Pandas Live on

San Diego's newly born panda cub eyes have opened!

Oh my gosh, the little fella looks like they picked him up right after a nap because of his sleepy eyes.  Nonetheless, he continues to grow while sleeping alot as all cub do and the zoo tells us he weighs a whopping 6.4 lbs at 8 weeks old.   Here is a excerpt of the 5th vet exam for the cub: 

"For the first couple of minutes he seemed sleepy, barely keeping those precious eyes open, and was yawning. He waved a little paw here and there as he was flipped around for a look at his underside or a paw. Halfway through the exam he seemed to have a lot more to say and began to grunt and make a few soft objections. The Panda Team tried to comfort him by massaging his back (they were really trying to feel his backbone, but he’s so

robust, it’s almost like he doesn’t have one!). This usually relaxes him but not this day. He kept on protesting. Taking a cue from him, the team speeded up their exam. I looked up at a monitor to see what mom, Bai Yun, was doing, and she kept glancing at the den door. She was obviously hearing his little complaints but I think the bamboo was extra fresh and she kept eating, that is until the little guy felt the prick of his first vaccination and let out a big yelp. 

I don’t know about everyone else in the room, but I held my breath and immediately looked over to see that Bai Yun had made her way to the den door, wanting to get in and check on the cub. It was the first of a series of vaccines and he’s quite fine. But when a panda says, “I’m done,” well, the exam is immediately concluded so that Bai Yun could comfort her little fellow.

Clearly it’s the pandas that run these checkups. We’re just along for the ride."   Yadira Galindo is a senior public relations representative for the San Diego Zoo.

You can read the complete blog post and watch the video of the exam at these links:

SDZ blog post "I can see clearly now".

SDZ video of cubs 5th exam

Pandas WILL Live On

Well, the debate on the future of giant pandas has been fully discussed in the press this month. 

It all began with the article that Chris Packham a naturalist, published on September 22, 2009.  He quickly did a follow-up article on the following day to clarify himself.  

Then there were articles published in China as a response to Chris's articles and Pandas International Director, Suzanne Braden has written a response in  the organizations newsletter that is sent via email.  I will post a link to each of them here today so you can read over them. 

It is always good to know how people feel on both sides of a debate.  We can always learn from each other, even if we don't agree on the other persons point of view. 

If there are comments listed below the articles, be sure to read them also.  Remember, not everyone gets a chance to have their comments published into a complete article, but that does not mean their points are not as valid or any less important.

Thanks to bob2cleo of flickr for the photo of Xi Lan who just turned one, thanks to the dedicated staff at Zoo Atlanta. 

The articles begin with these links.

"Let Pandas Die Out", says wildlife expert 

BEAR RAID

Should pandas be left to face extinction?

Picking on the Panda

Anti-Panda tirade of bat ban slammed

The following article is the response from Suzanne Braden from Pandas International sent via email. 

Notes from Director Suzanne Braden

We have received many emails regarding the comments made by Chris Packham. Packham, who hosts Springwatch, a popular BBC nature show, said money spent trying to save the panda would be better invested in helping other species. Mr. Packham states, "The panda is a species of bear that has gone herbivorous and eats a type of food that isn't all that nutritious, and that dies out sporadically. It is susceptible to various diseases, and, up until recently, it has been almost impossible to breed in captivity. They've also got a very restricted range, which is ever decreasing, due to encroachment on their habitat by the Chinese population. Perhaps the panda was already destined to run out of time." As someone who has devoted her life to the pandas, I strongly disagree with his conclusions and some of what he said was incorrect and needs to be noted as such. Pandas have survived since the ice age and the first fossils were found in Pleistocene sediment so it is odd to conclude they are destined to run out of time. Yes, they are basically herbivores but pandas in the wild do quite well with a food source that is available and an integrated part of their habitat. "Almost impossible to breed in captivity?" Mr. Packham should read our emails about the cubs born so far this year and how this year could very well be record setting. Giant Pandas living in the wild seem to reproduce adequately and with unprecedented advances in research, captive breeding strategies and a major focus on safe and efficient reintroduction protocols, the future seems to mandate renewed effort for preservation, not giving up and letting this species die out. As to punctuate this point, Guo Guo, the first to give birth following the earthquake, has once again produced a set of twins, bringing the total to 16 cubs at the Bifengxia Center and there are still more cubs to come. Human encroachment has and continues to be a major problem but not simply for pandas. With greater frequency, citizens and their governments are realizing the value of wildlife and are devising ways to make animal populations more sustainable. People around the globe are taking to heart the notion that if they are part of the problem, they need to be part of the solution. So that said – let’s use this opportunity to focus on our beloved pandas and what we can do—despite Mr. Packham’s ill advised statements—to save them. And right now the most important thing is milk for all those very much alive babies "born in captivity." Please click here to make a donation to our formula fund >> Suzanne

Adelaide Zoo selects their giant panda keeper

Thanks to Rita, a panda pal from Australia, for finding this article and sending it our way from ABC online, (Australian Broadcasting Corporation).

Adelaide Zoo's former orangutan keeper Simone Bayly has been chosen to head the team caring for the pandas.

She will travel to China soon to learn more about Wang Wang and Funi before they are shipped to Australia.

Ms Bayly will study their behavior and learn more about the reproductive cycle of giant pandas.

"They are still dangerous carnivores so we'll be doing a lot of training as well, which obviously includes a lot of touching and getting them to trust us," she said.

If Funi gives birth, Ms Bayly could find herself in the role of a surrogate mum.

"She will hopefully raise her young herself and I won't need to get involved but there is a chance, especially with twins, that she will abandon one of the twins," she said.

"There's an amazing technique called twin swapping, which is where she'll actually be involved in the raising of both of her twins and we'll actually be looking after one of them and then swapping every couple of days."

Congratulations, Simone, we wish you the very best in your new exciting job!

Lin Bing of Thailand is introduced to a new outdoor area

There is always a new milestone for Lin Bing in Thailand at the Chiang Mai Zoo. 

From what I can make out in the most recent photos that were just released, the zoo staff brought Lin outside into what looks like a new enclosure that they built for her so that the public can come to see her.

I don't know if this is going to be a daily event or not.  I

could not find anything on the website that would explain what their plans are.  The enclosure is very small, not enough room for her mom, Lin Hui and her together. 

So, we will just have to wait and see on the live webcams. 

I will say one thing, the cub does seem to really trust the veterinarian that handles her for exams and events such as these.

She certainly has star quality in Thailand and seems to take it all in stride. 

Su Lin & Zhen Zhen of San Diego get a chance to visit with each other

The other day out at the San Diego Zoo the keepers opened up a 'howdy window' that gives the pandas a chance to see through to the adjoining enclosure.

Right now Su Lin (born August 2, 2005) and Zhen Zhen (born August 3, 2007) are in the two adjoining areas.  Sure enough both sisters came over to the window and spent some time getting to know each other.  Zhen is the one on this side. 

One of our panda pals, Patti, sent us some great webshots they captured from the webcam.  Thanks alot Patti, if only we could have been there to see it live like those lucky people in the last shot! 

Last chance to vote for Suzanne Braden as 'Hero of the Year"

We only have today and tomorrow to vote for Suzanne Braden of Pandas International in Animal Planets 'Hero of the Year'.  Remember you can vote every day! The contest ends on Sunday the 27th of September so call your friends and neighbors and lets get a big push out to get as many votes for her as we can!

Vote HERE for Suzanne Braden as the 2009 Animal Planet "Hero of the Year"!

You can read more about her great work with pandas from our first post about her being one of the finalist for this award HERE. 

Together we can make a difference in the world!

Videos of Lin Bing in Thailand, she's now 4 months old!

Chiang Mai Zoo staff celebrate their 120 day old panda cub, Lin Bing.  Congratulations!

Lil' Lin continues to grow and develop.  Her last physical at the Chiang Mai Zoo in Thailand, on September 21, 2009, has her weight at 8.960 g (.0196 lbs)  and her length at 72 cm (2.36 ft).  They say it is getting harder to acquire accurate measurements because she can move around on all fours now.  You go girl!

You can watch the videos of Lin by going to the next page with this link.

Wang Wang and Fu Ni leaving for Australia a little later

The arrival of two giant pandas to Adelaide Zoo has been delayed by up to a fortnight. (two weeks)

Celebrations to mark the 60th anniversary of the Chinese Republic are the reason for the delay.  The Zoo says public holidays surrounding the celebrations are unusually long this year.

This means the quarantine period in China for Wang Wang and Funi has been postponed.

The pandas will spend 30 days in quarantine in China and another 30 in Adelaide, before being unveiled to the public on December 13.

Meanwhile, the zoo said construction of the new panda exhibit was on time and on budget with the opening planned for Dec. 13.  - source ABC news, abc.net.au

 

Australian governor-general Quentin Bryce will open the new facility along with the Chinese ambassador to Australia, Zhang Junsai.   Thanks Lee of Facebook for providing the article for us.

What does Wang Wang and Fu Ni think about all of this news of their trip to the 'down under' being delayed?  No problemo, says Fu Ni.  "We're not concerned, we know the professionals have it all under control."  Wang her male partner, was heard saying in the background..."Just keep the boo coming!"