2007 Panda News Archives
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2006 Panda News Archives...
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Reaching a new milestone (January 15, 2007)
At 17 months old, Su Lin is transitioning from being a cub to becoming a juvenile bear as she and her mother, Bai Yun, begin the transition to independent living. Starting January 22, the pair will have access to the two public viewing areas at the Zoo's Giant Panda Research Station, giving them a little more space. "A giant panda mother will wean her cub at approximately 18 months in nature," said Carmi Penny, curator of mammals and co-head of the Zoo's Giant Panda Conservation Unit. "We are trying to mimic nature and incrementally separate the pair over the next few weeks."
Two's a crowd (January 29, 2007)
Su Lin and her mother, Bai Yun, now have access to both of the public viewing areas at the Zoo's Giant Panda Research Station and are free to move from one exhibit to the other whenever they please. So far, both pandas seem to be spending the majority of their time in the "new" exhibit. Keepers have observed that Su Lin spends several hours a day alone, exploring the new exhibit while Bai Yun remains on the original side. In addition, most overnight activity also takes place on the new side. With everything they have seen thus far, keepers are positive that Su Lin is right on track with being ready for the weaning process.
On her own (March 13, 2007)
Su Lin is learning to adapt to life as a single female panda. Her last day with her mother, Bai Yun, was February 17. Su Lin's bamboo consumption has increased, as expected, and she now looks forward to more interaction with her keepers. Our 19-month-old panda spends a lot of time high in the trees of her off-exhibit area, where she has caught glimpses of her brother, Mei Sheng. They have exchanged panda pleasantries in the form of chirps and bleats; Su Lin is curious but at the same time a bit overwhelmed by this "new" panda. She now weighs 90 pounds (41 kilograms).
In the mornings, you will usually find her by the fence line waiting for a keeper to come down and give her a “breakfast” feeding. Su Lin shifts into her bedroom for a treat, and then we move her behind the exhibit to get a current weight on her. Then it’s back into her bedroom for a light bamboo feeding while we clean and get her exhibit ready for panda observations. Su Lin enjoys getting enrichment items; some of her favorites include pine shavings, a large gray crate she loves to crawl in, and an apple frozen treat!
Currently, we are working on the basics of operant conditioning training with her. The most important behavior we are working on with her is to call her into her bedroom several times a day. Su Lin is very smart and, for the most part, has done very well with this behavior. However, as a “teenager,” she does have moments of only wanting her way, and has, on occasions, chosen to remain up in her tree on exhibit and not come in.
Future behaviors we would like to work with her include training for procedures in the squeeze cage. This will involve training for blood draws, ultrasound, and vaginal swabbings.
All in all, Su Lin is learning to live life as an adult panda, and she is doing great!
Posted by the San Diego Zoo’s giant panda keepers.
Natural breeding success (April 24, 2007)
Adult female Bai Yun surprised the Giant Panda Team by demonstrating she was ready for breeding a few days earlier than anticipated. The adult male, Gao Gao, and Bai Yun were allowed to mate naturally today. With the successful pairing, researchers are optimistic about conception. Over the next several months, Bai Yun's behavior and hormone levels will be monitored; however, if a pregnancy occurs it will not be determined until just days before she gives birth.
Su Lin reaches milestone (June 21, 2007)
Our panda girl now weighs 50.1 kilograms, which is around 110 pounds! Since her move back into the public eye in late May, Su Lin is adjusting very well back on exhibit, learning “the routine” down at the Panda Station. Currently, keepers are working on the basics of operant conditioning training with her. The most important behavior is to call her into her bedroom several times a day. Su Lin is very smart and, for the most part, has done very well with this behavior. However, as a “teenager,” she does have moments of only wanting her way, and has, on occasions, chosen to remain up in her tree on exhibit and not come in.
Mei Sheng
Mei Sheng to move to China (July 25, 2007)
Born in 2003, Mei Sheng will become the second giant panda to be born outside of the People's Republic of China and sent to its native homeland as part of an international collaboration to save this endangered species. He is expected to depart in October.
"We have watched Mei Sheng grow up at the San Diego Zoo, gaining important knowledge about giant panda biology, but it is time for him to take the next step into adulthood and join a breeding population of pandas," said Carmi Penny, San Diego Zoo curator of mammals and co-head of the San Diego Zoo's Giant Panda Conservation Unit. "Mei Sheng is a valuable addition to the giant panda breeding program because he is the first offspring of a male giant panda not yet genetically represented in the Chinese panda population."
The terms of the San Diego Zoo's panda research loan indicate China will decide the location of the home for any giant panda cub born at the Zoo after it reaches its third birthday.
Ultrasound image of Bai Yun's fetus
Bai Yun is expecting! (July 31, 2007)
We are now on 24-hour birth watch after a staff veterinarian confirmed, through the use of ultrasound, that Bai Yun is pregnant. A birth is expected some time in August. On July 18, a fetus and fetal heartbeat were observed through ultrasound images. The news was not announced until additional ultrasound procedures confirmed the fetus was developing normally. At this time, the team has only been able to verify the presence of one fetus. See video of ultrasound here...
For the past two weeks, Bai Yun has remained in an off-exhibit habitat where she has slowly been showing signs of a pregnancy including changes in her hormone levels, nest building, and a loss of appetite. Most recently, her mammary glands have swollen and she is almost exclusively spending her time indoors and in the den.
Su Lin is 2! (August 2, 2007)
Our panda girl celebrated her birthday today with two special ice cakes made of some of her favorite treats: apples, carrots, and yams. She received one cake in the morning and the other in the afternoon. As an added bonus, keepers drizzled honey around the exhibit for the birthday girl to lick! Su Lin now weighs 112.8 pounds (51.2 kilograms).
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