Weaning Process Begins for Xi Lan
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
There’s a big milestone approaching for Atlanta’s favorite toddler! Giant panda cub Xi Lan, who will be 18 months old on March 2, will soon be weaned from his mother, 12-year-old Lun Lun.
The Animal Management Team will use the same stepwise process used with Xi Lan’s sister, 3-year-old Mei Lan. Developed by the San Diego Zoological Society and used successfully with other giant panda cubs in the U.S, the stepwise process affects a gradual increase in the amount of time Lun Lun and Xi Lan spend apart over a period of several days. Xi Lan should be fully independent of Lun Lun by early March.
Weaning for a cub Xi Lan’s age is normal for wild giant pandas, which are solitary animals. Xi Lan is already eating bamboo, leafeater biscuits, and fruit, and this process allows a healthy transition from nursing.
After the weaning process is complete, Xi Lan will reside in his own habitat in the Zoo’s Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation Giant Panda Conservation Center. Lun Lun will likely enter her annual estrous cycle in late April or early May, which is within the normal giant panda breeding season.
“We are committed to Xi Lan’s and Lun Lun’s best interest and will monitor Xi Lan and Lun Lun’s behavior throughout the process,” said Dr. Rebecca Snyder, Curator of Mammals. “The stepwise process was very successful with Mei Lan, and there is no reason to expect otherwise during Xi Lan’s transition.”
