Panda Cub Updates (December - November 2008)
Wednesday, December 31
Xi Lan has been trying to climb over the threshold between the dens for the past week or so. Tuesday evening I saw him finally make it over into Den 3 from Den 2! It will probably take a few days before he can climb from den to den with ease, but he is almost there. I cannot believe how fast he is growing. It seems like he learned to walk overnight and now he is already learning to move from den to den! I agree with Dr. Snyder that this age is the cutest time for giant panda cubs. It is fascinating to watch them learn and discover things. For months, all the cub knows about the world is its mother, but once it becomes mobile, the world opens up. Everything is new and must be explored. It is a very exciting time!
Xi Lan was also weighed yesterday before he went out to meet his adoring fans. He weighed 6.6 kg.
Heather Baker Roberts
Carnivore Keeper I
Tuesday, December 30
Xi Lan is walking so well now that he is ready to go into the dayroom regularly. Starting today, December 30, he will be in the dayroom on exhibit to visitors each day at 10:00 a.m. He and Lun Lun will still have access to their off exhibit dens for at least the next week, so that they can take a break from the attention if they want. We want to make sure they are both comfortable in the dayroom before we limit access to the dens. So far, Xi Lan has adjusted very well to the dayroom and appears to be comfortable in his new space. It took Mei Lan a bit longer to adjust when she was his age. She often stayed in the dayroom for only a few minutes initially before going back to the dens. In contrast, Xi Lan has already been spending hours in the dayroom. Every giant panda has a unique personality and Xi Lan seems to be bolder than his sister was at the same age, or maybe he just hasn’t figured out yet that he can go back to the dens.
This is my favorite age for giant panda cubs. I never tire of watching them learn to walk, then trot, and then climb. They also have an expression of wide-eyed wonder at this age. Everything is new to them and they spend a lot of time exploring. Giant panda cubs are cute at any age, but I think this age is exceptionally cute. We are really lucky that Xi Lan is willing to let us all admire him at this age. I urge you to take advantage of it and come see him!
Rebecca Snyder, PhD
Curator of Carnivores
 |
|
| Xi Lan wobbling around the dayroom today |
Monday, December 29
Xi Lan was very energetic yesterday! With the rain, we put Yang Yang and Mei Lan in the dayrooms rather than out in the exhibits, so Lun Lun and Xi Lan stayed in the back. That didn’t stop Xi Lan from exploring every nook and cranny. He even tried to bite a piece of river cane, a winter species of bamboo the pandas have been receiving lately. Every time our little Xi Lan finds something new, Lun Lun will walk over to him and take him back to her favorite corner, initiating play or nursing him. Reminds me of when parents discover their children finger painting on the house walls, and then redirect them back to paper and wash-safe markers. Ah, kids.
Caroline Jones
Seasonal Carnivore Keeper
Friday, December 26
Happy holidays from the Zoo Atlanta family to your family!
The giant pandas had a nice, quiet Christmas. The Zoo is closed Christmas Day, but the keepers still come in to feed all the animals, let them outside, and clean their enclosures. For the animals it’s a day like most other days, except it’s quieter because there are no visitors and the keepers provide special Christmas themed enrichment. For example, many of the animals have Christmas lights hanging above their dens and stalls. The animals also receive boxes stuffed with treats that they open like presents. The giant pandas received goodie bags (small bags stuffed with biscuits and fruit hidden throughout their enclosures) for their Christmas treat.
Yang Yang and Mei Lan spent most of the day outside happily munching on a bamboo banquet. It was cool and misty outside, which is ideal giant panda weather – very similar to their native habitat in the mountains of China. Lun Lun spent the day in the dens and also some time in the dayroom, engaged in her usual activities of feeding, sleeping, and caring for Xi Lan. He had his usual feast of Lun Lun’s milk, and then divided his time between sleeping and practicing his walking skills. He is able to walk a little farther every day and seems satisfied that he can now walk to his mom if she’s in the same den with him. He still needs to master climbing over the thresholds between the dens, but I expect he’ll soon be able to do that as well.
We are looking forward to watching Xi Lan grow and change in the coming year. Soon he will be running, climbing, and relentlessly pestering his mom. Very soon he will be on exhibit for you to see! Keep checking the website for updates about his debut and for news about all of our other wonderful animals. There is always something exciting happening at the Zoo. We hope you will join us in celebrating a new year of surprises at Zoo Atlanta!
Rebecca Snyder, PhD
Curator of Carnivores
Wednesday, December 24
Xi Lan continues to make great strides in his mobility! This morning Lun Lun left Xi Lan sitting in the doorway between Dens 1 and 2, but he didn't mind at all. When he decided that he wanted to go someplace, he just climbed from the doorway into the nest box. Then he seemed to notice me, and he climbed out of the nest box and crawled in my direction. While he was crawling towards me I encouraged him to come to me. This is the first step in training; coming when called is an important verbal command that we use with the giant pandas on a daily basis. It will be quite a while before this is a trained behavior, but this is a good time to get Xi Lan used to our voices. After Xi Lan climbed out of the next box, he explored Den 2 for several minutes, climbed back into the nest box, crawled around a bit more and then fell asleep. Clearly he was exhausted by his excursion. In addition to getting his exercise today, Xi Lan also got weighed. Please note there will be no Cub Updates posted on Thursday, December 25. Happy holidays to all!
Heather Baker Roberts
Carnivore Keeper I
Tuesday, December 23
Sunday was a busy day for Xi Lan. This provided some excitement for the keepers as well. He started off the morning by walking while Lun Lun was in the dayroom eating. This was the second day in a row that he walked, though for a very short distance. It is good to see that he is getting his legs underneath him. Later in the morning I saw him “mouthing” some bamboo. Of course he was not eating it, just biting down on the leaves. In the afternoon, his mobility helped him make his way over to Lun Lun while she was sleeping. This resulted in a little play bout. Xi Lan used his mouth to grab Lun Lun just above her right eye, and started to tug on Lun Lun’s skin. Initially Lun tried to remain asleep, but eventually she got up and pushed him away. He came back, and this time grabbed her by her cheek, and started tugging again. Lun Lun pushed him away again. Then he decided that her paws would be a great thing to bite. At this point Lun Lun got a little more interested in playing and started to reciprocate, which I am sure Xi Lan enjoyed.
JT Svoke
Carnivore Keeper II
 |
|
| Cradle him while you can Lun! |
Monday, December 22
I was watching Xi Lan practice his crawling and standing on Friday and thought he looked like he was very close to walking. It turns out he was. On Saturday, Heather saw him take his fist walking steps in the den! He managed to get his back legs under himself, which is the big challenge, and then took 4-5 steps forward. Giant panda cubs normally start to walk at about four months of age. So, he is right on track for this developmental milestone. As his strength and coordination continue to improve, he will soon be able to walk farther. That means Lun Lun’s days of leaving him behind are nearing an end. Soon he will be able to follow her wherever she goes!
Rebecca Snyder, PhD
Curator of Carnivores
Sunday, December 21
Xi Lan continues to gain strength and coordination, and is clearly beginning to orient toward the sights and sounds around him. Today while I was removing bamboo from an adjacent den, I saw him push himself up and fully straighten his front legs. Previously when he did this it was a struggle for him and his legs would shake and wobble, but this time he made it look very easy. He also held his head up and looked around at the same time, and appeared to do so with a sense of purpose; he must have heard the bamboo rustle in the den. When playing with Lun Lun later that morning, he also made several slow attempts to paw at her face. As JT indicated in a previous update, Xi Lan and Lun Lun have just begun to play gently together, and as the cub’s coordination continues to improve, the play bouts will only increase. But brace yourself for the most exciting news- Xi Lan took his first few steps today! He had all four paws flat on the floor of the den and clearly walked forward. After his first bout of walking he did try again, but didn't quite get in position to take any more steps. We may have to wait a bit before he is steadily making progess across the entire den (or dayroom), but it appears that he will be reaching that milestone right on schedule. Not to worry, though, there will still be plenty of times when Xi Lan rests- he is a giant panda, after all. Just this morning I caught him napping in the nest box, but this time not on his belly like he normally does, but flat on his back, with one arm above his head and one arm resting on his stomach.
Megan Wilson, PhD
Assistant Curator of Carnivores
 |
Friday, December 19
Late last week, while eating our lunches, Lynn and I got a good laugh out of watching Lun Lun and Xi Lan. What was going on? Well, they were both participating in a little bit of play behavior. Both were lying on the ground with their faces towards each other, and when Lun Lun would gently paw at Xi Lan he would paw back at her. It was the first time that I had really seen him respond physically to Lun Lun. Over this last week, he has also has been more wiggly when Lun Lun is holding him. This is part of his improved coordination and mobility. For Lun Lun, it will be an adjustment, because he won’t be unresponsive to her handling anymore and just lay there. Now she will have to deal with a baby that is going to respond.
JT Svoke
Carnivore Keeper II
 |
|
| Xi Lan takes in his new surroundings |
Thursday, December 18
Wow! What an exciting day for Xi Lan! Yesterday morning, Lun Lun decided that it was time to take Xi Lan out into the dayroom! While he won’t make his public debut until January, Lun Lun has the option of taking the cub with her into the dayroom if she chooses. Yesterday, she carried him out on his first trip. Around 10:45 a.m., I gave Lun Lun access to the dayroom while I was cleaning her overnight dens. Xi Lan was in the den next to the one I was cleaning. One minute I peeked in on him and he was sleeping, the next minute, I looked in on him and he was gone! I scanned the other den quickly and realized he was not there either. Just before the cub disappeared, I had noticed Lun Lun had poked her head into the dens and it hit me that she must have picked him up and carried him off. I dashed over to look into the dayroom and there was Lun Lun, half-way into the dayroom with Xi Lan in her mouth! I made a few radio calls to make sure some key people were aware that Xi Lan was on exhibit, and then I just watched to see what Lun Lun would do. She carried him around for several minutes, seeming unsure what to do with him out there. Finally, she settled down with him and sat with him on the floor. I tossed her a few biscuits and she ate those, then returned to the cub because he was hungry. Xi Lan nursed for a few minutes. He seemed very calm while out in the dayroom; he only vocalized when Lun Lun left him and he was hungry. Some lucky zoo visitors and a lot of zoo staff and volunteers were able to see him for the first time. Lun Lun carried him back into the den area around 12:15 p.m. and put him in the nest box; he had been out on exhibit for over an hour. After Lun Lun and Xi Lan returned to the den, they both rested. Xi Lan's first trip to the dayroom was very exciting, but also exhausting! It will be interesting to see if Lun Lun carries him out to the dayroom again this week.
Wild giant panda mothers move their cubs to several different den sites, and then eventually out of a den entirely at around four months of age when the cub is able to walk. So, it is perfectly normal for Lun Lun to move Xi Lan. She started moving him earlier than she moved Mei Lan and she took him into the dayroom much earlier. Often mothers are most protective of their first offspring and then start to relax more with subsequent offspring. This can be true of giant panda mothers too and seems to be the case for Lun Lun. Wild giant panda mothers move their cubs over some rough terrain. So, although Xi Lan’s trip into the dayroom may have looked a little rough, he is fine and actually reacted very calmly to the experience.
While yesterday was a very exciting moment, keep in mind that Lun Lun merely has access to the dayroom and therefore has the option of going in or out, so you can’t yet see Xi Lan full-time. But if you stop by the giant panda habitat on your next trip to the Zoo, you just might be there for another one of their outings!
Heather Baker Roberts
Keeper I
 |
|
| For the lucky few at the panda exhibit today, you were able to see Lun Lun bring out the little guy for his first intro to the dayroom |
Wednesday, December 17
As Xi Lan grows and gains more strength and coordination, we have to change how we manage his care. One change has come this week with the way we weigh him. Up to now you may have seen in photos that we have placed him in different size tubs on a small scale to obtain his weight. But now, because of his tendency to wiggle the entire time, we will begin to weigh him on the large scales that are used to weight Lun Lun, Yang Yang and Mei Lan. You most likely have seen one of these scales on Panda Cam. It is a large metal platform with a clear plastic top. We have a second one that Mei Lan and Yang Yang are weighed on in a separate den. When we weigh the bigger bears, we place a few leafeater biscuits on the scale to encourage them to climb on and sit for a brief moment until we are able to read the weight.
Xi Lan weighed 5.7 kg (12.6 lbs) when placed on the “big boy” scale yesterday.
Kate Roca
Carnivore Keeper II
Tuesday, December 16
Xi Lan continues to do very well, so I thought I would give you an update on Mei Lan and her training progress. I can finally say with confidence that Mei Lan has been fully trained for voluntary blood draws, because we were able to get a blood sample from her on Sunday! Training her for this behavior began back on August 21 and was finished just two days ago. Though that may seem like a long time, I was not able to train her every day; in total it only took about 35 sessions, each about 5-10 minutes long, to train the behavior. There was a chance that we could have collected a blood sample a few weeks earlier, but I decided to wait, because she was having a physical on December 1. It all goes to show just how smart giant pandas really are. Mei Lan didn’t seem to mind that she was getting stuck by a needle - she was just interested in getting her biscuits.
Mei Lan has learned a lot of new behaviors over the last two months. Early on, she learned a shift command and a target command, both around her first birthday. But then the progress she made in her training seemed to slow down quite a bit. We weren’t sure why, but she just wasn’t picking up on the behaviors that Kate, Heather and I were trying to teach her. We didn’t give up though, and we kept trying to teach her new things. So, over the last couple of months she has learned a number of new behaviors, including "paw," "down" and "open mouth." In addition, she also received her injection of anesthesia for her physical voluntarily. There are still many more behaviors that she will learn, and who knows, she may soon know as many behaviors as her parents do!
Joseph T. Svoke
Carnivore Keeper II
Monday, December 15
2008 has been another big year for giant panda reproduction in captivity. Thirty-one giant panda cubs were born this year, and 18 of those were born to females from the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding. This includes our Xi Lan. Lun Lun and the rest of our giant panda family are on loan to Zoo Atlanta from the Chengdu Research Base. This tremendous increase in captive giant panda births is the result of studying and improving all aspects of captive giant panda care and management. Major improvements have been made in behavioral management, nutrition, veterinary medicine, enclosure design, and staff development.
I have been studying giant pandas for 11 years and have been fortunate to witness these changes first hand. When I first visited the Chengdu Research Base in the spring of 1996, there was one cub there that had been born in the fall of 1995, and she had been hand raised. Most other giant panda institutions didn’t have any cubs. Just 12 years later, there are 14 cubs at the Chengdu Research Base and all of them are being raised by their mothers. This is an amazing change!
In a few more years the captive giant panda population will likely reach its target goal of 300 individuals. This is a wonderful success story, but it’s not the end of the story. The captive population is an important assurance colony for the endangered wild population. Ensuring the survival and growth of the wild giant panda population is the real challenge, and it’s going to take more time, more money and the hard work and dedication of more people. The giant pandas we know and love in zoos and breeding centers worldwide are ambassadors for all the wild giant pandas we will never know. I look at Xi Lan and hope that there is another young cub like him in a hollow tree den somewhere in the mountains of Sichuan who will also have the bright future of a long life and many descendants ahead of him. It’s up to all of us to make sure that the story for wild giant pandas has a happy ending.
Rebecca Snyder, PhD
Curator of Carnivores
Saturday, December 13
Well, it’s been a very long time since I have written an update, so if you are wondering if I am still around, now you know that I am. Now I will get back into the habit of remembering to write an update, and also writing something that everyone will find interesting! Luckily for me, today the cub (or should I call him Xi Lan) was weighed this morning. Today, Xi Lan was a hefty 5.420 kg, about a quarter of a kilo heavier then he was on Tuesday.
Also, Kate gave me a great topic idea this morning as I was coming in for the day shift and she was heading out after her overnight shift- giant panda feces! This morning Kate found the first feces from Xi Lan that Lun herself did not clean up. Normally Lun would stimulate Xi Lan to defecate and remove anything that the cub may have passed, but this was not the case last night. Remembering back to when Mei Lan was about the same age, cleaning up the feces when Lun didn’t wasn’t the most enjoyable thing to do. The feces of giant panda cubs is much stickier than that of the adults, and it also has a stronger smell to it; this is because the cub is only consuming milk at this time. What a great topic for my first update in a long time!
Joseph T. Svoke
Carnivore Keeper II
Friday, December 12
A few weeks ago, during Mei Lan’s physical, I noticed the small black patch of fur that she has on the tip of her tail. We discovered this marking on her when she was a small cub, but because it isn’t very prominent, I had forgotten about it until I noticed it again at her physical. I started wondering whether Xi Lan would also have a black patch of fur on the tip of his tail. So, last night I looked at his little tail carefully while he slept next to Lun Lun. Much to my surprise, there it was-a little black patch of fur on his otherwise white tail, just like his big sister.
Kate Roca
Carnivore Keeper II
Thursday, December 11
Yesterday morning, while I was cleaning one of Lun Lun’s dens, Xi Lan demonstrated grand improvement of his scooting abilities. I use the term scooting and not crawling because he has not yet incorporated his back legs when he moves around. He continues to pull himself with his front legs under his body and push with his back legs in a swimming motion. Back to my story- I was cleaning Den 1 (the L shaped den Lun Lun likes to carry Xi Lan into), Xi Lan was in the nest box in Den 2, and Lun Lun was eating bamboo in Den 3. Xi Lan was vocalizing his need to be fed and scooting about, but Lun Lun was busy eating her own meal and had not yet responded to his call. While cleaning, I noticed that his vocalizations had become a little softer, so I turned around to see what he was up to and noticed he was no longer in the nest box. Instead he was in the adjacent den where Lun Lun was eating! I am sad to say I do not really know how he managed it, as my back was turned during all the action. I also think Lun Lun was really unsure of how he got there as well. She stopped eating, looked down at him with a puzzled look, picked him up by the scruff, and quickly returned him to where she wanted him – the nest box. I guess all his scooting got him what he wanted, because upon returning him to the nest box, Lun Lun curled up with him and he nursed. Look out, Lun Lun – your days of Xi Lan staying where you want him are coming to an end fast!
Kate Roca
Carnivore Keeper II
Wednesday, December 10
Things are slowly returning to the “pre-cub” routine in the giant panda building. Now that Xi Lan is 5.156 kg, covered in fur, and able to regulate his own body temperature, we have lowered the building temperature to 62-65° F. Later this week, most of the nursery supplies will be packed up and stored until the next possible giant panda birth. Vet staff will leave behind the scale and measuring tape, but we no longer need to have an incubator, bottles or the other supplies on hand. Lun Lun is also returning to her typical routine. For example, she is now receiving all her evening bamboo at the giant pandas’ usual time dinner time, just like Yang Yang and Mei Lan. Also, she no longer receives biscuits overnight, but instead is fed them throughout the day. Lun Lun has adjusted well to her normal schedule, and we have seen very few behavioral changes in her as a result of these adjustments to her schedule. When she does seem to notice a change, like when she doesn’t get biscuits in the middle of the night, she will sit and look at me for a few minutes and then happily go back to eating her bamboo.
Kate Roca
Carnivore Keeper II
Tuesday, December 9
As if getting a name wasn’t enough excitement, Zoo Atlanta threw a party for its second giant panda cub, Xi Lan! This is my first season working with giant pandas, and I had the honor of attending the naming ceremony yesterday. I was amazed at just how many people are fans of this little guy! People from all over Atlanta and the world came to the event, eagerly awaiting his name and celebrating this tremendous milestone with Zoo Atlanta staff.
With a new name comes new protocol for the giant panda keepers. No longer can we refer to him with adoring little nicknames like "chubby cubby" or "the little man." Now it will be "Xi Lan" or maybe just "Xi' for short. I think it will take Xi Lan longer to learn his new name than us. Lately, as Heather mentioned in one of her updates, he’s been more interested in practicing his foot work. But no worries, I’m sure the little guy—Xi Lan, is proud to be Atlanta’s joy.
Over 45,000 people worldwide voted for his name. So, from everyone here at Zoo Atlanta, thank you so much for participating!
Caroline Jones
Seasonal Keeper
Monday, December 8
“What’s in a name? That which we call a rose
By any other name would smell as sweet.”
William Shakespeare
Romeo and Juliet (II, ii, 1-2)
Shakespeare was correct; a name does not change the essence of that with which it is associated. On the other hand, a name is often the most vital of distinguishing factors. Although the cub has enjoyed celebrity status since before his birth, from this day forward rather than being referred to in the possessive – “Lun Lun’s cub,” “Zoo Atlanta’s giant panda cub” – he will be known in his own right.
He will be known by his name – XI LAN (“Shee-Lahn”)!
Debbie Forde
Curatorial Assistant
Sunday, December 7
Well, the BIG DAY is almost here! Tomorrow, Monday, 8 December 2008, the cub will be 100 days old and at 11:30 a.m. (EST) the cub's name will be revealed! We panda keepers are all anxiously awaiting to find out what we will be calling this little guy. As his caretakers and trainers (eventually!), we will use his name many, many times per day over the next few years, so tomorrow is an important day for us as well as the cub. Personally, I cannot believe how quickly the last few months have passed and I have thoroughly enjoyed these odd [night] shifts and caring exclusively for Lun Lun and her cub. Although I was a keeper here when Mei Lan was born, I worked the daytime shifts and did not have much interaction with her until she was older. Watching this cub daily from birth has been an unforgettable experience for me; however, I am excited to look to the future and see the cub walk for the first time, climb his first tree and have his first taste of bamboo. There are so many more milestones to come and I look forward to them all!
Heather Baker Roberts
Carnivore Keeper I
Saturday, December 6
On Friday afternoon, while Lun Lun was resting just a few feet away from the cub, he decided he wanted to be with his mother. He looked up and around for a few minutes and seemed to locate her. Then he scooted directly over to her! It did take him a few minutes, but he was confident and did not deviate from his goal (no running into the wall or stopping for a rest). Lun Lun was asleep and the cub surprised her when he reached her. She looked up and then reached out a paw to pull the cub onto her chest. Lun Lun then carried the cub to her favorite spot to nurse him. This was a very cute interaction between mother and cub and it was the first time I have seen the cub go to Lun Lun on his own. Usually when the cub wants his mother, he calls for her and she goes to him. It is another milestone in this cub's life!
Heather Baker Roberts
Carnivore Keeper I
Thursday, December 4
You have waited 97 days to find out Lun Lun’s second cub’s name. We will only have to refer to him as “the cub” for three more days. On Monday, when he is 100 days old, we will find out which of the 12 names has been selected through the voting process.
During the cub’s first three months his eyes have opened; his fur has come in; his black markings have developed; teeth have erupted; and he has learned to scoot around. Now we will all look forward to him mastering walking, running, climbing, and, most importantly, going out in his habitat soon, so that you can see him when you visit the Zoo.
Kate Roca
Carnivore Keeper II
Wednesday, December 3
Time to brag about Mei Lan some more! Over the past two weeks we have been training Mei Lan to receive voluntary injections in her rear leg. This involves her entering a restraint cage and lying down so that her leg can safely be accessed by the veterinarian. This is an important behavior for her to learn so that we can administer the anesthesia for routine exams while minimizing stress. Well, this past Monday Mei Lan had her routine physical exam and she cooperated with the injection perfectly! She did not even flinch when the needle was inserted. Way to go Mei Lan!!
Kate Roca
Carnivore Keeper II
 |
|
| Another cute picture from the cub's weigh-in. This little one can squirm! |
Tuesday, December 2
Remember when your mother would lick her thumb and use it to wipe off some foreign matter from your face? You would cringe as she approached and parry to dodge the inevitable. I suppose I witnessed the panda version of that when Lun Lun, taking the job of mothering ever so seriously, was fixed on giving the cub a good bath.
Most infant mammals require anal-genital (A-G) stimulation in order to defecate and urinate. Lun Lun is very diligent in ensuring that this need is met for the cub and she often throws in a full body bath for good measure. The other evening, while holding him, she began to lick the cub’s A-G area. He was squirming a bit, so she placed him on the floor. As she continued to bathe him he became impatient with the entire process. Lying on his back, mom’s paws holding his rear legs, he began to twist his upper body from side to side in a futile struggle for his freedom.
I was surprised to see how strong his movements were; but, when you are trying to make a point - I don’t want a bath! - I guess you have to put all your brawn into it.
Debbie Forde
Curatorial Assistant
 |
|
| Like most of us post-Thanksgiving, returning to the scale can be quite harrowing |
Monday, December 1
When I arrived at the panda building last evening, Kate informed me that the cub had reached yet another milestone – two canine teeth have erupted. Last week Heather reported that, while conducting an examination, Dr. Rivera noticed a tooth bud under the gums.
I thought it might be interesting to look back through the records to compare the same development for Mei Lan. On 22 November, when she was 75 days old, the report of a first tooth appeared in the web updates. That this cub’s first teeth became visible at 92 days is not significantly different. Most developmental achievements have a time continuum along which they are expected to occur. Providing that a particular milestone is attained within that estimated range or within a reasonable time surrounding that period, there is usually no cause for alarm over individual differences. Occasionally, even great departures from the norm are not viewed as problematic. In fact, although it occurs infrequently, there are reports of newborn human infants with teeth fully emerged.
Debbie Forde
Curatorial Assistant
Sunday, November 30
I don't know how many of you have noticed from the photos of the cub, but his eye patches are unique and quite different than those of his parents and his sister. They look like ordinary panda eye patches until you see him in profile, and then you can see that the outer corners sweep upwards quite dramatically. It looks as if someone took a paint brush and added a bit of flare to the edges of his eye patches. He does not need any help looking adorable, but I certainly think it enhances his cute factor! Take a look at some of the close-up photos posted here on the updates page to see what I am talking about.
Heather Baker Roberts
Keeper I
Saturday, November 29
Last night was the first night that Lun Lun received all of her bamboo by 11:00 p.m. This is the process of "weaning" Lun Lun from her overnight care that Debbie mentioned earlier this week. The pandas are accustomed to getting all of their overnight bamboo before we leave around 5:30 p.m.every night; however, since we have been providing Lun Lun with fresh bamboo every few hours for the last 4 months, I expected at least a minor protest from her. I was pleasantly surprised that when she did get up to eat - she looked around expectantly for less than a minute before sitting down to eat her bamboo. I am very proud of her!
The cub is 91 days old and has hit another milestone -- he has just passed the 10 lbs. mark (4.57 kg.)!
Heather Baker Roberts
Keeper I
Friday, November 28
More often than not Lun Lun is the one that initiates the nursing sessions. The cub is normally asleep, and when Lun Lun is ready she just curls up with him in what has become her nursing position. If he is hungry, he starts to root around for a nipple. Once found, the nursing session begins. Sometimes he gets his fill and falls asleep in her arms, whereas other times she determines he has had enough and leaves him to eat or sleep by herself. Then he falls asleep by himself. Last night I guess he was too hungry to wait for Lun Lun. While she was away enjoying a snack of her own, he started to vocalize in the adjacent den. At first Lun Lun ignored him and continued to eat; that was until he got a little louder. At which time she stopped in mid-bite and quickly returned to him. She curled right up with him and he was able to have his fill. Just reminds us all of what a good mother Lun Lun is!
Kate Roca
Carnivore Keeper II
Thursday, November 27
Happy Thanksgiving to all from the Zoo Atlanta Staff!
The pandas will not be enjoying a turkey feast today, instead they will get to enjoy their primary diet of bamboo (and mom's milk for the cub). Two weeks ago I mentioned they were enjoying black bamboo (Phyllostachys nigra) and bambusoides bamboo (Phyllostachys bambusoides), but all three bears have since moved on to other types. Lun Lun, Yang Yang, and Mei Lan are really enjoying a species called yellow groove (Phyllostachys aureosulcata). They are still primarily eating the leaves but will nibble at the culm. The second species we are offering is henon (Phyllostachys nigra henon). Lun Lun seems to love to eat the leaves while Yang Yang and Mei Lan are “hit and miss” about the selection. Although the Zoo is closed on Thanksgiving Day, many of the animal care staff will be spending the day taking care of the animals. They all need to be fed, spend time outside, and have their enclosures cleaned like any other day. Working on holidays and weekends is a labor of love that the animal care staff does willingly because the animals always come first.
Kate Roca
Carnivore Keeper II
 |
|
| chubby cubby, cute carnivore (say that 5 times!) |
Wednesday, November 26
Though the cub is still getting all of his nourishment from Lun Lun’s milk, one day his diet will consist of 99% bamboo. So when we refer to giant pandas as carnivores, some people give us puzzled looks and usually bring up the question of why we call them carnivores when they mainly eat an herbivore’s diet. Well, the terms carnivore, herbivore, omnivore, etc., are descriptors for a species’ diet, not a phylogenetic classification. Giant pandas are phylogenetically classified as members of the Order Carnivora, or simply carnivores, based on their evolutionary history. Giant pandas are bears, which puts them in the Family Ursidae. They and other bears share a common ancestor. There are seven families that make up the Order Carnivora: Ursidae (bears), Canidae (dogs), Felidae (cats), Procyonidae (raccoons and their relatives), Mustelidae (skunks, badgers, weasels, and their relatives), Hyaenidae (hyenas and aardwolf), and Viverridae (genets, civets, and mongooses). Next time you see a panda chomping down on an apple, pear, bamboo or meat (wild pandas have been known to eat small amounts of carrion) you will be able say, “Enjoy your omnivorous diet, you cute carnivore!”
The chubby cubby weighed in at 4.368 kg yesterday.
Kate Roca
Carnivore Keeper II
 |
|
|
The "gimme some turkey" stare down. |
Tuesday, November 25
A number of people have questioned whether or not Mei Lan and the new cub will ever have the opportunity to meet. These questions stem from our very human need for sociality, which often makes it difficult for us to understand how solitary or quasi-solitary animals make a life.
Because the amount of time and energy a female must expend to raise a cub is quite significant, as well as the fact that resources are limited, a female must concentrate all her efforts on her most recent offspring; or, in the absence of a cub, on her own health and well-being. With only two exceptions –when a male and a receptive female meet, court and breed during those few estrous days each year, and when a female is raising her offspring - giant pandas live their entire lives alone.
To the human mind, it seems odd that brother and sister would never meet, have the opportunity to know each other or play together. However, solitary animals do not have the same needs as social species. In fact, and in spite of the seemingly inseparable nature of the mother-cub experience, once a giant panda cub is weaned it will leave its mother to find its own home range and live a solitary life. A female giant panda represents an enormous danger to any intruder, especially when raising a cub. Lun Lun would view Mei Lan as a potential threat to the cub and drain on her resources, and thus would respond aggressively. Therefore, Mei Lan and the cub must remain strangers.
Debbie Forde
Curatorial Assistant
Monday, November 24
Over the past weeks we have all been reporting about the changes and the developments that are occurring with the cub. His steady progress has been spectacular to watch. Now Lun Lun will undergo a few changes also.
With all the forward steps that the cub has made and Lun Lun’s commendable mothering skills, eventually the services of the cub-watchers will not be required. And, because of these advances Lun Lun must return to her normal schedule of care. Slowly, over the next several weeks, she must readjust to receiving all of her bamboo and other foods by the time staff leaves at the end of the work day. No more midnight trips to the cooler for fresh bamboo. In essence, Lun Lun is being weaned!
Debbie Forde
Curatorial Assistant
Sunday, November 23
On Friday the cub was 83 days old, and he received another clean bill of health from our veterinarian, Dr. Sam Rivera. He got his second distemper vaccine and a full check-up. During the exam, Dr. Rivera noticed that one upper canine tooth is just about to erupt! The rest of the cub's teeth were securely underneath the gums, but will probably start to push through over the next few weeks. We also got another set of body measurements for the cub. The measurements are as follows: body length: 49.5 cm; tail length: 6.3 cm; neck girth: 28 cm; chest girth: 43.5; abdominal girth: 47.5; nose pad width: 4.8 cm. Scroll down to the Nov 11th update to see how much the cub has grown in the past 2 weeks.
As always, I remain in awe of how big the cub's belly is- 18.7 inches!
Heather Baker Roberts
Carnivore Keeper I
Saturday, November 22
I was away for the first half of this week, so it has been several days since I have seen the cub. What a difference a week makes! He has gotten so big and he has a little more contour – less pudge, and more muscle mass. Don’t get me wrong, he is still quite a butterball, but he just seems a bit more formed to me. He slept most of the night, so unfortunately, I did not get to see if his crawling skills have improved any since last I last saw him, but I have heard that they have. He seems to have developed better visual perception as well. The cub's eyes have been fully opened for a couple of weeks now and as Debbie mentioned in the November 17th update, it is obvious that the cub is now reacting to visual stimuli instead of only sounds.
Ah! And what we have all been waiting for... the cub now weighs 4.076 kg, which is almost 9 pounds!
Heather Baker Roberts
Carnivore Keeper I
Friday, November 21
“Wouldn't it be easier for the cub to develop his crawling skills on a surface that isn't slippery?”
This seems to be a frequent question that is being asked of us recently as the cub continues to squirm about the den. I can assure you that he is right on track in developing his crawling skills, which will eventually turn into walking. Just as with humans, he needs to develop not only the coordination but the strength needed to support his body weight. We have seen signs of this, as Heather has mentioned in her Nov 15th and 16th updates, but he not quite there yet. Even when placed on a different surface during his weight checks he can push up with his front limbs, but cannot stand on his hind limbs for more than a second or two. Some may remember the non-slip strips that we added to a section of the floor when Mei Lan was learning to walk and I have to say I never saw that these strips really help her out. This cub, just as Mei Lan did, will crawl when it is his time.
We have also lately been asked about the lack of bedding material for the cub. As was mentioned in the November 9th update, the pandas are very comfortable in the dens. The dens are heated and it’s quite cozy in Lun Lun’s and the cub’s area. Bedding is provided to give the pandas a choice of substrates, but Lun Lun chooses not to use the bedding and now prefers to place the cub in areas without bedding. She did the same thing with Mei Lan. Giant pandas have very thick wooly coats, which keep them well insulated and comfortable on surfaces that wouldn’t be comfortable to us. The cub’s coat is dense and wooly too. He is comfortable and content on the bare floor. This is where Lun Lun prefers for him to be and we respect her preference by not moving the cub from the area where she places him.
Kate Roca
Carnivore Keeper II
Wednesday, November 19
Looking back at the cub’s weight gain since birth, we see a nice upward trend in his weight gain. During the first month of his life, he gained an average of 240 grams (8.46 oz) a week. During the next month, he gained an average of 380 grams (13.40 oz) a week. So far during the month of November he has gained an average of 435 grams (15.34 oz) per week. If he gains weight like Mei Lan did, we should expect his weight gain level out to around a gain of one pound per week during the remainder of his first year.
Kate Roca
Carnivore Keeper II
 |
|
| chubby cubby, cute carnivore (say that 5 times!) |
Tuesday, November 18
Change = Progress
More and more, Lun Lun is moving the cub to another den. Other members of the Panda Team tell me that she also showed partiality for this den when she was raising Mei Lan. There is a camera in the den, but no infrared illuminator which is why Panda Cam appeared darker than usual the past two evenings. Chances are you will be experiencing this more often during overnight viewing.
Another change you will encounter will be in our updates. Although you might miss tracking the daily increases in weight, you should revel in the fact that the cub has progressed so far that daily checks are no longer required. Until further notice, weigh-ins will occur on Tuesdays and Fridays. Depending on the cooperative nature of Lun Lun and the cub on those days, the results of those checks may not be reported until the following day. However, for now, we will continue to give you a report each day on the antics of the mother-son pair, with smatterings of news about Yang Yang and Mei Lan. So, stay tuned!
Debbie Forde
Curatorial Assistant
Monday, November 17
I - the “absentee aunt” who learns of the family news a bit late - don’t regularly watch Panda Cam or read the updates. I catch up with the cub and Lun Lun on Sunday and Monday nights. The distance serves a purpose. Catching sight of the cub after being away for almost six days renders the changes in his size and development all the more astonishing. At 3.817 kilograms, he has gained almost one pound since I last saw him.
Other truly noticeable changes have taken place. A once long, thin, hairless tail, is now the fully furred, broad-based triangular shape characteristic of giant pandas. Head up; eyes alert. Face rounded by thickened pelage. Legs strengthened enough to lift his weight, even if for only a few seconds at a time. Following sounds with directed head and body movements; catching glimpses of motion in the periphery. Each day, each week, each month brings new advances. And soon, a name!
Debbie Forde
Curatorial Assistant
Sunday, November 16
The cub must have been exhausted from his crawling attempts yesterday because tonight he slept the entire night until about 5:00 a.m., when he awoke because he was hungry. Lun Lun was also tired; after eating for an hour and a half late in the evening, she promptly fell asleep and slept the rest of the night. Since the cub is older, Lun Lun can spend more time away from him. Now the time she spends on her own includes resting as well as eating. I am not really surprised by the amount of time they spent sleeping – giant pandas typically spend about 10-12 hours per day resting in intervals of 2-4 hours at a time. Cubs, of course, spend much more time resting. As with all young mammals, panda cubs need to expend energy growing instead of involved in activity. Indeed, he is growing!
Heather Baker Roberts
Carnivore Keeper I
Saturday, November 15
Tonight I saw the cub trying to crawl. This is the first time I have seen this behavior. Scooting is the first method panda cubs use to move around. As we have mentioned before, scooting involves the cub using his limbs to more or less drag himself along on the floor; his body stays flat on the floor and his legs remain fairly splayed out from his body. As the cub develops more muscle strength, this behavior evolves into crawling, which involves the cub getting his legs underneath his body, pushing up off the ground and moving forward. Tonight I saw the cub get all four legs underneath his body and hover there for about 2-3 seconds, then he relaxed and laid on the floor. He did this three times and had moved forward about an inch. Then he was exhausted and he rested until Lun Lun picked him up a couple of hours later. I did not see him try to crawl again, but I am sure he will try again soon.
The cub's latest weight is 3.639 kg., which is just over 8 pounds.
Heather Baker Roberts
Carnivore Keeper I
Friday, November 14
This week we have noticed that the fur around the cub’s neck has started to turn slightly pink in color; don’t worry, though, this is not permanent. Studies have shown that the saliva of light-colored dogs and lab rats contains chemical pigments and iron that produce a change in the color of the fur when it is licked. It is presumed that this pigment is also present in the saliva of giant pandas. So when Lun Lun carries the cub or licks him, his fur becomes stained pink. When the cub is able to clean himself by scratching and rubbing (adult giant pandas really don’t groom themselves by licking), the pink tint will fade and his fur will appear white again.
Kate Roca
Carnivore Keeper II
Thursday, November 13
We have mentioned before that the giant pandas’ taste preferences are sometimes quite particular. Over the past month the pandas have been enjoying one of their fall favorites, black bamboo (Phyllostachys nigra). We have seen all three pandas eating both the leaves and culm, but because this bamboo species can sometimes be limited in supply, we have started our search for the next type of bamboo for the pandas to enjoy. Luckily, we have kept records of the pandas’ preferences over the last nine years. We decided to try bambusoides bamboo (a species they liked this time of the year two years ago). We tried the bambusoides (Phyllostachys bambusoides ) with all three pandas yesterday, and both Lun Lun and Yang Yang seemed to thoroughly enjoy it. Mei Lan seemed a little less impressed, so we will be trying other species for her until we find one she likes.
Kate Roca
Carnivore Keeper II
Monday, November 10
Last evening the cub's slumber was broken by a period of activity. Stretching and yawning, and just generally squirming about in the little space he was occupying in the nest box. Suddenly, his left foot became the area of concentration for his kinetic energy. At first small, slow and barely discernible; then, the motion grew and became a rhythmic pattern. He was scratching! One minor technical problem; while most of the required sequences of the action were in place, his foot did not come into contact with any other part of his body. In spite of the ineffectiveness, he continued scratching the floor for a time before sleep overtook him again. While his weight (3357 grams) continues to increase rapidly, motor skills are not as easily gained; they require physiological maturation, a bit of trial and error, and much practice before being mastered.
Debbie Forde
Curatorial Assistant
 |
|
|
Ready for his close-up |
Sunday, November 9
Now that the cub's coat is full and wooly, he is able to maintain his body temperature without external help. He no longer needs Lun Lun to hold him or a nest box full of bedding materials to keep him warm. This is important because Lun Lun now prefers to move the cub into different areas in the dens. Because he has a warm coat, the cub can rest comfortably wherever Lun Lun places him. It would be impossible to keep bedding in every inch of the dens; Lun Lun likes to just push it off into the corners. The cub does not seem to mind sleeping or scooting around on the bare floor. In fact, Lun Lun, Yang Yang and Mei Lan all prefer to rest on the bare floor rather than any type of bedding we offer. Because of this, we typically only provide bedding materials periodically for enrichment and they rarely, if ever, actually sleep on them. Giant pandas have dense coats that allow them to live in harsh, mountain conditions and prefer cool temperatures, so it seems that they get too warm sleeping on bedding.
Heather Baker Roberts
Carnivore Keeper I
Tuesday, November 4
Yesterday morning, Lun Lun decided to play a post-Halloween trick on me. She relocated the cub! Those of you watching PandaCam early Monday were perhaps concerned by the glaringly empty nest box on your screens.
Lun Lun repeatedly carried her precious boy from the nest box into each of the other two adjoining dens and back. Sometimes she would lay him down, stand over him briefly, then pick him up again and move on to the next den. Other times she would merely stand in the den looking about, cub dangling awkwardly from her mouth. At length, she settled on the den that was “just right,” and rested with the cub nestled against her. During the excursion, the cub (and I) protested to some degree!
As Kate mentioned last week, cub relocation is a very normal part of the parenting process. Eventually, the cub’s increasing size will make it difficult for Lun Lun to carry him. For now, his weight of 2,971 grams is manageable.
Debbie Forde
Curatorial Assistant
Sunday, November 2
Giant pandas have many, many mucous producing cells lining their gastrointestinal tracts. This is an adaptation for eating bamboo. The mucous lining protects their gastrointestinal tracts from injury which could be caused by the sharp pieces of bamboo they consume. Periodically, a giant panda sheds this lining, resulting in something we call a mucous stool or mucoid. When this happens, the panda will stop eating for several hours and rest curled up in a tight ball until defecating a mucous stool. Afterwards, the panda resumes its normal activities as if nothing had happened. I do not know if it is typical, but Yang Yang and Lun Lun usually pass mucous stools in the morning and are back to their normal activities by lunchtime at the latest. Yesterday morning, Lun Lun went through this process. The previous night, I noticed that she slept more than usual and even slept through breakfast (highly unusual for the nursing mother!). However, after she passed two mucous stools, her behavior made sense. Since Lun Lun has had the cub, it is more difficult to know that she is in the process of passing a mucous stool because she still cares for the cub as normal.
Heather Baker Roberts
Carnivore Keeper
Saturday, November 1
I have noticed that the cub's favorite place to sleep is next to the board that makes up one wall of the nest box. Whenever Lun Lun puts him down and leaves him in the middle of the nest box, he seems to always wiggle and scoot until he is right up against the nest box wall. Sometimes he even ends up lying next to the wall closest to Lun Lun when she is sleeping on the floor outside of the nest box. Is this his goal? We shall never know, but this seems unlikely, because he does it even when Lun Lun is off in another den. Perhaps he just likes to touch a solid surface when he sleeps; or possibly he just scoots around until he bumps into something and has to rest. Unfortunately, it is impossible to understand the thought processes of a giant panda cub, but I do find it interesting that even at 63 days old, the cub seems to be showing a preference for a sleeping space.
Heather Baker Roberts
Carnivore Keeper I
| < panda cub updates January - March 2009 | panda cub updates October - August 2009 > |
