Comments on: Wolong Relief http://www.sandiegozoo.org/wordpress/default/wolong-relief/ Sun, 23 Nov 2008 15:23:39 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.2 By: Kevin http://www.sandiegozoo.org/wordpress/default/wolong-relief/#comment-318279 Kevin Thu, 17 Jul 2008 23:08:10 +0000 http://www.sandiegozoo.org/wordpress/default/wolong-relief/#comment-318279 Hi Ron, Thank you for the updates. We went to Wolong earlier this year and reading the news from there is just devestating. The day we went was in winter, but a nice sunny day, so there was almost nobody at Wolong that day. We spent all day with scores of pandas. One of the best experiences of our lives. I know this is a radical idea, but is there any way the San Diego Zoo could expand it's panda operation and accept 10-15 more pandas here in order to help out? I just read an article about how they have had to put the pandas on a fruit diet due to shortage of bamboo and I also understand there are many pandas in the wild who are in jeopardy due to destroyed habitat and lack of food. Sounds like China might need some help with this and can't think of anyone who has been more successful with the pandas than you guys in San Diego. The local community has been very supportive of the pandas, plus people come and see the ones we have from all over the world. I would think that it would be possible to raise the millions of dollars of funding required. Hi Ron, Thank you for the updates. We went to Wolong earlier this year and reading the news from there is just devestating. The day we went was in winter, but a nice sunny day, so there was almost nobody at Wolong that day. We spent all day with scores of pandas. One of the best experiences of our lives.

I know this is a radical idea, but is there any way the San Diego Zoo could expand it's panda operation and accept 10-15 more pandas here in order to help out?

I just read an article about how they have had to put the pandas on a fruit diet due to shortage of bamboo and I also understand there are many pandas in the wild who are in jeopardy due to destroyed habitat and lack of food. Sounds like China might need some help with this and can't think of anyone who has been more successful with the pandas than you guys in San Diego.

The local community has been very supportive of the pandas, plus people come and see the ones we have from all over the world. I would think that it would be possible to raise the millions of dollars of funding required.

]]> By: AC in NYC http://www.sandiegozoo.org/wordpress/default/wolong-relief/#comment-311255 AC in NYC Thu, 10 Jul 2008 13:46:51 +0000 http://www.sandiegozoo.org/wordpress/default/wolong-relief/#comment-311255 Thank you Ron for Wolong update, I would love to and will donate more money for pandas and their keepers. I just learn about Shi Shi past away, too sad. It was just few pandas left in the world, how much more can they take... Thank you Ron for Wolong update, I would love to and will donate more money for pandas and their keepers.
I just learn about Shi Shi past away, too sad. It was just few pandas left in the world, how much more can they take…

]]> By: P Wong http://www.sandiegozoo.org/wordpress/default/wolong-relief/#comment-310836 P Wong Thu, 10 Jul 2008 04:37:19 +0000 http://www.sandiegozoo.org/wordpress/default/wolong-relief/#comment-310836 Map of Wolong Nature Reserve showing Gengda Township location as northeast of Wolong Village/Wolong Panda Reserve Center: www(dot)discoverchinatours(dot)com(slash)images/panda/map_of_wolong.gif Map of Wolong Nature Reserve showing Gengda Township location as northeast of Wolong Village/Wolong Panda Reserve Center:

www(dot)discoverchinatours(dot)com(slash)images/panda/map_of_wolong.gif

]]> By: P Wong http://www.sandiegozoo.org/wordpress/default/wolong-relief/#comment-310779 P Wong Thu, 10 Jul 2008 03:45:32 +0000 http://www.sandiegozoo.org/wordpress/default/wolong-relief/#comment-310779 Location of Huangcaoping is in Gengda Town in Wolong Giant Panda Nature Reserve according to People's Daily article 16:45, April 21, 2008. Note that this construction was already planned before the great 5/12/2008 quake and was to have been completed by end of 2008. However, in light of quake events, completion dates apparently shifted some years. People's Daily article is here: ======== " Wolong to be home to largest Giant Panda Breeding base" The world's largest breeding base for giant pandas is expected to be completed at the year's end in Wolong, Sichuan, according to the Administration Bureau of Wolong Nature Reserve on April 19th. By then, the new base will accommodate approximately 200 giant pandas and panda breeding. Zhang Hemin, director of the Administration Bureau of Wolong Nature Reserve explained that the new base - construction kicked off on April 18th - is located in Huangcaoping, Gengda town, inside the Wolong Giant Panda Nature Reserve. It covers an area of about one square kilometer, with an indoor feeding room, breeding nursery, feed processing zone, admission management area; as well as 20 wild giant panda feeding and breeding fenced-in fields and 19,400 square meters of outdoor stadium for pandas. Wolong Nature Reserve is located in southwestern Wenchuan County of Sichuan Province and is China's largest giant panda natural reserve, with more than 150 wild giant pandas. ============= The link is here: english(dot)peopledaily(dot)com(dot)cn(slash)90001/90776/90882/6396303.html ============= Also note: Huangcaoping = " huang" means " yellow" or " brown" ; " cao" means " grass" ; " ping" means " field" or " plain" Location of Huangcaoping is in Gengda Town in Wolong Giant Panda Nature Reserve according to People's Daily article 16:45, April 21, 2008. Note that this construction was already planned before the great 5/12/2008 quake and was to have been completed by end of 2008. However, in light of quake events, completion dates apparently shifted some years.

People's Daily article is here:

========
" Wolong to be home to largest Giant Panda Breeding base"

The world's largest breeding base for giant pandas is expected to be completed at the year's end in Wolong, Sichuan, according to the Administration Bureau of Wolong Nature Reserve on April 19th. By then, the new base will accommodate approximately 200 giant pandas and panda breeding.

Zhang Hemin, director of the Administration Bureau of Wolong Nature Reserve explained that the new base - construction kicked off on April 18th - is located in Huangcaoping, Gengda town, inside the Wolong Giant Panda Nature Reserve. It covers an area of about one square kilometer, with an indoor feeding room, breeding nursery, feed processing zone, admission management area; as well as 20 wild giant panda feeding and breeding fenced-in fields and 19,400 square meters of outdoor stadium for pandas.

Wolong Nature Reserve is located in southwestern Wenchuan County of Sichuan Province and is China's largest giant panda natural reserve, with more than 150 wild giant pandas.

=============
The link is here: english(dot)peopledaily(dot)com(dot)cn(slash)90001/90776/90882/6396303.html
=============

Also note: Huangcaoping = " huang" means " yellow" or " brown" ; " cao" means " grass" ; " ping" means " field" or " plain"

]]> By: Chari Mercier http://www.sandiegozoo.org/wordpress/default/wolong-relief/#comment-310679 Chari Mercier Thu, 10 Jul 2008 01:23:18 +0000 http://www.sandiegozoo.org/wordpress/default/wolong-relief/#comment-310679 Hi, Moderator! Thanks for correcting me about ZZ's birthday! I must have gotten her birthday mixed in with Mei Lan's birthday in September, so now I know that ZZ's B'day is on August 3rd. Will be looking forward to seeing pics and videos of her upcoming fabulous one year old birthday party! I read a couple of comments about where the Wolong Reserve Center maybe rebuilt at. Will check the news article on the China Daily website to read more about it. Seven years is a pretty long time for getting the rebuilding done, but from what I just read about what they would like to see as far as the facilities to continue the research and conservation of the pandas, it makes sense to make sure that these buildings are built right and hopefully able to withstand earthquakes at magnitude 5 and above. Hope to see some pictures of that area that they are planning to build at. I'm so glad that the government of China, along with the people and their conservation organizations, are moving forward to get this started as soon as possible. It sounds like Chengdu, Bifengxia, and the other reserves will do their very best to take care of all of the pandas that have come in from Wolong until their new center is done. China is truly very committed to making sure that these bears are taken care of, sheltered, and fed during this rebuilding time. I'm also hoping that the research field crews can finally get up those mountains to do a wild panda count to see just how many wild pandas have actually survived the earthquake as well as how much damage to the bamboo crop there is up there. When I read that there maybe close to a third of the wild panda population out of 1600 that could have been killed in that quake, that just broke my heart. The Chinese people have worked so long and hard to keep these bears going as well as keep them from being extent, and this news has got to be distressing to them. Hopefully, we will get some idea of what has happened to the wild pandas and where they might have gone to since the quake. I did see the pics of Guo Guo's twins and the video of them being born. CUTE!!!!!!!!! Anybody know the latest on how the mom and babies are doing right now? On the news video, they showed the twin baby panda in one of the new incubators that Pandas International had shipped to China not more than 3 weeks ago. That was great timing on their part to get that incubator and the second one to Bifengxia before Guo had her babies. Gonna go. Checking pandacam again! Chari Mercier :) St. Pete, FL Hi, Moderator! Thanks for correcting me about ZZ's birthday! I must have gotten her birthday mixed in with Mei Lan's birthday in September, so now I know that ZZ's B'day is on August 3rd. Will be looking forward to seeing pics and videos of her upcoming fabulous one year old birthday party!
I read a couple of comments about where the Wolong Reserve Center maybe rebuilt at. Will check the news article on the China Daily website to read more about it. Seven years is a pretty long time for getting the rebuilding done, but from what I just read about what they would like to see as far as the facilities to continue the research and conservation of the pandas, it makes sense to make sure that these buildings are built right and hopefully able to withstand earthquakes at magnitude 5 and above. Hope to see some pictures of that area that they are planning to build at. I'm so glad that the government of China, along with the people and their conservation organizations, are moving forward to get this started as soon as possible. It sounds like Chengdu, Bifengxia, and the other reserves will do their very best to take care of all of the pandas that have come in from Wolong until their new center is done. China is truly very committed to making sure that these bears are taken care of, sheltered, and fed during this rebuilding time. I'm also hoping that the research field crews can finally get up those mountains to do a wild panda count to see just how many wild pandas have actually survived the earthquake as well as how much damage to the bamboo crop there is up there. When I read that there maybe close to a third of the wild panda population out of 1600 that could have been killed in that quake, that just broke my heart. The Chinese people have worked so long and hard to keep these bears going as well as keep them from being extent, and this news has got to be distressing to them. Hopefully, we will get some idea of what has happened to the wild pandas and where they might have gone to since the quake.
I did see the pics of Guo Guo's twins and the video of them being born. CUTE!!!!!!!!! Anybody know the latest on how the mom and babies are doing right now? On the news video, they showed the twin baby panda in one of the new incubators that Pandas International had shipped to China not more than 3 weeks ago. That was great timing on their part to get that incubator and the second one to Bifengxia before Guo had her babies.
Gonna go. Checking pandacam again!
Chari Mercier :)
St. Pete, FL

]]> By: Cat http://www.sandiegozoo.org/wordpress/default/wolong-relief/#comment-310404 Cat Wed, 09 Jul 2008 20:22:08 +0000 http://www.sandiegozoo.org/wordpress/default/wolong-relief/#comment-310404 The replacement for Wolong will be in Gengda. There are several articles. One is at www(dot)chinadaily(dot)com(dot)cn(slash)china(slash)2008-07(slash)09(slash)content_6830614.htm The replacement for Wolong will be in Gengda. There are several articles. One is at www(dot)chinadaily(dot)com(dot)cn(slash)china(slash)2008-07(slash)09(slash)content_6830614.htm

]]> By: solshih http://www.sandiegozoo.org/wordpress/default/wolong-relief/#comment-310384 solshih Wed, 09 Jul 2008 19:31:20 +0000 http://www.sandiegozoo.org/wordpress/default/wolong-relief/#comment-310384 NEW HOME PLANNED FOR QUAKE PANDAS BBC, Tuesday, 8 July 2008 16:42 UK Chinese officials have drawn up $300m (£150m) plans to rebuild a major panda reserve, which was badly damaged by the Sichuan province earthquake in May. The quake flattened many of the caves used for shelter by the 150 or so pandas at the Wolong reserve. Officials want to build a new research centre and a panda hospital, as well as repair damaged habitat. Five staff and one panda were killed at the breeding centre during the tremors, and its research facility was wrecked. National symbol The quake also destroyed vast areas of vegetation, including the bamboo forest which the animals rely on for food. Conservation officials want to rebuild the Wolong reserve in a completely different location and say the project will take seven years. The new plans include a breeding laboratory and a disease control centre for the animals, which would be constructed in a different part of Sichuan. BBC East Asia specialist Steve Jackson says pandas are widely loved in China and are seen as a national symbol, to be protected whatever the cost. NEW HOME PLANNED FOR QUAKE PANDAS

BBC, Tuesday, 8 July 2008 16:42 UK

Chinese officials have drawn up $300m (£150m) plans to rebuild a major panda reserve, which was badly damaged by the Sichuan province earthquake in May.

The quake flattened many of the caves used for shelter by the 150 or so pandas at the Wolong reserve.

Officials want to build a new research centre and a panda hospital, as well as repair damaged habitat.

Five staff and one panda were killed at the breeding centre during the tremors, and its research facility was wrecked.

National symbol

The quake also destroyed vast areas of vegetation, including the bamboo forest which the animals rely on for food.

Conservation officials want to rebuild the Wolong reserve in a completely different location and say the project will take seven years.

The new plans include a breeding laboratory and a disease control centre for the animals, which would be constructed in a different part of Sichuan.

BBC East Asia specialist Steve Jackson says pandas are widely loved in China and are seen as a national symbol, to be protected whatever the cost.

]]> By: Marcia M from PA http://www.sandiegozoo.org/wordpress/default/wolong-relief/#comment-310255 Marcia M from PA Wed, 09 Jul 2008 17:04:57 +0000 http://www.sandiegozoo.org/wordpress/default/wolong-relief/#comment-310255 Oh...now I see the posting (#94) about Shi Shi. Just reading it, even with the brief details, got me all choked up. What a good old boy he was. May he rest in peace. Oh…now I see the posting (#94) about Shi Shi. Just reading it, even with the brief details, got me all choked up. What a good old boy he was. May he rest in peace.

]]> By: Lee in Vancouver http://www.sandiegozoo.org/wordpress/default/wolong-relief/#comment-310227 Lee in Vancouver Wed, 09 Jul 2008 15:46:58 +0000 http://www.sandiegozoo.org/wordpress/default/wolong-relief/#comment-310227 I just read an excerpt from the China Daily that Guo Guo was one of the pandas that " escaped" during the earthquake. Is that correct? If so, the birth of her twins is even more amazing. Hopefully we will hear that Hua Mei has had babies this year also. It would be such a nice way to remember Shi Shi, since she is his daughter. I just read an excerpt from the China Daily that Guo Guo was one of the pandas that " escaped" during the earthquake. Is that correct? If so, the birth of her twins is even more amazing.

Hopefully we will hear that Hua Mei has had babies this year also. It would be such a nice way to remember Shi Shi, since she is his daughter.

]]> By: barbara http://www.sandiegozoo.org/wordpress/default/wolong-relief/#comment-310203 barbara Wed, 09 Jul 2008 14:56:52 +0000 http://www.sandiegozoo.org/wordpress/default/wolong-relief/#comment-310203 Candy#94, thank you for the news about our beloved old gentleman.Please give Wang Jing our deepest sympathy. The last pictures I saw he looked so tired and old so I guess it was his time. As I cried when i heard the the sad news I also cried tears of happiness when I thought about the greatest gift he gave us, Hua Mei and look how much she has given us, 6 beautiful cubs. His legacy will live on for years to come. Shi Shi rest in peace honorable old gentleman, sweet dreams of panda home and plentiful bamboo. Candy#94, thank you for the news about our beloved old gentleman.Please give Wang Jing our deepest sympathy. The last pictures I saw he looked so tired and old so I guess it was his time. As I cried when i heard the the sad news I also cried tears of happiness when I thought about the greatest gift he gave us, Hua Mei and look how much she has given us, 6 beautiful cubs. His legacy will live on for years to come. Shi Shi rest in peace honorable old gentleman, sweet dreams of panda home and plentiful bamboo.

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