Past Panda Cub Updates (October - August 2008)
Friday, October 31-Happy Halloween to all!
As the weather cools off here in Atlanta, Yang Yang and Mei Lan are able to spend the entire day outside in two separate habitats. They both seem to be enjoying their time eating and napping in the fresh air. We rotate who goes in which habitat almost every day, so that they can have a change in scenery and climbing structures. This also gives them the opportunity to encounter each other's smells, which is a great form of enrichment. Lun Lun, on the other hand, is still getting to enjoy the 70°- 75°F temperature range. We continue to maintain a warmer temperature in the dens that the cub and Lun Lun are in to make sure the cub stays warm. As he grows and his coat gets thicker we will adjust the den temperatures back to the normal range of 62°- 65°F.
Kate Roca
Carnivore Keeper II
Wednesday, October 29
Well just as she did with Mei Lan, Lun Lun has started taking the cub on “outings.” Over the last few days, we have seen Lun Lun carry the cub into the adjacent dens for brief periods of time. She does not stay long in the new areas, because the cub usually protests vocally to the relocation process even though no harm is caused to him. Soon she might start to leave the cub in the other dens. Until then the cub will have to learn to tolerate the mode of travel around the dens. Wild giant panda mothers move their cubs to different dens as well, most likely to reduce parasite exposure and avoid predator detection.
Kate Roca
Carnivore Keeper II
Tuesday, October 28
This week I had the opportunity to observe the cub during daylight hours. Up until then, I have to admit, I was a bit of a doubting Thomas about reports that the cub was scooting around. The cub I watched overnight most certainly was not scooting anywhere. I had witnessed him move his legs aimlessly and squirm, but to call it scooting was a stretch of the imagination. And then, Saturday afternoon, I finally did see what could be somewhat convincingly termed scooting. Lun Lun had just left the cub to snack on some tasty bamboo in the adjacent den. The cub was in the nest box facing the opposite direction from where Lun Lun was eating. He picked up his head, cocked it in the direction of Lun Lun and began his trek. With arms and legs moving in semi-coordinated fashion, the cub was on the go; his head leading the way as he turned his body counterclockwise toward his mother. But, alas, all this travel was exhausting and at the 5 o’clock position he had to lay his head down and regain his stamina. After several moments, he resumed his journey, reaching his final destination shortly thereafter. He had managed to end up where he began, having scooted in a 360 degree circle! And yesterday, the little voyager weighed in at 2556 grams.
Debbie Forde
Curatorial Assistant
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Monday, October 27
What is Lun Lun feeding that cub? Since last Sunday, the cub has put on 14.5 ounces! The cub now weighs 2549 grams (~5.6 pounds). He seems to be starting his own category in the Guinness Book of World Records for the most weight gain in a single 24-hour period. In Saturday’s update, Heather reported his greatest 24-hour weight gain as 94 grams; however, we now have to reassign that designation to yesterday’s gain of 115 grams (almost as much as his presumed birth weight). And, I feel fairly safe in predicting that we will have to make further corrections to that label before this business of growing up is over.
Debbie Forde
Curatorial Assistant
Saturday, October 25
The cub gained a huge amount of weight from Thursday to Friday. His weight Friday afternoon was 2,431 grams, which was an increase of 94 grams in a 24-hour period; this is one of his biggest weight gains yet! We even weighed him twice to make sure the scale was reading correctly. One contributing factor to such a significant gain in such a short time is that the cub had finished nursing just 5 minutes before he was weighed. Most of us would not want to step on a scale immediately after a big meal, but I doubt the cub minded much - pandas are supposed to be a bit pudgy. He has now surpassed 5 pounds!
Heather Baker Roberts
Keeper I
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| The cub gets good marks during his check-up yesterday |
Friday, October 24
During my giant panda cub monitoring night shifts I have been working on organizing data collected as part of Zoo Atlanta’s ongoing research on giant panda maternal behavior. The data I have been working on were collected on mothers with cubs aged 1-130 days. This task is very interesting for a few reasons. First, some of the data are from Lun Lun and Yang Yang when they were cubs with their mothers. It is neat to see how they were raised. Also, some of the data were collected on giant pandas that I observed during my time in China. This takes me down memory lane. I knew these pandas at an older stage of their lives, and so it is interesting to see how they interacted with their mothers at a young age. Lastly, though I am not analyzing the data personally, I do get a basic view of how other giant panda mothers interact with their cubs at different stages. It is fun to compare what I see in the data from other mothers to what I see Lun Lun doing with her own cub. I would have to say there really aren’t obvious differences in behavior (e.g., nursing, time spent with cub, time spent eating, etc.) among all the mothers.
Kate Roca
Carnivore Keeper II
Thursday, October 23
We have recently found that you can not always change the mind of a very determined panda named Lun Lun. When the cub was smaller, we did not want Lun Lun to drag bamboo into the nest box with the cub. This was mainly as a safety precaution for the cub, to make sure Lun does not poke, prod or smush him with a big piece of bamboo. We normally stopped Lun Lun by calling her name and getting her attention with leafeater biscuits. Well, this smart panda quickly learned that if she wanted more biscuits, all she had to do was start dragging her bamboo around. So, we modified our response and just started to call her name to redirect her behavior and not reward her with biscuits. She did not like this! Lun Lun showed her protest by repeatedly dragging more and more bamboo in with the cub and ignoring all our attempts to redirect her. Once she got her bamboo into the nest box, she seemed to be just waiting for us to come in and give her biscuits. She would not really eat the bamboo that she had toted about, but sit and wait for something to happen. Since the cub is larger now, we are not as worried about him in the bamboo mess that Lun Lun creates in the nest box. Plus, if he is not happy about what Lun Lun has created, he kindly voices his opinion with squeaks and grunts until Lun Lun uncovers him. So we just let her do as she wishes with her bamboo.
Kate Roca
Carnivore Keeper II
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| The cub at his check-up |
Tuesday, October 21
With the exceptions of the crunching of Lun Lun enjoying bamboo, the smacking of the cub nursing greedily, and an occasional grunt from either mom or cub, the panda building was quiet and uneventful last night.
Lun Lun spent much of her time away from the cub either eating or sleeping. When sleeping, she often chose to lie in the den with him, but not in the nest box. The cub seems to accept these new sleeping arrangements. And Lun Lun does not seem as bothered during separations from the cub for weighing or to clean the den.
All of this is in stark contrast to the early days after the birth, when the cub vocalized a great deal; when both cub and mom seemed to have trouble finding a comfortable position in which to rest; and, when separations were times of stress for Lun Lun and cub alike.
These changes are testament to the progress the cub has made since birth in both development and growth. Since his birth, the cub has doubled his weight just over four times! Yesterday, he weighed 2,198 grams (4.84 pounds).
Debbie Forde
Curatorial Assistant
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| check out that snout! |
Monday, October 20
Yesterday, as has become the norm in the giant panda domain, the cub was weighed. Having gained 45 grams since Saturday, he weighed in at 2.137 kilograms.
This world of the giant panda is an odd place for one who is more familiar with primates. Discordant building temperatures: the balmy mid-to-upper 70s where Lun Lun and the cub are housed and the noticeably colder portions of the building where Yang Yang and Mei Lan reside. Lighting takes on the contrasting black-and-white pelage of the bears it houses – dark in some areas and light in others.
Gathering bamboo for Lun Lun, my eyes and my body’s thermostats adjust slowly to the lack of illumination and the changes in temperature as I attempt to tiptoe past whichever sleeping bear is along my path. I wander back to the bamboo cooler. If my eyes are especially sluggish, I can’t determine if it is Yang Yang or Mei Lan who lies watching my shadowy figure pass through – at first, empty handed; then, carrying a hefty bundle of bamboo, none of which is ever shared with them. Yet, they seem accepting of these nocturnal activities and my lack of generosity, which is quite fortunate for me!
Debbie Forde
Curatorial Assistant
Sunday, October 19
Today the cub is 50 days old, which means he is half-way to getting his name! He weighs 2,092 grams (2.09 kgs. or 4.6 pounds). The cub continues to improve his muscle control and movements. He is actually moving forward by scooting around on his belly using all four limbs. The past three nights I have seen him travel the width of the nest box; it takes about an hour and several nap breaks, but he eventually makes it. There are grip strips on the floor of the nest box that help him along by keeping his feet from slipping (we put these down to help Mei Lan when she was first scooting). Once he masters scooting, the next step is crawling. To crawl, he must get his legs underneath his body and move around with his belly off the ground -- after that, there is no stopping him!
Heather Baker Roberts
Carnivore Keeper I
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| Nursing |
Friday, October 17
Nursing bouts have definitely increased in duration over the last week or so. Previously, nursing bouts lasted seven to 10 minutes. Currently, nursing bouts are lasting 17 to 20 minutes. Because they are lasting longer, the cub utilizes all four of Lun’s nipples to obtain the milk he needs for his growing belly. During the nursing bouts, the cub also spends about 10 minutes rooting about to find one of the four different nipples. When he can’t seem to find one he will vocalize, and Lun Lun will assist him by changing positions or adjusting him, so that he has to ability to find the correct location.
Kate Roca
Carnivore Keeper II
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| motherly care |
Wednesday, October 15
As the cub gets older and Lun Lun spends more time away from him, we have been working Lun Lun back into some of her “pre-cub” activities. We have had her do some of her basic training behaviors to give her a bit of variety in her day. She also started to allow us to weigh her every day. Luckily for us, the scale is only in the next den over from her, and the process involves her eating leafeater biscuits. We are glad to see her current weight at 101 to 104.5 kg (222.7 to 229.9 lbs), which is a normal range for her. As the cub grows, we will watch Lun Lun’s weight to make sure she is receiving the correct amount of bamboo and biscuits to meet the demand for more milk for the growing cub.
Kate Roca
Carnivore Keeper II
Tuesday, October 14
If you are an avid panda watcher, you undoubtedly noticed that Lun Lun was conspicuously out of the picture for several rather protracted periods last evening. Rest assured, however, she was not far from her cub. After having had a restless time Sunday night and Monday, a decision was made to allow Lun Lun access to a third den area. As others have been reporting, giant panda mothers in the wild would be traveling farther in search of food; and, just maybe, Lun Lun was experiencing some wanderlust. Yet, in spite of the extra space, she remained in the same den with the cub more frequently than not (albeit, often she was just outside the range of the camera lens).
Debbie Forde
Curatorial Assistant
Monday, October 13
I have often heard people say that those who are most adept make what they do appear deceptively effortless. Lun Lun may just be proving that adage true; and, she is doing so with consummate tolerance. This seems to be the case with many animal parents. It seems to come naturally; although, we know that for many species it is not just a matter of hard-wired instinct. Often, as is true for humans, good parenting is the product of being parented well. Having felt challenged by parenthood, it is humbling to watch Lun Lun attend to her cub with such patience.
Debbie Forde
Curatorial Assistant
Sunday, October 12
Watching the cub move around is highly entertaining. Sometimes it seems as if he's never going to get where he is trying to go and then in the blink of an eye, he has done it! It is amazing how quickly he has gotten the hang of some basic movements. Thinking back, Mei Lan seemed to gain the use of her front limbs first, pulling herself around on her forearms; it seemed to take a while for her to get her rear legs underneath her. However, this little guy has done the opposite. He pushes off with his back legs to move forward or to turn himself in a circle. It seems an insignificant comparison, but it is another reminder that each living thing is different, which this cub has certainly been from the beginning. It is exciting to watch him grow and develop into an individual. Speaking of growing, the cub has gained another 58.5 grams, weighing in at 1693.5 grams (3.4 pounds) yesterday.
Heather Baker Roberts
Keeper I
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| The cub fits great on Lun Lun's paw |
Saturday, October 11
Lun Lun has noticeably spent more time away from the cub over the past two days. Sometimes, instead of returning to the cub directly after a feeding bout, she will lie down in the adjacent den or just outside of the nest box to sleep for an hour or so. Other times, she will return to the cub after being away for a while, lick him for a few minutes, then put him back down and go do something on her own again. The cub does not seem to mind Lun Lun's longer absences. He usually rests quietly or does his daily exercises - push-ups, head-lifts and roll-overs. Lun Lun's behavior is a normal progression of maternal care; as the cub grows, Lun Lun needs to produce more milk for him, thus she needs to spend more time eating. In the wild, giant panda mothers often have to travel quite far from their dens to find a nice patch of bamboo, so once the cubs reach a certain age they are left on their own for longer periods of time while their mother forages. Just because Lun Lun is loosening the apron strings does not mean the cub is getting less care -- he is growing steadily every day. Yesterday he weighed 1635 grams (3.27 pounds).
Heather Baker Roberts
Keeper I
Friday, October 10
Over the last month it has been interesting to see this little cub’s features and markings develop. I have always hoped that one of Yang Yang’s offspring would have a white patch of fur on a paw just like he does. The cub’s paws are still too small for me to tell if he has any noticeable white patches, so I guess I will just have to wait and see if I get my wish. However, during the cub’s most recent weight checks, I have noticed a different marking on the cub’s fur that may set him apart from other pandas, but not all pandas! Just like his mother Lun Lun and his older sister Mei Lan, this cub has small patches of white fur on both of his otherwise black heels. As he grows, it will be interesting to see if they become as noticeable as Mei Lan’s white markings, or if they stay small and less noticeable, like Lun Lun’s.
Kate Roca
Carnivore Keeper II
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| sleep, squawk, & suckle (a cub's life) |
Wednesday, October 8
Just as Mei Lan did two years ago, the cub has started to make rather loud vocalizations at somewhat random times. Typically when Lun Lun is away from the cub, he will make a few small grunts and squeaks. And at other times when she is away, he is completely quiet. But now, on rare occasions, he produces a single, very loud squawk. Whether it is a signal to Lun Lun that he needs her attention, a sound to scare off a possible predator, or just a random noise, I cannot say. But I do know that most of the time it makes me jump a little to hear this loud sound come from such a small creature.
Kate Roca
Carnivore Keeper II
Tuesday, October 7
Last evening Lun Lun was away from the cub for over 1 hour and 20 minutes. With the exception of a few soft vocalizations when she first left him, the cub was quiet and slept peacefully for the entire period of separation. Lun Lun spent most of her respite simply having some “me time." Those of us who have had children understand the call for an uninterrupted nap, a visit to the bathroom without an escort, or a quiet meal alone.
Debbie Forde
Curatorial Assistant
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Monday, October 6
Peering, a tad voyeuristically, at a bank of monitors while Lun Lun and her cub live their lives, I am prone to ponderings. Sometimes these musings are serious reflections on the common threads woven throughout nature. Or, noticing the commonalities of mother-offspring interactions regardless of species, while at the same time, reflecting on the differences. I am often awestruck by our world – the diversity of flora and fauna, the variety of ways that life can be lived and the adaptability of nature.
But this evening my thoughts were most mundane. While Lun Lun munched down on a culm (stalk) of bamboo, I was reminded of a human eating a rib of celery. She bit down, but not all the way through, pulling off the green outer layer much like one would remove fibrous celery strings. Holding the stalk at the side of her mouth, she took a series of quick successive bites as her paw pushed the length along like the feed mechanism of a wood chipper.
Debbie Forde
Curatorial Assistant
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| The cub's eyes have started opening! |
Sunday, October 5
First, I need to post a correction. On Friday afternoon, the cub weighed 1244 grams, not 1299 grams. The 55 grams discrepancy comes from the blanket the cub was wrapped in while he was weighed. We apologize for the misinformation.
Now on to today's update! Yesterday morning I noticed that the cub's left eye was just starting to open! I could see a tiny slit of a shiny black eye! The right eye was still closed, but I knew that very soon both eyes would be open. It's so exciting to see each and every milestone first-hand, but it is especially thrilling discover it! This morning, both eyes are open a little bit more. As I mentioned a few weeks ago, giant panda cubs begin to open their eyes between 35 and 50 days after birth. So, we were expecting to see the cub's eyes open any day (today the cub is 36 days old). This significant progression in the cub's development is just another sign that he is thriving under Lun Lun's care. Yesterday afternoon the cub weighed 1298 grams; this is the 4th day in a row that he has gained around 50 grams in 24 hours.
Heather Baker Roberts
Keeper I
Saturday, October 5
The cub weighed 1299 grams yesterday afternoon; that is an increase of 97 grams in 24 hours! In addition to gaining lots of weight, his muscle control is improving more each day. On Wednesday, I saw the cub purposefully turn over, but it was more like he flung himself from his side to his stomach. Then on Thursday, I saw him turn over again, but this time, he just rolled onto his stomach — in a mere 24 hours, he had mastered the act of turning over. This may seem simple, but to an animal that is born as altricial as a panda cub, it is a great feat — and the first step to becoming mobile. Since learning to turn himself over, the cub is moving around much more when Lun Lun is away eating. He squirms around, working his limbs to increase their strength so he can eventually scoot around, but for now he just manages to maneuver himself out of the frame of the camera as I am sure those of you who watch Panda Cam have noticed.
Heather Baker Roberts
Keeper I
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| Does Mei Lan hear the little guy's squawks? |
Wednesday, October 1
All four pandas are doing just great. Yang Yang and Mei Lan still show no signs of interest in the newest little addition. I am sure that occasionally they are able to hear some of his vocalizations, but they have not shown any response. They continue on with their normal daily lives of eating bamboo, sleeping and the occasional play bout. Lun Lun continues to eat more bamboo each day and has even started to eat bamboo without receiving a reminder from her keepers that she has more than just leafeater biscuits and fruit as a dietary option. The cub continues with his daily routine of nursing and sleeping -- things that all babies do best! His weight at yesterday afternoon's checkup was 1088 grams.
Kate Roca
Carnivore Keeper II
Tuesday, September 30
There is cause for celebration as Zoo Atlanta’s giant panda cub turns one month old today! Thirty days ago, a tiny cub was born to a comparatively large mother. A mother, whose great paws with formidable claws gently cradle his small body as he sleeps, and whose heavy muzzle guides his diminutive head to her broad chest to nurse.
It has been a month of joyous moments mixed with some concerns, and countless rewards sprinkled with a few frustrations. But such juxtapositions are what one might expect from this species which seems to be a portrait in contrasts – from its distinctive black and white coloration to an herbivorous diet at which other carnivores would turn up their noses.
Debbie Forde
Curatorial Assistant
Monday, September 29
The difference in the cub is astonishing! Because my shifts are a week apart, the developmental changes are blatantly obvious at first glance. From the date of my last entry, when he weighed 764.3 grams to this morning’s weight of 1023.3 grams, the cub has gained more than double the amount of his estimated birth weight in just one week.
The difference in Lun Lun’s mothering is also evident. She is taking more time to eat, and in turn, the cub is nursing more. She is able to leave the cub for longer periods of time – on average, approximately 20 minutes. These separations come with almost no objection from him, which is an indication that he is relying much less on his mother for body heat.
Debbie Forde
Curatorial Assistant
Saturday, September 27
Today the cub is 28 days old and he continues to thrive under Lun Lun's care. In case you cannot tell from the photos or PandaCam, he is a little butterball -- I cannot believe how chubby he is! Today he weighs 913 grams. In addition to growing a nice, round panda belly, the cub is also developing better muscle control. He can now hold his head up for several seconds at a time. I noticed this for the first time during his weight check on Wednesday, and it seems that his muscle control has improved even since then. This morning, while Lun Lun was away eating, I saw the cub lift his head 1-2 inches off the ground and hold it there for 10 seconds or so as if he were trying to look around. It is amazing to see him grow so quickly right before our eyes!
Heather Baker Roberts
Keeper I
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| The cub is nothing but yawns at his check-up |
Friday, September 26
Since the cub has passed the 800 gram mark we are switching to once a day weight checks. The plan is to have these checks sometime in the mid-morning. Now that Lun Lun regularly leaves the cub to eat, we use this time to see how much weight the little one had put on. Lun Lun remains calm while the cub is away. Sometimes, I don’t think she even notices because she is so focused on eating. The cub’s weight today is 883.4 grams.
Kate Roca
Carnivore Keeper II
Thursday, September 25
The nights have become much quieter this week. In the first two weeks after birth, giant panda cubs vocalize frequently to communicate to their mothers that they are hungry, cold or just uncomfortable in their current position. As cubs grow, they don’t need to nurse as frequently, because they can take in more milk during each nursing session. This allows both mother and cub to rest for longer periods of time. Lun Lun’s cub has followed this pattern. During the first two weeks, we normally heard him vocalize every 30 to 45 minutes. Now there are periods of an hour to an hour and a half of silence while he and Lun Lun sleep.
Kate Roca
Carnivore Keeper II
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Wednesday, September 24
Giant pandas might be black and white, but when it comes to their pattern of coloration, there are interesting differences. Even the pandas at Zoo Atlanta have subtle color variations. Yang Yang has a white patch of fur on his otherwise black rear left foot. Though it’s hard to see, Lun Lun has small amounts of white fur on both of her heels. Mei Lan inherited this trait and has more noticeable white spots on her otherwise black heels. I think back to my time in China, when I had to identify certain pandas for data collection out of 35 at the Chengdu Research Base. To differentiate between twin female pandas, I looked for differences in the white stripes they both had on their back legs. To identify one particular male, I looked for the panda whose black “vest” across his shoulders did not connect because of a thin strip of white in the middle. I bring this topic up because of a difference that I've noticed in the newest addition here at the Zoo. Over the past week, as his black markings have become darker, some black coloration has appeared around his mouth. It almost looks as if he smeared some black paint on the lower half of his mouth. We will have to wait and see whether this trait becomes more or less noticeable as he continues to mature.
Kate Roca
Carnivore Keeper II
Tuesday, September 23
It barely seems possible that in less than a week the cub will be one month old! In these past 24 days the cub has made phenomenal developmental gains. Since entering the world as a pink, virtually bald, somewhat nascent form, he has developed the quintessential features of a giant panda with tiny black tufted ears, arms, legs, shoulder saddle, and black encircled eyes. He has grown from an estimated birth weight of 125 grams to this morning’s weight of 764.3 grams.
The opportunities to watch these changes are improving as the natural progression of maturation and mothering allows for longer and more frequent periods of time when the cub can be viewed unimpeded.
Debbie Forde
Curatorial Assistant
Monday, September 22
People who choose a career in animal care can often times get their thanks in a manner different than those who choose other professions – watching an animal enjoy an enrichment item, achieve the next step in training, experience a breakthrough in trust, or sometimes, it may be something as simple as a look.
Although it may seem that all eyes are focused solely on Lun Lun and her cub, the giant panda staff is not single minded. They continue to care for the needs of Yang Yang and Mei Lan, in addition to those of Lun Lun and the cub. The thanks for this dedicated team comes with each gram of weight gain the cub experiences, every additional piece of bamboo, biscuit or fruit that Lun Lun eats which aids milk production. Seeing Mei Lan play out in the day room, or watching Yang Yang enjoy a particularly succulent batch of bamboo and the knowledge that what they do makes a difference in the lives of these particular animals and to the giant panda species.
Debbie Forde
Curatorial Assistant
Sunday, September 21
The cub continues to grow and thrive under Lun Lun's care. This morning, he weighed 644.4 grams. His black coloration is very dark now and the fine layer of white fur he was born with is becoming thicker. Within the next week or two, his fur will get fuller and more dense, and he will finally look black and white instead of black and pale pink. After his coat grows in, the next milestone will be at 35-50 days after birth when his eyes will start to open!
Heather Baker Roberts
Keeper I, Carnivore Department
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| Lun Lun resting with cub |
Thursday, September 18
As the cub gets bigger, it is harder for Lun Lun to keep him covered constantly. With more frequent views of him, we have been able to confirm nursing bouts with our eyes instead of just with our ears, a task that sometimes proved to be quite challenging. Every time we see the cub nurse, it brings a little relief knowing that Lun Lun is providing him with all the nutrition that he needs to grow big and strong. His feeding habits also show up in his twice-daily weight checks. This morning he weighed 544 grams.
Kate Roca
Carnivore Keeper II
Wednesday, September 17
Well the cub has reached a weight milestone. He weighed 512.2 grams this morning, which is over one pound!
On Monday we gave Lun Lun access to the adjacent den. This allows us to offer bigger pieces of bamboo with less worry that she will drag the bamboo into the nest box with her and the cub. Her intake of bamboo is slowly increasing everyday, but she still seems more interested in the leaf eater biscuits and fruit. To make sure she gets a balanced diet, we are trying to encourage her to eat more bamboo and not just focus on the biscuits and fruit.
For those wondering how the other two pandas are doing, both Yang Yang and Mei Lan are fine. As fall approaches, Atlanta is starting to have cooler mornings. This allows Mei Lan and Yang Yang to spend more time outside in the fresh cool air. We have also seen a more playful side of Mei Lan. She has taken to attacking most hanging enrichment items. Earlier this week, her keepers hung a canvas bag stuffed with hay in the dayroom. She kept charging it from the ground and then climbing up the tree to attack it from above. At one point she was hanging on to the bottom of it by all fours and just spinning around.
Kate Roca
Carnivore Keeper II
Monday, September 15
What a difference a week makes! After last seeing him on 9 September, I am struck by the noticeable developmental and physical changes in the cub. There is a marked increase in his size and a perceptible darkening of his coloration. He gained 39.7 grams in the last 24 hours. His weight this morning was 426.1 grams, which is more than double from last week when I reported him as 208.1 grams.
The manner in which Lun Lun holds the cub has also changed. It is a looser hold, allowing for a closer and more intimate view of the mother-infant pair as they sleep. Last evening, while lying across his mother’s upper arm, the cub yawned. Mid–yawn, his tongue stuck prominently from his open mouth. Ending with a few smacks of his lips, he then snuggled his head further into Lun Lun’s fur. Shortly thereafter, contagion captured her and Lun Lun yawned in similar fashion – mouth agape and tongue protruding.
Debbie Forde
Curatorial Assistant
Sunday, September 14
This morning the cub weighed 383.8 grams. Lun Lun got up several times last night. Most of the time, she wanted to eat (she's getting quite hungry!), but she also had to eliminate once. She is usually very careful to leave the cub in the nest box on a bit of hay and he seems content while she is gone. He vocalizes loudly when she first puts him down and picks him up, but then softly grunts or remains quiet once she has walked away. Lun Lun is not away from the cub for very long, but it is normal for her to leave the cub occasionally and for longer periods of time now that he is getting bigger. By day 15, Lun Lun was regularly leaving Mei Lan for 5-10 minutes at a time.
Heather Baker Roberts
Keeper I, Carnivore Department
Saturday, September 13
Today the cub is 2 weeks (15 days) old! We continue to weigh the cub every 12 hours to make sure he is thriving under Lun Lun's care, which he is. This morning he weighed 352.1 grams. That is a 35.5 gram increase from yesterday. He's really growing fast! Since the cub is getting bigger and is now able to stay warm without Lun Lun constantly covering him, we are able to see him more often. Not only is Lun Lun putting him down for short periods (less than 5 minutes at a time), but sometimes she leaves him uncovered when they are sleeping. This is helpful in confirming nursing bouts, because we can see as well as hear the cub suckling. In fact, last night I saw the cub nursing on two separate occasions!
Heather Baker Roberts
Keeper I, Carnivore Department
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| the cub is beginning to look like a panda |
Friday, September 12
Lun Lun’s newest cub continues to do well. His prognosis has been upgraded from “guarded” to “good”. When the cub had to be placed in an incubator a week ago Monday, his body temperature and blood sugar levels were low. The cub responded well to supportive care, and has done even better back with Lun Lun. Based on several laboratory tests, we suspect Lun Lun may have been suffering from mild mastitis, an infection and/or inflammation of the mammary glands. This may have led to mild discomfort that resulted in her not attending to the cub just enough to result in the decrease in body temperature at that early age. Both Lun Lun and the cub were placed on a course of antibiotics because of these suspicions, and they have responded well to the treatment.
The cub has steadily increased in weight since his re-introduction to Lun Lun on Tuesday September 2. He has gained 197 grams (7 ounces) since then. The Zoo Atlanta Panda and Veterinary teams with the collaboration of our Chinese colleague continue to closely monitor cub and mom. We are recording daily observations on the cub’s nursing activities and behavior, and checking his weight twice a day. During one of these checks, I give him a quick daily veterinary check as well. His heart rate, respiratory rate and body temperature remain stable and within normal ranges. His rate of growth is outstanding! If the cub continues to do this well, we are hoping to slowly decrease the intervals between weight checks. Lun Lun takes advantage of the times when the cub is away and eats her favorite treat (sugar cane) and part of her regular diet. Lun Lun has been an amazing mom and cares for the cub well.
Sam Rivera, DVM
Interim Director of Veterinary Services
Wednesday, September 10
I went down memory lane today and spent a short time reading the cub updates from Mei Lan’s first weeks of life. I was trying to remember when Lun Lun started to eat and drink after giving birth. I noticed that it took her 4 days to put Mei Lan down for the first time and walk away to get a drink of water. Two days later, when Mei Lan was 6 days old, Lun Lun left her for the first time to eat. The second time around, Lun Lun has had the opportunity to eat and drink sooner, because we have been offering her water and food during the cub weight checks. She started off by only choosing the sugar cane, but now has moved on to eating biscuits, banana, apple, and a small amount of bamboo. Last night was the first time that she put the cub down to get food and water on her own. We provide her with a selection of biscuits, fruit, and bamboo at the front of her den, so that she can choose when it is time to fill up again. The cub only made a few soft grunts during Lun Lun’s two minute break and seemed to rest comfortably on the hay. As we do fewer cub checks and the cub gets older, we expect Lun Lun to leave the cub to eat more frequently and for longer periods of time. Happy Birthday Yang Yang! 11 years old today.
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| check out that paw! |
Tuesday, September 9
Lun Lun’s keen mothering skills persist and she is showing remarkable tolerance to the human interventions aimed at monitoring her cub. Since being reunited with Lun Lun, the cub has nearly doubled its weight. Although there were some periods of weight fluctuation, the overall trend is a relatively normal pattern of weight gain. On average, the cub has gained 16.65 grams in each 24-hour period. And, as of 5:20 this morning, the cub weighed 233.1 grams.
Although close scrutiny is being given to cub weight and body temperature, other developmental milestones are being realized – the faint appearance of the signature black coloration (as Heather mentioned), and the ability of the cub to self-regulate body temperature for short periods of time which will allow Lun Lun brief opportunities to leave the cub for water, food or toileting. These developments, in conjunction with weight gain and stable body temperature, are promising indicators.
Debbie Forde
Curatorial Assistant
Monday, September 8
It was another good day and night for Lun Lun and cub. Rest came much as one might expect for a nursing mother – short-lived bouts of sleep interrupted by the occasional cub vocalizations. Lun Lun responds by cradling him closer or repositioning herself in order to keep her cub warm and comfortable. The cub is nursing well and gaining weight, and Lun Lun continues to appropriately attend to his needs.
Because of the excellent progress, the frequency of cub checks is being gradually reduced. At this morning’s 5 AM check, he weighed in at a hefty 208.1 grams; a gain of 16.6 grams in approximately 12 hours. As she has done before, Lun Lun took advantage of the break. However, once eating, drinking and other personal matters were out of the way, she exhibited great eagerness to return to the business of mothering.
Debbie Forde
Curatorial Assistant
Sunday, September 7
Lun Lun and her cub continue to do well. Lun Lun ate quite a bit during the cub’s 11:00 pm weight check last night. At that check the cub weighed 186.6 grams, which means that he gained a little over 15 grams since his last check at 2:30 the previous afternoon. We are all very pleased by this huge gain for our little guy! We weighed the cub again this morning around 8:00 and he had gained another 2.3 grams. Additionally, the cub is starting to look like a giant panda cub instead of a naked mole rat! For example, the skin on his ears, the “saddle” on his back and the areas around his eyes are all starting to turn black. The pigmentation is still very faint, but it will grow darker over the next few days and weeks.
Heather Baker Roberts
Keeper I, Carnivore Department
Saturday, September 6
Today is Mei Lan’s 2nd birthday! I cannot believe it has been 2 years since she was born – it does not seem that long ago. It has been a pleasure to watch her grow up. I see so much of Yang Yang and Lun Lun in her: she is playful and silly like her dad and willful like her mom.
Lun Lun and our newest little addition are doing well. At 2:00 AM, the cub weighed 164.6 grams - a slight decrease from earlier in the day. However, we have heard the cub nursing, he looks and sounds healthy and strong, and at 10:30 this morning he weighed 172 grams. While the cub is being weighed, I offer Lun Lun water, biscuits and bamboo. She usually drinks and eats a small amount. She also takes the opportunity to urinate and defecate. Lun Lun is such a good mother that she does not leave the cub to eat, drink or eliminate and seems to appreciate these short breaks. However, when the cub is returned, she eagerly takes him back.
Heather Baker Roberts
Keeper I, Carnivore Department
Thursday, September 4
The giant panda cub and mother Lun Lun continue to do very well through Wednesday evening and into this morning. Brief cub checks Wednesday evening and this morning revealed that he is steadily increasing in weight as we would hope and expect. Zoo Atlanta's animal management and veterinary teams have also observed and heard the cub nursing a number of times. We are very pleased with the cub's progress as well as Lun Lun's reaction to our intrusions. Despite Monday's scare, she is proving once again to be a terrific mother.
Wednesday, September 3, 5:00 PM
Lun Lun and her cub are doing well. Brief exams of the cub at 9:30 AM and 1:15 PM today indicate that he is maintaining his body temperature and steadily gaining weight. At the afternoon check he was 134.8 grams. Lun Lun continues to tolerate the cub’s removal, but responds quickly and appropriately when he is reintroduced. Veterinary staff continues to administer antibiotics to both as a precautionary measure.
Wednesday, September 3, 8:00 AM
Following nineteen hours of hand-rearing and subsequent reintroduction yesterday afternoon, both cub and Lun Lun are doing remarkably well. Lun Lun is demonstrating excellent maternal behavior. Staff has removed the cub from Lun Lun at 4 and 9 PM Tuesday and at 3 AM this morning for brief exams to ensure that he is doing well. Zoo Atlanta staff and our Chinese colleague have been very pleased that at each check the cub has gained weight and is maintaining his temperature. Our intention is to increase the time between these exams as our confidence grows in the cub's progress. While this is a more hands-on approach than we took with Mei Lan two years ago, we believe the manipulations are warranted given the problems that arose on Monday. Lun Lun has tolerated the cub's removal for these exams better than we expected. She does show some agitation when the cub is removed, but settles quickly when the keepers offer her water and sugar cane. She responds to the cub immediately when it's returned, cradling and nursing the cub without missing a beat.
We still do not have a clear idea of what caused the cub's sudden decline Monday afternoon, and in all likelihood, we will not know for sure. The last eighteen hours indicate that Lun Lun is producing enough milk and appropriately caring for the cub. The cub has also been vigorous in his vocalizations and has been suckling enough to continue to put on weight.
The cub started day 4 at a panda-typical 128 grams, adding an impressive 7% to his body weight since yesterday, but still small and fragile enough for it to take a few more days and weeks before we can relax.
Dwight Lawson, PhD
Senior Vice President, Collections, Education & Conservation
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| Lun Lun cradling cub |
Tuesday, September 2, 5:00 PM
After almost nineteen hours of separation from mom, the giant panda cub born on Saturday at Zoo Atlanta was successfully reintroduced to Lun Lun at approximately 1:10 this afternoon. The reintroduction coincided with the cub’s scheduled feeding, and was chosen so that the cub would show the strongest possible nursing response. Lun Lun showed immediate interest in the cub when it was presented just outside the den, and was very focused on the cub as it vocalized. Based on these positive signs, the cub was placed in the den and Lun Lun picked it up and cradled it. The cub has continued to periodically give strong vocalizations indicating that it is doing well. Keepers briefly examined the cub again at 4:30 PM and noted he had gained a little weight, which is a very good indication. Furthermore, there are no signs of abnormalities or bacteria in the panda cub, due to the hand rearing process.
We are encouraged by Lun Lun’s positive response to the reintroductions and their first few hours back together. However, given the sudden decline experienced on Monday, Zoo Staff will remain extra vigilant, and may periodically separate the cub from Lun Lun for brief assessments of its condition.
During the nineteen hours that the cub was being hand-raised, the giant panda nursery expert from China who is here assisting Zoo Atlanta staff was able to examine the cub closely. We are very happy to report that Mei Lan has a little brother!
Many thanks to all those who have expressed their support and best wishes to Lun Lun, the young cub and the Staff here at Zoo Atlanta. Support from Members, Guests and Panda fans around the World has meant a great deal to everyone here at Zoo Atlanta. We will provide another update Wednesday morning.
Tuesday, September 2, 10:00 AM
The giant panda cub born at Zoo Atlanta on Saturday, 30 September remains in an incubator in the Zoo’s panda facility. Zoo Atlanta Veterinarian Dr. Sam Rivera described the cub’s condition this morning as “guarded”. The cub is accepting feedings from a panda nursery specialist from China, including milk from its mother Lun Lun and formula. The cub weighs about 121 grams, a normal weight for a three-day-old cub. The cub’s respiration and heartbeat appear to be within normal ranges for a cub this age. As a precaution, Chinese and American veterinarians have decided to administer a broad spectrum anti-biotic to the cub.
Staff are concerned that eleven year old giant panda Lun Lun had some reduction in milk production that may have led to the cub’s unusual behavior on Monday afternoon. However, keepers have collected some milk from Lun Lun overnight. Lun Lun’s milk is being tested for signs of bacteria. As with her cub, Chinese and American veterinarians have decided to administer a broad spectrum anti-biotic to Lun Lun.
Zoo staff hope to reintroduce the recently born cub back to Lun Lun as soon as possible; however, the staff hopes to better determine the reasons for the sudden decline on Monday before any reintroduction. Until then, the cub will continue to be hand-raised with formula, and hopefully milk obtained from Lun Lun.
As a reminder, giant panda cubs are born at a very early state of development, and the first days and weeks are a very vulnerable time. This is why we monitor mother and cub continuously during this time.
Zoo Atlanta’s Panda Cam will focus on giant pandas Yang Yang and Mei Lang from 10 AM to 5 PM until further notice. Zoo officials will provide regular updates several times a day on the status of Lun Lun and her cub, including, when available, photos and video clips. Thank you to everyone for their concern.
Dwight Lawson
Senior Vice President, Collections, Education and Conservation
Monday, September 1, 9:30 PM
Zoo Atlanta Animal Management and Veterinary Teams along with our colleague from the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding continue to care for Lun Lun's cub in an incubator in the Giant Panda building. Based upon the cub's behavior we made the joint decision to move the cub to an incubator earlier this evening, where it can be monitored closely.
As a reminder, giant panda cubs are born at a very early state of development, and the first days and weeks are a very vulnerable time. This is why we monitor mother and cub continuously during this time.
Panda Cam will remain off-line for the time being. Zoo officials will provide an update at 10:00 AM Tuesday, or sooner if conditions warrant.
Monday, September 1, 6:30 PM
Based upon the behavior of giant panda Lun Lun and her new born cub, Zoo Atlanta's colleague from China and the Zoo's Animal Management and Veterinary Teams jointly decided to place the new-born cub in an incubator for closer monitoring and observation.
Zoo Atlanta's Veterinary and Animal Management teams will continue working diligently to ensure that Lun Lun and cub receive the best care and treatment possible.Zoo officials will provide updates as they are available.
Keisha Hines-Davis
Director of Public Relations & Communications
Monday, September 1
It amazes me to think that in 2 years we have doubled the panda population here at Zoo Atlanta. Lun Lun continues to be a wonderful mom to her new cub. She reacts to the cub’s vocalizations quite quickly, showing she learned a lot from raising Mei Lan. We continue to hear signs that the cub is nursing and have seen Lun Lun licking the cub to stimulate it to void its waste. Just like other newborn carnivore, young giant panda cannot defecate and urinate without this stimulation.
Kate Roca
Carnivore Keeper II
Sunday, August 31
It’s a very good day in the giant panda building. We are thrilled about the birth of Lun Lun’s and Yang Yang’s new cub. Lun Lun is proving to be a great mom just like she was with Mei Lan. The cub looks and sounds strong and healthy. Lun Lun is keeping the cub warm, clean, and fed, exactly as she should. We continue to watch her closely 24 hours per day to make sure everything continues to go smoothly.
For Yang Yang and Mei Lan it’s a normal day like any other. Their routine remains the same and they have not given any indication, yet, that they are aware of the new arrival, although they might be able to hear the new cub occasionally. Don’t worry; the keepers still have the same amount of time and attention to devote to Yang Yang and Mei Lan. We have extra staff during this time to make sure all of our giant pandas continue to receive excellent care.
We have received many congratulatory messages already. Thank you for your support. We’re happy that you are as excited as we are about the new cub.
Rebecca Snyder, Phd
Curator of Carnivores
Saturday, August 30 10:10 p.m. A Cub is born!!!
- Birth watch update 10:00 p.m. Lun Lun has been chewing on items this evening, but ignoring biscuits. However, she did just accept and eat some yummy sugar cane.
- Birth watch update 7:40 p.m. The animal management team is watching and all things are progressing normally.
- Lun Lun's water broke today at 1:25 p.m. Birth could occur at anytime between now and the next 48 hours.
Friday, August 29
Hi, panda folks, Hmmmm, yeah, I can't top yesterday's entry. Nope, not even going to try. So I'll just give you a quick rundown: Yang Yang and Mei Lan are contentedly munching bamboo, completely oblivious to the high drama being played out just down the hall. Lun Lun is still pregnant, still sleeping, and still keeping us all in this agonizing state of waiting. Cross your fingers, and maybe send a bit of benign mental encouragement Lun's way – she's stubborn, but without a foil hat there's no way she can resist us all.
Matt Fugate
Keeper II, Carnivore Department
Thursday, August 28-SPECIAL EDITION!
Today is one of the most exciting days of my career. I went to the giant panda building this afternoon to try to do an ultrasound session with Lun Lun. I didn’t expect her to cooperate, because she has not cooperated for the last three weeks. But we were lucky. She cooperated and we saw a fetus with a strong heartbeat! The fetus appeared to be well developed. So, we expect a birth at anytime!
Dr. Sam Rivera
Interim Director of Veterinary Services
