Pandas - Georgia / Atlanta Zoo

[carly]

Yes it is but since birth is imminent it will stay on the den for now I think.  If they hear her in labour they will switch out to the kids as they don't show the birth live in case something goes wrong.  The audio is not turned on for us but the keepers there can hear inside the den.  Last time they posted the ultra sound results..she gave birth within 3 days so stay tuned...

[Saoirse]

This looks like a great cam -- I've just finally had a chance to check it out for the first time, after reading the thread hooked me into the story of Bai Yun and the others. I see that the cam on the site is the den one -- is the cam changed regularly to view the others?

[eagle63_1999]

Woooooooowieeee!! Never thought I'd hear Bai Yun is pregnant with twins.  Sounds like Panda's really only care for one bear if twins are born.  Will have to wait and see on this one.

[carly]

Bai Yun is pregnant...with Twins!!!  May only have 1 though, but both viwed on ultra sound:

http://www.sandiegozoo.org/wordpress/

[msdolittle]

that was pretty cute .... 

[birdcamfan]

The SD zoo seems to have put put a short video of how they got the pandas to get in the family way using a couple of zoo employees dressed as pandas. It is too cute and for the most part fairly tame. It is posted on YouTube under "sexy pandas"

[carly]

Encouraging news from San Diego Zoo...Bai Yun may be pregnant!!  She's four for four now so I'm guessing in a few weeks there will be a new cubbie at the zoo!!

http://www.sandiegozoo.org/wordpress/default/denning-up/

[carly]

Our beautiful Mei Xiang is not pregnant after all, she is experiencing a pseudo pregnancy.  Poor girl, all that suffering and she doesn't even get a cub to cuddle.  Nature sometimes has a strange sense of humour 

[carly]

On a totally different topic, Mei Xiang has been in her nest den all day sleeping and cradling her ball like a cub on and off.  She's slowed down alot again the past few days...she's almost in a stupor today!

[carly]

I should also mention that Lun Lun was taken from her own mother at the age of 4 months whereas Bai was with her mom for 13 months.  In the US they allow the cubs to stay with their moms for 18 months as scientists here felt that the cubs being taken away at such a young age were missing out on being taught very important social skills by their mothers. 

In the wild cubs would stay with their mothers anywhere from 18 months to 2.5 years before they were weaned.  Lun Lun may be more protective of her cubs as a result of that.  No doubt as she raises more cubs successfully she will relax more.  They say Bai Yun was way more relaxed with Zhen Zhen than with her other 3 cubs. 

As TPC always likes to say experience makes a difference and I expect that applies across all species as it does in humans 

[carly]

Well Bai Yun is a more experienced panda mom and I've only seen her with the girls not with her male cub Mei Sheng.  From everything I have read and what the moderators at the zoo have said - the moms are rougher with the males than the females.   

Their play behaviour is actually training for him - she is teaching him skills he would need in the wild to defend himself.  She would never hurt him and in fact she will frequently check on him if he takes a tumble to make sure he is okay.  She also loves to sleep in the hammock with him cuddled up next to her, really she is a big softie when it comes to her cubs

The male panda in the wild would be isolated whereas the female will have cubs to keep her company during her lifetime.  In the wild, the males would compete with each other for a female during breeding season - he would have to know how to fight and defend himself..so this is all to prepare him for his life an adult.  In fact several years ago they released a panda back to the wild and he was killed because he wasn't properly prepared to defend himself in the wild.  Even though these pandas are in zoos, the plan is eventually to prepare future generations for release to the wild so they have to be strong or they will not stand a chance.

Xi Lan is monitored 24/7 and if they ever thought he was in danger - they would intervene.  Lun was a bit rought at times with Lani but she has grown into a beautiful young lady panda and she will no doubt herself be a great mum some day and pass on the skills Lun taught her to her offspring.  And from what I've read Mei was just as rough with Tai Shan and he's also turned out to a beautiful panda adult 

[moka]

I just watched the video of the mom and her little cub, at the Atlanta Zoo.

I don't remember Bai Yun, from San Diego, every being this rough with one of her cubs!

It seems as if the mother at Atlanta, resists her cub climbing up...

Anyone have any answers? 

[carly]

Yes I've been watching her this week Maggie, she's been cradling her toy and her food like it's a cub!  She's also been scratching at the walls and trying to climb the bars as well.  I hope she has a cub this time..!

[maggieblue]

Mei Xiang at the National Zoo has built herself a huge nest and is close to the end of either her pregnancy or pseudo pregnancy.  It almost looks like a huge bird's nest. 

http://nationalzoo.si.edu/Animals/GiantPandas/default.cfm?cam=LP1

[maggieblue]

LOL  Wonderful to hear those kids laughing and cheering him on.  What a show!  Good thing little pandas are tough.