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Beth · **Posted:** Mon Nov 29, 2010 2:32 pm

Monday, November 29 Update...

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

:flirty:

catwoman · **Posted:** Mon Nov 29, 2010 3:42 pm

Thanks for the great news about Brahma, Pat! Triumph is a good name for the Mute Swan.

Mick · **Posted:** Mon Nov 29, 2010 5:48 pm

AWWWWWWBETH! :snowflheart:

Little back paw in the 3rd close-up.

kittenface · **Posted:** Tue Nov 30, 2010 3:58 pm

OMG if you need a Eagle fix usee has it right now they are everywhere :snowflheart:

Beth · **Posted:** Wed Dec 01, 2010 2:11 pm

Wednesday, December 1 Update ...
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
:flirty:

Tuesday, November 30 Update...
Sometimes I wish that there was a way to take photos from overhead in Lun Lun’s den. I see some of the cutest and most perfect situations from that angle, but unfortunately there is no camera to take photos from there. With the cub getting older and larger, Lun is exposing him much more, and I can see him a lot when they are both lying down resting. The other night it was the perfect pose; they had their noses right next to each other as if they were giving “Eskimo kisses.” The angles that we have to work with to take pictures aren’t always the best to get a clear shot of both, but you work with what you have. We still get some great photos periodically, though, so all hope is not lost. It is too dark anyway at night to take photos. So, I guess often during my shift that it would not matter anyway.
Joseph T. Svoke
Carnivore Keeper III

Beth · **Posted:** Thu Dec 02, 2010 4:39 pm

Thursday, December 2 Update ...
(Gigi has been on vacation, she won't believe how big "little man" is! :flirty:

)

While looking through the pictures that have been taken of the cub, Heather and I noticed how much he is already starting to resemble Yang Yang. People always ask how we are able to tell the pandas apart. Well, the truth is to us they all have very different features. Mei Lan looked just like a miniature Lun Lun, whereas Xi Lan has his mother’s fluffy cheeks and his father’s big ears. The new baby cub has a wide bridge of his nose just like Yang Yang, and as he gets older, I’m sure other similarities will become more pronounced. They all make up the cutest fuzzy family I have ever seen!

The cub has his latest exam this morning; keep checking back to see how much our little man has grown!
Kris GelhardtSeasonal Keeper

eiguoc · **Posted:** Thu Dec 02, 2010 4:57 pm

There could be up to a 30 trumpeters & 1 mute here

Beth · **Posted:** Fri Dec 03, 2010 2:22 pm

Her little dog was out today! :flirty:

Beth · **Posted:** Fri Dec 03, 2010 3:11 pm

Friday, December 3 Update ...
Today the cub is 1 month old!

Yesterday, he received his weekly physical exam. He is very healthy. He weighs 1064 g. From the tip of his nose to the tip of his tail he is 35 cm; tail length is 6 cm; neck girth is 17.5 cm; chest girth is 25.5 cm; abdominal girth is 27.5 cm. To see how much the cub has grown, go to the Friday, November 26 update.
Heather Baker Roberts
Carnivore Keeper II

Mick · **Posted:** Fri Dec 03, 2010 11:58 pm

Thanks for the updates Beth. He sure is getting big fast. I love when he starts squirming when Lun Lun leaves him alone.
Just a doll!

eiguoc · **Posted:** Sat Dec 04, 2010 6:26 pm

One of the trumpeters

Beth · **Posted:** Sun Dec 05, 2010 11:36 am

Saturday, December 4 Update ...
Now that Lun Lun is leaving her cub uncovered more, it is much easier to see nursing. Yesterday I watched the cub nurse twice. When he is latched on, Lun Lun remains still so that he isn't dislodged. She sits quietly or rests and sometimes she gently licks him while he nurses. It's very peaceful to watch. Sometimes the cub will just nurse from one nipple other times he will nurse from two or three. When he gets older it will be normal for him to move around a lot in a nursing bout and nurse from all four nipples more than once in a session. Lun Lun is very good at helping him get in the right position when he's searching for a nipple too. It's really nice to see what a good mother she is.
Rebecca Snyder, PhD
Curator of Mammals

eiguoc · **Posted:** Tue Dec 07, 2010 10:41 am

At Bird Point today an adult golden

a juvie 2 year old bald

video clip amid the sound of eagle calls, trumpeter swans, turkeys, crows
http://www.youtube.com/user/eiguoc#p/u/0/x8jkzxXkHu8

Also one of the healthier yotes that show up at Lost Field
http://www.youtube.com/user/eiguoc#p/u/0/PwF97dwQ83E

gigi · **Posted:** Tue Dec 07, 2010 11:11 am

I really missed Lun Lun and Wee Lan while I was away with no computer access. OH MY how he has grown! Mom really has a hard time keeping my favorite wiggle worm under cover much to my delight!! Thanks everyone for posting all the pictures so I could catch up!!

Beth · **Posted:** Tue Dec 07, 2010 11:32 am

Sunday, December 5 Update...

In the last two days, Lun has had some very long feeding sessions. Up until then, a good session consisted of about only 10 minutes, and then she would head back to the cub. She always seemed a little anxious while eating, so this probably hampered her eating for longer periods of time. The last two days, though, she has had multiple sessions over 25 minutes, and a few were close to 45 minutes. Her appetite must be coming back full force now. Luckily the cub has been quiet while she is away the majority of the time. If he happens to vocalize, Lun seems basically unconcerned, though she will take some glances at him from time to time. These sessions were probably also longer due to the fact that she must eat bamboo before she gets any of her biscuits, and then they get tossed into the den where she must find them. This is all good to see, as the more that she eats, the more milk that she can produce.
Joseph T. Svoke
Carnivore Keeper III

Monday, December 6 Update ...

Lun Lun has always had a strong appetite. She is notorious for going all day eating instead of napping like the boys. Tonight is proof that that hunger is back. While the baby boy is sleeping away, Lun has felt free to leave him for 30 to 40 minutes to sit in the adjacent den to eat. The little cub is comfortable resting quietly in the hay, occasionally wiggling around. This time apart is important for both cub and Lun because it’s when he can learn to be more independent (exercising those little legs!). And she gets some much needed meal time!
Kris Gelhardt
Seasonal Keeper

eiguoc · **Posted:** Wed Dec 08, 2010 5:09 pm

another yote video
http://www.youtube.com/user/eiguoc?feat ... eu9fWDfSf8

catwoman · **Posted:** Wed Dec 08, 2010 5:19 pm

Thanks, Pat. That must be the coyote that people were talking about. Missing some fur in spots.

eiguoc · **Posted:** Thu Dec 09, 2010 10:06 am

The golden & the balds are taking turns with the yotes
bottom left his head is stuck right in the yuckover. Not much left now. I'm trying to get a half descent clip of the eagles fighting

Beth · **Posted:** Thu Dec 09, 2010 12:54 pm

Tuesday, December 7 Update ...

The cub has been on the move, well at least somewhat.Last night, I was able to see him wiggle his way around, trying to get his feet beneath him. Twice while Lun was away he was like a little worm. He moved at least one body length the first time, and then over two body lengths a second time. He may have been on the hunt for his mother. Another time, when Lun had rolled away from him, he squirmed towards her until he was able to touch her. Lun seemed unaffected by this.The cub was quiet, and so there was no need for her to be alarmed. He is just working those muscles, so that they get big and strong to pester his mother in a few months.
Joseph T. Svoke
Carnivore Keeper III

Wednesday, December 8 Update ...

Since Lun Lun and the cub are doing so well and there is nothing new to report today, I hope no one minds if I use this update to talk about the cub’s big brother, Xi Lan. I have previously mentioned that I am training Xi Lan for voluntary blood draws. Last week, one of the Zoo’s vet techs, Sharon, and I worked with Xi Lan by actually inserting a needle into his forearm. He was not thrilled by this and gave Sharon the evil eye when she did it, but he held his arm still, at least initially. We quickly found out that Xi Lan takes after Yang Yang – his blood flows slowly. Xi Lan did not want to hold as long as we needed him to for his blood to reach the syringe connected to the butterfly needle. We tried a few more times because Xi Lan was eager to continue training, but were not successful in collecting blood. He presented his arm and held the position nicely, but just not quite long enough yet. This training is done through a barrier using positive reinforcement. Xi Lan is able to choose whether he wants to participate or not. He can walk away at any point in the session. The only consequence is that he does not receive the food treats used for reinforcement at that time. But he does receive that food later in the day. We will continue to work with him, so stay tuned for further updates on Xi Lan’s training!
Heather Baker Roberts
Carnivore Keeper II

12-8-10 photos...

Beth · **Posted:** Fri Dec 10, 2010 1:41 pm

Friday, December 10 Update...

On Thursday, the cub was 36 days old and he received his weekly physical exam. Vet staff noted that his right eye is beginning to open! Kris and I were just talking about this last night, and he is right on schedule. His measurements are as follows: Weight: 1364 g.; Tip of nose to tip of tail: 39.5 cm.; tail length: 6.5 cm.; neck girth: 21 cm.; chest girth: 29 cm.; abdominal girth: 32 cm. (his belly is as round as his body is long!).

At the same age of 36 days, Mei Lan weighed (a whopping!) 1726.4 g., but her other measurements were very similar to this cub. Xi Lan weighed 1368 g. at 36 days, but we do not have measurements for him at a similar age. Some variation in weight and body measurements is normal for giant panda cubs, just as it is for other animals. This cub is growing steadily, hitting milestones on time, and best of all is healthy, like his older siblings.
Heather Baker Roberts
Carnivore Keeper II

Thursday, December 9 Update...

Today is the day of the next cub exam! Most panda cubs partially open their eyes at just over one month of age. Our little boy cub is now within this time frame, so eye opening is the next milestone to be excited about. After his eyes begin to open, they will likely be fully opened within two weeks. So far I haven't seen any sign of him attempting to spread those lids, but it could be any day now. It seems that he is growing so fast every time I see him. I'm ready for him to open those eyes and see the world for the first time!
Kris Gelhardt
Seasonal Keeper

12-8-10 Webphoto

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