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Tuesday, July 9
Some of you may have noticed that as the days are getting hotter, only two of our pandas are on exhibit at a time. This is because once it is over 75-80 degrees, it is too hot for the pandas to be outside – they have a dense coat to protect them against the cold, but it also means they cannot handle the heat. So we have air-conditioned dayrooms for them to be on exhibit during the summer. However, because we have two dayrooms and three pandas, someone has to be in the overnight dens during the day. This is not a problem for the pandas because they enjoy their dens. They also seem to appreciate a break from their crowds of admirers. We have developed a rotation system by which pandas are on or off exhibit on any given day, so that all three have the opportunity to be in the dayrooms or in the dens. The system is flexible, of course, and allows for changes in circumstances. For example, this morning, our Horticulture Team was doing some yard maintenance in the habitats, and the noise from the tools frightened Mei Lan, so even though it was her day to go into a dayroom, she chose to stay in her den away from the noise (she did go out after lunch, though). Also, soon, Lun Lun will begin exhibiting her pregnancy/pseudopregnancy behaviors and will stop shifting into the dayrooms. During this period, she sleeps most of the time and does not move around very much. So while we are waiting to see if she will give birth, Yang Yang and Mei Lan will be the only pandas out in the dayrooms. As usual, we will do our best to rotate which pandas are on PandaCam as well.
Heather Baker Roberts
Keeper I, Carnivore Department
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Wednesday,
July 2
Hormone results from Lun Lun’s urine samples last week indicated that she might have entered a period of increasing progestins, which we refer to as the secondary rise. This is significant because if Lun Lun is pregnant, we expect her to give birth approximately 40 to 50 days after the start of the secondary rise. The hormone results don’t tell us if Lun Lun is pregnant or not. We just use that information to predict a possible birth window. Today, I sent this week’s samples to Smithsonian’s National Zoo Conservation and Research Center for assay. Those results should enable us to determine if Lun Lun has indeed entered the secondary rise or not.
Rebecca Snyder, PhD
Curator of Carnivores
Monday, June 30
I am not sure why it hit me yesterday, but two things about Mei Lan surprised me on how big she has gotten. Every week I see her at least four times, and I constantly see her weight, so I guess that everything runs together. But yesterday it must have been different. The first thing that I saw was when she was at the small window in the doorway looking for biscuits, just like her parents do when they’re hungry. I remember many months ago, we were all happy the first time that we saw her being able to get her head just to the bottom of the window, and take a biscuit. But now, she can stand up at the same window and her head goes above the top of it. Pretty soon (maybe even now), she is going to be able to sit on her bum and look right through it, like her parents do.
The second observation that occurred to me was when she was climbing down out of an indoor structure after a long nap. Watching her before, she had always struggled to get into the hammock, by using some other support to maintain her balance. But not yesterday – she was able to climb easily from the upper level right into the hammock. There was no diving into it, rolling and missing, with her hind legs dangling off the edge. She was able to get her front paws onto the hammock, then confidently pull her back two right behind. I guess that this adolescent will soon be full of similar surprises.
Joseph T. Svoke
Giant Panda Keeper II, Carnivore Department
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Ms. Mei participating in the
snacking olympics |
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Friday, June 27
It is a pretty quiet day in the panda building. We have had some much-needed, although, not enough rain this afternoon. But, don’t worry – the pandas were safe inside the dayrooms (they hate the rain!). They are still preferring to eat leaves today, but Lun Lun has culmed a few pieces of bamboo. Eating leaves is normal for pandas in the spring and summer months, so hopefully this trend will continue for a little while.
As most of you know, we are also approaching the time of year that pandas give birth (late summer, early autumn). In anticipation of our annual birth watch, two seasonal keepers have joined our staff: Lynn Culver and Brigitte Campanero. They both come to us from the zoo’s education department; though, Brigitte was a carnivore keeper last year and has rejoined us for this summer. These two keepers will take the place of Kate Roca and myself once the 24-hour birth watch begins. During the birth watch, keepers work a normal routine during the day, but once they leave, a keeper will spend the night in the panda building watching Lun Lun for any signs of impending birth. We usually begin the birth watch once Lun Lun starts showing behavioral signs of pregnancy or pseudopregnancy (lethargy, decreased appetite, etc.), which has not happened yet. We will keep you updated on her progress. In the meantime, Lynn and Brigitte are learning the routines for the pandas and the other animals in the carnivore department: lions, tigers, meerkats and otters.
Heather Baker Roberts
Keeper I, Carnivore Department
Wednesday, June 25
The bears are eating a lot more leaves, now, which means a lot less of a mess and quicker cleanup for us. Huzzah! Maybe we should spoil them to encourage this dietary trend, hmmm?
On another dietary note, young Mei Lan has had another couple of biscuits added to each feeding to keep up with her growing body and appetite. I'm pretty sure she's pleased, based on how many more, uh, presents she's been leaving for her keepers.
Oh, and finally, lest I forget, Lun Lun's seeing UFOs again, based on her vacant yet intense interest in the sky this morning. Keep your eyes on the sky!
Matt Fugate
Keeper II, Carnivore Department
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Ultrasound training |
Monday, June 23
Well, we are getting back into the swing of ultrasound training with Lun Lun. This may help any panda fans who are wondering which panda they’re seeing on PandaCam. Lun Lun is now the panda with the furless belly. Part of the ultrasound training involves our shaving her lower abdomen. This allows us to get better images of her uterus – and maybe see a baby – if we’re lucky. We had no problems getting her back into the routine after such a long time of not practicing, and she rolled right over into the proper position the first day we tried. We will now try to work with the vet staff about once a week to see what we can see!
Kate Roca
Carnivore Keeper II
Friday, June 20
Better late than never is the motto that I am going with right now. I am sure that many of you have been waiting all day for an update, checking the website throughout the day and not seeing anything. Well, I finally had a chance to sit and write something at the end of the day, so I hope that it was worth the wait. Nothing really new at this point to report on Mei Lan or Lun Lun, or Yang Yang (not to be left out). About the only thing that has changed is a small alteration that I made to one of the outdoor habitats this afternoon. There was an old log that was attached to the structure that was really starting to rot away, and it had to be replaced. Safety was the main concern, as some of the bolts that held it in place were starting to protrude, and bits were falling off. All I could imagine was seeing Lun or Yang scratching on it and snapping it off. So after weeks of trying to find an appropriate log to replace it, I took the time today to attach it. Now they will have something new to use as a scratching post and potential climbing structure (Mei, at least). This also gives us a chance again to hang enrichment from it, as there are some branches. All that I can hope is that it is braced properly and the pandas don't knock it down with their super panda strength.
Joseph T. Svoke
Giant Panda Keeper II, Carnivore Department
Wednesday, June 18
We are now sending out urine samples from Lun Lun weekly to measure her progestins concentrations. The assays are being conducted by David Kersey, endocrinologist from Smithsonian’s National Zoo Conservation and Research Center. He has assayed Lun Lun’s samples for the last few years during estrus and possible pregnancy and is one of world’s leading experts on giant panda hormones. Progestins are measured to track pregnancy/pseudopregnancy in giant pandas. As we’ve written in previous updates, it is normal for giant pandas to experience pseudopregnancy, which means a female has all the behavioral and physiological changes of pregnancy even though she is not pregnant. So, it is not possible to determine if a female giant panda is pregnant or not by measuring her hormones. We use the progestins information to help predict a possible birth window for Lun Lun, but this information will not tell us if she is pregnant or not. So far, her progestins concentrations indicate that she is still in the early part of pregnancy/pseudopregnancy.
Rebecca Snyder, PhD
Curator of Carnivores
Monday, June 16
Once again, the pandas prove to me that they are an enigma. This past week, including yesterday, all three were eating Henon (Phyllostachys nigra henon) exclusively and with gusto. As it has been written numerous times in the updates, a happy, content panda is a quiet, eating panda. This is how they have been for the past week, simply a joy to be around. That is, until today. Even though we are feeding them bamboo cut the same day, from the same site, you would never be able to tell. Today they all are simply not happy with anything. All three have turned their noses up at the Henon today, as well as the Bambusoides (Phyllostachys bambusoides). I would say that it is time to find a new species of bamboo for them to eat, but they will probably eat Henon just fine tomorrow. I think they do this on purpose simply to keep all of the keepers on their toes. I guess it's working, because we always are.
Kenn Harwood
Lead Keeper of Carnivore
Friday, June 13
Well, we made it through Friday the 13th without any mishaps. Huzzah! Not that I think our Three Billy Goats Gruff had any idea; they’ve been way too interested in eating to let anything like a traditional day of ill omen bother them. Oh, and of course, the sleeping (in air-conditioned comfort) needs to be rigorously practiced as well …
Anyhow, I’ve got to go give the puffballs some biscuits before they put a hit out on me. Until next time!
Matt Fugate
Keeper II, Carnivore Department
Wednesday, June 11
Sorry for the brevity of this update, but we have been very busy all day preparing for the start of "Lun Lun's Birth Watch '08". I can tell you that they are all eating Henon (Phyllostachys nigra henon) the best and they are all fairly well-behaved today. Their a.m. weights today are as follows:
Yang Yang – 129.7 kg (285.3 lbs)
Lun Lun – 105.9 kg (233 lbs)
Mei Lan – 48.2 kg (106.4 lbs)
Kenn Harwood
Lead Keeper of Carnivores
Monday, June 9
Sometimes I wonder if these pandas can hear everything you say, and do the opposite, just to prove you wrong and drive you nuts. I happened to be on the phone earlier today talking to the Animal Nutrition staff about the bamboo that is going to be cut and what our plans for the week are. At that point Lun and Yang decided to eat Yellow Groove, which they hadn't touched since mid-last week. Since they hadn't been eating it, we haven't had it cut and have been concentrating on Henon, which they have been eating well. But not now – they went off the Henon and starting eating Yellow Groove again. I am sure that if I called Animal Nutrition back to change our plans, the pandas would revert back to what they had been eating. Sometimes I swear that Lun and Yang do this for their own enjoyment, which in turn drives us nuts. It just makes you want to post them for sale online (just a running joke that we have in the building!).
Joseph T. Svoke
Giant Panda Keeper II, Carnivore Department
Webmaster Message: Please help us as we join other zoos raising funds for earthquake relief in China. Many affected from this disaster are Zoo Atlanta’s close colleagues, co-collaborators, friends and partners in guaranteeing the survival of giant pandas. Thank you for your support!
Friday, June 6
As we all labored through this lovely Georgia heat, we were surprised today by our little Miss Mei Lan. In the morning we had her out in the yard closest to the building so she could have access anytime if she got too warm. To our surprise, she chose to spend most of her day basking, sleeping and eating in this hot and humid Georgia weather. She did come inside to snack for a bit, but then headed right back out without a care in the world. Such a silly girl, never failing to surprise us over and over again. Her parents have spent the entire day going back and forth between Henon and Yellow Groove, not deciding which they like better at which time. Sweet Mei is much more accommodating for us, pretty much eating whatever she is given.
Jennifer Brink
Keeper II, Carnivore Department
Wednesday, June 4
Lun Lun has been devouring her bamboo the last few days. That’s good news, because we tend to think of a full giant panda as a happy giant panda. All three giant pandas are now favoring a bamboo species we refer to as henon (Phyllostachys nigra henon). We are also cautiously optimistic that Lun Lun’s increase in appetite may mean she is pregnant. She showed an increase in appetite in the summer of 2006 when she was pregnant with Mei Lan. As you can read in previous updates, we likely won’t know if Lun Lun is pregnant until a week or two before birth or possibly not until she goes into labor. It’s fun to think about the possibility of another cub, though.
Rebecca Snyder, PhD
Curator of Carnivores
Monday, June 2
Today we finally found out the answer to the age old question, “How small of a space can a 300-pound giant panda cram itself into?” This afternoon, we gave Yang Yang one of the white plastic barrels cut in half long-ways. These have always been a favorite toy for Mei Lan to sleep and play in, but Yang just usually throws them around. This time, however, we filled the barrel with hay, sprinkled with a bunch of Tabasco pepper sauce. Before letting Yang Yang back onto exhibit, I let him have a whiff straight out of the bottle. He immediately started rubbing the mesh, wanting to get to the yummy sauce. I guess this did the trick in firing him up, because upon opening the shift door, he made a beeline to the barrel. He practically dove into the barrel, getting his entire body inside, trying to get as much pepper sauce on him that he possibly could. He continued to roll and self-anoint himself for a couple of minutes before becoming satisfied with his new smell. Thoroughly seasoned, he then went to his bamboo and began eating again, turning back into normal, mild-mannered Yang Yang. Just when you think you have seen the pandas do everything, they always seem to pull something like this out of the hat. I guess that's why they are so much fun to watch.
Kenn Harwood
Lead Keeper, Carnivore Department
Friday, May 30
Lun Lun and Mei Lan are enjoying this cloudy morning outside. They both ate a big breakfast and then wandered off to take a nap. They both chose to go up onto the climbing structures in their respective habitats, and they are both lying flat on their bellies with both right legs hanging off the structures. I find this quite amusing. I guess Mei Lan is more like her mother than I thought!
Many of you are asking if Lun Lun is showing any signs of pregnancy yet.Lun Lun was artificially inseminated on April 21 of this year, so it is still too soon to tell if the procedure was successful. A typical giant panda pregnancy is about four months; however, since giant pandas have delayed implantation (a fertilized egg can remain viable in the uterus for a whilewithout implanting), it can be over six months between fertilization and birth. In 2006, Lun Lun was artificially inseminated on March 30, and Mei Lan was born on September 6, thus a gestation of around 160 days. Giant pandas also go through a pseudopregnancy even when they are not pregnant, making it even more difficult to determine if they will actually give birth or not. So the short answer to the question is that we don't know. We expect Lun Lun will begin showing signs of pregnancy or pseudopregnancy sometime in mid-summer, July or August. Lun Lun is trained to allow the veterinarians to perform an ultrasound, but the fetus is so tiny, it can be extremely difficult to see. In 2006, she had several ultrasounds, but the vets were unable to determine if she was pregnant, even though we now know that she was. Therefore, IF Lun Lun is pregnant, we are unlikely to know until she goes into labor later this year.
For those of you who like to keep up with the pandas' weights: Mei Lan is still weighing in between 48 kg (106 lbs) and 51 kg (112 lbs). Lun Lun is currently between 104 kg (229 lbs) and 111 kg (244 lbs). Yang Yang is between 130 kg. (286 lb.) and 136 kg. (300 lbs).
Heather Baker Roberts
Keeper I, Carnivore Department
Wednesday, May 28
It seems like the heat has settled into Atlanta over the last week or so. Once the outside temperatures reach 75-80°F, we make sure all the bears are inside or at least have access to the building. This means more time in the air-conditioned dayrooms for all the bears. Since we only have two indoor viewing areas for the daytime, one bear (usually Yang Yang or Lun Lun) gets to spend time in the night holding areas with access outside during the day. They both seem to always choose to stay inside during this time. I don’t think anyone would blame them, as the building and night dens are kept between 60° and 65°F.
Also, as it gets hotter, the bears seem to shed more hair. They are still shedding their warmer winter coats. Every morning when we clean the night dens we find copious amounts of panda hair that has been scratched or rubbed off (normally trying to clog all the drains). This seems to be a normal thing for them to do every year. We also see Izzy, the red panda, shedding her winter coat at this time of year. Only when she sheds, she sheds most of the hair on her puffy tail – it looks kind of funny, but it’s normal for her to do. She will have her short hair look for most of the summer, but come fall, she will transform back into her old fluffy self.
Kate Roca
Carnivore Keeper II
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Mei kicking back with some bamboo |
Friday, May 23
Today has been fairly uneventful at the giant panda building. All of the pandas have nice, round bear bellies, which means they are enjoying their bamboo.
Unfortunately for the pandas, bamboo shoot season is over (they don't know it yet, though), so this afternoon I might have three angry bears on my hands. Hopefully they won't notice!
I have had two "Oh my!" moments today while looking at Mei Lan (as in "oh my! Mei has gotten so big!"). The first happened when I was getting ready to bring Mei inside from one of the habitats. She poked her head up in the window of the keeper door that goes into that habitat. I guess she was trying to let me know she wanted to come in, which she often does; however, this is the first time I've been able to see her head in the window – so, she's gotten taller in the past few days. The next time occurred after I had shifted her into a dayroom. She was sitting there eating bamboo, and for a second I thought she was Lun Lun. She looked so huge! The thing is she has not really gained any weight since I was here three days ago. Her weight has been between 47kg and 50kg (103lbs - 110lbs) for a few weeks now, but she just looks bigger to me. I guess it often seems like young animals (including humans) grow overnight.
Heather Baker Roberts
Keeper I, Carnivore Department
Wednesday, May 21
Firstly, I'd like to thank everyone who was concerned for the safety of the giant pandas and staff in Chengdu. All of our pandas are doing well, and all of the staff of the Chengdu Research Base is safe. Chengdu was lucky to have avoided the worst of the earthquake in Sichuan.
The pandas took everything in stride, rolling rather quickly to their next piece of bamboo while some other animals were moved to safer enclosures. Since schools remain closed and people still fear aftershocks, much of the staff of the Research Base has moved in, out of the belief that the buildings are safer. We are almost completely populated by workers and their families, as tourism in Sichuan has come to an abrupt halt.
I've been asked to share a bit with you about our experiences on the ground here, so I'll do my best. Monday, May 12, 2008 is a date I will never forget. On that day, an earthquake decimated the province that has been my home for close to a year. For three minutes, shock waves rolled through the countryside, taking with them cities, homes and countless lives. Standing in Chengdu, I was discussing the merits of different restaurants with a friend as the shock waves suddenly hit. Seemingly endless masses ran screaming to open spaces as the ground rippled and buildings shook. For three minutes, no lines between earth, sky and buildings were at 90 degrees and it felt as though the floor and gravity itself had betrayed me.
The combination of destroyed cell phone towers and frantic over-tasking of the phone lines left most of the province unable to connect with their friends and families for days. As I tried to reach my friends who lived in high rises downtown, my phone continually refused to send texts or make any calls. Lacking a phone, I was surprisingly still able to access the internet and access a news site to see what was happening. No less than ten minutes after the initial waves had ended, it was reported that a magnitude 7.8 earthquake had gone through our province. I took a few moments to send out emails to my family and friends back home, who I knew would hear the news of the earthquake and fear the worst, and then I headed out to see if I would be able to find the people my phone couldn't connect with.
No cabs were free, and buses were delayed in the gridlocked traffic of people trying to get to their homes and out of the city. The bus I usually take for 35 minutes became a close to three-hour affair, winding its way through crowds of people who had decided the center of intersections were the safest areas. Foreigners looking for friends and colleagues migrated to popular hangouts, which filled to the brim despite their lack of power. Here, I found most of my friends and was able to inquire regarding the status of those not present. Luckily, we were all safe. Throughout most of the night we stayed together, seeking comfort in the normality of a shared language and home away from home. Everywhere on Monday, night clusters of people grouped around blankets, fearful of their homes and clinging to the stability of friends and family members.
Over a week later, many of the people of Chengdu are still scared about returning to their homes and have made tarp encampments in all of the parks and many of the sidewalks in the city. With each aftershock, I can hear screams from the people camped outside my apartment. Tents of all shapes and sizes have appeared throughout the city, with small shops building more as quickly as possible. The school next door has been closed since its evacuation on May 12, and the basketball courts are being used for tent space as well.
Between tent groupings there are massive piles of donations all over the city. Every major intersection has its own stack of tents, bedding, clothes and food for people made homeless by the earthquake. People from all walks of life have been rushing to help in any way possible. It's truly amazing to be able to see so many people eager to help, especially people who have no connection to the rural cities which were hit the worst.
Three days of mourning officially began this Monday in China, and at 2:38 p.m. (one week after the earthquake), bells in Beijing began to ring. Throughout China, bells and chimes rang out for three minutes to honor the dead. In Chengdu, every car stopped and added their horns as sirens echoed through the streets. At the Research Base, all was silent. Coworkers who still hadn't heard from their families were at the front of everyone's minds. Workers in Wolong and their missing bears came to mind too. As the entire country paused to grieve, I sat and listened to the echoes and truly realized how much had changed for so many people.
I expected that coming to China for Zoo Atlanta would be a learning experience for me, but not like this. I expected to learn lessons about the Chinese language, pandas and maybe a little bit of history. Instead, I've seen how people from all walks of life can pull together through a disaster of enormous scale. I have seen how in an area of the world that contains 1/50th of the world's population, every single life is counted so highly, and how the people of the world can turn a group they know nothing about and do all in their power to help them. I hope you can all continue to keep your thoughts on the people and animals of this area in the weeks to come. For those of us that were here, there's no other choice.
Maryanne Heard
Research Intern
Monday, May 19
I have been in regular email contact with our staff in Chengdu, Dr. Ben Charlton and Maryanne Heard. They are doing well and say that the situation in Chengdu is improving. Aftershocks have become less frequent, and most people are more comfortable staying inside now. I am relieved that Ben, Maryanne, my Chinese friends and the giant pandas I know so well at the Chengdu institutions are okay.
Some information has been trickling out about the China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda, Wolong. According to Xinhua, China’s official news agency, three giant pandas from this center are missing, but all the remaining giant pandas are okay. Many enclosures were damaged, but staff has made repairs and the remaining pandas are contained and are receiving care. Emergency supplies have been received by the center and another shipment has been sent.
We have heard reports of heroic efforts on the part of staff at the Wolong Research Center to ensure the safety of the giant pandas. These people have put their own safety in jeopardy repeatedly for the sake of the pandas. We are still very worried about the Wolong staff and all of the other people living in this area.
For more information about the Wolong Research Center, please check the updates provided by staff from the Zoological Society of San Diego. The San Diego Zoo's giant pandas are on loan from the Wolong Research Center, and therefore San Diego Zoo staff has closer ties to Wolong than we do.
All of the U.S. zoos that have giant pandas are working together with the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) Giant Panda Conservation Foundation to establish a relief fund to help the people and the pandas affected by this disaster.
Rebecca Snyder, PhD
Curator of Carnivores
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Pass the Yellow Groove! |
Friday, May 16
Well, nothing really new to report at this moment while writing this update. It's just one of those days when nothing interesting has happened, nor are there any changes to inform you all of. Lun and Mei are sleeping outside after eating their fill of bamboo this morning. We have one different bamboo species to feed out than we have had over the last few weeks. All are still eating Yellow Groove bamboo very well, which is good to see, and Lun has decided that Henon is yummy at this point also. So at this point, we are able to maintain three happy giant pandas, which makes our lives so much easier.
Joseph T. Svoke
Giant Panda Keeper II, Carnivore Department
Wednesday, May 14
Hi, everyone!
It's a nice, overcast day today, and the temperature is hovering right around 68 degrees - perfect panda weather! Indeed, the last few days have been a welcome respite from the heat for all of us, bears included, and all concerned seem to be enjoying watching each other without being forced to utilize a refreshing personal fan.
Individually speaking, Mei is still hauling her little 50 kg self all over the place, obstacles notwithstanding. I never knew sliding down a log and into a hammock could be so much fun ...Yang is kicking back and eating (I know, big surprise!), although I think he may have taken up bird-watching – there was a robin outside today that clearly had no idea its every move was being tracked (at least for five seconds or so). And what can I say about Lun? Well, nothing new, in truth – she's the same silly girl as always.
Anyway, I suppose I ought to add that my name is Matt, and I'm that short, blue-hatted guy you've been seeing on the webcam periodically for the last couple of months. I'm usually working with our genuine meat-eating carnivores, but you'll see me over in Pandaland every so often now that my cross training is just about complete. Until next time!
Matt Fugate
Keeper II, Carnivore Department
Monday, May 12
A 7.9 magnitude earthquake hit Sichuan province today. Many people have contacted us expressing their concern about the giant pandas and Zoo Atlanta staff in Chengdu. We have heard from all of our staff and they are well. All staff and giant pandas at the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding and Chengdu Zoo are okay as well. We are concerned about staff and animals at the China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda, Wolong. This Research Center is near the epicenter of the earthquake. It is a remote area and so far we have not received any information from the area. Fortunately, Dr. Ben Charlton, who was at the Wolong Research Center last week, is safely back in Chengdu. Please join us in keeping the people and animals of China in your thoughts.
Rebecca Snyder, PhD
Curator of Carnivores
Friday, May 9
All three giant pandas have been enjoying Yellow Groove bamboo lately. This species has been their main choice of bamboo for the past several months. The pandas usually have a change of taste every couple of months, and we have to try different bamboo species to figure out what they want to eat at any given time. I'm sure we have mentioned before how choosy the pandas are about their food. In fact, typically during this time of year, all the pandas want to eat are bamboo shoots. In the past, they have refused any bamboo that we offered because they want only shoots. Luckily, this year, they have been eating their bamboo very well despite it being shoot season (so far, at least ... knock on wood!). Lun Lun has been especially voracious the past few days. She has been spending a lot of time eating and less time sleeping than usual.
Mei Lan must be eating more as well – she hit 50 kg last night (110 lbs)! Sometimes I still have a hard time believing how quickly she has grown. On a cute note: This morning when I tossed some extra bamboo into the habitat for her, she stood up on her "knees" and reached out her forepaws seemingly to catch the bamboo. She was not tall enough, of course, and could not reach it, but it was still very cute.
Heather Baker Roberts
Keeper I,
Carnivore Department
Wednesday, May 7
The work at the Research Center at Wolong went extremely well last week. I managed to playback to 16 females and, although I have yet to analyze the videos, I feel sure that their responses indicate an ability to distinguish between the vocalizations of different male callers. This would represent an exciting finding, but we will have to wait and see how the analysis comes out. On a personal level, it was great to get out of the big city. It has become quite hot and humid in Chengdu these past few weeks, so it was good to get into the cooler mountain environment where the air is also a lot cleaner. The setup at Wolong Research Center is ideal for playback experiments and, because Wolong receives fewer visitors than does Chengdu, it is also a lot quieter, making it easier to create a controlled environment for the experiments. We expect to do some more work there next year in collaboration with staff from the Zoological Society of San Diego, and I have some exciting two-speaker playback experiments planned.
Ben Charlton, PhD
Research Biologist |
