iZoofari Chat: Bear Awareness Days, Giant Pandas
Posted at 4:11 pm April 22, 2008 by Dennis Corbran
Senior keeper Kathy Hawk gives us detailed updates on the four pandas at the San Diego Zoo, including panda cub Zhen Zhen (pictured). Hosted by Debbie Andreen. (11:24)
Listen to Kathy’s previous chat, Mei Sheng Memories…
Watch the pandas daily on Panda Cam…
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April 22nd, 2008 at 9:15 pm
This is great - THANKS SO MUCH for a wonderful update on our beloved pandas - seems like I miss a lot on the panda cam so your descriptions of their antics were much appreciated. Kathy, you are great- wish I could have your job for an hour or so.
April 24th, 2008 at 10:36 am
Kathy, thank you for the update on the status of OUR pandas. You are correct. You do have the best job in the world.
April 24th, 2008 at 12:48 pm
Were do you get the toys for the Panda Bears. Some look like dog toys like the Extreme Kong. But the spools and other things that you use for enrichment. Also how is Zhen Zhen doing these days I really love watching her but she sure spends a lot of time up her Trees.
Linda
Moderator’s note: It’s amazing what you can order from the Internet!
April 28th, 2008 at 7:57 am
Thank you so much for this. I haven’t been keeping up with Zhen Zhen very well and this was a great update!
April 28th, 2008 at 12:43 pm
Thank you kathy, this is very interesting. I also find these highly charismatic bears can always bring smiles on my face. What ever pandas do, even sleeping, they look very cute, and babies and adults are alike.
April 28th, 2008 at 3:14 pm
I love watching the pandas play,And How they sit or lay back to eat,HOw long do panda s live? And will there be any more panda cub at the Zoo
Moderator’s note: Giant pandas live about 14 to 20 years in the wild; up to 30 in managed care facilities. We don’t know if there will be more cubs born at the San Diego Zoo, but we sure hope so!
April 30th, 2008 at 11:12 am
Thank you all for this wonderful panda program! It is so amazing to see them live when we live so far away!
May 5th, 2008 at 6:43 am
I enjoy watching the Pandas during their daily activities. You can learn so much about the wonderful life they live within the protection of the San Diego Zoo.
I am wondering why I am not seeing more of Zhen Zhen and her mother. I used to get up and watch them in their den and now it seems that other Pandas are being featured. Is there a special time that I can watch Mom and baby? I am hoping so.
Moderator’s note: Zhen seems to be most active in the afternoons.
May 19th, 2008 at 4:47 pm
We visited the zoo not too long ago and were told to be very quiet around the Panda Bears. But I did not hear why. Could you tell me? Thank you, Maryjane
Moderator’s note: Pandas are easily startled, so we try to keep the area quiet. And there are times when our researchers are watching and listening for panda vocalizations!
May 20th, 2008 at 5:38 am
Read the article in the paper. Was very sorry to hear about some of the staff members at Wolong I wish there was more I could do. About the Missing Bears do we know yet which bears are missing. I hope they come home to Wolong unharmed. I you feel there is anything anyone could do to help lets us know. I feel there are a lot more people out there that would help.
May 27th, 2008 at 8:46 pm
Linda, I too feel helpless in wanting to physically do something to help the workers and researchers at the Wolong and other Panda Research Centers in China. I’m sure it would be very helpful to everyone there if you will make a donation to the fund to help with food and supplies, and to get the word out to everyone you know to do the same thing. Thanks to the zoos in San Diego, Atlanta, and Washington, D. C. I have developed such love and pride for the giant pandas. My heart wants to burst with love when I am able to watch them being born, then watch them grow, even though I am far away.
June 4th, 2008 at 6:09 pm
Hi! im allison
well i have a few questions about pandas;
1.) How long has the panda been in existence?
2.)Why are panda’s fur black and white?
3.)How many cubs does a female panda have in its lifetime?
4.)How often does a panda reproduce?
5.)Does a panda have a tail?
6.)How would you describe a panda?
well, those are all my questions!
THANK YOU SO MUCH!
thank you for your time!
Moderator’s note: Allison, it sounds like you are writing a report on giant pandas. We have a great fact sheet about pandas in our Animal Bytes section: http://www.sandiegozoo.org/animalbytes/t-giant_panda.html
And you can read a tremendous amount of detailed information about pandas in our Giant Panda Blogs: http://www.sandiegozoo.org/wordpress/category/default/giant-pandas/
July 9th, 2008 at 2:29 pm
hi, I’m very new to all this wonderful web cam stuff at the san diego zoo. I am enthralled with zz and his mom. the idea of watching things as they happen versus pictures is no comparison. I hope to learn alot more about all the pandas and the zoo in general. this is the best zoo web site I have ever seen. I have alot of reading and catching up to do. plus alot of watching. I enjoy reading other’s comments too!
July 26th, 2008 at 1:46 pm
Hello,
It’s Saturday 7/26/08 about 1:30 p.m. and I’m watching whom I presume is Bai Yun and Zhen Zhen playing together on the cam. Am I correct??? Oh I can’t begin to tell you what joy it is to watch these two play. I love mom when she knocks her little one down and baby just gets right back up for more. LOL LOL. My husband and I are going to San Diego for vacation at the end of August and we can’t wait to visit the Pandas. They are just so adorable. Thank you so much for the cam. Keep up the good work!!!
August 1st, 2008 at 8:15 am
ALMOST a Happy Birthday (August 3)! What is in store for our little ZZ on her BIG DAY??? I just cannot believe she’s a year old - how time flies! And I just was watching her chewing on some bamboo - she’s just STILL the cutest baby at the zoo (in my opinion!). Thank you all for a wonderful year of amazement.
August 15th, 2008 at 1:01 pm
If you adopt a baby panda will you be able to watch it grow up?
Moderator’s note: The “adoption” is in name only. But, you can watch our pandas daily on Panda Cam: http://www.sandiegozoo.org/zoo/ex_panda_station.html
More information regarding San Diego Zoo adoptions: http://www.sandiegozoo.org/adopt/animal.html
August 28th, 2008 at 8:42 am
I see you are screening, Watch Panda Tales, the story of panda cub Zhen Zhen’s first year, airing locally on Sunday, September 7, at 8 p.m. on KPBS.
Can you confrim when this will be screened in the UK please and will this be on Animal Planet too?
thanks
Moderator’s note: Panda Tales will air on other PBS stations in November or December. It was produced by our local KPBS station.
August 29th, 2008 at 11:32 am
Dear keepers of the sweet pandas,
I have a question but I know it’s not related to this blog. However I dont’ knwo where to post my questions so please excuse me.
Today I watched the panda cam and around 10am Bai Yun seemed to be pulling Zhen Zhen down from any above the groud structures. Sometimes I worried that ZZ would get hurt by her teeth or would fall to the ground. Is it that Bai Yun was just trying to protect ZZ from falling so she wants to keep ZZ on the ground? But after about 11am, Bai Yun seemed to be not cared anymore because ZZ started combing high as she pleases.
If you have time, I appreciate very much if you can answer me.
Thank you so much for your great care for the lovely bears.
Best,
Faye
Kathy Hawk responds: It’s Hhrd to know what Bai Yun is thinking, but perhaps she needed Zhen to nurse a bit or just wanted to play. Remember, panda play can look rough to us, but that’s how pandas play.
September 3rd, 2008 at 4:56 pm
i have doneatid my life to thes cute guys thank u all for what uve done!!!
September 3rd, 2008 at 5:01 pm
Maryjane pandas are starlted easley so we try to keep the noise down to a minum.
September 12th, 2008 at 2:28 pm
OMFG i love animals good job i love animals
September 12th, 2008 at 2:29 pm
OMG i love animals and i love this web site with all of these so cute animals
September 25th, 2008 at 6:37 pm
Hi Kathy,
I have a question. It seems that you have Bai Yun and Zhen Zhen together in one area, Su Lin in another and Gao Gao in yet another area. Do you ever put all the pandas together at one time??? Do they all get along together??? I know that Zhen Zhen seems to still be nursing, perhaps that’s why. But what about Gao Gao and Su Lin???
Also, keep up the good work. I do so enjoy watching the pandas on a daily basis on the cam, thank you so very much for that.
Cheers and have a great day!!!
Debbie Andreen responds: We do keep our pandas in separate quarters at all times, except when Bai Yun is caring for a cub. As solitary animals, this is how they would live in the wild.
September 28th, 2008 at 12:50 pm
Hi, I just love all the animals. My husband was a Los Angeles firefighter for 28 years, he retired and we moved to my home state of Penna in 1988. I miss California and wish I could be there in person, to see the animals at San Diego. We just aren’t well enough, so I am very thankful for these cams. I have a question about the pandas, it is September 28 and I guess it is very hot out there, I see bai yun and gao gao sitting in a little bit of water. The pool looks like it could use some more water, do you fill it up every day when it’s hot, especially when pandas comes from the China Mts where it is cold and they get snow, and is there somewhere they can go to get out of the heat? Betsy in Penna
Moderator’s note: The pools are indeed refilled daily. In addition, on warm days there are misters blowing into the exhibit, and the pandas even have air-conditioned bedrooms!