find a balance between what is needed for best panda care and what is wanted by the panda cam watchers, which in the long term is also good for pandas, in that people will be interested in the survival and increased number of pandas in the world.
December 20th, 2005 at 5:31 pm
#36 - I found the picture of Basi celebrating her birthday. The article said she spent 6 mos. on exhibit in San Diego in 1987. I saw the pandas that were at SDZ then, so I've seen Basi. I'll have to see if I can find the pictures I took of her.
December 20th, 2005 at 7:20 pm
I would like to suggest that those of you who live near the SDZ obtain a Zoological Membership. For the annual fee you can go to the Zoo or the Wild Animal Park as many times as you want without paying any additional entry fee. I have had my membership probably for probably 15-20 years. Some years I never go visit but I always keep my membership current.
I do not have much luck watching the " time lapse" because it is too fast to be helpful and makes me dizzy.
December 20th, 2005 at 7:48 pm
Thanks #35 & #36 for the info. I read the China Daily articles (one has the pictures). One article said that in 1987 Basi was here at the SDZ for a six-month exhibition. I seem to recall the performance of Basi with a Chinese woman trainer. The circus-like routine was for Basi's physical exercise (they said). It was really remarkable and masses of people went to SDZ to see Basi. Perhaps Suzanne can validate my memory.
December 21st, 2005 at 4:03 am
Re #33: Su Lin has an exam every 7 days. Her last exam was on the 14th. She appears to have been one day overdue on that one because her prior exam was on the 6th. So if they stay on schedule, she should have an exam today or tomorrow (Wed or Thursday). I keep track of those exams because I know to expect new videos and pictures within a day or two and they are the highlight of my day. When I can't get enough of her or I am not tuning in at the right time, sometimes I will go back and watch all her exam videos from the earliest to most recent. I am content after that.
December 21st, 2005 at 6:24 am
Did anyone hear Mei Xiang at the NZ making all those noises starting at 9:10am their time? She made the sound every few seconds for several minutes. Tai was on the platform sleeping while Mei's front half was on the platform. The sound was sort of like the noise a seal makes. It's not the bark I've heard from the cubs, nor the bleating. What is that vocalization called and what might it indicate?
December 21st, 2005 at 7:06 am
I am sure that Bai Yun would be relieved that her little girl doesn't " bully" her (but only in a sweet way) like Tai does with Mei. Twice now I have seen Mei standing up at the door attempting to interact with her keepers and Bubba has come barreling at her legs and tripped her to the floor. It is so very interesting to see the different natures of the babies unfolding before our eyes on the cams. Plus there is still so much to learn from Tian Tian and Gao Gao and Mei Sheng. I wish you much success with the study. Has anyone seen the panda at Atlanta Zoo chasing the peacock about? It seemed like they were playing to me?
December 21st, 2005 at 9:25 am
Hello. I'm a fellow Pandaphile and I usually watch Tai (my computer gets a better picture with the Animal Planet cam). Su Lin is such a good girl and Tai is your typical adolecent male
December 21st, 2005 at 10:11 am
Comment#46: YES! I've heard Mei Xiang make that noise too!! It's kind of a 'honking' noise - like a goose, was my first thought. She's done that a few times…at first I thought she was snoring because I've read from the NZ site that Mei snores. But once I saw her get up from a nap and keep 'honking'! Suzanne (or your fellow panda experts) - what does that sound mean? Does Bai Yun ever make those vocalizations?
December 21st, 2005 at 11:02 am
Why is the cam almost always on Gao Gao's exhibit?
MJ-Fellow Panda Stalker
December 21st, 2005 at 11:31 am
To Suzanne - I noticed that the new bedroom was dark last night. Does that mean it doesn't have the special lighting that we enjoyed in the birthing den, or was it just that time period on Tuesday night? I enjoy watching Su Lin and Bai Yun play, nurse, sleep, etc. and looked several times but wasn't able to see them.
I'm amazed at how fast Su Lin is developing her mobility skills. It's like an explosion of better co-ordination. Fascinating! Thanks for keeping us up-to-date frequently.
December 21st, 2005 at 1:42 pm
Tai just had a bite-fest with his mother and pushed her off the big panda bed onto the floor. He's now on the bed rolling around while mom sleeps on the floor. I can't imagine Bai Yun tolerating that kind of behavior. She's a much better disciplinarian. Maybe Tai needs a little discipline from his daddy (but I'm sure that will never happen).
December 21st, 2005 at 2:27 pm
I actually think it's quite touching that Mei is so patient with feisty little Tai.
She does put him in his place once in a while when he gets too rough…but most of the time she's so content letting him use her as his big chew toy. Bai doesn't really need to discipline Su because Su's such a sweet, gentle little cub… I think both mommies know best how to deal with their cubs, with their very different personalities.
December 21st, 2005 at 3:16 pm
It's so good to be able to see Gao Gao
He's content munching away at his bamboo stash:) With all the attention on Su Lin and her Mommy, it's good to see Gao Gao and Mei Sheng with the new rotation schedule the staff have set up:)
December 21st, 2005 at 3:31 pm
Even though Su Lin is such a sweetie, I occasionally catch her being a late night party girl. Sometimes she's so active that Bai resorts to slowing her down with a big paw.
December 21st, 2005 at 4:13 pm
Bernice (#49),
The sound you describe is called " honking" in our ethogram. It's a repetitive sound which is short in duration, but the bouts can last for minutes at a time. All pandas do it at some time or another. It generally signals anxiety or stress. Our bears do it when something upsets them, when they are hungry, or after an unhappy encounter with another bear (Shi Shi was notorious for this after breeding encounters with Bai Yun).
December 21st, 2005 at 4:24 pm
Tai is just a typical toddler who is very outgoing, and mom puts her foot down, when she needs to. Don't be surprised if you see Su Lin pushing her mom around in the near future. Quite frankly, I don't care what they do, they make my day much brighter whatever they are doing.
December 21st, 2005 at 5:46 pm
Thanks Suzanne! It's very cool to know…I feel like I suddenly understand what the bears are trying to 'say'!
And Jennifer (#57): I totally agree with you. No matter what the cubs (or their moms/dads) do, it brightens my day. They're just wonderful!
December 21st, 2005 at 7:34 pm
Margot, thanks for sharing the info on Basi's birthday party. That was quite a pic of her, wearing her crown.
All hail Basi, Queen of the Pandas
December 21st, 2005 at 7:57 pm
I happened to stumble upon the Wolong Panda Club website and found a picture of the SDZ Panda team taken with Hua Mei's first set of twins, Mei Qiao and Mei Lian!
December 21st, 2005 at 8:31 pm
Ryannon (#45) I know just what you mean on watching and re-watching the videos. I don't know how many times I have watched the film from the 8th, when Bai Yun lovingly carried our lil princess all around, proudly showing her off. Since that was the day that Tai the Terror made his public debut, I have to wonder if she was trying to steal a bit of his thunder, giving the lucky folks at SDZ their first glimpse of Su Lin the Sweet.
You go girls!!
December 22nd, 2005 at 4:50 am
Just got to work and (of course) turned on the cams. What do I see? Little Tai running around out in the yard! oh, it's a glorious day. He's having such a great time, just like Su Lin did on her first outing! Currently, he's making Mei nervous because he is about 2 feet off the ground up on an old rotted tree branch. She looks like she is trying desperately to pull him down, but he won't have it! I'm just not going to get any work done today, I see. . .
:) 
December 22nd, 2005 at 7:04 am
Oh wow, I saw Tai outside this morning on a tree trunk….Mei was trying to help him hold on it appeared, now both of our babies can be out in the big world!. And little Su is up to 15 pounds, she is growing before our eyes!
December 22nd, 2005 at 7:11 am
Aww, something about the mention of Shi Shi's name always makes me smile a sad smile. He seemed like he just wanted to be left alone by man and bear. He has lived a long life and deserves the retirement and whatever peace he gets in China. Our babies are the draw, but it is the pandas like Shi Shi, Gao Gao and Bai Yun that keep me drawn to the bears. They really are so unique, but Shi Shi will always be my favorite.
December 22nd, 2005 at 9:01 am
SDZ - I love the panda cam and enjoy watching the pandas all of the time. But do you think you could give out more information? Not to compare, but the NZ posts comments from the keepers almost daily. Just a little tidbit of info or a story about something the pandas did the day before more often would be great!
December 22nd, 2005 at 9:19 am
I think everyone who is commenting on Tai Shan being a handful has forgotten two things: 1. He's older than Su Lin! 2. He's a bear cub! Give the little girl time and she might just prove that she can be a handful too. Tai biting his mother is just like a puppy learning to play. It's normal animal behavior! And Tai is still adorable!
December 22nd, 2005 at 10:06 am
Su Lin is really getting adventurous and daring. Just saw her climb up on the climbing tree and got higher to the end and could not get down. She looked down and looked down and finally just jumped. She landed on all fours (and belly) and then scooted right on to Bai Yun. She is developing into a tough little girl.
December 22nd, 2005 at 10:23 am
Su Lin is going to get some bath today–look at that dusty bottom! By the way, how does Bai Yun's fur stay so white? –especially her neck and head look so pristine and perfectly " brushed." Does she groom herself?
Also, I wonder if a San Diego reader might be able to give me a ballpark estimate on how long the drive from LA to the Zoo takes. Thanks for your help.
Editor's note: It's a 2- to 3-hour drive, depending on traffic!
December 22nd, 2005 at 11:52 am
I missed seeing Tai Shan on his first venture to the great outdoor this morning but I hope he will come out again soon! First thing I do when I get in the office is to turn on both Panda cams:) I saw Su Lin following her Mom around this morning! she is soooo cute! She will be a handful like Tai Shan soon! they are three weeks apart in age and he's a little boy cub so he's going to be more of a " little terror" than our dainty little Princess Su Lin!
Thank you to the SDZ staff for working the cameras to share them with us and for taking such great care of our wonderful Pandas!
December 22nd, 2005 at 11:53 am
Love the newest photos in the " Something Cute" photo album. Su Lin obviously adores her keepers and vets…the one of her peeking around the tunnel corner with her keeper is priceless! Thank you for these pictures and the videos. She is indeed " something very cute" as well as something very precious.
December 22nd, 2005 at 12:25 pm
#66 - Melanie. I was the first to coin the phrase that Tai Shan is a " handful." The query I was answering was in comparing him to how Mei Sheng was at 5 months, not Su Lin. I still agree that he's a handful, but agree with you that he is so adorable! I really enjoy watching him! I think Mei Xiang does a wonderful job handling him, but still think he is a challenge, and would be for Bai Yun too.
December 22nd, 2005 at 3:59 pm
#69. I got to see the whole thing (Tai's 1st yard adventure); it was a sight to behold! It looked to me that Mei began to really enjoy having Tai with her in the yard. If so, we'll see more play in the yard. Great!
December 22nd, 2005 at 7:48 pm
I forgot to mention in my last post - I received my new ZooNooz today was thrilled to see our new cover girl, Su Lin! Beautiful photo and very good article inside. Thanks also to the Zoo photographers who do such an amazing job. The photos of Su Lin inside the magazine are just precious!
December 23rd, 2005 at 10:00 am
The Panda Cam is C3 right now (9:56am) and I am looking at Gao Gao munching away his bamboo! and the camera is fuzzy making him look so angelic! All I can see are his black ears, and the round dome of his white head! the rest are masked by the pile of fresh bamboo! It's Panda in the mist!
December 29th, 2005 at 10:09 am
I'm enjoying my week off work which is affording me the opportunity to see Su Lin not sleeping. She's a precious little angel and I really envy those of you that get to see her in person. In a way, it's too bad Tai and Su are cousins, I think they would have made a cute couple.;) Tai is quite the free spirit, ok,… he's a brat, but he's such a hoot when he gets playing with that feed tub and his other toys. It's been nice to see Mei show him who's boss a few times. The only toy I remember from my childhood 40 odd yrs ago was a stuffed Panda, so looking in on these babies is a real thrill for me and I really appreciate the efforts of all those that make these webcams available. Keep up the great work and let's hope for more baby Pandas in the years to come.
ps. My best friend gave me a SDZ Panda Tshirt for Christmas, I love it, excellent quality, beautiful graphic, and I'll be sure to steer anyone interested in one to the SDZ store.
Editor's note: You can select panda T-shirts online at http://www.shopzoo.com/" >ShopZoo.com.