We Hear You!
Posted at 12:54 am August 13, 2005 by Suzanne HallThe 24-hour watch we are conducting invariably means that someone has to be here in the middle of the night to observe Bai Yun and her cub, and record data as to the activities in the den. I have been the person who is responsible for the graveyard shift since the birth. One of the nice benefits of working these hours is that the whole zoo is quiet and there are few distractions from my task. I can also spend some time, while Bai Yun is resting, reviewing your comments on the blog and picking out a few to respond to.
Some of you have mentioned that you are hoping this cub is a girl, so that a potential mating with the NZP panda cub is in the cards. What you may not realize is that these two cubs are actually related to each other! The NZP adult male Tian Tian, father of their cub, is a half brother of our very own Bai Yun. Their father, Pan Pan, is one of the most successful captive breeding males ever at the Wolong Nature Reserve in Sichuan, China.
Speaking of China, some of you have mentioned Hua Mei in your postings. As you may know, Hua Mei gave birth to twins last year and successfully reared them to the date on which they were weaned by the staff in Wolong (about five months of age). She did mate naturally this past spring, and was artificially inseminated (AI). Although many cubs have been born so far this year in China, as of this writing Hua Mei has not given birth… but there is plenty of time left in the birthing season, so stay tuned!
We didn’t have an AI in San Diego this past spring… Bai Yun and Gao Gao mated naturally on two occasions. That pretty much signaled the end of Gao Gao’s involvement in the matter. Like pandas in the wild, our male has had nothing to do with the rearing of this offspring or his previous one, Mei Sheng. You might be happy to hear, however, that Gao Gao is such a friendly, sweet bear that he often greets Mei Sheng with friendly vocalizations whenever they run across one another in the behind-the-scenes areas of the panda facility.
Someone asked if we had ever shown video footage to our pandas to help them learn. That strategy has been employed in China. In San Diego, however, we have been known to use audio playbacks of mating season vocalizations to try to stimulate a response in our bears during the mating season, particularly in our reticent male Shi Shi many years back. Although Bai Yun showed an excited response to the playbacks, Shi Shi was uninterested.
Thanks very much to everyone for your support and feedback. It’s good to know so many of you are with me in spirit during these long night shifts!
Suzanne Hall is the panda research technician for the Office of Giant Panda Conservation.
View Bai Yun and her cub on Panda Cam
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August 13th, 2005 at 1:03 am
Hi, it is 10.00a.m. in UK (2.00a.m your time) so you are not too alone Suzanne. I am completely hooked and also learning a great deal from your ‘blogs’. May I also say that the whole site is superb! Must go back to the cam!
August 13th, 2005 at 1:50 am
It’s amazing ! The two baby pandas born this year in USA are cousins ! Tian Tian is the uncle of Mei Sheng!
August 13th, 2005 at 2:19 am
What? Bai Yun and Tian Tian are half sister and half brother. No wonder both of them are chowhounds. Gao Gao’s friendly greeting vocalizations would mean: ‘Mei Sheng, I am your father.’
August 13th, 2005 at 2:28 am
Greetings from Florida! I have been watching the NZP daily since it’s birth. Boy, it’s amazing how quickly he is growing, and how maternal Mei the mother is! Is your cub healthy? Are your pandas also being “rented” from China? I also was wondering about conservation concerns. Are the zoos planning on developing the breeding programs so that pandas can be released into the wild? Or will the young pandas just stay in zoos? Martha Riggins- St Petersburg, Fl
August 13th, 2005 at 3:32 am
Thank you so much for all the updates on Bai Yun & her cub…afraid I am addicted to the panda cam.. first it was the Kent eagles now the Panda.. I’ll never get any house work done LOL!! I love it when the cub sticks it’s head out of mom’s paw.. almost like playing peek-a-boo… I appreciate the time you take to inform us on how mom & baby are doing… Patty from Ma….
August 13th, 2005 at 4:56 am
HI
THE NOISE THE BABY MAKES REMINDS ME OF MY KIDS WHEN THEY WERE BABIES, AND STILL DO AS ADULTS. LOL. I SURE DO LOSE SLEEP TRYING TO CATCH A LOOK AT THE BABY, BUT WELL WORTH IT. GOTTA LOVE IT. THANKS, GAIL
August 13th, 2005 at 5:05 am
I am so delighted to be able to watch 2 panda cubs grow up. I immediately started watching Mei Xiang and her baby. Now I look forward to seeing Bai Yun’s baby. My question regarding Wolong- I understand that they wean the cubs very early so the mom can mate again. What do they feed the cubs in the absences of milk? In the wild the cub nurses until about 18 months. What does the staff at San Diego think of the early weaning?
August 13th, 2005 at 5:37 am
I have been watching the new cub along with the one at the National Zoo. I have noticed alot of differences in the mothers. Is that mainly because 1 is more experienced then the other? Also I just read about the twins in China. Is there any way to get info on them? I’ve searched the web and can’t find anything about them except for the birth of them. It’s a great pleasure to see the cubs grow up and I’m sure many of us wish for San Diego to continue it with each birth. Thank you again. Also thanks for the update on the twins.
August 13th, 2005 at 5:41 am
I gotta say it! I’ve become a helpless addict to the pandacam. What a delight to watch this whole process play out and anxiously look forward to every glimpse of that baby. I do medical transcription at home and can arrange my desktop in such a way so I can work and watch the pandacam all day - with everything coming to a screeching halt if I see even a tiny leg poke out. I love it. And your comments are always interesting to read. If I lived in the area, I’d be pounding the door down to volunteer. Thanks for letting us all experience this wonderful event.
August 13th, 2005 at 5:52 am
I’m hoping this cub is a girl to increase the number of the pandas but I remember Mei Sheng fighting with Bai Yun (a male behavior) and so, it will be funny, too. I hope that she or he continues to grow up healthy.
August 13th, 2005 at 6:06 am
I just would like to thank you and all of the people you work with and for. This is so interesting and educational, I am 66 and I am learning things I never knew. I love seeing the mother take care of the little one, some people could take a few lessons.
Keep up the good work!
Sincerly,
Marge Johnson
August 13th, 2005 at 6:19 am
How lucky was I to be watching and get a glimpse of the new arrival at 7:11 this morning! We could see the black/white pattern on the cub! Our family has made this part of our morning routine. Watching the new panda cub grow and seeing the care from it’s mom is just heartwarming! Thank you so much for letting us share in this experience again!
August 13th, 2005 at 6:19 am
I can’t begin to tell you how much I personally appreciate your hard work. It’s amazing how entertained I am watching a sleeping Panda, just makes me feel good all over. The videos are absolutely wonderful!!! This little one certainly makes his/her feelings known, what a hoot!!!
August 13th, 2005 at 6:19 am
Hi Suzanne, I was enjoying reading the info you posted and at 10:08 AM Michigan time [7:08 CA time] Bai Yun left the cub for 4 minutes! It is always so exciting to see the little bear, now with a bit of Panda markings! Still so tiny!
Wish we had some sound on the cam… it would be fun to hear what is going on… Didn’t SBC have something to do with the cam installation and operation? Now, they should know something about transmitting sound…
Anyway, thanks for the info - I love watching! It is amazing [to me] something so big could care for and be so gentle with an infant that tiny!
Thanks for sharing the great information you and the others post . . . and for the viewing.
Jeanne
August 13th, 2005 at 6:20 am
Perseverance pays off..I just got my first real good look at the cub [7:11 AM your time] and could see the beginnings of the black markings on its shoulders. At this time, I would like to nominate Bai Yun for “Mother of the Year.” You should consider showing videos of her to other prospective Panda mothers.
August 13th, 2005 at 6:23 am
I’m happy because I could see the baby at 7:10 a.m. and he or she seems to be strong and will be very beautiful as Gao Gao and Bai Yun. It is great to know that Tian Tian is Bai Yun’s half brother who I met last April.
Elisa, from Brazil
August 13th, 2005 at 7:02 am
Another panda fanatic checking in! Thanks so much for allowing us in to witness Bai Yun and another baby panda! It is just the most wonderful thing to read the updates and watch the mothering. Makes my day–each and every day!
August 13th, 2005 at 7:45 am
Thank you so much for providing interesting information and fun facts. I have been following the pandacam at the National Zoo as well as the one at the San Diego Zoo. One fun fact I was happy to learn was that the two cubs are related since Bai Yun and Tian Tian have the same father, Pan Pan. My friends and family get a kick out of seeing the pictures and camera shots of the pandas. They are so cute.
I’ve read very little about Shi Shi since he was sent back to China. Has anyone at the San Diego Zoo heard how he is doing these days?
August 13th, 2005 at 7:53 am
I will be happy to take one of your late shifts anytime. As a mother and grandmother, I was used to the late hours. Yes, the quietness of the night can be blissful.
I envy you - if only this vocation had been available to a female when I was young. As a girl from a rural area I could only love our cats and dogs.
Really enjoy your daily news. Thank you to all.
August 13th, 2005 at 7:56 am
how come we haven’t seen any pictures of Hua Mei’s twins that are almost a year old?
August 13th, 2005 at 9:06 am
My heart belongs to Gao Gao! It’s a miracle that he was saved from the wild and that he survived to become such a wonderful breeder and a sweet “Daddy” talking to Mei Sheng…they are all so precious!!!
August 13th, 2005 at 9:33 am
This is so neat-being able to follow the panda and cub. Thank you for the opportunity with the camera.
Would like to know a couple things about the birth. Does the mother sleep most of the time with the cub enclosed within her body? Does the mother go away from the cub and how soon? Does she eat during this period?
Thank you, Dolores Power
August 13th, 2005 at 9:38 am
My wife and I have been totally tuned in since the beginning of this wonderful experience in the life of a mother panda and her cub and thank you for providing 24/7 access to the site through the convenience of modern computer technology. We will continue to watch, read, and learn about the life of yet another miracle of life. Mahalo and aloha!
Is there a way to enlarge the viewing area on your site?
August 13th, 2005 at 10:05 am
Thank you so much for the blogs. This is so interesting and fun to watch. Thank God for people like you that are willing to work the graveyard shift. Your job has to be so fun. The pandas are such sweet animals…and so cute!!! Just wanting you to know we are out here watching and caring very much about what you are doing. Great job!!
August 13th, 2005 at 11:04 am
You should know that you’re not always alone on the “graveyard” shift. This birth (and the one at the NZ of course) is so exciting that I’ve been known to get up in the middle of the night to sign on just to sit and watch Bai Yun and hopefully catch a glimpse of baby bear. And I know others who do the same. I envy you your job!!!
August 13th, 2005 at 11:21 am
First of all, thank you for the daily briefings on the new panda cub and Bai Yun. I have been watching since Hua Mei was born and it is very interesting to see how with each cub Bai is more relaxed. You said that Hua Mei only reared her cubs for five months — I thought the norm was 18 that you have done in S.D. and the National Zoo is going to do — why are the cubs taken from the mother so soon in China?
Again, thank you for keeping us informed.
August 13th, 2005 at 11:22 am
Here in Texas we don’t get to observe many pandas except thru your generous sharing of PandaCam. The information that your team shares during observation is so interesting. I wish I lived there, in San Diego so I could apply for a position as a volunteer. However, I guess I will have to be content to watch Mama Bear and Baby Bear as they move thru their daily (and nightly) routine of feedings and sleeping. Thank you again. Jeanine Kolstad
August 13th, 2005 at 11:55 am
Suzanne, I just want to thank you and everyone else who is involved in bringing us this wonderful site. I watched Mei Sheng from the time of his birth, missed very little of his growing up into the beautiful Panda he is today. I look forward to his second birthday on the 19th August.
Now, I am getting a chance to watch Bai Yun and her latest baby. She is a wonderful Mom, for sure…so gentle with them when they are so tiny, and I remember some of the tough love she gave Mei Sheng when he did something she didn’t like as he grew older. Whatta Mom she is!! I am smitten with them all!
Thank you so much for the opportunity of seeing them and loving them all! I have truly learned a lot about the life and times of Pandas…they are the greatest.
Helen
August 13th, 2005 at 12:24 pm
Suzanne–great blog! I had no idea the two cubs were related. They’re sort of cousins, I guess. Since the captive panda population is so small, I imagine it’s a challenge to find a suitable mate for a young lady panda when she’s ready. Especially now that we’re getting into second and third-generation matings–aren’t they all related? How far apart genetically do they have to be to be considered as appropriate mates? And how does a male panda in the wild avoid mating with his own daughter or sister? Or do they?
August 13th, 2005 at 12:49 pm
The NZP adult male Tian Tian, father of their cub, is a half brother of our very own Bai Yun.
That means Bai Yun is their baby’s aunt!
August 13th, 2005 at 1:20 pm
Suzanne, I appreciate your sharing information with us. All of the pandas in the U.S. are precious, but only the San Diego Zoo and the National Zoo keep us in touch with the daily lives of the bears. This makes it so great that now we have two cubs that we can see 24 hours a day, if we chose. Your daily postings are so helpful. It is good to know that that funny bear Tian Tian is half brother to your wonderful panda, Bai Yun.
August 13th, 2005 at 1:46 pm
Most exciting thing I’ve witnessed since retiring from racing, training & breeding Siberian Huskies (& they weren’t easy to breed-very picky bitches!). Whoever coined the phrase “It’s a dog’s life” never witnessed a bitch whelping & nursing six puppies. I got to witness their patience with pups as is Bai Yun & her tiny cub. She left it for a couple of minutes @ 14:20 your time-so got to see a live glimpse-it was nestled in straw/leaves. Looks like front feet are now turning black & little tail sticking right up-must be happy ! Do you know at what point its eyes open? Are Giant Pandas prone to carry parasites-so do round worm etc., present a problem-I would regularly have to de-worm mother & pups until after weaning. Keep up the dedicated work, it is obviously paying off for these guys !
August 13th, 2005 at 1:50 pm
Suzanne, I generally watch very late at night, easier to get on, and enjoy watching. Have watched your pandas for quite a while and have loved it. Saw my first live panda at Brookfield Zoo in Chicago many, many years ago, and have been in love with them ever since. Enjoy spending the morning hours with you.
Pat
August 13th, 2005 at 2:15 pm
I didn’t know that Tian Tian was the uncle of Hua Mei, Mei Sheng, and the new baby panda! It looks like we can’t have in-breeding going around if that cub is a female.
August 13th, 2005 at 2:21 pm
Cats used to be my favorite animal but since the birth of Mei Sheng, Pandas have become #1. I love to watch Panda Cam (don’t tell my boss) and keep it up daily on my computer and size it so I can do my work and watch too. Bai Yun is such a good mother! She is so sweet and it is so good to see her take such good care of her cub!
If I lived in San Diego, I would volunteer to help with this project.
Pandas are such wonderful creations!
Happy Birthday to Mei Sheng too! I love him!
August 13th, 2005 at 2:53 pm
I have been watching your Panda cam from Australia for about 3 years now, and first thing in the mornings we watch Bai Yun, hoping to catch a glimpse of the baby. When do you think you will be able to weigh and measure the baby? I noticed last night colour coming on the legs and across the shoulders. Thank you for your wonderful information, without it we would not know the habits of these wonderful cuddly looking animals. Bai Yun is so gentle with the baby, it’s lovely to watch her. I am looking forward to watching the days when you weigh the baby, they grow so quickly. Without the dedicated staff there at the zoo running the 24-hour cam, people in this country would not be able to see Bai Yun and her baby because of the time difference. Keep up the great work.
August 13th, 2005 at 4:10 pm
Thank you for your thoughtful responses to some of our questions!
August 13th, 2005 at 5:42 pm
LOL … thank you for the info about Tian’s and Bai Yun’s relationship. I love reading this weblog. It gives us really up-to-date info. Thank you for setting it up, guys, and keep up the good work!
August 13th, 2005 at 5:57 pm
Thank you so much for providing the PandaCam to the public. I am hypnotized by this beautiful mother and her constant care for her baby. Even at work I keep the cam minimized on my desktop in order to sneak a peek every now and then. I also greatly appreciate the blogs from the caregivers and enjoy being ‘taught’ and enlightened by the input. I only wish that the PandaCam had sound so that we might be able to hear the noises that mother and baby (especially baby!) are making. Thank you for all your dedicated work and obvious affection for one of our endangered creatures.
Cindy
August 13th, 2005 at 6:32 pm
Thank you so much for your web cam and for taking the time to share with us the wonderful event that is occuring in Bai Yun’s den. We love watching her and the baby. It is so much fun getting to know her and her habits and how attentive she is to her baby. I love it when the baby tries to wake her up to feed and she resists for just “one more minute” of sleep, just like a human mother. We really appreciate how you zoom in so we can catch better glimpses of the baby, and I look forward to your daily comments and updates on how mom and baby are doing. So thank you. My granddaughter who is 5 and I have nicknamed the baby Furby, because she has no fur. Keep up the good work and know that you are all appreciated!!!!
August 13th, 2005 at 6:51 pm
Thank you for being there during the graveyard shift and posting your comments.
I sure enjoy reading them.
I watched the panda baby grow 2 years.
August 13th, 2005 at 7:18 pm
It’s so nice to see so many others that are addicted to the baby pandas. I’ve watched since Mei Sheng was born and everyone knows I must have my daily baby panda “fix.” I excitedly watch both panda cams now and love watching with amazement at the care these mother pandas give these cubs. It’s impossible not to feel the “love” they have for their cubs as they nuzzle and cuddle them. Thank you all so much for sharing these moments with us.
August 13th, 2005 at 7:29 pm
Thanks for the news on Gao Gao and Mei Sheng. It’s great to hear that they know each other, even if it’s not a “nuclear” family. Mei Sheng seems to have been out of the news for the last few months and so it’s great to hear what he is up to. Mei Sheng turns 2 soon and we know there will a party for him. But does it mean that he will be off to China soon or will he get to stay in sunny California?
August 13th, 2005 at 7:35 pm
This is really wonderful…getting to read your daily comments about the activities of all the pandas. I check in several times a day to see what is going on within the den. The new panda appears to be growing (to my inexperienced eye), and very actively moving about looking for Mom when she leaves. Appears to be very strong for its size. Thanks for all the updates!
August 13th, 2005 at 7:51 pm
YOO HOO…I finally have the panda cam up and running. Thank you for your hard work and I hope you all get a day off soon! This site is awesome and please know it is appreciated by those of us in Arizona who can’t get away from our own jobs!!
August 13th, 2005 at 8:03 pm
I’m a nightowl–the webcam is great, but I especially appreciate your comments in this blog–many thanks!
August 13th, 2005 at 8:59 pm
Hi Suzanne,
I too am a night owl and loved your entry about your shift. I too spend time with Bai during the night when I can and I have done so with all three of her cubs. The news you gave about how the new cub and her relation to the new little guy at N.Z. was interesting. I suppose we all have wondered about that even though logic dictates that they would have both been returned to China by the time they would mate. We know that Hua Mei was able to mate right after her return to China because she was delayed in that return several times. We were all happy to have her remain in S.D. as long as she did and I am sure I am not the only one who wishes we could support a “followup cam” for our babies that return to China. We, too, invested much love and support to their development and would welcome a peek into their lives occasionally, especially during the birth of their cubs. How I missed that with Hua Mei. I wanted to see the twins traded off as they do so well at Wolong. I wanted to see her success as a doting mother, like her mother, Hua Mei, was to her. Thanks for letting me go on about this. It was nice to know you are there late at night too.
August 13th, 2005 at 9:21 pm
I just wanted you to know that you and your staff are doing a fantastic job. I look at the cam pretty frequently, just waiting for a glimpse of the baby!!! I have seen it in short spurts, but, I can’t wait until Bai Yun is confident to leave it alone.
Thanks for the opportunity to look inside the life of the pandas!!!
Keep up the good work!!!
Debbie
August 13th, 2005 at 10:03 pm
Thank you for the family history of the two Pandas. I had no idea that Bai Yun and Tien Tien are related. That is really interesting. I think another reason the two cubs could not mate is that they will both have to go home to China at some point. That is very sad as we all grow to love “our” babies very much. I saw the San Diego baby very clearly on Saturday morning. It is so small and cute. Very exciting to get a good look. The National Zoo baby is getting so big so fast. We can see him most of the time now as he is juggled by his mom.
August 13th, 2005 at 11:23 pm
I HAVE BEEN FOLLOWING THIS BIRTH SINCE DAY ONE…I AM IN FRONT OF THE COMPUTER WATCHING THE PANDA CAM IN GREAT AWE. I WAS DIAGNOISED WITH UTERINE CANCER 5 YEARS AGO STAGE 3C..I WAS GIVEN A 10% SURVIVAL RATE…I HUNG ON TO THAT 10% AND AM DOING REALLY WELL…THAT EXPERIENCE HAS MADE ME EVEN MORE GRATEFUL AND SENSITIVE TO HOW VALUABLE LIFE REALLY IS. I TREASURE EVERY MOMENT AND THIS BIRTH IS ONE OF THOSE BLESSINGS AND TREASURES. SHE IS SUCH A LOVING GOOD MOM..EVERY NIGHT OR MORNING 12am ON I TALK TO HER AND TELL HER HOW MUCH SHE IS BRINGING INTO THE WORLD. ..SHE CREATED ANOTHER NEW LIFE AND I TELL HER HOW GOOD A MOM SHE IS AND TELL HER HOW MUCH I APPRECIATE HER AND LOVE HER FOR ALLOWING ME THIS INCREDIBLE EXPERIENCE..HOW AMAZING OUR TECHNOLOGY IS TODAY..HOW ELSE WOULD WE EVER GET TO EXPERIENCE THIS MIRACLE IN ITS FULLEST??? I WOULD LOVE TO BE ABLE TO WATCH HER IN REAL LIFE IN ABOUT 4 MONTHS…IS IT POSSIBLE TO DO THIS? I WOULD LOVE TO VOLUNTEER MY TIME TO YOU…AND BLESSED TO MAKE A MONETARY CONTRIBUTION (WHICH I WILL DO NO MATTER WHAT). THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU HAVE BROUGHT FORWARD THROUGH THIS COMPUTER AND OUT INTO THE WORLD..I MUST HAVE HAD A LIFE TIME WITH PANDAS FOR THEY HOLD A VERY SPECIAL PLACE IN MY HEART SINCE I WAS VERY SMALL…BLESS YOU ALL ONCE AGAIN FOR MAKING THIS EXPERIENCE POSSIBLE. WITH GREAT ADMIRATION, THANKFULNESS AND LOVE…TAMI…
August 13th, 2005 at 11:58 pm
I am wondering about the agreement with China, do the offspring (like Mei Sheng) have to go back to China?
August 14th, 2005 at 12:00 am
Oh, I have another comment, I really enjoyed the photos and videos of Mei Sheng as he grew, are we going to have the same thing with this cub?
August 14th, 2005 at 3:34 am
Thank you so much for constantly working the camera. Here in Honolulu, Hawaii I got to watch Bai Yun’s cub from 12.55-1:16 AM - while she was sleeping with open arms. It’s so fascinating to already see the markings of where the black hair growth will be — around the eyes, ears and the tiny arms. I guess the cub was squirming quite a bit for Bai Yun to turn and then cleanse the cub and then feed her cub. I will be travelling to China come October and one of our stops will be Chengdu - Wolong Conservation. We hope to see Hua Mei and her twins. We’ll be singing Happy Birthday to my Aunt and Mei Sheng on August 19. Thanks again for all the blogs and great camera work. Aloha, Myrna.
August 14th, 2005 at 4:30 am
Hello San Diego Zoo! What a wonderful and exciting time for everyone to be able to watch your panda & cub. I watch every day eagerly to see the cub. I also watch the little miracle at the Washington National Zoo, Mei Xiang who gave birth to a male cub on July 9. I watch in awe at this remarkable event. It leaves me speechless. Thank you for all the work you do and for this wonderful experience to be able to see your brand new cub. Sincerely, Carolyn Tiburzi, West Palm Beach, Florida.
August 14th, 2005 at 4:52 am
Just wanted to thank you for keeping us updated so well. Love those pandas and love reading about them. Followed Bai Yun’s other two babies, and feel so lucky to be watching a third precious little critter grow up.
August 14th, 2005 at 9:08 am
I am so surprised that Bai Yun and Tian Tian almost share the same parents except they have different moms. So this means if that cub is a female, then we can’t be going around inbreeding pandas.
August 14th, 2005 at 11:39 am
I’m a nightowl and greatly appreciate the 24-hour cam–it’s a delight, as are your weblog comments. Thanks!
August 14th, 2005 at 2:00 pm
Thank you so much for the pictures and videos! I never realized how much a baby panda sounds like a human baby when being soothed by its mama after crying so hard. What a treat for us all. I watch this baby and mama everyday just as I do the baby boy and his mama in the NZP. I never miss a day. I look forward to seeing this baby grow too. Hopefully I will see it on the cam soon. I have told some family members about watching the newborn pandas on the internet and some of them are watching also. Then we compare notes about what we have seen! Thanks again.
Colleen from Michgan
August 14th, 2005 at 2:20 pm
Thanks you so much for your most informative and interesting weblogs. I think it’s great that the National Zoo’s and our baby pandas are half-cousins. It’s so wonderful that Hua Mei has been able to raise her twin boys successfully. Can you tell us more about them, such as their names and if they are still in Wolong? I was excited to see our new baby quite clearly a few minutes ago and to see how carefully Bai Yun was holding and positioning it. You and your team are doing a great job! Again many thanks!!
August 14th, 2005 at 3:34 pm
What a great job! Everyday I say to my husband, “What a great job it must be to study, watch, and take care of these beautiful pandas,” and I ask him if it is too late for me to go back to school, and get into this field (trust me, IT IS!) But it is something I’d love to do, and you must love being there alone to watch them thru the night. I’ll trade you my little square office for yours??? Thank you so much for your great updates, they are wonderful. Have a cup of coffee and enjoy your night!!!
August 14th, 2005 at 6:17 pm
Suzanne - I just want to tell you how we thank God for people like you that are willing to work the graveyard shift. These panda bears are so sweet and soooo cute. I would love to have your job especially if I would get to pet the bears!! Anyway just wanted you to know that we are out here and love reading your blogs that keep us so informed about what is going on with the Mom and cub. Keep up your great work and know that you are really appreciated.
August 14th, 2005 at 6:41 pm
In the wild, would a panda breed every year? Every two years? Do we know? I’m just curious! My husband and I really enjoy the Panda Cam and we visit the zoo often. Can we look forward to seeing the newest panda baby by Christmas? Thanks!
August 14th, 2005 at 8:07 pm
What is the size of the baby panda now? It’s hard to tell from the picture.
August 15th, 2005 at 12:52 am
Hang in there Suzanne. I have been fortunate enough to check in a couple of times and see the baby once by itself and moving around and then another time loosely in its mother’s grip and enticingly close to a nipple. But just not big enough to latch on. Mama woke up and took care of the baby immediately. I even enjoy watching Bai Yun sleeping. So you are not alone on these nocturnal watches. Linda in Austin, TX
August 15th, 2005 at 5:58 am
Keep up the good work to you all and the Panda Research Team. Love reading about the new arrival and the past babies and the one that is about to have his second birthday.
August 15th, 2005 at 7:46 am
As one of the people who check in at all hours, I appreciate all of your efforts to show us the new baby. It is very obvious to me that someone is always there monitoring them and maneuvering to catch the best view. Thank you.
August 15th, 2005 at 7:57 am
Just wanted to let you know that you’re doing a great job, and that I truly appreciate the time and efforts you have spent in reasearch of the pandas
From one fan of the pandas at San Diego Zoo - p.s. I watch on web cam every day and evening when I can
again thank you for your efforts - judy
August 15th, 2005 at 10:54 am
I just thought you might like to know that I am observing the panda all the way from Istanbul, Turkey. We need a lot of attention to wildlife and ecology here. I have no idea if anyone else watches from here as well. I had no idea that what she was doing was caring for a baby till I googled the zoo. And now I see the baby–WOW!
August 17th, 2005 at 5:35 am
Could you tell us why the cubs in China are weaned from their mothers at 5 months instead of 18 months like they do in the wild and how it is for our pandas here? Thank you.
August 18th, 2005 at 5:33 pm
This is amazing news that I read today that Tian Tian is the half brother of Bai Yun! I have seen both of them “live and in person” … I wonder if they’re close in temperment? I’m just excited to have one baby panda close enough to visit whenever I want to; and one I hope to see next Spring!