Rfalconcam Forum

   :happybday:
   
     
Monday, August 31
For those that did not know, yesterday was Xi Lan’s first birthday. For the special occasion he was provided with a multilayer colorful ice cake (with sweet potato frozen inside) and papier-mâché balloons. We gave him about 10 minutes alone with his treats before we let Lun Lun in and he used his time wisely. He climbed on the cake and tried to eat parts of it and really examined it from every angle.  Then he approached his balloons with caution from the climbing structure. But, once he reached them, he had no fear and inspected each one carefully. He then decided he would take a short nap. But, as soon as Lun Lun was let in, he decided to go back after his goodies. Then, in an effort to protect his cake from Lun Lun, he carried each layer of his cake one piece at a time up the climbing structure, chewed on it for a bit, dropped it, and went back for the next layer. After all the adventures, he slept for the rest of the day!

Happy Birthday Xi Lan!   

Wow!  I can't believe it's a year already!  Remember the night he got so sick?  I know a lot of us were watching when it happened-seemed like a century until they let us know he would be OK.  And look at him now!  :wub:

I know, Ei.  The year has gone by so quickly and I do remember when he was taken to the nursery and we all worried about him.  I watch him every day and love reading about all his adventures.  They recently posted this about his sister, Mei Lan, who will be 3 in Sept.:

The year after the birth of a giant panda cub is a quieter year for our department. We don’t have the time pressure of a 24-48 hour fertile period to contend with and the long hours, anticipation, hope and worry that come with waiting for a birth and monitoring mother and cub during the critical weeks after. The year after a birth we are able to relax a little and enjoy watching the new cub grow and learn. We have been relishing this time with Xi Lan just as we did with Mei Lan. All too soon a cub grows up, becomes independent from its mother, and is ready to begin the adult portion of its life. That is the case for Mei Lan.

Mei Lan will be three years old on September 6. Those years have passed very quickly for us. Next spring she will very likely experience her first estrous cycle, which means she is officially an adult. She will be ready to mate and hopefully have cubs of her own. To do this, she needs to move to a new home where there are potential mates available for her. And so, we have begun preparations to send her to the birthplace of her parents, the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding. Mei Lan’s departure for China will be bittersweet for us. She is a member of our family, a favorite child. Sending her so far away will be difficult and we will miss her terribly. But we know it is the right thing for Mei Lan. She needs to have the opportunity to have a family of her own and we know she is going to a beautiful place where she will be loved and receive excellent care. It was bittersweet for the Chengdu Research Base staff to send Yang Yang and Lun Lun to us. Now the Research Base staff is looking forward to welcoming Yang Yang and Lun Lun’s daughter.

The date for Mei Lan’s departure has not been set, yet. We are planning for early 2010, so that she will be at the Research Base before her first estrous cycle. The Research Base staff probably will not try to breed her in 2010, but it will be a good learning experience for her to be around potential mates for her first cycle. We will update you periodically on plans and preparations for Mei Lan’s departure. We hope that you will understand that we too are sad about her leaving. We also hope that you will join us in celebrating her future at her new home.

Panda Cub Updates:


We'll miss our "Atlanta Beauty"

Wednesday, January 20
If you've been keeping up with this blog for the past few months, you know that our beloved Mei Lan will be leaving Zoo Atlanta soon. Yesterday we received the crate that Mei Lan will be traveling in to China. Now we will start training her to enter the crate and to relax while she is inside it. I doubt this will take long; Mei Lan is tolerant of the squeeze cage where she participates in ultrasound training and the crate is similar. She is very much like her mother when training - as long as she gets rewarded with food, she will pretty much do anything we ask!
Heather Baker Roberts
Carnivore Keeper II

Friday, January 22
Mei Lan has discovered the wonders of ultrasound gel! As some of you may know (or have read in previous updates), Lun Lun is an avid fan of it, but Monday was the first time that Mei Lan ever reacted to it. We had used the gel on several different occasions with her when training her for ultrasound behavior, but previously there was no reaction from her. For whatever reason when she smelled it on Monday she decided to rub it all over her body and self-anoint with it. This is what Lun Lun likes to do, and we just have to wait for her to calm down, and then ask her to get into the proper position again. After that initial reaction, she normally will not break from the session again. As we are getting closer to the time that Mei Lan will be heading to her mother-land, we are trying to increase the length of time that she will participate in a session. So far so good, as each session seems to last a little bit longer.
Joseph T. Svoke
Carnivore Keeper III

Monday, January 25
Earlier this month Mei Lan received her pre-shipment physical for her trip to China. When animals are sent to other institutions, we give them a good once-over to make sure they are healthy. During Mei Lan’s physical she was checked by one of our veterinarians and had blood collected, an ultrasound preformed, and her teeth checked by a dentist.The keepers were also able to collect her body measurements while she was under anesthesia. The measurements are as follows: tip of nose to end of tail, 178 cm (70 in); chest girth, 105 cm (41 in); neck girth, 71 cm (28 in); belly girth, 110.5 cm (43.5 in). Mei Lan’s most current weight is 92 kg (yep, that’s 202 pounds!).

The vets gave her a clean bill of health and she is cleared to prepare for her journey to China.
Kate Roca
Carnivore Keeper II

Wednesday, January 27
Hello all! It’s been a while since I’ve written an update, but I’ve been in pandas about once a week for quite some time now. I had to take a little hiatus from pandas because of some fun things going on in the meat-eating side of carnivores, but I’m back now, and boy is our big guy growing fast (as you all know)! He has really come into his own as a little man. I’m amazed all the time at how independent and sure of himself he has become. I tell him every time I close up for the day how much I appreciate his skill and eagerness to shift in and eat his dinner. Mei Lan, of course, is the sweetheart that continues to brighten up everyone’s day. The last two times that I have worked with her she has been as silly as ever, wanting to play and run back and forth in the tunnel while I squealed and baby talked, like all female keepers secretly (and some not so secretly) do. She actually seems to really enjoy the excited sounds of the keepers, and the more we get excited, the more she jumps up and somersaults and, at one point, tried to do a head stand! She is a completely ridiculous little lady and we will all miss her greatly. I wonder if they talk “panda” talk in China ...
Jennifer Brink
Carnivore Keeper II

National Zoo, DC is leaving, too, as per the contract agreement.

Sad in many ways

Mei Lan was cowered in her cage and refusing to eat, poor sweet girl.  So glad she is adjusting to this.  There is also a website featuring her prospective mates!  I'll look for it.

Chengdu, China, February 11, 2010: Mei Lan – China’s recently returned panda diplomat to Atlanta – has been announced as an Earth Hour Global Ambassador, launching the countdown to Earth Hour 2010.

At 8.30pm on Saturday 27 March, millions of people across all continents will switch off their lights for one hour – Earth Hour – to show the world what can be done to resolve the dilemma of global warming.

Mei Lan takes up her first new diplomatic duty launching Earth Hour in the her hometown of Chengdu, the first city in China to commit its support to Earth Hour 2010. The recognized symbol of WWF, giant pandas have lived in Chengdu for more than 8 million years.

“As a citizen of Chengdu, Mei Lan will be standing with 13 million residents of the city in taking part in Earth Hour,” said Mr. Ye Lang, spokesperson of the Chengdu municipal government.

“Chengdu is committed to developing a low-carbon economy and building a world-class garden city of tomorrow to create harmony between man and nature. This is highly in line with Earth Hour’s overall goal.”

The people of Chengdu will join citizens from all over the world in more than 70 countries that have already signed up to the ‘lights out’ event, including four nations from four separate continents – Paraguay, Mongolia, Madagascar and Czech Republic – who will take part in Earth Hour for the very first time.

Earth Hour continues to gather momentum as the people of the world take it upon themselves to show that a resolution to the threat of global warming is possible through collective action.  New countries, cities, towns and municipalities are signing up daily to take action by turning their lights out on 27 March, 2010.

Earth Hour Co-Founder and Executive Director, Andy Ridley, said it is clear from the huge interest and commitment to Earth Hour from all over the world that the planet’s population is determined to lead the way for a climate resolution.

“Earth Hour 2010 is proof of the global community’s desire to adopt low-carbon lifestyle habits and show some leadership to our world leaders in addressing the issue of global warming,” he said.

“Never has there been a more important time or better opportunity for the people of the world to stand up and take the matter of climate change into their own hands.  Earth Hour brings together communities, businesses and individuals to show world leaders and, more importantly, show each other, that a resolution to global warming is possible if we work on it together. It’s time to show the world what can be done,” he said.

WWF Director General, Jim Leape said Earth Hour is honored that Chengdu is leading by example in the world’s fastest growing economy by both committing to Earth Hour and gifting the services of Mei Lan for this prestigious position.

“Chengdu is the centerpiece in launching Earth Hour 2010’s massive global call to action for a climate resolution,” Mr Leape said.

Since its inception in Sydney, Australia in 2007, Earth Hour has grown from a one-city event to a sweeping global action, with hundreds of millions of people in over 4,100 cities and towns across 88 countries participating in Earth Hour 2009 in what was the greatest voluntary action the world has ever known. Some of the world’s most iconic landmarks, such as the Pyramids in Egypt, Christ the Redeemer in Rio de Janeiro, the Acropolis in Athens and even the lights of the Las Vegas strip also went dark.

Mei Lan joins an esteemed alumnus of past and present Earth Hour ambassadors including The Most Reverend Desmond Tutu, Cold Play and Cate Blanchett.  Fans will be able to follow her ambassador role via; www.twitter.com/earthour and www.earthhour.org. 

So the stage is set for Earth Hour 2010: the greatest show on Earth for action on climate change.

Thanks for posting this, Kris.  I haven't been able to keep up like I usually do.

Is there any cam link?

The cam is at http://www.zooatlanta.org/1212/panda_cam but it's only on 10AM-5PM eastern time.  Hopefully they'll extend the hours if a cub is born!

I check the site almost every day and have been watching closely since her insemination mid-June.  They're doing ultrasounds two times/week but so far the only "maybe" indicator is that Lun's lethargic and sleeping more than norm.  Fingers crossed that there'll be a new little one to watch this year.  It was so much fun watching Xi Lan after he was born!  :panda:

Giant Panda Birth Watch 2010
10-14-10


24-hour monitoring of Lun Lun begins Monday
 
One of Atlanta’s best-known celebrity moms may be carrying cub number three. Recent data suggest that giant panda Lun Lun has entered the secondary rise in the telltale hormonal fluctuations that indicate she is nearing the end of a pregnancy or pseudopregnancy. Based on this information, the Zoo Atlanta Animal Management and Veterinary Team plans to begin round-the-clock birth watch on Monday, October 18.

In addition to hormonal changes, Lun Lun experienced a dramatic shift in behavior – most notably extreme lethargy and reduced appetite – this week. These behavioral changes occur in pregnant and pseudopregnant giant pandas. The animal care and veterinary teams are monitoring the 13-year-old bear closely and conducting regular ultrasounds. Giant panda gestation averages 135 days, but can range from 83-197 days.

Confirming pregnancy in giant pandas is a famously inexact science, as the species experiences delayed implantation and can also exhibit pseudopregnancy, a condition closely mimicking pregnancy without the presence of a fetus. A new test for pregnancy detection in giant pandas has been developed which seems promising. While early results indicated that Lun Lun was pregnant, more recent results are less certain. Because the assay is new and has only been used on a few giant pandas, it is not considered 100 percent reliable. Therefore, Zoo Atlanta staff is preparing for a birth in the same way as in previous years. Birth watch will continue on October 18 and will continue through November 14.

The animal care team opted to employ artificial insemination (AI) on June 13, 2010, after Lun Lun and 13-year-old Yang Yang failed to mate during her brief window of fertility. The pair has two previous offspring, female Mei Lan, age 4 and a resident of Chengdu, China, and male Xi Lan, 2, a resident of Zoo Atlanta. Both Mei Lan and Xi Lan were the only giant panda cubs born in the U.S. in 2006 and 2008, and both were the products of AI.

Additional updates will be provided as details are available.

It's amazing how their big bodies change for that teeny tiny baby. Shouldn't be long now. Thanks!

Giant Panda Lun Lun Confirmed to be Pregnant!!
10-22-10





Fetus seen on ultrasound

Zoo Atlanta’s Veterinary Team has observed a viable fetus during routine ultrasound procedures on female giant panda Lun Lun. Ultrasound images obtained since Monday the 18th confirm a growing fetus with a strong heartbeat. Based on the size of the fetus, which is currently 2.24 centimeters long, the Animal Management and Veterinary Teams estimate that a birth should occur in 10 days to 2 weeks. While cautiously optimistic, experts caution that Lun Lun could still miscarry or reabsorb the fetus as her pregnancy progresses.
 
Round-the-clock birth watch began on Monday, October 18 and will continue through birth and the first months of the cub’s life. Giant panda gestation averages 135 days, but can range from 83 to 197 days.

A cub would be the third offspring for Lun Lun and Yang Yang, both 13. The Animal Management and Veterinary Teams opted to employ artificial insemination (AI) on June 13, 2010, after the pair failed to mate naturally. Lun Lun’s and Yang Yang’s previous offspring, Mei Lan, 4 and now a resident of Chengdu, China, and Xi Lan, 2, a resident of Zoo Atlanta, were the only cubs born in the U.S. in 2006 and 2008. Both were the products of AI.

Additional updates will be provided as details are available. The Zoo’s giant pandas are watched daily by fans around the world on PandaCam presented by Earthcam. PandaCam, which runs Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., has remained the most visited page on zooatlanta.org since shortly after the arrival of Lun Lun and Yang Yang in 1999.  

 :clap: :panda:

 

 goodnews: :panda: :penguin: :dance1:

Monday, October 25
Zoo Atlanta was rather busy this weekend with Boo at the Zoo and many of Lun Lun’s fans stopping by to see how she has been doing. Lun Lun is off exhibit, but we are showing her on PandaCam during the regular 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. hours on the weekdays. You will most likely catch her sleeping in the corner of her den or, if you’re lucky, building a nest with hay and bamboo in her nest box for her bundle-to- be. While cleaning and raking out the habitats throughout the day for our Y chromosome pandas, we are always vigilant about keeping things quiet for Lun Lun. This applies throughout the entire building as well.

I can’t forget about Xi Lan and Yang Yang! This weekend for Boo at the Zoo, the boys got pumpkins to play with. I put Xi Lan’s pumpkin on the top of his climbing structure yesterday in Habitat 1. It was so cute seeing him stand up on his bear tippy toes and sniff the odd orange ball. Then he just knocked it over and it landed on the ground. Splat!! That was about the extent of his pumpkin fun. Be sure to come out next weekend to see our bears enjoy another round of pumpkins. This time the pumpkins will be cut open, so that the pandas can snack on them, if they so choose. See you then!
Cate HarrisSeasonal Keeper

http://www.zooatlanta.org/1212/panda_cam (http://www.zooatlanta.org/1212/panda_cam)

Wednesday, October 27
We have been extremely fortunate to have Lun Lun continue to cooperate with ultrasound sessions. The fetus is growing rapidly and has a strong heartbeat. This morning the fetus measured 6.99 cm in length. Lun Lun is still spending most of her time sleeping, which is completely normal.

For Yang Yang and Xi Lan, life continues as normal. They have likely noticed a few changes in the building, like keepers being there all the time, but we try to keep the routine the same for them. I don’t think they have any idea that an exciting new arrival is expected soon.
Rebecca Snyder, PhD
Curator of Mammals



AWWW!

Another ultrasound picture from their Facebook  (http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=445275589331&id=59589668552)page

I can't believe how much it's grown in just 5 days!!! It's getting exciting now-sure hope all goes well with her pregnancy.

Friday, October 29
I’m sleeping with my phone next to the bed. We are expecting Lun Lun to go into labor anytime now. The latest hormone results show that her progesterone is declining and nearing baseline. We expect a birth when progesterone is near or at baseline levels. She is still cooperating well with ultrasound sessions. Yesterday, the fetus measured 7.9 cm in length. The heartbeat is strong and regular and the tiny toes are now visible. Lun Lun is still spending most of her time sleeping, but she has also been getting up mostly at night to eat bamboo. This year she’s been doing more nest building than in previous years. She has been shredding bamboo to add to the hay we provide in her nest box. We are eagerly awaiting this cub, as I’m sure all of you are too. Keep checking the website, because I expect there will be an announcement in the next few days. I hope it’s that Lun Lun has a healthy cub and all is well.
Rebecca Snyder, PhD
Curator of Mammals

Pretty soon!!   :panda:

With a bit less than an hour of cam time left today, I think Lun Lun may be in labor...very restless...

http://www.zooatlanta.org/1212/panda_cam

Labor begins for giant panda Lun Lun
.by Zoo Atlanta on Wednesday, November 3, 2010 at 4:01am.

The only cub born in the U.S. in 2010 is on its way       

Zoo Atlanta officials have announced that labor has begun for expectant giant panda mother Lun Lun. The 13-year-old female has been under round-the-clock monitoring since birth watch began on October 18, 2010.

The actual time the cub will arrive remains uncertain. Giant panda labor typically lasts seven to eight hours but can be as brief as one to two hours or, on the opposite end of the spectrum, much longer. Lun Lun’s labor with her first offspring, Mei Lan, lasted 36 hours and is still the longest giant panda labor ever recorded. By comparison, Lun Lun’s second cub, Xi Lan, arrived in just under nine hours.

The cub will be the only giant panda born in the U.S. in 2010 and is the third for Lun Lun and 13-year-old male Yang Yang. Additional updates will be provided as details are available.

The Zoo’s giant pandas are watched daily by fans around the world on PandaCam presented by Earthcam. PandaCam streams Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Fans are encouraged to stay abreast of all things panda by following Zoo Atlanta on our website and on Twitter, joining the Zoo Atlanta Facebook community, and registering for biweekly eUpdate newsletters.

Giant panda born at Zoo Atlanta
by Zoo Atlanta on Wednesday, November 3, 2010 at 10:15am

Lun Lun delivers the only cub born in the U.S. in 2010


Lun Lun, a 13-year-old female giant panda at Zoo Atlanta, gave birth to her third cub on November 3, 2010. The cub, born at 5:39 a.m. in a specially-prepared birthing den in the Zoo’s giant panda building, is the only giant panda to be born in the U.S. in 2010.

Lun Lun appears to be providing appropriate care for her cub, which is roughly the size of a cell phone. The Animal Management and Veterinary Teams will continue round-the-clock monitoring of mother and cub, and a preliminary veterinary checkup will be performed as soon as staff is able to remove the cub without disrupting maternal care.

“We are extremely excited about welcoming Lun Lun’s and Yang Yang’s third cub, and proud of the success of Zoo Atlanta’s giant panda program,” said Dwight Lawson, PhD, Deputy Director. “This is a joy we share with the City of Atlanta, our colleagues in China, and our counterparts at our fellow zoological organizations housing giant pandas in the U.S.”

Zoo Atlanta Members and guests can expect to meet the cub in spring 2011. The cub’s father, 13-year-old Yang Yang, and older brother, Xi Lan, remain on exhibit and will not be introduced to their new family member. This separation is normal for giant pandas, which are solitary in the wild.

The newborn is the third offspring for the Zoo’s famous panda pair. Born September 6, 2006, their firstborn, Mei Lan, has lived at the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding since February 2010. Born August 30, 2008, the pair’s second cub, 2-year-old male Xi Lan, remains one of the Zoo’s most popular and precocious animal stars. As is the case with Lun Lun’s tiny newest arrival, both Mei Lan and Xi Lan were the only giant pandas born in the U.S. in their respective birth years. All three births have been the products of artificial insemination.

The birth is a significant achievement for global efforts to save a critically endangered species. Fewer than 1,600 giant pandas are estimated to remain in the wild. There are approximately 280 individuals living in zoological institutions, only 11 of which reside in the U.S.


In the months leading up to the cub’s debut, images will be available on monitors at the Zoo’s Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation Giant Panda Conservation Center and on PandaCam presented by EarthCam. PandaCam streams daily, Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Fans are encouraged to stay abreast of all things panda by following Zoo Atlanta on our website and on Twitter, joining the Zoo Atlanta Facebook community, and registering for biweekly eUpdate newsletters.

 :panda: :the_wave: :panda: :yahoo: :panda: :thanks2: :panda:

 :panda: :yippee: :panda:

How exciting! Thanks Carly! (http://i171.photobucket.com/albums/u293/Roxy8469/Smileys/Panda.gif)  (http://i600.photobucket.com/albums/tt81/jessicar2005/Smileys/animated-kung-fu-panda-emoticon-1.gif)

 :clap:   :panda:

Finally is born  that cub.  :yahoo:  :panda:

Welcome to the world, dear little one!

I was watching her yesterday too and really thought she looked like she was in labor.  Just the funny way she would sit! So the first site I went to this morning was to see if there was any word!!  YEAH!  Let the cuteness begin!

AWWW!!!   :wub:

OMG that's so sweet! :yes:

Zoo Atlanta has posted the video of the birth here (http://www.zooatlanta.org/home/animals/mammals/giant_panda/giant_panda_cub_gallery)

OMG!  :crying: amazing!

And check out the 3D ultrasound below the birth video...

Sweet baby and sweet mama :heart: :heart: :heart:

It's a Miracle ! Beautiful!

It made me laugh to read the size comparison they used to describe the newborn: the size of a cell phone!!!  HAHA!

I actually thought they were smaller than that.

Too bad human babies aren't the size of a cell phone.  Would make things in the delivery room a LOT easier!

You guys are the best.  One of my co-workers was telling me today that a baby panda was born and it was the first in the U.S.  Obviously I knew that was wrong.  Then another co-worker was Googling Panda's and had information on panda's in China.  I had to get their facts straight and immediately found the information here.  You are the best. :thumbsup:

Lisa McK

If I remember right, 2 years ago Xi Lan was described as the size of a stick of butter!

Amy...And my thought...remember when cell phones came in a bag?  I had one of those!  Then the "portables" came out...larger than & the weight of a brick!

Kris-you remember right.  They used that one a lot-Tai Shan at the National Zoo was nicknamed Butterstick on a lot of the forums for that very comparison. 

Remember when Xi Lan got so sick?  That was one awful night until we finally got news he was OK.

What's a stick of butter? Is it bigger than a Nano?  :panda:

 :panda:

Friday, November 5
Lun Lun's new cub is thriving due to her superb mothering skills. I have gotten several good looks at the cub and it is moving well, has a fat tummy, and a healthy set of lungs! All of the nursery keepers have observed the cub nursing and its round belly is evidence of this.  Lun Lun has not eaten since the afternoon before her labor began and the last time she drank was during her labor. This is normal. Wild giant panda mothers do not leave their cubs for at least a few days after the birth and one mother did not leave her cub for three weeks after giving birth. This is astounding given that giant pandas feed almost exclusively on bamboo, and thus do not build up significant fat stores. This is just one more example of how interesting giant panda behavior and physiology is. It is normal for captive females to refrain from eating and drinking after birth too, even though food and water are only a few feet away. However, tonight Lun Lun was leaning with her back against the wall close to one set of the vertical bars and I was able to safely offer her a small tub of water through the bars.  She was able to lean over and drink without putting the cub down. She drank the entire amount and wanted more, so I filled the tub again and she drank all of that as well. Although it is normal for her to refrain from eating, drinking or eliminating for several days after giving birth, keeping hydrated will help her to stay healthy and continue to provide excellent care to her baby.
Heather Baker Roberts
Carnivore Keeper II

 goodnews:

Sweet baby.  She is such a good mom.  What a tender moment it must have been for the keeper to be able to give her water-- and for Lun Lun to trust and take it. :heart: :heart: :heart:

From Dr. Sam Rivera: Lun Lun continues doing a phenomenal job caring for her new cub. Lun Lun is drinking water and eating a small amount of her favorite treats, which is very encouraging as this indicates she is comfortable diverting a small amount of her attention from the cub to eat and drink. The cub is starting to develop dark skin coloration around the eyes and is nursing well. Stay tuned for more updates and milestones!


 :heart: :panda:

What a great pic...thanks!

 :panda:  So amazing!  :thumbsup:

I too read that about offering her the bowl of water and my heart melted!  She has learned to trust those keepers and to have her be calm while they are THAT close!   :wub:   :clap:

Good momma.  :thumbsup:

Awww- :panda:  :wub:

Wednesday, November 10
It has been a big day for Lun Lun and her cub. Lun Lun left the cub twice today very briefly (no more than 60 seconds) and the cub remained alert and wiggly, but quiet. Until today, the very few times Lun Lun has put the cub on the floor, it has vocalized very loudly and Lun Lun returned immediately to calm the cub. The fact that the cub remained relaxed during Lun Lun’s brief absence is a good sign that it feels comfortable for “Mom” to be gone for short periods of time. If the cub is comfortable with Lun Lun leaving, Lun Lun will be more likely to put the cub down more regularly to eat and drink. While the cub was on the floor of the nest box, I could see that not only have its eyes and ears darkened, its shoulders, saddle and front legs are starting to turn dark as well. The cub looked round and robust!

Lun Lun is continuing to take small amounts of water, sugarcane, fruit and biscuits from us opportunistically, but she is still not ready to leave the cub long enough for a full meal. However, Lun Lun’s and the cub’s behavior today let us know that it will not be long before that happens.
Heather Baker Roberts
Carnivore Keeper II  

So cool...cute little Panda, (if you can believe it is a Panda). Thanks.

The panda cub ist very cute.  :wub:

She is such an excellent mom!  What a little cutie! :heart: :heart:

 :panda:Love it! :clap:

Why on earth are they waiting until next week?  My guess would be...if they know for sure this early, it's a boy!

 :panda:

Posted this AM on Zoo Atlanta site:



It's a boy!
11-18-10


The only giant panda born in the U.S. in 2010 is a male

The giant panda cub born to Lun Lun on November 3, 2010, has been determined to be male. The cub’s sex was determined during an exam by the Zoo Atlanta Veterinary Team and a colleague from the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding.

The Veterinary Team began conducting routine exams late last week, when Lun Lun began leaving the cub for brief periods to eat and drink. The newborn, who weighs just over 11 ounces, has also begun to develop his species’ trademark coloration of black saddles on the shoulders and black patches over the eyes, although his eyes are not yet open.

While Lun Lun and the cub are not expected to make their debut to Members and guests until spring 2011, web users can follow the pair on PandaCam presented by EarthCam, Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.Fans are encouraged to stay abreast of all things panda by following Zoo Atlanta on our website and on Twitter, joining the Zoo Atlanta Facebook community, and registering for biweekly eUpdate newsletters.

You were right, Ei!  :thumbsup:

How adorable is he? Thanks Kris...  :heart:

The cub is so cute!   :wub:

Awww!   :cute:

New pic posted today of Lun's baby on the Zoo Atlanta site:  :panda:

  :wub:

It's a PINK and BLACK Panda!!  :wub:

 :panda:  Awww, how cute!   :panda:

AWWW!!!  Look at those adorable wrinkles on his neck!!   :wub:

I have them but their not adorable.... :-[

New updates from Zoo Atlanta:  :panda:


   :wub:


Monday, November 29
Over the last few nights, Lun Lun has bleated quite often. These vocalizations are not random, though, but occur at particular times. Most often she will bleat after she is done eating and returning to her cub from a separate den. Lun Lun will also bleat if she is about to pick the cub up off the ground. Is this a sign that the cub’s ears are opening up and he is hearing noises for the first time? There are numerous cases in nature in which the offspring can recognize its mother’s unique call and vice-versa. So, is Lun “teaching” the cub the sound of her voice? It would be good for the cub to know when it is mom coming back, and not some sort of threat. This is just my speculation and we may never know if this is the case, but it is interesting that right now she only vocalizes at these times.
Joseph T. Svoke
Carnivore Keeper III

Wednesday, December 1
The cub is becoming more active each day. When Lun Lun leaves him alone, he wiggles and stretches and exercises his muscles. He works one back leg as if to scratch himself or he manages to turn himself around on the floor.  Most importantly, he can right himself when he ends up on his back.  Just last week, if he accidentally rolled onto his back while Lun Lun was away, he was very unhappy – flailing his legs in the air and squawking loudly until Lun Lun rushed back and picked him up. He was like a stranded tortoise! But now he has developed enough muscle strength to roll himself over onto his stomach fairly quickly when he is supine. I am actually surprised he can roll over at all since his belly is so fat, but I have seen him do it several times in recent days. This is a big step for the little guy!
Heather Baker Roberts
Carnivore Keeper II

Is this precious or what :heart: :heart: :heart: :heart:

I think it is too, Jeanne!    :heart: :panda: :wub:

Me three...

 :yes:        Oh Yeah!              :panda:

Newest closeup posted today on Zoo Atlanta site:

  :heart:

precious baby bear :heart: :heart: :heart:

Posted on Facebook today by Zoo Atlanta-baby's exam picture-look at those claws!   :panda:

   :heart: :wub:

Cute panda cub!  :heart:

He is just the cutest! Thanks

Mom cuddling jr. So cute to watch her with him.

 :panda:  He's still looking a little pink!  :panda:

I'm sure his current pinkness is from his fur not being very thick yet.  But an interesting factoid-the mother panda's saliva actually turns the white fur pink.  As he gets bigger you'll be able to see pink patches of fur where she picks him up and where she grooms him.

Ei

I captured this video of Lun Lun and her cub Friday afternoon...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dlj5metsPU8

Ei

Very cute!

He's growing!  :panda: Recent pic posted on Atlanta Zoo site shows his eyes are now opened!

What a cute little boy he is! Thanks Kris.

He is adorable! I found this also:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7JkCDdohLW8&feature=related

The Giant Panda cub will be 100 days old on Feb. 15th and then he will be given his name!



Wednesday, February 2
Yesterday while I was collecting behavioral data on Lun Lun and her cub, I saw a few moments of play-fighting. Play-fighting is the most common type of play exhibited by young giant pandas, and it has been an interest of mine for many years. Play-fighting is what it sounds like – play behavior that resembles fighting. In giant pandas, this takes the form of wrestling, biting, paw swatting, and chasing. It’s also sometimes referred to as rough and tumble play. You have probably seen dogs, cats, or even children (usually boys) engage in this kind of play. The boys comment isn’t a joke. Play-fighting is more common in young males of some species than it is in young females. This is true for humans and giant pandas. Lun Lun’s new cub is a male. So, I am not surprised to see the early development of play-fighting in him. And I look forward to seeing a lot more of it in the coming months. Play, especially between mother and offspring, is my favorite behavior to watch. I think most people feel the same. Get ready. We have a lot of enjoyable play watching to come!
Rebecca Snyder, PhD
Curator of Mammals

Friday, February 4
The cub had his exam yesterday and he weighed 4.55 kg. He’s been working hard lately at getting all four of his paws underneath him so that he can stand up. He took some time during his most recent exam to practice. He’s not stable, but he is making good progress on this goal and will soon be an accomplished walker. During the exam, vet staff noted small bumps along his gums, which means his teeth will likely erupt very soon. 
Megan Wilson, Ph.D.
Assistant Curator of Mammals

Posted on Atlanta Zoo website:
Wednesday, February 23
Po has been very busy over the last week! In addition to getting a name, he has worked out how to climb in and out of the nest box and yesterday Lun Lun took him out into the dayroom for the first time. I gave Lun Lun access to the dayroom around 8:30, where she spent about an hour eating, and by 9:45, she decided to carry Po out and sit with him in the hammock. Po nursed and then slept in the hammock while Lun Lun ate bamboo. Lun Lun left Po in the dayroom most of the day. She is such a confident mother now that she did not mind leaving Po in the dayroom while she ate in the dens later in the day. Lun Lun likes to keep us guessing, so I do not know if she will take Po out every day, but his first trip to the dayroom was very successful.
Heather Baker Roberts
Carnivore Keeper II

That is the most "precious" picture. Thanks for posting Kris. Love the hammock!

I actually got to watch them in the hammock for a few minutes yesterday.  Lun Lun was so cute holding her arms along the edges to keep him from rolling off.

(And I just need to say it & get it off my chest.  While I KNOW the price China charges the zoos for the Giant Pandas is beyond exorbitant, I am very disappointed that Zoo Atlanta sold the naming rights to Hollywood.)

I watched Po sleeping in the hammock yesterday-such a cute butterball!  As for the name, a lot of people were literally angry with the name Po and how it came to be, Ei. On FB, the comments were not very nice and many were upset with not being part of the naming process. It just seemed like a hyped up Hollywood event!  I know the zoo got a lot of money from Dreamworks and also money went to Chengdu but... BTW-Dreamworks also named a Giant Panda at the Madrid Zoo Po. The Chinese are going to be getting a lot of Pos back to China when they're returned if this keeps up.

I was quite surprised that this babe was named by Dreamworks.  I guess the money helps but I was really shocked

The day it happened, we were all shocked.  Last year, we could vote on Chinese names picked by zoo people but this year the zoo kept saying that it was going to be a great event on naming day with an "international star".  Jack Black was the "star" as in Kung Fu Panda. Whole thing was cartoonish-just my opinion.  People did say tho that the zoo would be helped by Dreamworks with the $500,000 annual fee that the Chinese charge for keeping the Pandas.

I saw Jack Black on Good Morning America the day of the naming.  It did seem pretty glitsy rather than the usual naming procedure.  The money will help though. 

Po is now 5 months old and has become quite the climber!   :panda:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MS-t3oeaBhE#ws (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MS-t3oeaBhE#ws)

Little Po really "got into" playing with a half barrel!

2011-07-01 Po Under the Half Barrel :) (1.25x speed) (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fxee3fpvrTQ#)

a very cute video!  :wub:

I read about Po's barrel adventure on their blog Wed. but hadn't seen the video! Too funny!  Thanks for posting, Jeanne!

 :2funny: What a character!  :rofl: Thanks for sharing Jeanne!  :wave:

OH MY GOODNESS!!!!  If I hadn't just got up I would be rolling on the floor laughing!!   :hysterical:  :2funny:  That is way tooo funny!  I was wondering what Mom's reaction would be if she caught sight of that moving barrel!  Glad the video showed her checking it out!  Thanks for sharing that.  Have had computer issues lately so not able to watch things like that much.  But that was worth it!!! 

That was the best!! That barrel went around the whole enclosure and gave the audience a good view! Loved it, thanks jeanne.

Friday, August 26
Lun Lun had a busy and fun-filled birthday yesterday (August 25)! When I arrived in the morning, she was still eating some of her overnight bamboo. She got a piece of sugarcane while she waited for me to set up her breakfast. After breakfast, she took a nap, and then it was time for her birthday cake. As Rebecca mentioned on Wednesday, we made her an ice cake with three layers. It was not an elaborate (or pretty) cake, but it was filled with some of Lun Lun’s favorite things. Before lunch, we set up the dayroom with the cake and some fresh bamboo. As is typical of our pandas, Lun Lun only sniffed the cake in passing and went straight for the bamboo and biscuits. After Lun Lun finished her bamboo, she investigated the cake further. She worked for a long time trying to get the sugar cane out of the ice, then gave up and took another nap (or tried to!). While she worked on her cake, Po noticed her activity and figured the cake must be safe if mom is playing with it. He joined her and went crazy for the cinnamon layer.  He rolled all over it and batted it around. He continued playing with the ice even after Lun Lun left to sleep. He got completely soaked and covered in mulch from rolling around with the cake. When Po tired of the ice cake, he wanted mom to play with him, but she just wanted to sleep. She tried several different napping spots, hoping Po would give up and leave her alone, but he did not. Eventually, she gave in and played with him. Once Po had calmed down, Lun Lun was able to enjoy her sugar cane in peace, but she never did get that second nap.
Heather Baker Roberts
 Carnivore Keeper II

Lun Lun's 14th birthday celebration!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xV10ocp2700# (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xV10ocp2700#)

Wednesday, August 31
 Xi Lan had a really fun birthday yesterday! He loved all of the enrichment items we made for him.  He shredded his paper mache and bamboo “rattle” immediately to retrieve the biscuits hidden inside. Then he ate some of the bamboo that made the rattle’s handle. Since eating is much more important than playing for a panda, Xi Lan climbed up into the structure and ripped open the large paper bag filled with hay and biscuits. After another bamboo snack, he was ready to play. He rolled all over the room with his ice cake, rubbing himself all over it, especially the Tabasco-scented tier. I guess he got some Tabasco on his fur because he continued the self-anointing behavior even when he was on the other side of the room from the ice cake. Finally, he ate the bamboo candles on top of the cake. After all that activity he was wiped out and took a long nap. However, he must have started the party up again long after I had gone for the day because he slept in late this morning and his dayroom was a wreck!
 Heather Baker Roberts
 Carnivore Keeper II

Xi Lan celebrates his 3rd birthday:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1yFlDhYsqlU# (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1yFlDhYsqlU#)

 :wave: That was fun! Thanks Kris!! :panda:

Love these videos Kris.  Especially the first one with Po playing.  Thank you for posting.   :clap:

So adorable! Thank you, Kris!!!  Pandas are so cute!!!

YAY, a happy video!! Thanks

Thursday, September 22
 We recently received some surprising news from our colleagues at the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding about Mei Lan, the first giant panda cub born at Zoo Atlanta. She is actually a he, and it seems that he was incorrectly sexed when he was a cub. Mei Lan has lived at the Chengdu Research Base since February 2010, and our colleagues there have noted the appearance of testes.
 
Giant pandas are normally sexed as infants during early health checks. This can be difficult to do correctly, and it helps to have some practice. Mei Lan was sexed during his first veterinary exam when he was 19 days old by a staff person from the Chengdu Research Base and Zoo Atlanta staff. This is later than would normally be done at the Chengdu Research Base, and it’s more difficult to do if the cub is more than a few days old. We waited longer to do Mei Lan’s first exam, because Lun Lun was a first-time mother and we didn’t want to do anything that might disrupt the excellent care she was providing for Mei Lan.
 
Close examination of the anogenital area is needed to determine the sex of a giant panda cub, and a male’s testes do not descend until he is over 3 years old. Prior to this, there is no obvious external cue to sex. As a result, young giant pandas are occasionally sexed incorrectly, which was apparently the case for Mei Lan. We plan to recheck the sex of our other young giant pandas, Xi Lan and Po, during their next scheduled physical exams.
 
Although it’s strange for us to think of Mei Lan as a male, the good news is that this does not change how he was cared for and managed while he was growing up here in Atlanta. We all recall that his birth on September 6, 2006, was a monumental event for Zoo Atlanta, the City of Atlanta, the Giant Panda Species Survival Plan, and thousands of you, his fans, from around the world. He was the only giant panda cub born in the U.S. in 2006, and there was nothing we would have done differently if we or the staff from the Chengdu Research Base had known sooner that he was a male. He still would have been transferred to the Chengdu Research Base when he was 3 years old, and he will still be an important part of the breeding population there. So while this news does come as a big surprise, we’ll all just work on getting used to the fact that Lun Lun’s and Yang Yang’s firstborn was a son, and that son may have a bit of an odd name (Mei Lan roughly translates to Atlanta’s Beauty) for a male. I don’t think he’ll mind. I’ll bet Lun Lun knew all along. Too bad we couldn’t just ask her!
 Rebecca Snyder, PhD
 Curator of Mammals

 :surprise:

 Yikes!  :panda:

DITTO!!!  :o

I'm still in shock at this news.  Our sweet Lani bear is a boy....still adore her errr him but I guess I won't be expecting a cubbie next year after all now.  It will be a few years before 'he' is a dad.

So glad they didn't put him in a dress and really warp his psyche!

OMG! :confused:

 :panda:   :congrats:  It's a BOY!  ;)   :panda:

   :wub:

Wednesday, October 26
 One week from tomorrow, Po will turn 1 year old. We are still working on his birthday surprises, but I hope it will be a fun day for all of us. It is hard to believe he is almost a year old. It has certainly been an eventful year and it has been interesting getting to know our newest little panda. All of our cubs have been different in personality as one would expect. Po seems to have inherited his father’s love of routine and structure and his mother’s indifference to her keepers (unless we have food, of course!). However, he has a unique perspective of his environment. He has been the most cautious and apprehensive of all of our pandas.  He can be playful and silly like his older siblings, but he treats all new things with suspicion until Lun Lun proves otherwise. He typically avoids anything that Lun Lun does not interact with first. As he has gotten older, Po is a little more confident, but we still manage to frighten him (inadvertently, of course!) with novel enrichment items.
 Heather
 Carnivore Keeper II

Wow!  Where did the time go?

                                                        HAPPY 1st BIRTHDAY, PO!!    :panda:


Pictures of the event are posted on the Zoo's website:

http://www.zooatlanta.org/1212/panda_cam (http://www.zooatlanta.org/1212/panda_cam)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=936dXOQIEWQ#ws (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=936dXOQIEWQ#ws) Zoo Atlanta Greetings

Po's second birthday celebration!  (I turned off the volume to watch it)

http://youtu.be/1OhCq_LZ3Y4 (http://youtu.be/1OhCq_LZ3Y4)

Oh that was just so adorable, thanks Kris!

:
You're welcome!  He's so darn cute!  :panda:

 :good post: :thanx:

http://www.zooatlanta.org/home/article_content/giant_panda_breeding_2013 (http://www.zooatlanta.org/home/article_content/giant_panda_breeding_2013)

Bill and I went to the Atlanta Zoo this past April where we got to do the "Panda Encounter".  It was costly (kind of a bucket list thing) but we got to see all 4 Pandas, a guided tour of the behind-the-scene Panda facilities, a "command" demonstration between Yang Yang and his Keeper and at the end of the 45 minutes, each of us on tour got to hand-feed Yang Yang!  Our guide did tell us that Po and Xi Lan will probably be returning to China soon so I was glad we got to see them before they left.  Good news posted today on Zoo Atlanta FB page!!
Does Lun Lun have a secret? Not anymore! Ultrasound and hormonal results have revealed that she's expecting her fourth cub ... in two to three weeks!
 
                             :clap:

Road trip!! LOL  Yay for them!!

So exciting!  I am longing to hold a little panda!

Oh ya do, do ya!? You best get to China then!!  ;D :wave:

Zoo Atlanta is on birth watch for LunLun so cam is running 24/7!   :panda:

http://www.zooatlanta.org/1212/panda_cam (http://www.zooatlanta.org/1212/panda_cam)

Lun Lun's water broke about 40 minutes ago, she is in labor on cam right now!! Paws crossed for a successful birth!

Oh goody! Perfect timing after 24/7 falconcam watching is slowing down. On my way there now! :panda:

TWINS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  TWO CUBBIES JUST NOW.. :yahoo: :yahoo:

I'm watching!!   :heart: :heart:

:panda: :panda:

I've been watching too and how exciting with twins!   :panda: :panda: 

I wonder if they'll do the baby swapping they do in China?

Are they healthy ,and will they stay with Lun Lun ? It's fun to watch the two of them growing up together.
Great cam , thanks for posting ,Kris Ei and Carly!

Yes they will kitty,  they grabbed cub 2 when the cam panned up.  I signed up for the exclusive birth watch details and one of the photos showed a nursery right next door to the den with an incubator all set up ready for anything that might happen.  

In the wild, a female will reject one twin as she only has the resources to raise one hence the twin swapping method.

Thanks! I know National zoo has a twin room set up if needed, but I wasn't following Atlanta that closely with fledge watch & all

Giant panda Lun Lun delivers twins
By Bo Emerson

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Lun Lun, the giant panda at Zoo Atlanta, has given birth to twins.

The twins are her fourth and fifth offspring. She was in labor barely 90 minutes, compared to 36 hours for her first delivery.

Both infants appeared healthy, according to Dwight Lawson, deputy director.

Though giant pandas bear twins in the wild, such an event has not happened among the pandas born in the U.S. in the last 20 years Lawson said.

Lawson said that in the wild usually only one of a pair of twins will survive, because of the difficulty of caring for two.

The zoo hopes to ensure the survival of both infants by switching them regularly, giving them to the mother one at a time.

“It’s tricky,” said Lawson.

http://www.ajc.com/news/entertainment/giant-panda-lun-lun-is-in-labor/nYrM2/ (http://www.ajc.com/news/entertainment/giant-panda-lun-lun-is-in-labor/nYrM2/)

LUN LUN THE GIANT PANDA GIVES BIRTH TO TWINS!
Monday, July 15, 2013
New arrivals are the fourth – and fifth – for Lun Lun and Yang Yang

ATLANTA – July 15, 2013 – Lun Lun, a 15-year-old giant panda, gave birth to twins on July 15, 2013. The first of the tiny duo arrived at 6:21 p.m., and its twin followed at 6:23 p.m. The cubs are the first giant pandas to be born in the U.S. in 2013 and the first twins to be born in the U.S. since 1987.

The Animal Management and Veterinary Teams are currently caring for one of the cubs in the nursery unit in the Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation Giant Panda Center; Lun Lun is currently caring for the other. Assisting Zoo Atlanta staff is an animal care colleague from the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding where Lun Lun and Yang Yang were born. Lun Lun is an experienced and capable mother, but she has never before given birth to twins, which are not unusual in her species.

The Animal Management and Veterinary Teams will base their continuing strategy for the cubs’ care on Lun Lun’s behavior and the cubs’ health. If necessary, they will rotate the cubs’ time with her to ensure that both receive an equal share of maternal care without overexerting her. In the wild, giant panda mothers typically care for only one cub when twins are born. Thus, it is normal in the wild for only one of the twins to survive. Giant panda twins have survived in zoos within and outside of China. Usually this is accomplished by rotating the cubs with the mother for the first few months. However, giant pandas are born very tiny, and there is a high risk of mortality in the first few months. This risk increases in twins, which tend to have lower birth rates than do single cubs.

“We’re thrilled to welcome Lun Lun’s and Yang Yang’s twins. This is a success we share with all of our fellow zoological organizations working to understand and protect this iconic species, and we share our joy with our local community and with our colleagues in China,” said Raymond B. King, President and CEO. “Twins are an entirely new scenario for Lun Lun, Zoo Atlanta and our animal care teams, who will no doubt be extremely busy over the next few months.”

Zoo Atlanta Members and guests can expect to meet the cubs in late fall. The newborns’ father, 15-year-old Yang Yang, and older brothers Xi Lan, 4, and Po, 2, remain on exhibit and will not be housed with Lun Lun or the cubs. This separation is normal for giant pandas, which are solitary in the wild.

The cubs are the fourth and fifth giant pandas born at Zoo Atlanta. The first cub, Mei Lan, was born in September 2006. A resident of China’s Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding since 2010, Mei Lan was the first of the pair’s offspring to return to his parents’ native country. All five of Lun Lun’s and Yang Yang’s cubs have been products of artificial insemination.

Fewer than 1,600 giant pandas are believed to remain in the wild, where funds from Zoo Atlanta are used to support giant pandas living in eight different nature reserves in China. In 2012, Zoo Atlanta received the distinguished International Conservation Award from the Association of Zoos and Aquariums for its long-term commitment to the species.

http://www.zooatlanta.org/home/article_content/giant_panda_twins (http://www.zooatlanta.org/home/article_content/giant_panda_twins)

From ZA Facebook:

When you see the wall appear on PandaCam, that means they're attempting to swap cubs!

They just did a successful baby swap!  :2thumbsup:

They've just completed the first successful swap!  Here is the first photo of them together!!

Oh my-so sweet and tiny!  :panda:

Video of twins birth:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3yc3EVrwFjs#ws (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3yc3EVrwFjs#ws)

Tuesday, July 16
The panda team is tired and a little stressed, but happy! So far, both cubs are doing well. We are fortunate that both were born a healthy weight and strong. Sometimes one twin is very small. As you all know, Lun Lun is a fantastic mom, and she's even more impressive this time. The cubs are being alternated with her, which is a technique first developed by our colleagues in Chengdu and used successfully for many cubs. Lun Lun is such a good mom, though, that she is reluctant to give up whichever cub she has. So, we have not been able to swap the cubs as frequently as we would like. Because of that, both have been supplemented with some formula. Both are doing well with this. Their condition and Lun Lun's behavior will continue to guide our actions. The next few days are especially critical. So, please continue to keep us in your thoughts. We can use the good vibes!
Rebecca Snyder, PhD,
Curator of Mammals

Beautiful video..........Thanks Kris.
I'm happy the cubs are doing fine so far.
Greetings :panda: :panda:

And going by Chinese tradition, they won't be named until they are 100 days old!

Here is the fb status: Drumroll, please ... It's two more boys for Lun Lun! The twins have been confirmed to be her fourth and fifth male offspring

Wednesday, July 17

Knowing that many, many people are waiting and watching on live camera, how nerve wracking is it to be the one to confirm that Lun Lun’s water had broken? Oh just slightly.  Luckily this year she made it pretty obvious and I felt very confident when I made that phone call, knowing that it would be the start of a very big night. I just didn’t realize how big! For every birth we prepare exactly the same as we have this year. The protocols get updated, the 24 hours shifts begin, the building’s daily activities get rearranged in preparation for the nursery set up, everything gets disinfected, and most importantly, the nursery gets set up. Zoo Atlanta’s Veterinary and Animal Management teams are always prepared for any scenario that might occur, and Monday evening was the best example of the exceptional preparation and detail that goes into planning a panda birth. We all sat in the control room watching Lun  Lun on the same video feed that many of you were watching. There were cheers all around when we saw the first cub arrive. Then we paused to begin our monitoring of mother and cub when we were as surprised as you! In Zoo Atlanta fashion, we were prepared. Our amazing team jumped into action and had everything we needed at our fingertips, thanks to our pre-prepared nursery.

Lun and the cubs are doing very well with the swapping. It is always calm for her and while we try to do it every few hours, it is only done when she provides an opportune moment. We make it positive for her by always giving her sugar cane and offering her water, bamboo, biscuits, and any treat she could want. Her favorite is the sugar cane, she never turns it down! Stay tuned for many more updates, and for more “insider information”, subscribe to our Cub Confidential emails. You won’t be disappointed!
Jenny
Keeper III, Carnivores


Confirmed that the twins are both males!  :panda: :panda:

Two more boys for Lun Lun!
Thursday, July 18, 2013

Giant panda twins born on July 15 have been confirmed to be her fourth and fifth male offspring

The twin cubs born on July 15, 2013, have been confirmed to be two males, continuing an all-male streak for Lun Lun and Yang Yang, who have three previous male offspring.

The twin brothers, who are being rotated between time spent with Lun Lun and care from the Animal Management and Veterinary Teams, appear to be healthy and are doing well with their new regimen. Lun Lun is a protective mother, posing occasional challenges for staff as they attempt to rotate the cubs on a regular schedule. The Animal Management and Veterinary Teams will continue to base their strategy for the cubs’ care on Lun Lun’s behavior and the twins’ health.

The cubs are expected to make their debut sometime this fall. Follow their milestones on PandaCam presented by EarthCam and on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Google+. Panda fans are encouraged to subscribe to exclusive email content via the new Cub Confidential; subscribe on the PandaCam page on zooatlanta.org.

Stay tuned for more updates as the twins continue to grow and develop.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_9QMLYVqzy8#ws (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_9QMLYVqzy8#ws)

Another blog!  I can't get enough of these cubbies  :wub:

Panda Updates
Thursday, July 18

The twins are doing great! It is normal for newborns to lose weight after birth. This happens in humans and has been documented in numerous species. It is also true for giant pandas. The initial weight loss is because of fluid loss. Also, colostrum is important for transferring antibodies and immune cells to the newborn, but it is low in calories and fat. It takes a day or two after birth for the mother to start producing milk. It takes newborns a few days to a week or more to regain the weight they lose after birth. The twins lost weight after birth, but they gained weight steadily yesterday and today. That is a great sign that they are healthy and will continue to grow and remain strong. They are nearing their birth weights now. The larger one is 139.1 grams and the smaller one is 97.1 grams. We think they will reach their birth weights tonight or tomorrow. That is quicker than we expected and we are really happy about it. Also, we have not supplemented the cubs with formula since the first day. So, all of the weight gain is because they are nursing really well and thriving on Lun Lun’s milk. We are thrilled with this and we are so lucky that Lun Lun is such an excellent mother.

Rebecca Snyder, PhD
Curator of Mammals

REALLY great that these babies are gaining weight without needing supplementation!   :thumbsup:

Carol
WV

Panda Updates

Friday, July 19
Both cubs continue to do really well. They have both surpassed their birth weights and we are really happy about that. Lun Lun continues to do really well with the cub swaps too. She is spending more time resting near the window we reach through to remove the cub. So, that makes it easier. She is also more interested in the sugar cane we offer her for the cub. Sometimes when she is not near the window, we can call to her and she will move over. But sometimes she is sleeping and it takes longer to get her in position to do the swap. There have been a few times when the cub in the incubator has been really hungry and calling loudly, but Lun Lun is sleeping soundly with the other cub. In those cases, we have sometimes had to reach in and pat her or scratch her to wake her up. She has been remarkably tolerant of all this.

I'm sure this seems strange to many of you, because she is a bear. Shouldn't she be protective of her cubs? I can tell you from observing lots of giant panda mothers at the Chengdu Zoo and Chengdu Research Base during my study of maternal behavior that those mothers also behaved like Lun Lun. I think that the best way for a giant panda mother to protect her cub in the first few weeks is to hold it. She can't risk putting it down to chase away a threat, because the cub might get cold or accidentally stepped on or snatched away by a quick predator. So, the mom holds her cub despite distractions around her. I'm sure some of this tolerance is because these are mothers born in captivity who are used to people. But there are a few cases in which field researchers have been able to approach wild giant panda mothers in their dens. So, I don't think the behavior of captive mothers is extremely different from the behavior of wild mothers.
 
Our colleagues in Chengdu were the first ones to realize that people can take advantage of this behavior and use it to swap twins so that both cubs have a very good chance to survive. Before the swapping technique was first used in 1990 at the Chengdu Zoo, no captive born panda twins survived. One of the cubs always died within a few days.
 
Lun Lun's tolerance will not last. In a few weeks, she will start putting her cubs down and will gradually leave them for longer periods of time to eat. But if she hears a cub call, she will come back in a hurry and she will be aggressive if she thinks her cubs are being threatened. Lucky for us, we will be able to shift her into another den when she leaves a cub and make the swap quickly and quietly while she is away. It's great system and we are really fortunate to have the guidance of our colleagues in Chengdu to know how to do it in just the right way.
Rebecca Snyder, PhD
Curator of Mammals

Check out the Twins!

http://us7.campaign-archive2.com/?u=d9031a7794b0f73577cc878c5&id=8a51c69bd5&e=e4eff45b1e (http://us7.campaign-archive2.com/?u=d9031a7794b0f73577cc878c5&id=8a51c69bd5&e=e4eff45b1e)

Oh they are so cute!! Thanks for the link!

Video of the new kids  :wub:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mE_XyMaKua8#ws (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mE_XyMaKua8#ws)

Look at them!! Bobbles!! Thanks Carly

They're so cute!  :yes:

http://us7.campaign-archive2.com/?u=d9031a7794b0f73577cc878c5&id=638bf419fa&e=c26951a69b (http://us7.campaign-archive2.com/?u=d9031a7794b0f73577cc878c5&id=638bf419fa&e=c26951a69b)

Panda Updates

Friday, July 26
Night shifts in the panda building have been quite enjoyable so far. The nursery staff, our Chinese colleague, Deng, and Lun and family have all settled in to a nice paced routine. We try to keep the noise and lights to a minimum so all the bears can get a good night’s rest. In the evenings it is just the bears, a nursery keeper, a vet, and Deng. I have really enjoyed getting to know Deng and have learned so much about Chengdu Research Base and his experience with raising cubs. Now however I rarely get to see him! He too has finally settled into a routine and is able to catch up on some very much needed rest during the late night shift. During these early days he is never too far, and usually can be found sleeping in his chosen makeshift bedroom in the den next to Lun.  While the cubs are doing great and everyone has adjusted to the routine we are so grateful for his expertise and devotion to Lun and the cubs.

 
While everyone is sleeping what do the rest of us do? We monitor Lun and the cubs, drink a coke, stimulate the cub in the incubator to urinate and defecate regularly, take his body temperature, drink coffee, follow our cleaning/disinfection schedule, keep up on all our record keeping, drink another coke, get Lun’s next meal buffet ready, clean the incubators, have some coffee, then turn around and realize the sun is up and the next shift has arrived. I will be the first one to admit that even though my sleep patterns have been totally turned around, I am really enjoying these nice quiet hours with the bears and our incredible staff.
Jenny
Keeper III, Carnivores

From FB:

The #ZAPandaCubs aren't necessarily twins. They are really littermates! We know this is because of the developmental differences we have seen in the cubs. The smaller cub not only weighs a little less, but he is also a day or two behind his brother in development. However, the smaller cub is catching up! As long as he continues to be the loudest and fussiest of the two, we will have no problem knowing who is who!- Heather Roberts, Keeper III

Posted on Zoo Atlanta FB page:

Dr. Rebecca Snyder shares that we can no longer refer to the cubs as "small" and "big." This afternoon Cub A (firstborn), who used to be smaller, surpassed his brother in weight! Cub A now weighs 361 grams, and Cub B weighs 360 grams. The growth weight of both cubs has been rapid, but Cub A has really impressed us -- he's more than tripled his weight in two weeks!

  :wub:

 :thumbsup:

Panda Updates
Wednesday, July 31

Like Rebecca stated before, we have an amazing team working around the clock to make sure these cute little furballs grow up healthy and strong, and that Lun Lun stays healthy as well. I just started my rotation as a nursery keeper, and it’s pretty cool to take part in a group working so smoothly like a well-oiled machine. The first 24-48 hours after the cubs were born were stressful for everyone as they had to find a rhythm of swapping out the cubs that worked best for Lun Lun and her newborns. This was complicated by the obvious fact that Cub A was smaller than his brother and in the early days was getting hungry far quicker. But very quickly the kinks were worked out and everyone relaxed a minuscule amount because at least we had a routine. Even Lun Lun settled into the (roughly) three-hour swap schedule without much fuss at all.  So much so that on my first day, she kept getting up and become more active right around the three-hour mark, as if she knew what was going to happen.  I am constantly amazed throughout my shifts at just how awesome Lun is in allowing us to take her cub, as if it’s no big deal. It’s a testament to the relationship we have with her and her trusting nature that she allows this.  Currently, Cubs A and B are pretty close in weight; weighing 394.7g and 405.5g, respectively.

Jen W.
Keeper I, Carnivores

Cub Confidential Update:

http://us7.campaign-archive2.com/?u=d9031a7794b0f73577cc878c5&id=9356e05bc9&e=e4eff45b1e (http://us7.campaign-archive2.com/?u=d9031a7794b0f73577cc878c5&id=9356e05bc9&e=e4eff45b1e)

Such dedication should be rewarded!  :clap:

http://youtu.be/77M0dN-Nhtc (http://youtu.be/77M0dN-Nhtc)

Cub Confidential update!

http://us7.campaign-archive1.com/?u=d9031a7794b0f73577cc878c5&id=d0a81f8616&e=c26951a69b (http://us7.campaign-archive1.com/?u=d9031a7794b0f73577cc878c5&id=d0a81f8616&e=c26951a69b)

The first 25 days of Giant Panda cubs!

http://youtu.be/Sp-hkYndu08 (http://youtu.be/Sp-hkYndu08)

That was cute! Thanks Kris!!  :wave:

So cute!  :cute:

ZA Facebook Update:

Lun Lun was worn out yesterday. She left the nest box and laid down in the adjacent den to rest. After a few minutes, it was obvious that she fell fast asleep. So, we put both cubs in the incubator and let her rest. Taking care of two cubs is very taxing for her. I’m glad she got a much-needed nap last night. -

Heather Roberts, Keeper III

Sweeties  :wub: :wub: thanks for posting.........

Tuesday, August 13

The cub swaps have been going really well since the twins were a few days old, but they have become even better lately. Lun Lun now regularly shifts away from the cub she has. While she is away, the door between the dens is closed. We enter the den that contains the nest box to remove one cub and place the other cub in the nest box. Then the door between the dens is opened. When Lun Lun is finished eating in the adjacent den, she goes straight to the nest box to pick up the cub. We are still doing the swaps approximately every four hours.

Rebecca Snyder, PhD
Curator of Mammals

Panda Updates
Wednesday, August 14

Now that the cubs are a month old, everyone is taking a small breath. The cubs are still quite vulnerable and fragile, but they’ve passed the 1 kilogram mark so we’re all very happy. Staffing has shifted a bit as well! Deng Tao used to work during the day, helping to care for the cubs and sharing his vast knowledge of cub rearing. While he slept in the den adjacent to Lun’s nesting den, the overnight crew consisted of a vet and a nursery keeper. Now that the cubs are a month old, Deng and the vets have swapped shifts: Deng now works overnight while a vet is here during the day. Even better is that Deng now feels comfortable enough to sleep outside the building! This new arrangement is very beneficial a our vet staff now have more time to take care of the other more than 1,500 critters here at Zoo Atlanta. The cubs and Lun are clueless, obviously. They are still getting round-the-clock care and attention so their world hasn’t changed one bit.

Jen W.
Keeper I, Carnivores

What do 1-month-old panda sleepyheads dream about? Mommy? Eating? Mommy? Eating? Mommy and Eating? Thanks to Keeper Jen Webb for a photo we like to call "Portrait of an Untroubled Life" -- Cub B. snoozing while Cub A. takes his turn with Mom.

Thursday, August 15
Heather weighed Lun Lun today for the first time since the twins were born. Lun Lun weighed 108 kg. This was surprising to Heather and me. We expected her to weigh about 100 kg. That is the weight we normally try to have Lun Lun maintain. As we have been reporting for weeks, she hasn’t been eating much since the last three weeks of her pregnancy. She did look thin the week after the cubs were born. But her appetite has picked up and she has been eating better. So, I expected that she would have regained the weight she lost and be close to her normal weight of 100 kg. Boy, was I wrong. She’s a bit heavier than we normally allow. I’m actually quite happy about that, though. It’s great that she is above her normal weight while nursing twins. It’s an indication that she is keeping up well with the cubs’ demand for milk. We increased her diet when she had her previous cubs and allowed her weight to increase. We have increased even more this time, because of the twins. It seems to be working!

Rebecca Snyder, PhD
Curator of Mammals

You may have noticed in most of the photos of the cubs in the incubator, they are resting their heads on a “pillow”. This pillow is really a small bean bag and both cubs seem to like using it. If we are close to a swap time and the cub is hungry, it may take a couple of tries to calm them, but the bean bag seems to do the trick every time!

Heather Roberts, Keeper III

From Zoo Atlanta FB page:

I spy with my little eye … another little eye getting ready to open! Now 35 days old, the cubs are entering the timeframe where we’ll start seeing those black-and-white peepers beginning to open.

    :wub:

Cub Confidential!

http://us7.campaign-archive2.com/?u=d9031a7794b0f73577cc878c5&id=742de8aa81&e=e4eff45b1e (http://us7.campaign-archive2.com/?u=d9031a7794b0f73577cc878c5&id=742de8aa81&e=e4eff45b1e)

             

5 weeks old!

http://youtu.be/7Z9IEy8j1eM (http://youtu.be/7Z9IEy8j1eM)

Lovely video!

Cub Confidential update!

http://us7.campaign-archive2.com/?u=d9031a7794b0f73577cc878c5&id=21951bd556&e=c26951a69b (http://us7.campaign-archive2.com/?u=d9031a7794b0f73577cc878c5&id=21951bd556&e=c26951a69b)

http://www.cnn.com/video/data/2.0/video/bestoftv/2013/08/30/newday-dnt-machado-baby-panda-twins-atlanta-zoo.cnn.html (http://www.cnn.com/video/data/2.0/video/bestoftv/2013/08/30/newday-dnt-machado-baby-panda-twins-atlanta-zoo.cnn.html)   :panda:

Cub Confidential update!

http://us7.campaign-archive2.com/?u=d9031a7794b0f73577cc878c5&id=d63ab98c5f&e=c26951a69b (http://us7.campaign-archive2.com/?u=d9031a7794b0f73577cc878c5&id=d63ab98c5f&e=c26951a69b)

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2412174/Adorable-panda-cub-laughs-smiles-way-weigh-Atlanta-Zoo.html (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2412174/Adorable-panda-cub-laughs-smiles-way-weigh-Atlanta-Zoo.html)


Cub exam:

http://youtu.be/sptHF0wfG1o (http://youtu.be/sptHF0wfG1o)

The cubs are sooo cuute!
Thank you.
                  :clap: :clap:
                       Lola

Cubs and Lun Lun update!

http://us7.campaign-archive2.com/?u=d9031a7794b0f73577cc878c5&id=d9ce320ba1&e=c26951a69b (http://us7.campaign-archive2.com/?u=d9031a7794b0f73577cc878c5&id=d9ce320ba1&e=c26951a69b)

They are just adorable!  :cute:

I know!  Can't wait until they get old enough to join Lun Lun together-should be so much fun to watch!

Enter to win a trip to see the twins! Hey! You never know!

http://us7.campaign-archive1.com/?u=d9031a7794b0f73577cc878c5&id=df4749283f&e=c26951a69b (http://us7.campaign-archive1.com/?u=d9031a7794b0f73577cc878c5&id=df4749283f&e=c26951a69b)

I didn't see that and it stinks-big time!   :thumbsdown:   I probably won't get an answer but I'll ask them why. 

I saw under comments that people in Fl can't enter because that's the law so I assume it's the same here.  Anyone know what law this is?  I did ask on Zoo Atlanta FB page but I'd be surprised if they answer me.

Update on the cubs!

http://us7.campaign-archive1.com/?u=d9031a7794b0f73577cc878c5&id=fc7773ffcf&e=c26951a69b (http://us7.campaign-archive1.com/?u=d9031a7794b0f73577cc878c5&id=fc7773ffcf&e=c26951a69b)

New cubs update!

http://us7.campaign-archive1.com/?u=d9031a7794b0f73577cc878c5&id=2da7b0f8bb&e=c26951a69b (http://us7.campaign-archive1.com/?u=d9031a7794b0f73577cc878c5&id=2da7b0f8bb&e=c26951a69b)

Cubs update!

http://http://us7.campaign-archive2.com/?u=d9031a7794b0f73577cc878c5&id=f317ce0074&e=c26951a69b  (http://us7.campaign-archive2.com/?u=d9031a7794b0f73577cc878c5&id=f317ce0074&e=c26951a69b)

Cub naming contest:  :panda: :panda:

http://http://m.wsbtv.com/news/news/local/name-options-zoo-atlanta-panda-cubs-announced/nbDxr/ (http://m.wsbtv.com/news/news/local/name-options-zoo-atlanta-panda-cubs-announced/nbDxr/)

  :heart: :heart:

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=MrOUcryaFEw&sns=tw&desktop_uri=%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DMrOUcryaFEw%26sns%3Dtw  (http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=MrOUcryaFEw&sns=tw&desktop_uri=%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DMrOUcryaFEw%26sns%3Dtw)

 :cute:

http://http://youtu.be/Br6sZKCptqU (http://youtu.be/Br6sZKCptqU)

                                                          :wub:

Both babies are so cute!  :heart:

Very Cute....I watch the cam every day....

Greetings

Me too, Carla! 

http://us7.campaign-archive2.com/?u=d9031a7794b0f73577cc878c5&id=a52fc7a473&e=c26951a69b  (http://us7.campaign-archive2.com/?u=d9031a7794b0f73577cc878c5&id=a52fc7a473&e=c26951a69b)

I like the #4 names. They're adorable cubs!  ;D

Those are the ones I like!   :handshake:

Voting for cubs names is going on now!  If interested, place your vote here (located on right side of page):

http://gma.yahoo.com/ (http://gma.yahoo.com/)

Cub Confidential Update:

http://us7.campaign-archive1.com/?u=d9031a7794b0f73577cc878c5&id=f7ad5eaafa&e=c26951a69b (http://us7.campaign-archive1.com/?u=d9031a7794b0f73577cc878c5&id=f7ad5eaafa&e=c26951a69b)

Cuuuute!!!  :cute:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LEv6ndQsqgk# (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LEv6ndQsqgk#)

 :2thumbsup: :panda: :panda:

Cub update!

http://us7.campaign-archive2.com/?u=d9031a7794b0f73577cc878c5&id=ce5c402d89&e=c26951a69b  (http://us7.campaign-archive2.com/?u=d9031a7794b0f73577cc878c5&id=ce5c402d89&e=c26951a69b)

Killing us with cuteness..one cub at a time  :wub:

Yesterday I saw Lun Lun play with one of the cubs.It's so much fun to watch.
Thanks Kris for posting. :panda: :panda:

Cubs first 100 days:

http://youtu.be/c30i79-FA3M (http://youtu.be/c30i79-FA3M)

Update on cubs!

http://us7.campaign-archive2.com/?u=d9031a7794b0f73577cc878c5&id=d0a4976d70&e=c26951a69b  (http://us7.campaign-archive2.com/?u=d9031a7794b0f73577cc878c5&id=d0a4976d70&e=c26951a69b)

Also, there has been news that arrangements are being made to move Po and Xi Lan to China.  When we were at Zoo Atlanta in April, we were told that they would go this year.

At 9:30 this morning, Lun Lun found out for the first time that she has 2 cubs! Let the fun begin!  :panda: :panda:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=paNs-kYtXfA# (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=paNs-kYtXfA#)

Po and Xi Lan to leave for China November 24th...

http://www.zooatlanta.org/home/article_content/pandas_xi_po_prepare_to_depart#  (http://www.zooatlanta.org/home/article_content/pandas_xi_po_prepare_to_depart#)

It's so much fun.I still watch them every day. :good post: :panda: :panda:

A big happy Giant Panda family!

http://us7.campaign-archive1.com/?u=d9031a7794b0f73577cc878c5&id=3c089caf33&e=c26951a69b  (http://us7.campaign-archive1.com/?u=d9031a7794b0f73577cc878c5&id=3c089caf33&e=c26951a69b)

3's Company by DoxieMom:


http://youtu.be/khL6X5-zqjkhttp:// (http://youtu.be/khL6X5-zqjkhttp://)

China Departure Postponed for Giant Pandas Xi Lan and Po
Friday, November 15, 2013

After reviewing the results of pre-shipment physical examinations on giant pandas Xi Lan, 5, and Po, 3, the Zoo Atlanta Animal Management and Veterinary Teams, in consultation with colleagues at the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, have made the decision to postpone the pandas’ departure for China, previously scheduled for November 24, 2013.

Both giant pandas are healthy, but the journey to China will involve a lengthy trip and a period of transition in their new home. Once in China, the bears will acclimate themselves to a new habitat and will adapt to a new diet, including the variety of unfamiliar bamboo species native to China. A temporary delay in Xi Lan’s and Po’s departure would allow the giant pandas to develop sufficient reserves to make this transition.

“We’re excited about the opportunities Xi Lan and Po will have once they arrive in Chengdu, but we want to ensure that both are in optimal condition for travel and transition,” said Raymond B. King, President and CEO. “Their welfare is paramount to us and our colleagues in China who are in agreement that a stay of a few more months is the right choice for the animals.”

Pre-shipment physicals are an important part of the process for animals traveling from Zoo Atlanta to new homes. Routinely performed by the Veterinary Team on individuals scheduled to move to other facilities, these are comprehensive examinations that analyze an animal’s total bill of health while ensuring that those preparing to travel will be able to adapt successfully to new circumstances and diets.

The farewell celebration planned for Saturday, November 16 will continue as scheduled. Activities will take place from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Panda Veranda.


Xi Lan and Po are the second and third offspring of giant panda pair Lun Lun and Yang Yang. Lun Lun’s youngest offspring, 4-month-old twins Mei Lun and Mei Huan, recently began

living with their mother full-time and will soon be making their public debut in the Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation Giant Panda Conservation Center.

Stay tuned for updates on Xi Lan’s and Po’s revised departure date; updates will be posted on zooatlanta.org as they are available.

 

New sights, new sounds, new smells...the cubs make their dayroom debut! (video by Doxiemom)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fhPd3FNstJo# (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fhPd3FNstJo#)

Two cubs in a tipsy tub!   :panda:  :panda:

2013-12-12 Mei Lun & Mei Huan:Two Cubs in a Tipsy Tub (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9a9y46z0_mg#)

Oh boy!  No girls!!!!!    :surprise:

Officials at Zoo Atlanta have received surprising news regarding giant pandas Po, Mei Lun and Mei Huan. DNA testing has confirmed that all three bears are female.

All three giant pandas were originally sexed as male by colleagues from the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, but it is not unusual for young giant pandas to be sexed incorrectly. Prior to the time they are at least 3 years old, there are no obvious external cues as to their sex.

There are no plans to change Po’s, Mei Lun’s or Mei Huan’s names, and the news that they are female will have no impact on their care or their future importance to the world’s population of captive giant pandas.

Po, 3, is the third offspring of Lun Lun and Yang Yang. Mei Lun and Mei Huan, 4 months old, are the only twin giant pandas in the U.S.

LOL...Mei Lan turned out to be a boy and now we've got 3 girls...lol!!  Woohoo!  :yahoo:

Little rats...........They are so funny........girls.........hihi

The girls have fun with the water drinker!

2013-12-15 Mei Huan Atop the Drinker!! (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Y8OE1z0Kvs#)

Mei Lun atop the hammock structure!


2013-12-15 Mei Lun Atop the Hammock Structure!! (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FldsdMIGS-M#)

Thanks for posting Kris , it's so much fun watching these girls. :panda: :panda:

You're welcome, Carla!  I love watching them too! So cute and always busy!

Mei Huan dances while the Lun's play -by DoxieMom!

2013-12-10 Mei Huan Dances while the Lun's Play (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BPSoYcaWMy0#)

Mei Huan and Mommie's bowl! (videos by Doxiemom)
Mei Huan has to share her hammock!

2013-12-27 Mei Huan and Mommie's Bowl (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-hhBR8IZFBA#)

2013-12-27 Mei Huan has to Share her Hammock (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hMkDUjwpZpo#)

Skirmish on the scale! (video by Doxiemom)

2013-12-27 Mei Lun & Mei Huan: Skirmish on the Scale (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aBaCtDBTWhs#)

 :panda: :panda:          Thanks Kris    :panda: :panda:

You're welcome, Carla! Those girls sure like to wrestle with each other!

Those two are like a perpetual motion machine!!  they never stop!!!

I know!  It's tiring just watching them!

Fun video!

2013-12-31 Cubs & Keepers: The Ups, Down, Ins & Outs (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vJ0_FdIuIGs#)

Yes , fun fun fun . The keepers are busy wit them  :panda: :panda:

Mei Huan takes a BIG tumble!   :o

2014-01-13 A Sleeping Mei Huan Takes a Tumble (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7nZ5n9PawnE#)

Oh.... she felt really hard ,it scares me.

Someone, who watched it happen online, was so scared she called Zoo Atlanta to check on Mei Huan and that's where we see the camera zoom in.  I've read where they say Panda cubs are "born stuntmen", knowing how to land and roll without hurting themselves if they fall...their "fur and flexibility" prevent injuries.  Still scary to watch!

Mei Huan was trying to sleep!

http://youtu.be/U2nfB-BJr4U (http://youtu.be/U2nfB-BJr4U)

Playing in a half-barrel full of snow!

http://youtu.be/mVGv3EZ0fXw (http://youtu.be/mVGv3EZ0fXw)

Thanks Khris ,it was a great start of my day,with coffee and bread and these videos.
They are adorable. :panda: :panda:

You're welcome!  I love when they wrestle together...so cute!

Thanks so much, Kris!  What a day brightener they are!!!  Sweet little ones!

Food fight!   :panda: :panda:

2014-01-31 LOL!! Twinkie Food Fight (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NZOKyYCW_gA#)

Mei-hem!

2014-02-04 Mei-hem in the Den, Two Against One (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NK8TIWt0EoY#)

Mei Lun-Hanging on for dear life!

Mei Lun - I's Hangin' On For Dear Life! (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KHplDQxLWrY#)

Mommie monster!

2014-02-21 Mei-ga Play Intruder, the Mommie Monster (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WzPuzBKcoHE#)

Sunday Comic Clips by Doxiemom!

http://youtu.be/pM1zVxMncFw (http://youtu.be/pM1zVxMncFw)

Xi Lan and Po are going to China.  :(

http://zooatlanta.org/home/article_content/pandas_xi_po_depart_prep?utm_referrer=http%3A%2F%2Ft.co%2FTr8XqMmrWD&utm_referrer=direct%2Fnot%20provided  (http://zooatlanta.org/home/article_content/pandas_xi_po_depart_prep?utm_referrer=http%3A%2F%2Ft.co%2FTr8XqMmrWD&utm_referrer=direct%2Fnot%20provided)

Sad for us panda fans but good for them!  Chengdu is a beautiful panda base from all the photos and videos I've seen of Mei Lan there.  They will have beautiful yards full of trees to play in and climb and they can nap outside in the cool air  :happy:

If you are a fan of Mei Lan (Lani bear), Chengdu has a cam on him now!  They have a bunch of cams if you want to watch cubs, sub adults or kindergarten too.

Lani just came out into his yard and it's gorgeous there!  They've zoomed in on him now!

Here is the link for Lani's cam directly:

http://live.ipanda.com/02/ (http://live.ipanda.com/02/)

I had trouble getting it in FireFox but works good in Chrome or IE.

I got it on my iPad OK...thanks!  How do you know who's on camera?

Someone from China posted it on ZA web site saying it was to feature Mei Lan on this cam, you can hear them calling his name too sometimes.  As for the rest of them I have no idea..lol.  If you look at the panda icons though, you can tell which are adults and which are cubbie cams.

Although I think I saw Yang's mom earlier on one of the multi cams - she was with 5 cubs in a yard.  She is famous at Chengdu for helping raising multiple cubs from the kindergarten so I'm guessing that was her I saw.

Xi Lan and Po left for Chengdu yesterday and this was posted today:

Zoo Atlanta
Update on giant pandas Xi Lan and Po
 Journey is going smoothly for China-bound bears
Giant pandas Xi Lan, 5, and Po, 3, are doing well as they continue their journey across the globe to their new home in China. The bears were scheduled to arrive at their first Asian destination -- Inchon, South Korea -- around 4 p.m. Eastern Standard Time today.
Zoo Atlanta Associate Veterinarian Sam Rivera, DVM, and Kenn Hardwood, Lead Keeper of Carnivores, have accompanied Xi Lan and Po on the trip. Rivera and Harwood have reported that the giant pandas have been relatively unfazed by the long flight, and both are eating and drinking normally and behaving calmly.
The group is expected to depart Inchon around 9:15 a.m. Eastern Standard Time tomorrow, arriving in Chengdu around 1:30 p.m. Eastern Standard Time.
Rivera and Harwood will remain with Xi Lan and Po long enough to help the bears get settled into their new environment at the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding. Additional updates will be provided as they are available.

Mei Huan and Mei Lun turn one today!  Here's a video of the birthday festivities!

2014-07-15 Mei Lun & Mei Huan's 1st Birthday: Cakes & Keepers (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C34KUPNzGqA#)

Another video of the 1st birthday festivities!

Twin Panda Cubs Enjoy Their 1st Birthday Ice Cakes (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bY7PxYI5Ff0#ws)

Will there be a new cub(s) later on this year?

http://zooatlanta.org/home/article_content/panda_breeding_lun_lun?utm_referrer=http%3A%2F%2Fm.facebook.com&utm_referrer=direct%2Fnot%20provided (http://zooatlanta.org/home/article_content/panda_breeding_lun_lun?utm_referrer=http%3A%2F%2Fm.facebook.com&utm_referrer=direct%2Fnot%20provided)

From Zoo Atlanta!   :panda:

Lun Lun the giant panda is expecting
Thursday, August 18, 2016

Pregnancy confirmed via ultrasound and hormone analyses; 24-hour birthwatch begins August 22

Lun Lun the giant panda has been confirmed to be expecting a cub. On August 16, the Zoo Atlanta Veterinary Team obtained an ultrasound image of a fetus measuring 0.78 centimeter (a third of an inch), and supporting hormone analyses and monitoring of Lun Lun’s behavior suggest that a birth could take place within three weeks. Beginning on Monday, August 22, the Animal Management and Veterinary Teams will begin 24-hour monitoring of Lun Lun as she nests in her off-exhibit den in The Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation Giant Panda Conservation Center.

The teams remain optimistic that the newest addition to the Zoo Atlanta giant panda program is on the way; however, there is still no certainty of an impending birth. Fetal reabsorption is not uncommon in giant pandas, so the possibility remains that the pregnancy could fail. Because of the difficulty in obtaining ultrasounds of Lun Lun’s entire uterus, there is also no certainty that there is not more than one fetus present.

Lun Lun was artificially inseminated on March 28, 2016. Since that time, the teams have continued to review hormone analyses conducted by David Kersey, PhD, an expert in giant panda endocrinology from Western University of Health Sciences. The Veterinary Team will continue to pursue regular ultrasounds, but as ultrasound participation is voluntary for Lun Lun, there is no guarantee of additional ultrasounds before a birth takes place.

Giant pandas represent Zoo Atlanta’s most significant financial investment in conservation. Fewer than 1,900 giant pandas are estimated to remain in the wild in China’s Sichuan, Shaanxi and Gansu provinces, and more than 1,200 of these live inside nature reserves. Support from Zoo Atlanta benefits wild giant pandas living on eight of these reserves.

A new cub, which would be the first giant panda born in the U.S. in 2016, would be the sixth for 18-year-old Lun Lun and 18-year-old male Yang Yang. The pair’s first, second and third offspring, Mei Lan, Xi Lan and Po, now reside at the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding in China. Their fourth and fifth, 3-year-old females Mei Lun and Mei Huan, reside at Zoo Atlanta and are the only twin giant pandas in the U.S.

Tune in to PandaCam hosted by Animal Planet L!VE on zooatlanta.org to join Lun Lun and the Zoo Atlanta family in preparing for a birth, and stay tuned for updates.

 :2thumbsup:

              :panda: :panda:

Lun Lun the giant panda is expecting twins!
Tuesday, August 23, 2016

Zoo Atlanta Veterinary Team has confirmed the presence of a second fetus on ultrasound; birthwatch began August 22

Lun Lun the giant panda has been confirmed to be expecting twins. The Zoo Atlanta Veterinary Team obtained an ultrasound image confirming the presence of a second fetus on August 22, 2016.

The Animal Management and Veterinary Teams confirmed Lun Lun’s pregnancy via ultrasound on August 16, with an image of a fetus measuring 0.78 centimeters. As of August 22, that fetus measured 2.68 centimeters, and the second fetus measured 2.19 centimeters.

Round-the-clock birthwatch began on August 22, but there is still no certainty of impending births, as fetal reabsorption is not uncommon in giant pandas. Ultrasound participation is voluntary for Lun Lun, so there is no guarantee that the team will be able to obtain additional ultrasounds prior to a birth.

Lun Lun, who turns 19 on Thursday, August 25, is the mother of the only pair of giant panda twins in the U.S., 3-year-olds Mei Lun and Mei Huan. While it is estimated that giant pandas give birth to twins approximately 50 percent of the time, wild giant panda mothers will typically care for only one cub. Advances in animal care and veterinary care in zoos have resulted in successful rearing of twins both in the zoological population in China and in zoos outside China.

Join the Zoo Atlanta family in preparing for a birth by tuning in to PandaCam hosted by Animal Planet L!VE on www.zooatlanta.org (http://www.zooatlanta.org). Stay tuned for updates.

From Zoo Atlanta website

Giant panda cub born at Zoo Atlanta
Saturday, September 3, 2016

Lun Lun has been confirmed to be expecting twins, but only one cub has been born so far

Lun Lun, a 19-year-old giant panda at Zoo Atlanta, gave birth to a single cub at 7:20 a.m. on September 3, 2016. As recent ultrasounds have confirmed that Lun Lun was carrying twins, birthwatch continues for the delivery of her second cub. The Animal Management and Veterinary Teams are monitoring the single cub and Lun Lun, who appears to be providing appropriate maternal care.

It is possible for giant panda twins to be born days apart. While the Animal Management and Veterinary Teams continue 24-hour watch for the birth of the second cub, there remains the possibility that the second fetus may be resorbed, or reabsorbed, and will thus not be born. Fetal resorption is not uncommon in giant pandas, and may happen at any time during a giant panda pregnancy. As recently as an August 28 ultrasound, the Veterinary Team had detected the presence of two fetuses with heartbeats.

“We’re very excited about welcoming a new giant panda cub and continue to remain optimistic for the arrival of its twin. Because we know that giant panda fetuses can be resorbed, resulting in failed pregnancies, we are aware that this could be a possible outcome,” said Hayley Murphy, DVM, Vice President of Animal Divisions. “We continue to keep a close eye on Lun Lun and her newborn to ensure that the cub has the best possible chance of thriving.”

Giant panda cubs, which are born nearly hairless, blind and barely larger than a small cell phone, are some of the animal kingdom’s most fragile newborns, and their early days of life are critical. A preliminary veterinary checkup will be performed as soon as the team is able to temporarily remove the cub without disrupting Lun Lun’s care. The Zoo team is joined by two colleagues from the Zoo’s partner in giant panda conservation, the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding.

Lun Lun was artificially inseminated on March 28, 2016, and round-the-clock birthwatch began on August 22, 2016. Since the time of the artificial insemination, the Animal Management and Veterinary Teams have been conducting regular ultrasounds and monitoring Lun Lun’s behavior, as well as monitoring hormone analyses conducted by David Kersey, PhD, an expert in giant panda endocrinology from Western University of Health Sciences.

The cub, which is the first giant panda born in the U.S. in 2016, is the sixth for Lun Lun and 18-year-old male Yang Yang. Their first three offspring, male Mei Lan (born 2006), male Xi Lan (born 2008) and female Po (born 2010), now reside at the Chengdu Research Base. Their fourth and fifth offspring, 3-year-old females Mei Lun and Mei Huan, reside at Zoo Atlanta and are the only twin giant pandas in the U.S.

Cub #2 is here!!!

http://www.zooatlanta.org/home/article_content/Second_giant_panda_cub_born_at_Zoo_Atlanta_2016_ (http://www.zooatlanta.org/home/article_content/Second_giant_panda_cub_born_at_Zoo_Atlanta_2016_)

I was just going to post this!   :panda: :panda:   :yahoo:

From Zoo Atlanta

Panda Updates
Saturday, September 3
We are here in the giant panda nursery and are so excited to report on the birth of Lun Lun’s second set of twins!

We received the call that Lun Lun was having contractions early this morning and all rushed to the panda building. We didn’t have to wait long before she gave birth to a very loud, very healthy-looking cub. As usual, she is such a great panda mom that she picked the cub up right away and started taking care of it. Because we had seen two cubs on ultrasound, we anxiously awaited the birth of a second. As we all know, there are never any guarantees that giant pandas will give birth, even after we have seen cubs on ultrasound, because they can sometimes reabsorb a fetus. Lun Lun didn’t disappoint us, though, and 47 minutes later, Cub B was born! Talk about excitement!

Because  giant panda cubs are so altricial, (meaning that they are born in a very dependent and helpless manner requiring extensive care from their moms to survive),  and because we know that it is difficult for giant pandas  to provide this extensive maternal care for more than one cub at a time, often resulting in the death of one of the pair of babies, we were prepared to go into the twin-swapping mode that we utilized last time. We are so grateful that Lun Lun is such an amazing  panda and that we had such great experiences from the last time she had twins, and Mei Lun and Mei Huan taught us so much! 

The first cub that we were able to swap out was actually her firstborn (called Cub A for now). This is because Lun Lun set Cub A down on the floor of the den when she delivered Cub B. This can be a very dangerous time for the newborn cub, because the mom is so focused on taking care of the newest arrival that she can inadvertently roll on or sit on the firstborn.  We were able to get Cub A out of the den while she focused on Cub B. Cub A was rushed to our cub incubator and assessed to be very healthy, weighing in at 109.2 grams!  While we have a cub with us in the nursery, we take the opportunity to examine it for any obvious problems, weigh it, and we keep it very warm and moist (by keeping the humidity and temperatures in the incubator high), and it is snuggled under warm, soft blankets. This is to mimic the conditions of being held so snugly by Lun Lun. Cub A stayed nice and warm in the incubator, and we suspected that Cub A had nursed because he/she (too early to tell) seemed very content. Despite being so fragile, the cubs definitely let you know when they are ready for the next meal, and Cub A was no different, starting to get restless after about two hours in the incubator. We took this as a sign to try the swap, and when Lun Lun was in a position near the doorway, we removed Cub B and placed Cub A back with her for some mommy time!

Again, we have had experience  doing this from when we did this with Mei Lun and Mei Huan, and it certainly helps to have our very knowledgeable and experienced colleagues here from the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding who have  had years of experience doing this! So, we finally were able to meet Cub B, and boy, does he/she look great also. Very strong, and, of course, loud, and weighing in at 132 grams!  Hopefully, all will continue to go well here, and we know everyone out there is pulling for these babies! Anytime we can help to conserve endangered  species like this through our research and breeding efforts, as well as excellence in animal care, it is a huge success!
Dr. Hayley, Dr. Sam and Dr. Kate
Zoo Atlanta Veterinarians

http://youtu.be/bhEqgRxcmOA (http://youtu.be/bhEqgRxcmOA)

Growing! :wub:

http://youtu.be/KusRu-TZPsI

Expected but bittersweet news..from Zoo Atlanta site

Mei Lun's and Mei Huan's next adventure
Wednesday, September 28, 2016

Visit the 3-year-old twins before they embark on an important new milestone 

Mei Lun and Mei Huan, the first pair of surviving giant panda twins ever born in the U.S., will depart Atlanta later this year on their way to one of the most important milestones in the life of an American-born panda: a new chapter at their parents’ birthplace at the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding in China. While their travel date has not yet been set, the 3-year-old bears are currently expected to leave Atlanta in November 2016.

As is the case at all four U.S. zoos housing the species, the giant pandas at Zoo Atlanta are on loan from China. As part of that loan agreement, all of the offspring of adult pair Lun Lun and Yang Yang eventually travel to China when they are of age. Mei Lun and Mei Huan will be the fourth and fifth Zoo Atlanta-born pandas to return to the Chengdu Research Base, the Zoo’s partner in giant panda conservation.

“Mei Lun and Mei Huan have grown up at Zoo Atlanta. The Zoo family and friends around the world have embraced them, and we have been their stewards over three memorable years. In the continuing history of success for the giant panda program at Zoo Atlanta, it’s now their turn for new opportunities and new contributions to a powerful conservation collaboration,” said Raymond B. King, President and CEO. “We’re honored to have shared their formative years, and we’ll now watch with pride as they embark on their young adult years at the Chengdu Research Base, which is an international home base for some of the world’s top experts in caring for and protecting this species.” 

Mei Lun and Mei Huan, who have been living apart from their mother Lun Lun since February 2015, are ready for this next step in terms of both age and behavior. Giant pandas are a solitary species and are weaned from their mothers by the time they are around 18 months old.

Born July 15, 2013, Mei Lun and Mei Huan, whose names originate from a Chinese idiom meaning “something indescribably beautiful and magnificent,” are the fourth and fifth offspring of 19-year-old adults Lun Lun and Yang Yang. The pair’s first offspring, Mei Lan (born September 6, 2006), traveled to China in 2010. Their second and third cubs, Xi Lan (born August 30, 2008) and Po (born November 3, 2010), made the trip in 2014.

Giant pandas represent Zoo Atlanta’s most significant long-term financial investment in wildlife conservation. The Zoo has contributed over $10 million in sustained support for wild giant pandas. The International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) upgraded the giant panda’s status from “endangered” to “vulnerable” in September 2016, but the species remains heavily reliant on conservation programs. Fewer than 1,900 giant pandas are estimated to remain in the wild in China’s Sichuan, Shaanxi and Gansu provinces, where they face continuing threats from habitat fragmentation and habitat loss as a result of deforestation and other human activities. More than 1,200 of China’s remaining wild giant pandas live inside nature reserves, eight of which are supported by Zoo Atlanta.

Mei Lun’s and Mei Huan’s 3-week-old siblings, a second pair of twins born to Lun Lun on September 3, 2016, are achieving milestones of their own, but it will be quite some time before the tiny duo is ready to embark on the new adventure their older sisters will start this fall. The cubs now weigh over a pound each; for now, anticipated milestones for them include opening ears and opening eyes.

Visit Mei Lun and Mei Huan and their father, Yang Yang, in their habitats at The Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation Giant Panda Conservation Center. Lun Lun and the newborns will remain behind-the-scenes until the new cubs are ready to make their debut in December 2016 or January 2017. Tune in to all of the milestones of the Zoo’s giant panda program on PandaCam hosted by Animal Planet L!VE on www.zooatlanta.org/pandacam (http://www.zooatlanta.org/pandacam).

Stay tuned for details on Mei Lun’s and Mei Huan’s departure date and farewell activities.

Sweet!

http://youtu.be/BBCgHL0Tg90 (http://youtu.be/BBCgHL0Tg90)

Thank you for posting those videos, Kris! Those little cubs are just way too cute!

Thanks, Kris!  They are so adorable!!!!

From Zoo Atlanta-

Monday, October 3
The most common question we get about the twin panda cubs is how do we do the swaps. Now that the cubs are big enough and old enough for Lun Lun to put them down for a few minutes, the swapping is really quite easy. Lun Lun is left with access to an adjacent den to the one you see on PandaCam. When it's time to swap cubs, we ask Lun Lun to put the cub down and come over into the next-door den. We reward her for coming over with biscuits, fruit, and lots of bamboo. As soon as she has allowed us to shut the door behind her, we can safely enter the den with the cub and retrieve it. After that cub has been weighed and put into an incubator, we give Lun Lun some alone time to eat and do what she pleases. We then leave it up to Lun Lun to let us know, by vocalizing or going to the shift door that leads back to the den, that she is ready for the other cub.

Right now the swaps are about every four hours, but we are always keeping an eye out for when Lun Lun is hungry and an ear out for when the cubs start letting everyone know that they are hungry too.

This method is safe for both the pandas and their care team and allows for the cubs to get equal time with mom and some alone time for Lun Lun!

And by the way, in case you’re counting, the twins are 1 month old today!      

http://youtu.be/AOHCcKok86E

51 days old!   :panda: :panda:

http://youtu.be/Utzg6Jd6R-k (http://youtu.be/Utzg6Jd6R-k)

The twins are both girls!   :panda: :panda:

http://www.zooatlanta.org/home/article_content/Its_a_girl_and_a_girl_giant_panda_twins_at_Zoo_Atlanta_are_female (http://www.zooatlanta.org/home/article_content/Its_a_girl_and_a_girl_giant_panda_twins_at_Zoo_Atlanta_are_female)

 :heart:

 goodnews:

Thanks, Kris! I hope everything continues to go well for these very cute cubs.

Bittersweet..Mei Lun and Mei Huan leave for China Thursday.  A 45 hr plane ride, in separate crates, but they'll be able to see each other during their trip. :heart: :heart:

http://youtu.be/zlCoiiPSYh0 (http://youtu.be/zlCoiiPSYh0)

I'm watching the Mei's right now while they sleep on the platform.  I hate when they have to go, it's always so hard.  :(

Great news about the two new cherubs, that's 5 girls now for Lunnie and 2 boys.

Mei Lun and Mei Huan's first 3 yrs.  

http://youtu.be/LKT7ckmIMmo (http://youtu.be/LKT7ckmIMmo)

The twins are on their way to China and, if interested, Zoo Atlanta is posting some pics on their FB page of their trip.

Mei Lun and Mei Huan arrived in China at 5AM.. here's a video of their arrival and transfer to Chengdu.  
Mixed emotions for me, watching this...

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=inOq_LG6JqQ&feature=share

Video news of Mei Lun and Mei Huan from Chengdu-

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=7yU7V91eZ-k&feature=youtu.be

Panda Cubs-Day 75!

http://youtu.be/sRTzxYQXdnI

Voting for the twins names has been posted..100 days naming ceremony is on Dec. 12th!

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/6JVR2N6 (https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/6JVR2N6)

Thanks Kris!  :thumbsup:

The twins have been named Ya Lun and Xi Lun!   :panda: :panda:

http://www.zooatlanta.org/home/article_content/giant-panda-name-annoucement (http://www.zooatlanta.org/home/article_content/giant-panda-name-annoucement)

 :2thumbsup:

The twins were finally both placed in the nest box for Lun to see a few days ago.  Keepers suspected that she knew all along she had twins but this was the first time she saw them both together. It's been fun seeing them interact as a family!  Video by Doxiemom19

http://youtu.be/yOWvqzWXda4

Xi Lun and Ya Lun are very mobile now..lots of fun watching them interact with each other and their mom, Lun Lun!

http://youtu.be/FsZQxchIEF0 (http://youtu.be/FsZQxchIEF0)

http://youtu.be/Je7vU1lVQc4 (http://youtu.be/Je7vU1lVQc4)

Mei Lun & Mei Huan in China  :heart: :heart:

http://youtu.be/KIq0lTImsHA (http://youtu.be/KIq0lTImsHA)

For those that followed the ZA pandas - Giant Panda Po has given birth to twins, the largest ever recorded apparently!  A boy weighing 211 grams and a girl weighing in at 209 grams!

Photos and video on iPanda Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/ipandacom/ (https://www.facebook.com/ipandacom/)

ps:  Po was originally thought to be a boy but turned out to be a girl.  She is affectionately known as Bao Lan in China.

Wonderful news!  Thanks for sharing!