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Giant Panda News

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Rewarding Zhen Zhen (September 3, 2008)

Zhen continues to grow and thrive as a 13-month-old panda. Keepers are teaching her how to come off exhibit when asked, just like the adult pandas do. But little Zhen still has a mind of her own and doesn't always cooperate! Our other pandas can often be motivated by a food reward, but keepers have found that Zhen prefers tactile experiences, such as a good scratching session on her rear end!

Zhen Zhen's 1st birthday! (August 6, 2008)

Our "precious" panda cub turned one on Sunday, August 3. She received a special ice cake and decorated packages filled with treats. Keepers note that Zhen is starting to focus a bit more on food than on nursing, trying out bamboo leaves and leaf eater biscuits. Apple slices top the chart as Zhen's favorite treat. Lately, mother Bai Yun has started to play with her daughter in the afternoon, providing a fun sight for our panda fans. The birthday girl weighs 42 pounds (19.2 kilograms).

Growing and learning (June 3, 2008)

Now 10 months old, Zhen Zhen's keepers say she is a quick learner. She is doing well at shifting on and off exhibit as needed, and willingly follows a keeper to the scales for her weigh in (now 36 pounds or 16.4 kilograms). Zhen still gets her nourishment from mom's milk, but enjoys experimenting with other food items by mouthing them.

Snow day! (April 27, 2008)

Despite unusually high temperatures in San Diego County on Sunday, the Zoo was a cool place to be, at least if you were a giant panda. The pandas, including 8-month-old Zhen Zhen, cooled off in 15 tons of snow. Now 33 pounds (15 kilograms), Zhen spent the morning playing in the snow and sliding off logs before finally taking a break in the treetops. Her mother, Bai Yun, also took some time to enjoy the snow, while 2-year-old Su Lin played in the ice next door.

Up the trees (January 17, 2008)

Zhen Zhen, now an active five-month-old, spends most of her time in the trees of her exhibit these days. Keepers note that Zhen has an independent spirit. When she is at ground level, she is a constant blur of energetic playfulness that can often be described as mischievous as she interacts with almost anything she can get her paws on. Her weight is now 20 pounds (9.2 kilograms) and she is 34 inches (87 centimeters) long.

Zhen Zhen's debut (December 22, 2007)

San Diego Zoo visitors were able to see the “precious” 20-week-old giant panda cub for the first time this weekend. Zhen Zhen will continue to be on exhibit 9–11 a.m. daily while her walking and climbing skills improve. Keepers expect Zhen Zhen and her mother, Bai Yun, may decide to extend the hours the pair spends outdoors as the cub begins to feel more comfortable maneuvering around her new environment. Only in the last two weeks has Zhen Zhen begun to explore areas outside of the den. Her mother, Bai Yun, has been spending more time outdoors eating and sleeping.

Zhen Zhen taking strides (December 5, 2007)

Our 18-week-old giant panda cub is becoming more adventurous as her mobility develops. Today, keepers found the cub with her mother in a garden room adjacent to the den she has lived in for the past four months. Zhen Zhen has only recently started leaving the den on her own, usually rolling out of the den and into an adjacent bedroom. After her weekly physical exam today, veterinarians say she is developing very well and expect her walking skills will allow her to make a public debut later this month. She weighed 15.4 pounds (6.9 kilograms), a gain of more than one pound since last week, and maintained her length of 29 inches (77 centimeters).

First steps (November 28, 2007)

Now almost 17 weeks old, Zhen Zhen has taken her first steps and received the last in a series of vaccinations to protect the cub from disease. She weighed 14.1 pounds (6.4 kilograms) and measured 29 inches (77 centimeters) at her weekly physical exam Wednesday. Veterinarians say Zhen Zhen is not fully mobile yet, but her walking skills will continue to improve.

Cub's name unveiled!
(November 26, 2007)

With the sounds of traditional Chinese music and the performance of a Chinese dance troupe in lion costumes, the Zoo unveiled the name of its 16-week-old giant panda cub. Zhen Zhen, which means precious, garnered more than 50,000 votes or 36 percent.

After sorting through more than 2,400 names submitted by San Diego Zoo visitors, the Zoo's giant panda team narrowed the names down to four and gave people all over the world the opportunity to vote for their favorite through an online naming poll earlier this month.

Teeth emerge! (November 14, 2007)

Since her exam last week, several of the cub’s teeth have emerged. “Last week we could see there were some teeth very close to the surface but none had erupted and this week she has 12 teeth,” said Beth Bicknese, D.V.M., San Diego Zoo associate veterinarian. “She has a canine tooth, premolar, and molar in all four areas of the mouth. That was quite a change from last week .”

Although the cub will grow all her teeth in the next month or two, giant panda cubs do not change to a bamboo diet until they are one year old; until then, cubs are nourished by their mother’s milk and only sample bamboo. The cub weighed 12.1 pounds (5.48 kilograms) today and will be receiving her name at a San Diego Zoo ceremony at 11 a.m. on Monday, November 26.

Teeth ready to erupt (November 7, 2007)

It was a quiet morning as our 14-week-old panda cub seemed to be taking in her surroundings during her weekly physical exam, only vocalizing as she was returned to the den. She is showing more strength in her front legs as she propped up her 11.7-pound (5.3 kilogram) body to look around during the exam. The cub measured 26 inches (66 centimeters) in length and has four incisors as well as her canines that appear ready to erupt, said Beth Bicknese, D.V.M., San Diego Zoo associate veterinarian.

Mei Sheng departs for China (November 5, 2007)

Mixed emotions reigned at the San Diego Zoo as staff said goodbye to one of the Giant Panda Research Station’s beloved inhabitants. Four-year-old Mei Sheng departed for the China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda, Wolong Nature Reserve today.

Mei Sheng is only the second giant panda born in the United States and sent to the People’s Republic of China as part of an international collaboration to save this endangered species. The first panda to be born outside of China and later sent to its native homeland was Hua Mei – born at the San Diego Zoo in 1999.

Listen to an iZoofari Chat with keeper Kathy Hawk...

Teeth coming in (October 25, 2007)

Attending veterinarian Dr. Tracy Clippinger said she could feel the cub's teeth just starting to grow in, but it will still be a while before they emerge. Her front legs are getting stronger and have coordination but her back legs still don’t seem to have the strength to support her on all fours. Still, the cub was propping up on her front two legs and she was gripping Dr. Clippinger’s hands very well! Our little panda now weighs 9.7 pounds (4.4 kilograms).

Change is in the air (October 17, 2007)

While the development of our newest cub continues to add to the bank of information gathered on giant panda growth and the relationship between a mother and cub, her sibling, Mei Sheng, is spending his last days at the Zoo.

Four-year-old Mei Sheng received a clean bill of health from veterinarians saying the sub-adult bear is ready for his airplane trip to China's Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda in Wolong. Although Mei Sheng may be out of public view for short periods of time in preparation for his move, you should be able to visit Mei Sheng through Saturday, October 27. Beginning Sunday, October 28, he will be off exhibit in preparation for the trip.

His 11-week-old sister measured 21 inches long (54 centimeters) and weighed 8.6 pounds (3.9 kilograms) during her weekly veterinary exam today. Veterinarians say the unnamed female cub is growing at a normal rate and appears to be very healthy.

So round! (October 10, 2007)

Geoff Pye, San Diego Zoo senior veterinarian, said he was amazed at how round the cub has become. Her development continues normally, he said. At almost 10 weeks of age, the giant panda cub measured 20 inches (51 centimeters) long and weighed 7.8 pounds (3.5 kilograms) during her weekly veterinary exam today.
Listen to an iZoofari Chat with panda researcher Suzanne Hall...

First vaccination (October 4, 2007)

Normally a quiet and sleepy cub, the 9-week-old panda exercised her vocal cords throughout her veterinary exam today. The exam was cut short to reunite the cub and mother, but a veterinarian did manage to administer her first vaccination: a canine distemper vaccine. The cub weighed in at 7.3 pounds (3.3 kilograms) and measured 19 inches (48 centimeters) long. Veterinarians believe the cub’s recently developed eyesight allowed her to recognize that she was not in the den and was calling for her mother.

Eyes almost open! (September 27, 2007)

The San Diego Zoo's 8-week-old giant panda cub has been gaining one pound a week. At today's weekly veterinary exam she weighed 6.5 pounds (2.9 kilograms) and measured 17 inches (43 centimeters) long. Both of the cub's eyes are now partially open, but she is likely only seeing shades of light and dark. Over the next couple of weeks her eyesight will sharpen and she will begin to really see her environment.

It's a girl! (September 13, 2007)

Veterinarians say the 6-week-old giant panda cub is a healthy girl. Weighing in at 4.1 pounds (1.88 kilograms) and measuring 1.4 feet (43 centimeters) long, the cub is the third female giant panda born at the San Diego Zoo. "She is developing right along schedule," said Meg Sutherland-Smith, DVM. "She's becoming more animated. She was vocalizing more than she did in the first exam. She is also losing her baby fuzz and getting her adult coat."
Listen to an iZoofari Chat with panda keeper Angie Fiore...

Cub's second exam (August 30, 2007)

Veterinarians at the San Diego Zoo were able to exam the 26-day-old giant panda cub for the second time, but there is still no word on what color to decorate the nursery. According to Geoff Pye, San Diego Zoo senior veterinarian, determining the sex of a giant panda cub is no easy task. The veterinary team will wait for an opportunity to examine the cub one or two more times before announcing whether it is male or female. Weighing in at 36 ounces or 2.2 pounds (1 kilogram) and measuring 12.9 inches (33 centimeters) in length, the giant panda cub is not yet developed well enough physically to determine its sex compared to many other animal species at this stage.
Listen to an iZoofari Chat with Dr. Geoff Pye...

Cub's first exam (August 23, 2007)

Covered in fine white fur, weighing in at a robust 23.5 ounces (666 grams), and measuring 11.4 inches (29 centimeters) in length, a little bear is making a big impression as San Diego Zoo veterinarians examined the 20-day-old giant panda cub for the first time.

"This is a very vigorous cub," said Meg Sutherland-Smith, San Diego Zoo veterinary clinical operations manager. "We did a brief check looking for possible abnormalities, but the heart and lungs sounded good. Overall, the condition of the cub is very good." Veterinarians will likely announce the sex of the cub after its second exam. Following Chinese tradition, the cub, born August 3, will receive a name when it is 100 days old.
Listen to an iZoofari Chat with Dr. Sutherland-Smith...

Cub one week old (August 10, 2007)

The giant panda cub continues to thrive. Keepers say this is the quietest cub they've seen yet, but it may be that Bai Yun, having raised three other cubs, is now an expert mother. Bai Yun has only been seen leaving the cub alone a handful of times to get a drink of water. With her last three cubs, Bai Yun did not eat until after the cub was one week old, and even then she would only take a few bites before returning to the den.
Listen to an iZoofari Chat with panda researcher Suzanne Hall...

First glimpse of new cub (August 6, 2007)

We got a good look at the cub when mother Bai Yun left the den for the first time since birth for a drink of water. The little one is three days old. The Panda Team does not expect to examine the cub until Bai Yun begins to leave the den more regularly. A panda cub is estimated to weigh 4 ounces or about the size of a stick of butter at birth. The sex of the newborn will not be known for some time and it take about one month before the celebrated black and white coloration of the giant panda develops.

Panda cub born! (August 3, 2007)

Bai Yun gave birth to a single cub today following a 2.5-hour labor. Our animal care staff observed parturition at 1:31 p.m. via a closed-circuit camera installed at the Giant Panda Research Station birthing den. This is a delicate period for the cub, but Bai Yun is an experienced mother and the Giant Panda Team will be monitoring the pair around the clock. The Zoo’s Panda Cam will provide a sneak peek into the den within the next 24 hours. Watch video of the birth here!

The sex of the newborn will not be known for some time. The newborn cub is the fourth giant panda born at the Zoo, all of them to Bai Yun. The cub's father is Gao Gao.

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