Panda News from around the world
The San Diego Zoo is planning a Black & White Overnight for Adults.
On 29th 2010, The State Forestry Administration announced that Shu Xiang (Male) and Qi Miao (Female) two cubs born in 2008 at Chungdu Panda Breeding Centre will be sent to Macao.
In March 2009 a female panda of approximately 5 years of age come out of the bamboo forest clearly unwell and underfed. Local villagers called the authorities who came and rescued the panda. After a month being cared for Lu Xin was well enough to be released back in to the wild.
So on 29th of April she was fitted with a GPS radio tracking collar and released back in to the wild.
Since then she has been tracked and appears to be doing well. At the end of 2010 she will be recaptured and given a full examination to ensure she is fit and healthy.
Yang Yang was born around October 2001 in the Baishuijiang Nature Reserve. He was a poorly panda from birth and in April 2003 he was transferred to Chengdu, and later to Bifengxia.
His keepers took extra special care of him, and got his weight up to where it should be, and he is a much happier panda. In March Yang Yang began showing signs being interested in the ladies.
The staff decided that whilst he's not quite ready to be with a female panda his semen will be used in Artificial Insemination. Hopefully he will become a father.
Singapore Zoo has started making preparations to receive two giant pandas in August 2011.
The zoo have already set samples of bamboo for two year old Hu Bao and three year old Wu Jie to try, and will begin growing planting 8,000 square meters of bamboo plantation.
Singapore is warmer than what the pair are used to so specially built areas will keep them at temperatures they are more accustomed to.
Wildlife Reserves Singapore are also planning to start a breeding programme, and everyone is very confident that the pair will breed, when they reach around 7-8 years of age.
I don't usually promote products on this site, but I have just received a new lithograph reproduction of a drawing by Kevin Hayler.
This is the third reproduction of his involving pandas I have, (Plus a couple I gave as gifts).
We met Kevin (though he probably doesn't remember) a few years ago whilst my partner and I were visiting Brighton in the UK, Kevin had an easel in the street and was drawing another image from a photo he had taken whilst on his travels. His drawings were of many different animals. When we saw the image of "Bamboo Breakfast" I just had to have a copy.
It is with great sadness that we report that an 30 year old giant panda Chuan Chuan who lived in Shanghai Zoo passed away last month.
He was wild born and captured around 1981 in Baoting and transfered to Shanghai. He was moved a few times between Shanghai and Chongoing and spent some time in Beijing before making Shanghai his home in 2001.
He sired 9 cubs including Le Le at Memphis Zoo, and was grandfather to Le Le at Hong Kong Ocean Park.
Officials from the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland (Edinburgh Zoo) paid a visit to Bifengxia, Ya'an Sichuan China, then travelled to Beijing to discuss the details of giant panda research cooperation.
Lets hope their trip is successful and can help the giant panda in getting off the endangered list.
Of course I can't wait to visit.
It is with great sadness that we have to report that Devra G. Kleiman passed away on April 29th.
Devra was a ground breaking biologist with a career of over 40 years most of which was at the National Zoo Washington.
Devra lead the team that tried to breed Hsing-Hsing and Ling-Ling and was instrumental in showing zoo's that they could help save endangered species.
On the 26th of April 2010 a wild panda was spotted near a corn field in Beichuan County. It was having difficulty breathing and kept stopping to get it's breath. Villagers reported the panda to the Forestry Bureau who immediately sent staff.
Once it was confirmed that the panda was ill, an emergency plan was put into action to capture the panda and sent it to Chengdu Research Centre, to be further diagnosed.
Zoo scientists have confirmed with an ultrasound and hormone analysis that Mei Xiang is not Pregnant, but was experiencing an pseudo pregnancy.
Over 40 members of staff and volunteers have been carefully watching Mei Xiang over the weekend, when her hormone levels went back to their normal levels which indicates that she will either give birth or stop the pseudo pregnancy.
I wish to thank everyone involved with taking care and watching Mei Xiang for their efforts. Lets hope it's better news next year.
After blogging about the Adelaide Panda Cam, and that Mei Xiang is on 24 hour pregnancy watch I realised that I didn't have any links to Panda Cams around the world. So after a couple of late nights of designing and programming I'm proud to introduce a new tab "Panda Cams".
Selecting the image on the right of the section will open a new window with the Panda Cam page.
Please let me know any errors with the links, I'm sorry but I can't help with any problems with the Cams themselves. Also if I left out any Panda Cams you know about please share with us.