Panda News from around the world
The thirteen Panda Cubs that were born last year at Bifengxia (The centre where I volunteered) have been moved from their mothers in to the Kindergarten.
It has been reported that if they do well there then next year they could be moved into the new semi wild area that is currently being built.
Concluding the video blog from Memphis Zoo, on the process of artificially inseminating Ya Ya.
Chiang Mai Zoo in Thailand have said that Linhui has ovulated twice and they have performed two artificial inseminations.
"Every step in the process went smoothly because we have extensively monitored the pandas' behaviours for a long period." said Zoological Park Organisation director-general Sophon Damnui.
On February 28th 2009 a primary school student from Changhua County was the 500,000 person to visit the pandas at Taipei Zoo, Taiwan. He was awarded a stuffed animal toy, stationary and a book to celebrate the occasion.
The zoo's director Jason Yeh said that the pandas remained in good health despite their big audience limited to 22,000 a day.
Tuan Tuan currently weighs 108KG and Yuan Yuan lost a little weight as she's just finished estrus and weighs 103.6 KG
The pair first went on public display on January 26th 2009
Meng Youn'an a prestigous Chinese eye surgeon said that a follow up eye examination of an elderly giant panda Xiaoming proved the cataract that he removed on Decemebr 20th 2008 was successful.
Meng Youn'an has helped over 30,000 patients regain their sight, but the operation in December was the first time he ha helped a Giant Panda.
Though the removal of the cataract was a success he was unable to implant an artificial lens in Xiaoming's eye. Meng said "It seems pandas need a tailor made lens for them. We have contacted a foreign supplier to make it".
Usually I don't write about items you can buy which are panda related. To be honest I find some of them awful, but having fond this all I can say is I want one.
The picture below is of Odin, He is a limited edition Charlie Bear (UK Based) he is 6 foot in height and a price tag of around £1,500.
The other half says he's too expensive and we've nowhere to put him, but I disagree. :)
So if anyone is have £1,500 they don't want I'd be happy for you to buy me him.
(Well a panda can have his dreams)
Eight cities in China who helped in the relocation of Wolong's pandas after the earthquake on May 12th 2008, have won the right to choose the name one of the cubs born at Chengdu Research Centre last year.
The zoo who received the pandas will coordinate the choosing of the names.
There was 15 cubs born at Chengdu Research Centre last year, with 13 of them surviving, 5 of the cubs have already received their names leaving 8 nameless so far. So it was thought that the cities who helped the pandas at their time of need should have the honour of naming them.
The eight cities are:
On the 23rd of February 2009, a convoy of 5 trucks carrying the materials to build 4 log cabins for the pandas in houses #1,#2 and #4.
By the end of the day the hard-working craftmen had put up all 4 cabins. The craftmen and cabins were provided by QuanU Future Co. Ltd.
Xi Mei was one of the first pandas to explore the finished cabins and was thrilled and doesn't seem to want to leave.
Continuing the video blog from Memphis Zoo, on the process of artificially inseminating Ya Ya.
I have had word that one of the pandas I looked after at Bifengxia in China is coming into heat. She should reach the peak in about 15 days, then hopefully she will mate and there will be a little panda cub later in the year.
Work is due to be started in the first half of this year to build a new breeding centre for giant pandas, near Dujianyan city.
The 1.35 million square meter centre will have the roads that run through it removed and the area will be planted with bamboo. The cost of the development is expected to be 60 Million Yuan (US$8.8).
The idea is for pandas to live in a semi natural state. Hopefully by the end of the year 5 healthy young giant pandas will be freed in the centre on a trail basis, then in 3-5 years the centre will be opened to visitors.
On 20th February 2009, Miss Chen Zhen manager of public relations at Mercedes-Benz (China) and miss Zhu Menghua from Hill & Knowlton (China) visited the Bifengxia base to talk about supporting the giant panda. They were welcomed by the sectary (mr Zhou) of the Wolong Panda Club. Mr Zhou shows them around the panda garden explaining the current situation, the current scientific projects and the problems they are facing. Miss Zhen and Miss Zhu asked questions which mr Zhou explains in detail to them.