Panda News from around the world
March 6th 2009, The south line of CCRCGP's "Thanks Tourism aroound China" visits schools and communities of Kunming Downtown.
They visited the people who gave their support to the Giant Pandas after the Earthquake on May 12th 2008.
Mr Zhou Xiaoping, Assistant Chief Engineer of CCRCGP, gave a lively lecture to the students of Class One, Grade Six of Jinkangyuan Primary School, who welcomed the pandas when they arrived at Yunnan Wildlife Park. They also volunteered, had a charity sale and celebrated the pandas birthday.
Jennifer Keating one of the keepers from San Diego is visiting Bifengxia, and has posted an excellent blog entry about what she is doing there and some brilliant news that Hua Mei, One of the pandas born at San Diego and now in Bifengxia has mated 4 times natually.
Lets hope Hua Mei becomes a mum again.
Thanks Jennifer for writing your blog entries.
I have received word by my great friendly keeper Mr Li, that one of the pandas I helped to look after last year has come in to heat and mated. Lets hope she becomes a mum this year and doesn't have a fantasy pregnancy again this year
On the morning of March 5th 2009, Wolong CCRCGP holds a ceremony to express its gratitude to Wuhan Zoo, it's staff and the many members of the public and businesses who have supported them after the Earthquake of May 12th 2008.
Mr Tang Chunxiang, Assistant director of CCRCGP presented symbolic gifts of soil and water from Wolong to Mr Li Dexin head of Wuhan Zoo.
Mr Li Desheng also presented honor Certificates to the representatives of people who donated to Wuhan when the pandas arrived.
March 4th 2009. The southline members gather paw prints from Qian Qian, Mei Xi and Si Jia with the help from the keepers.
The clay for the prints is made by a company in Shenzhen. It has no flavour, innoxious and doesn't stick to skin. Before taking the prints keeper Zhou Yu takes a small piece to the pandas to see whether they are sensitive to it.
Mei Xi acts like a super star and is having her prints on Hollywood's walk of fame. The other pandas have their paw prints taken without any problems.
The Chengdu Panda Base has a blog entry about an interview one of their leading members of staff had with the China News Service.
Follow the reference to read it.
On March 3rd the members of the Northline team examine Xi Wang and Wei Wie and find that they are in excellent health.
Both pandas have put on weight since they were evacuated from Wolong. Xi Wang has gone from 96kg to 111.2kg and Wei Wei has gone from 86kg to 99.2kg.
The Northline members took the paw prints of both pandas. These along with the paw prints from the other 24 pandas that were evacuated will be gathered back together and put on display on the panda museum when it is rebuilt.
In the afternoon of March 3rd 2009 the south line members arrive at Yuannan Wildlife Park.
They are taken by the staff to see Qian Qian, Mei Xi and Si Jia.
Over the next few days the Southline Members will get furthur information about the pandas living there, perform examinations on the pandas and pass on the gratitude of Wolong in them fostering the pandas in Wolongs time of need.
Yuannan Wildlife park is located in the famous Jindian National Forest. 10Kms form Kunming City and next to Jindian Reservoir.
On the morning of March the 2nd 2009, The north line members of "Tourism around china" get to their second city, Wuhan.
They first talk to Mr Liang a panda lover in Wuhan. Mr Liang is in his 90's and been a supporter of the Giant Panda at Wolong for many years. Mr Liang presents them with a poem he has written for them.
Next they visit Steel Structure Co., Ltd of China Railway #3 Engineering Group. The company gave substantial finical support to Wolong after the May 12th Earthquake.
Finally they arrive at Wuhan Zoo, who are fostering two Giant Pandas "Xi Wang" and "Wei Wei"
Zhen Zhen the adorable cub that was born almost two years ago has been weaned away from her mother and is doing well.
San Diego is now watching and waiting to see if Bai Yun comes into estrus this year. Both Bai Yun and Gao Gao have had their annual check-up and pronounced fit and healthy.
Gao Gao is getting ready for the breeding season with leg-cock urination, scent marking and lots of bleating.
Bai Yun is now 17 years old and her last cycle was unsual compared to the ones before. They just have to watch and wait.
On March 1st 2009 two teams from CCRCGP Wolong Base left from Chengdu TV station on a journey to thank the cities who took in 26 Giant Pandas from The Wolong Panda base after the terrible earthquake of May 12th 2008, left the base devastated, one giant panda dead and one missing, and 5 members of the reserve dead.
53 Giant pandas were taken to Bifengxia their sister centre which was opened in 2003 to hold the extra pandas that Wolong bred. 26 Pandas were taken to 8 different cites around China and seven stayed at Wolong.
Over 500 volunteers including some government officials helped plant new trees around the Chengdu Panda Base and other areas through the province.
Trees planted include almond, plum, peach, osmanthus, cherry and camphor wood which will made the base look greener and more vigorous.