Panda News from around the world
Each panda has a bedroom inside a building and an enclosure outside, every morning we had to clean both areas for each panda. Whilst we were cleaning one area we had to lock the panda in the other. This photo is of Ge ge waiting to go back in side. He knows that usually that after the bedroom is cleaned fresh bamboo is placed in it. So he gets a little inpatient to be let in.
A panda that was found by a villager and taken to the Wolong base has died. The staff did everything they could for the panda and it appeared it was getting a little better but 13 days later he died due to the condition of his vital organs. Staff are performing an autopsy to find the curse.
The twins who were born in Japan have been named, Meihin (female) and Eihin (male).
Meihin, the female cub, was born in early morning of Sept. 13 and Eihin, the male cub, about 70 minutes later. They weighed about 194 grams and about 116 grams at the time of their births.
They now both weigh over 2kg.
This is another picture of one of the juvenile pandas. Just before I took this picture he came over to us, looking for food I guess. When we didn't have any he wandered off and struck this vulture pose.
A group of survivors from the earthquake that happened on May 12th have visited the Chengdu research centre as part of their treatment in helping to deal with the effects of the earthquake.
16 people were able to get up close and personal to the pandas in a special visit accompanied by therapists and rehab specialists from West China Hospital . The base was very please to welcome them and arranged the transportation and guide.
In the continuing story of Yuan Yuan and Tuan Tuan, they are now set to arrive in Taiwan in December. After a month in quarantine they should be on public display for the spring festival (Jan 26th)
I have found an old article about the business of keeping pandas in the USA. It dates from 2006 so not sure how up to the date the information is but an interesting read none the less.
This little cub is one of last years babes. He was with about seven other cubs from last year. They were so adorable. We were all trying to workout if we would put one in our luggage to bring home.
Researchers have set up 91 infer-red photo traps west and middle of Sanjiang River and Laoya Mountain. The camera take a photo whenever the infer-red unit detects a possible panda. The cameras were set up every 500 meters. They have been taking photos during September and are providing useful information about wild pandas in the area. Helping scientists assess the state of the wild pandas.
A school girl from Australia on a trip to china with her class mates has been bitten by a panda. It seems that the group were briefly left alone without a tour guide and the girl decided to put her hand through the bar. The panda first licked her then took a bite.
The girl is shocked but appears that no lasting damage has been done. Her hand has a slight swelling but no infection has been found. She is going home early as her parents thought it was the best thing to do.
The incident happened at a research centre in Xi'an.
This is You You(yoyo) hiding in her favourite spot, at the bottom of the steps near the door to her enclosure. Most tourists are not able to spot her when she lies there, as you need to hang over the fence to see her and the keepers tell tourists off if they do that.
There are many benefits to being a assistant keeper.
The sun (UK) newspaper website has an article with the above picture. Just a reason for them to show and talk about pandas... and when they're that cute why not.