Panda News from around the world
  • Thermal Scan on Bai Yun

    The San Diego Zoo has released a new image of a thermal scan of Bai Yun.

    "Two indistinct heat structures can be seen, one on either side of her midline, toward the right side of the picture. The arrow-shaped red structure in the middle is her bladder. At this point we can only say these heat signatures are suggestive of two implantation sites."

    "We’ll be doing another scan this week, and we’ll continue to watch these heat signatures through the month of July, when we may see them become more distinct, which would indicate growing cubs."
  • San Diego Pandas are Safe After Fire at Nearby Shop

    A San Diego zoo security guard who was doing his rounds in the early morning of Monday 11th July smelt smoke and found on investigation that the shop close to the Panda Exhibit was on fire.

    Fire Fighters were called and the fire was out in about 15 minutes. Investigators stayed through the night examining the reason behind the fire. It is believed that the fire was set deliberately, the exact cause has not been released at this time.

    The panda keepers checked on the pandas and they were going about their usual routines and were not effected by the fire.
  • Adults Only Panda Sleepover

    The San Diego Zoo is planning a Black & White Overnight for Adults.
  • USA Trip Images from San Diego

    Some more photos from my on going trip to see the pandas in the USA.
    San Diego Zoo
    Memphis
    Atlanta
    Washington DC
    Or to see the photos from the Whole Trip
  • Yun Zi First Day Out

    On Wednesday 6th January Yun Zi, made his first public appearance before waiting photographers. As of that date, he can be seen in "The Classroom" for a few hours each day.
  • Bai Yun's Latest Cub Receives Name

    104 Days ago Bai Yun San Diego Zoo's super panda mum gave birth to her fifth cub. As is tradition in China he received his name today. (Well he should of got it after 100 days)

    The public from around the world helped choose his name, from giving the initial ideas for his names down to select the one from a short list of five.

    His name was revealed at a special ceremony at the Zoo's Hunte Amphitheatre.

    Oh you want to know his name? Yun Zi, meaning son of cloud. His mother is Bai Yun meaning White Cloud.
  • Name That Panda

    The San Diego Zoo has poured over 6,331 submissions for names for their new panda cub and have managed to get it down to just five names.

    Starting from Saturday October 31st through till Tuesday November 3rd you will be able to choose your favourite name online. (No link yet, I'll post it when I find out)

    The result of the vote will be announanced on the pandas naming day, 12th November 2009.

    Don't forget to follow the reference and read up on how the little fellow is doing.
  • Get Ready to Choose a Panda Name

    Visitors to San Diego Zoo, between October 10th and 19th, can hand in their ideas for the name of San Diego's new panda cub.

    After this date, the Zoo's panda team, comprised of keepers, veterinarians, scientists and others will select several of the names and pass them on to the Chinese Wildlife Conservation Association who will then pick a short list of names what will be posted on line, where the global community can vote on their favourites.

    If you wish to give a suggestion for a name, then the name should be in Chinese (Pinyin), have an English translation, be symbolic in meaning.
  • Wonder mum celebrates her 18th

    Bai Yun, the wonder mum of San Diego who this year gave birth to her 5th cub turned 18 years old on the 7th August.

    Bai Yun was the first captive-born panda. She transfered to San Diego in 1996 where she has lived since. She first gave birth to Hua Mei in 1999, then Mei Sheng in 2003, Su Lin in 2005, Zhen Zhen in 2007 and a not yet named cub this year.

    Her first daughter Hua Mei gave birth to twind Mei Ling and Tuan Tuan in 2004, Tuan Tuan was the male panda who went to Taiwan last year.
  • It's a boy

    Bai Yun's fifth cub has had it's first examination.

    The examination proved that the cub is very a very healthy 1,259 gramms (2.8 pounds) and 37cm (14.7 inches), and it's a boy.

    Well done to everyone at San Diego Zoo, who have put an awful lot of work into breeding pandas, so much so that they make it look like child's play.
  • Video of Bai Yun's Cub

    Our good friend Chet, has found a video documenting the birth of San Diego Zoo's Bai Yun giving birth to her cub.

    Follow the reference to view the video.
  • San Diego Zoo celebrates panda cub birth

    At 4:58 local time on 5th August, a squawking panda infant was born to Bai Yun at San Diego Zoo.

    For the previous 24 hours Bai Yun become more restless and taking shorter periods of rest with intermittent next building. At 2:45 she leaned back holding her feet. After a couple of hours and various positions, at 4:58 Bai Yun stood on all fours and had a series of contractions then a loud squawking was heard and Bai Yun turned to take care of her new born.

    Congratulations to Bai Yun, and well done to all the staff at San Diego Zoo.
  • Bai Yun pregnant with two fetus'

    The San Diego Zoo's panda blog has an interesting story about Bai Yun and how recent ultrasound show that she is expecting twins. Though on a later ultrasound examination only one could be seen.
  • Anniversary of Shi Shi's Death.

    Today marks the first anniversary of Shi Shi a very important panda.
    I have been asked by Chet if I would mark this occasion with a couple of posts she made about him. Over to you Chet
    ---------------------------------------------------
  • All change as San Diego Zoo panda exibit

    Bai Yun has been moved to the "classroom" area off exibit so that keepers and volunteers can keep an eye on her to see if she's pregnant.

    Zhen Zhen has been moved to the left-hand enclosure. Su-lin and her father Goa-Goa will be rotated every 2 weeks in the right-hand enclosure. It is hoped that later this year the "howdy door" between the enclosures will opened so that Zhen Zhen and her older siter Su-lin can interact with each other.
  • Bamboo Chiller: Whoooooosh!

    The new bamboo chiller for the pandas at San Diego Zoo is up and running. It seems that the keepers are enjoying the new chiller as the pandas are enjoying the fresher bamboo.

    Slide across to the San Diego Zoo Blog to read all abou it.
  • Su lin becoming a "Teenager"

    The San Diego Blog is reporting amongst other things that little Su Lin is going through her first, possibly preliminary, estrus (Panda Puberty).

    It seems strange that she is now 3 1/2 years old. Where does the time go. I'm just wondering if she's going to be a "Normal" teenager and dye her fur pink, and get body jewelry.

    She'll soon be going to her prom and leaving home.
  • San Diego Pandas not shy

    The San Diego Zoo blog is reporting that Bai Yun and Gao Gao have been mating naturally. We'll just have to wait now and see if the mating was a success and a new Baby Panda Cub is born later this year.

    Good luck San Diego.
  • San Diego Cooler soon to be fully working.

    As regular readers will know San Diego Zoo launched an appeal late last year for a new cooler to keep the pandas bamboo nice and fresh. This site and some of our readers contributed to the cause and the funds were so raised.

    Construction began in March and is nearer completion and should be finished in the next few days. Racks to hold the bamboo are being installed along with drainage.
  • Viewing of San Diego Pandas will be limited for a few days

    The San Diego Zoo is warning visitors of both the zoo and the panda cams that interruptions are to be expected for the news few days as their female giant panda Bai Yun comes into season and mates with local stud Gao Gao.

    On April 13th Bai Yun and Gao Gao swapped enclosures for a time so they could smell the scent of each other and get use to them, this helps with the pandas knowing each other and are more prepared to mate.