iZoofari Chat: Panda Cub Update/Naming
Posted at 12:40 pm October 12, 2007 by Dennis Corbran
Panda researcher Suzanne Hall discusses the panda cub’s progress at 10 weeks of age. She also updates us on the process for taking name suggestions for the cub from San Diego Zoo visitors. Hosted by Debbie Andreen. (11:52)
NEW! iZoofari Chats are an occasional series of interviews that 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.
You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Scroll to the end to leave a comment. Pinging is not allowed.
October 13th, 2007 at 8:37 pm
Wow, this was fascinating–I’ve been wondering about their wandering! It was interesting to hear about some of the possible reasons for it; I’m glad the little one is back in her proper home again these days.
I could listen to one of these chats every day…but I guess you all have to take care of the pandas sometimes, too
October 14th, 2007 at 5:37 am
Suzanne,
If you could get Bright Star on the pole, that would warm the hearts of all of us bloggers. Say hi to Bright Star for me please!
Emma, Lockport N.Y. 12 -Years-Old
October 14th, 2007 at 6:21 am
Do not know how to spell in Chinese but how appropriate can this name be? Since Bai Yun was not accepting the conditions of her den and taking her cub out to sleep under the night skies this name would be an honor to Bai Yun for her insight into a reason for not wanting her cub to sleep in the den. Bright Star should be on the list for the five (5) names in which we can vote for. I am happy to hear that Bai Yun and her darling cub are feeling safe again.
Thank you for your consideration and thanks for providing us with a Great and Wonderful Panda Research Center.
Sharon Fendrick
October 14th, 2007 at 11:18 am
I love following the new cub’s progress every week, and enjoy the videos, podcasts,
photos, and panda cam!
We’ve heard that the cub’s eyes are now open - is there any devlopement in
the opening of her ear canals? It seems like other panda cubs of this age
have ear canals that are already open. How is her developement in general?
She’s really fuzzy and cute!
October 15th, 2007 at 8:16 am
thank you suzanne, once agian very interesting to listen to, bright star a such a good name for this little one, she is so cute.
October 15th, 2007 at 12:36 pm
Hi, What is the red stuff that mommy panda is eating on her table?
Moderator’s note: Those are high-fiber biscuits made for leaf-eating animals.
October 15th, 2007 at 2:15 pm
Suzanne and Debbie, thanks for the most informative chat. We bloggers appreciate you thinking of including our suggested name of Bright Star in the list of 5 possible names for the cub. Since she was unique in her young life of camping out under the stars with her mom overnight for several days, it is an even more appropriate a name for her.
You commented that there were no earthquakes going on during the “campout.” However, several local SD bloggers mentioned tremors. Did you have any tremors at the zoo during that time? Did any of the pandas show any reactions? I don’t recall reading that tremors / earthquakes are common to Wolong area of China, but they are in SD. Just curious if Bai Yun might have sensed the movement, but not humans. If it was tremors, or something about the state of the den, she seems to be perfectly happy to be back there, and the cub has continued to thrive in her safe environment. Which area outside does Bai Yun seem to prefer to take the cub for her “play” sessions? The garden room?
October 15th, 2007 at 7:14 pm
Suanne & Debbie - Once again thanks for time to keep us panda lovers informed. For whatever reason Bai was unhappy with the den & thought her cub would be safer outside. I chuckled when I heard the staff cleaned the den & moved the cub back only to have Bai move her out again. But thanks to the dedication of your staff Bai & cub are back in the den. This podcast is priceless . Thanks. Maureen
October 16th, 2007 at 5:06 pm
Decades ago I have seen a black and white documentary piece on channel 13 about pandas and found “pandas are adorable”. Months ago I discovered panda cams, and found pandas are ridiculously cute. Recently iZoofari Chats too, wow I am in heaven! Thanks Suanne & Debbie. Please continue to keep us informed.
October 17th, 2007 at 5:37 pm
Dear San Diego Zoo Staff & All involved with the pandas’ care,
I want to thank each of you for taking such good care of the new little panda as well as all the others.
It is easy to see your tenderness and goal to have as many involved as possible. Special thanks to the
camera crew who make it possible for anyone to see the cub & mom 24/7. I am so happy that Bright Star
might be a consideration. Also, I’m glad to see Bai Yun and cub back in the den. Thank you!
Sincerely, Joellen
October 19th, 2007 at 4:28 pm
For several years, pandas have touched my heart in a very special way. I am so enamoured with them that I decorated 2 bedrooms in panda motif with bamboo-patterned wallpaper. On my 55th birthday, I had a panda tattoo put on my ankle. Three weeks ago, I had a dream come true. My friend and I made the trip from British Columbia, Canada to San Diego Zoo just so I could see a ‘live’ panda. I was able to take many photos. I have also been following the newest member of the panda family since her birth via Panda Cam…. what a wonderful way to keep an eye on Bai Yun and her baby. I would like to participate in the naming of Bai Yun’s daughter but I don’t know how to go about it. I’m hoping that using this opportunity will make my wishes known. I believe ‘Shiwong’ or ‘Hope’ would be the perfect name. The new baby represents the ‘Hope’ that pandas will continue to increase in numbers and, one day, no longer be endangered. Thank you for your consideration and bless you for all the wonderful things you do for the pandas. Most sincerely, Sandy Maguire
Moderator’s note: Sandy, you can help us choose a name for the panda cub when our online naming poll is posted. We’ll put a notice on the Panda Cam page when the poll is ready.
October 23rd, 2007 at 1:54 pm
I’d like to suggest a name for Bai Yun’s cub: LI-LI
because she is as beautiful as a Lily flower.
Thanks
October 23rd, 2007 at 11:11 pm
I’D LIKE TO SUBMIT NICE NAMES FOR BAI YUN’S CUB. I HOPE IT’ NOT TOO LATE. THANKS
I’M ALSO PRAYING FOR ALL YOUR SAFETY.
LI LI
麗 麗[li li\} /beautiful/
***************************************************
CHAN DI (Meaning: Beautiful Rainbow)
嬋 {cha/n} /beautiful/graceful/
èƒ di\} /rainbow/
***************************************************
CHAN DI
çš„ [di] /really and truly/
嬋 [chan] /beautiful/graceful/
***************************************************
MI MI
敉 [mi] /peaceful/
***************************************************
BING QI (Meaning: Glorious Peace)
昺 [bing] bright/glorious/
祇 [qi] /earth-spirit/peace/
***************************************************
BING DI (Meaning: Bright Rainbow)
炳 {bing} /bright/brilliant/luminous/
***************************************************
DI DI (Meaning: Little Rainbow)
èƒ {di} /rainbow/
***************************************************
MEI LI
媺 {mei} /beautiful/
皪 [li] /luster (of pearls)/
***************************************************
MEI CHEN
媺 {mei} /beautiful/
ç› [chen] /precious stone/gem/
***************************************************
JI JI (Meaning: Lucky)
å‰ {ji/} /lucky/
***************************************************
JI LI
æ½— [ji] /friendly/harmonious/
麗 [li } /beautiful/
***************************************************
MI MI (Meaning:Very peaceful)
敉 {mi} /peaceful/
***************************************************
MI LIANG (Meaning: Very Peaceful)
敉 [mi] /peaceful/
良 [liang] /very/very much/
***************************************************
DI YAN
çš„ [di] /really and truly/
å¦ [yan] /beautiful/
October 25th, 2007 at 3:40 pm
I live out-of-state and cannot visit the zoo in order to suggest a name for the baby panda, but I would love to see her called “Precious Gift” because that is what she, and all of the animals are. I don’t have a clue as to what that translates into!
Thanks so much to all of the zoo staff for the wonderful job they do in caring for all of the animals.
November 1st, 2007 at 6:41 am
I’ve been reading the comments on the names for the baby cub. What does Bright Star translate to in Chinese?
I like that name also. I have been watching the baby cub since birth. I never thought I would get so attached to this baby cub to check on her every day, and throughout the day. I am looking forward to hearing what the baby cub is named. Thank you for allowing everyone to view this experience on your Panda Cam.
Thank you,
Stacey
November 1st, 2007 at 7:46 am
I have been wondering something about the panda breeding program as a whole. Obviously, it’s a very good thing that all of these amazing animals are thriving in captivity, and that, if this progress continues, they will no longer be endangered. It seems, though, that these captive pandas have a great deal of human interaction and training. Is there a later phase of the program, where pandas will be bred, raised with less human interaction, and released into the wild? Is that even possible? Hooray for a thriving panda population, wherever it may be, but when I look at the photos of leafy green Wolong, I always imagine what it would look like with wild pandas loafing in those trees and playing in the water!
For the time being, I am SO happy to be able to view and visit these guys! From the first time I saaw baby Hua Mei, I was hopelessly smitten. I was speechless this summer when I got to see Su Lin and Mei Sheng in person.
Thanks so very much for providing us such a high level of access and information! My daily cyber-visits to the pandas are always a bright spot in my day!
November 1st, 2007 at 9:45 am
One other question: I just read that Bai Yun is on a 12-year loan. Does that mean she will have to go back in 2008? Might there be any consideration given to the fact the she and Gao Gao are so successful in breeding together?
November 1st, 2007 at 5:27 pm
Our darling panda’s naming event is coming verrrry sooon. I feel the thrill. I feel the tension.
I think there is a great debate whether to call the cub a “BRIGHT STAR” or “CHERISHED TREASURE.”
I go for any of the names as long as they SOUND GOOD both in English and Chinese.
I researched on “Bright Star” Chinese names: Check these out:
ç ç zhen zhen /precious thing / treasure
明月 ming yue /bright moon / refers to 夜明ç , a legendary pearl that can glow in the dark
明媚 ming mei /bright and beautiful
明星 ming xing /star / celebrity
星星 xing xing /star in the sky
昺 bing /bright / glorious
æš wei /the bright shining of the sun
龑 yan /high and bright
ç¿ can (pronounced ‘tsan’) /glorious / bright / brilliant / lustrous / resplendent
æ™– hui (pronounced ‘whey’) /bright / radiant
星 xing (pronounced ’shing’) /star /
呇 qi (pronounced ‘tse-e’) /star
娵 ju (pronounced ‘chu’) (feminine name) / (star)
November 10th, 2007 at 11:13 pm
I think you should name the baby Star Bright, when I saw the little kids watching the moniter at the viewing area, they kind of got a smile on their faces as bright as a star…. I think you should name it after something it does to people when they see it..
November 26th, 2007 at 10:53 am
I hope those of us who can’t get to the NAMING ceremony, will somehow get to see it or a description of it on the Internet.
Moderator’s note: You can see video highlights of the ceremony at http://www.sandiegozoo.org/wordpress/default/our-precious-panda-cub/
February 19th, 2008 at 9:45 pm
do pandas come out on feburary 23,2008?
Moderator’s note: The San Diego Zoo’s pandas are on exhibit daily.