San Diego Zoo Panda news

[Dumpsterkitty]

Still waiting to see if Bai Yun is pregnant again.  Meanwhile this news was posted...

We are filled with pride! Just days ago, in a naturalistic den, high in the mountains of Sichuan Province, surrounded by bamboo and forest ferns, Su Lin gave birth to her first cubs.  And from what we’ve seen, her maternal skills kicked right in as she gently picked up the vigorous and squawking cub with her mouth and sheltered it into her great body for warmth soon after the cub was born.

This news from China is fantastic and the culmination of months of waiting since we heard of Su Lin’s successful breeding back in March.  Not only has Su Lin given birth in her semi-wild enclosure, but she is  also the first new panda mother of the year.  We also learned that Su Lin gave birth to a second, stillborn cub.  While this is a sad note in this otherwise joyous event, we know that this is not an uncommon occurrence with giant pandas. From what we’ve seen, the veterinary staff has already given the surviving cub its first quick examine and have returned the cub safely to Su Lin.

As we hear more, we’ll share what we’ve learned.  So stay tuned! And in the meantime, mark your panda-calendars: July 8, 2011, was an auspicious day!

[Dumpsterkitty]

Just posted on San Diego Zoo's FB page!

We're on panda cub watch! A spine, leg and heartbeat have been detected. This is considered a high-risk pregnancy due to Bai Yun’s age. If a cub is born, Bai Yun will be one of the oldest giant pandas known to give birth. Keep your fingers crossed!



http://www.sandiegozoo.org/pandacam/

[carly]

Just posted on San Diego Zoo's FB page!

We're on panda cub watch! A spine, leg and heartbeat have been detected. This is considered a high-risk pregnancy due to Bai Yun’s age. If a cub is born, Bai Yun will be one of the oldest giant pandas known to give birth. Keep your fingers crossed!



http://www.sandiegozoo.org/pandacam/

OMG..I've been waiting for news, thank you!!!

[Dumpsterkitty]

Just posted on San Diego Zoo's FB page!

We're on panda cub watch! A spine, leg and heartbeat have been detected. This is considered a high-risk pregnancy due to Bai Yun’s age. If a cub is born, Bai Yun will be one of the oldest giant pandas known to give birth. Keep your fingers crossed!



http://www.sandiegozoo.org/pandacam/

OMG..I've been waiting for news, thank you!!!

Now if Mei Xiang can give us good news too at National Zoo we'll be all set!

[carly]

I'd be over the moon if Mei had another cubbie.  They're going to send her home if she doesn't give birth, that new zoo boss seems adamant on that point.  Will be a sad day for everyone when that happens.    but I'm being selfish, for her she might be happy to be back in the land of her birth surrounded by the misty mountains.

[Dumpsterkitty]

I'd be over the moon if Mei had another cubbie.  They're going to send her home if she doesn't give birth, that new zoo boss seems adamant on that point.  Will be a sad day for everyone when that happens.    but I'm being selfish, for her she might be happy to be back in the land of her birth surrounded by the misty mountains.

She might have success with a different mate. But it would be sad to see her leave. I spent a day there just sitting with her & Tai Shan & Tian Tian when Tai was I guess 6 months old. Very special memories!

[carly]

Oh how wonderful Kitty!  I've been watching the new Tai cam when I have a chance.  So many cams, not enough time    I need to win the lottery..

[Dumpsterkitty]

Oh how wonderful Kitty!  I've been watching the new Tai cam when I have a chance.  So many cams, not enough time    I need to win the lottery..

I had heard there was going to be a Tai cam, but here has kept me so busy I hadn't had a chance to check!

Do you have the link handy?

[carly]

Morning Kitty!  Here is the link to the new Tai Cam..it's explore.org that's running it.  If you click the 'like' or 'share' link, money will be donated to BFX to buy 'boo' for the pandas!

They also run the previous day's tape on this cam due to the time difference so it's all 'Tai' all the time even when he's sleeping!

http://explore.org/#!/live-cams/player/china-panda-cam-4

[Dumpsterkitty]

Morning Kitty!  Here is the link to the new Tai Cam..it's explore.org that's running it.  If you click the 'like' or 'share' link, money will be donated to BFX to buy 'boo' for the pandas!

They also run the previous day's tape on this cam due to the time difference so it's all 'Tai' all the time even when he's sleeping!

http://explore.org/#!/live-cams/player/china-panda-cam-4

Excellent! Thank you!

[Dumpsterkitty]

San Diego just announced they have a cub! looking for more detail...

[carly]

Live stream news conference right now Kitty!!

http://www.ustream.tv/sandiegozoo

[Kris G.]

San Diego just announced they have a cub! looking for more detail...

Great news! 

[carly]

Bai Yun Gives Birth

BySuzanne Hall
– July 29, 2012Posted in: Animal Stories, Animals and Plants, Bears, Conservation, Conservation at the Zoo, Pandas, Uncategorized

It’s been a long, crazy, rewarding day at the San Diego Zoo’s Panda Trek. I checked in at 6 this morning, there to relieve the early morning watch. The keeper on duty reported that Bai Yun had had a fairly quiet night resting in her den. However, since about 5 a.m. she had had a few bouts of nest building and genital licking. We’ve been seeing both behaviors from her for the last few days, so initially I thought we were status quo.

As the hour wore on, I noticed that she was not taking long rest periods as in days past. Instead, she would only rest for about 10 minutes before getting up to nest build or lick some more. I wondered if this would be a temporary restlessness or if this would build as the day progressed. At 8 a.m., keepers tried to get Bai Yun to cooperate with an ultrasound procedure. She walked voluntarily into the tunnel where we conduct the exams. However, it became quickly apparent that she was too restless to settle down and lay still, so the ultrasound was scrapped. Shortly after returning to her bedroom and sunroom area, I observed Bai Yun straining to defecate in the sun room. This occurred several times over the next hour. When she moved this straining to the den at about 9 a.m., I began alerting staff on site that Bai Yun may be in the early stages of labor.

As everyone gathered, Bai Yun continued to progress. She intermittently engaged in nest building, licking, and straining. The straining very clearly moved to obvious contractions, and after a few hours she began to grunt along with her contractions. We watched with baited breath, aware that this labor appeared to be taking longer than some of her previous ones. Bai Yun seemed to be lagging with fatigue.

At 2:40 p.m., with a loud squawk, a baby panda made its way into the world! Bai Yun was in a seated position when the cub emerged, and it never even touched the ground before she had it in her embrace. Bai Yun immediately comforted and consoled the cub, and it settled down quickly. Over the next hour, staff watched with relief as Bai Yun seemed to relax and enjoy a few short catnaps with the cub vocalizing intermittently to remind us all that it was still there.

We are so very pleased to have witnessed another wonderful birth. Despite the lengthy labor and the concerns we all had about the impact her age might have on her ability to sustain a pregnancy, Bai Yun has once again shown us that she is, indeed, a hero mother.

[Dumpsterkitty]

http://youtu.be/FnzP-CHGYIU