iZoofari Chat: Giant Panda Pregnancy Watch
Posted at 3:08 pm July 25, 2007 by Dennis Corbran
NEW! iZoofari Chats are an occasional series of interviews that will put you in touch with the people who work for the Zoo and Wild Animal Park. Current subscribers to either the Zoo or Wild Animal Park podcast feeds will also get the iZoofari Chats.
An interview with giant panda senior researcher Suzanne Hall as she observes giant panda Bai Yun. (13:28)
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July 25th, 2007 at 5:57 pm
I was really excited to see the interview though it seems to be cut short for some reason. It is great for all of us members to be included in this pregnancy watch. I think we all look forward to every baby but overall we enjoy learning more about pandas. They may be on loan to us from China but I think every single one of us feels like they belong to all of us.
It is fascinating to hear what is done on the “watch” and why. I was thinking the other day how exciting it would be to be sitting there watching Bai Yun when she delivers, I check in with the panda cam every day.
One side note here it was with some sadness that I saw today that our baby boy will be leaving for China in October. We will miss our Mei Sheng but I think that the Zoo and all of us members can be proud of how well he has been raised. We know that our zoo is the best in the U.S. in panda care and we take much pride in the work you do for the animals and for us.
Thank you.
Moderator’s note: We’ve fixed the technical glitch that cut the interview short. Please try again.
July 26th, 2007 at 1:38 am
Thanks Suzanne….
I listened to your interesting interview appertaining to Bai Yun’s possible pregnancy, it is nice to hear the voice of our expert on all things ‘Panda’ - you have an exacting and exciting appointment which is
appreciated by all ‘Pandaholics’..
I have viewed the PandaCam from the UK since when it became available online commencing with the excitement of the birth your amazing Hua Mei.
I was very interested in Bai’s behaviour pattern yesterday (25th July).
Between the hours of 06.00am SD (2.00pm UK) and 11.00am SD, Bai was very busy making a nest in her den on C14 - I also noted that her vulva appeared ’swollen’ and Bai paid much attention to detail in that area.
During the time Bai was relaxing on C11, I noted that her mammary glands appeared slightly
enlarged? however that could be because she has already had three successful pregnancies.
Meanwhile I remain on Bai Watch and will keep my fingers crossed that Mother Nature is not playing tricks on Bai Yun….
kind regards…..
July 26th, 2007 at 5:50 am
Why don’t you do ultrasounds like the zoo in DC?
Thanks
July 26th, 2007 at 9:07 am
Kudos to the crew who are bringing us these wonderful new IZOOFARI CHATS! Hats off to Debbie Andreen, the intrepid interviewer, and to Suzanne Hall, the Giant Panda guru…..listening to the podcast is like being right there at the Panda Center gaining new insights into what’s happening as we all go on “Baby Watch” alert.
July 26th, 2007 at 11:03 am
im so happy that u have a panda preganet…i have a question…. when is the panda baby due??? also i cant wait to go back to the san diego zoo next year i went last month….. and i drove for 12 hours….. i wanted to go and see the pandas first but we saw them later on in the park they are so adorable!!!!
hope to keep in touch!!!
July 26th, 2007 at 4:02 pm
Great job, Suzanne! I loved the interview and I’m keeping my fingers crossed that we’ll get to see a new baby soon
July 27th, 2007 at 11:41 am
Lovely interview and clear as well.
I would like to know if the percentage of successful panda pregnancies in the US are similar to the percentage of successful pregnancies in China. I know our Panda population here is infinitely smaller, but was curious to know if there IS a difference in the percentages and if so, whether one or the other is using a method that could be adapted to other research stations. Or even if it is known WHY there is a difference.
Thanks
Marion Schuller
Richmond VA
July 27th, 2007 at 4:35 pm
I thought I noticed Bai Yun acting a little different. Great news! I love Pandas and have only been watching Panda Cam for a few months so I missed the birth of Su Lin. How exciting to be on “baby watch”! Like Hazel, I too am a “Pandaholic”. Thank you San Diego Zoo and Suzanne Hall, keep up the good work.
July 30th, 2007 at 4:47 pm
Thanks Suzanne!
I hope to hear soon for sure that Bai Yun is going to a have little one again. My admiration goes out to all of you who work with animals, and the time you take to inform the rest of us how wonderful they make our world. I’m crossing my fingers that the San Diego Zoo will be the one who has a little one this year. I was saddened to hear that the DC Panda did not get pregnant. My prayers are with you and your staff for the up and coming event.
Sandie
August 6th, 2007 at 10:17 am
I love pandas and think it is great that there is another baby cub in the research station and I hope that when I grow up if they are not instinct that I could be a panda trainer or a research agent on the pandas. My school essay next year is going to be on the birth of pandas and how they are going extinct in the U.S or in the world all they have to do is mate. Last year instead of watching the new years ball drop I watched a panda show on Animal Planet. Well, I hope to see a real panda in my early years thank you and bye.
August 28th, 2007 at 2:11 pm
My granddaughter and I were watching the panda cam in early august and we did not know there was a panda expecting. However as we were watching we thought we saw a panda with a very tiny “thing” she was covering up ever so gently. I even called the zoo to tell them I thought I saw a new baby, but was told no. Is it possible that we did see the panda baby first?
Moderator’s note: No. The Panda Cam was directed at our outside exhibit areas and not in the birthing den when panda mother Bai Yun went into labor and delivered her cub. We hope you are enjoying the current views of the little one as it grows day by day!
September 10th, 2007 at 8:28 am
Im hoping to see a new baby panda