Pinatas for our Pandas
Wednesday, 12 May 2010 13:00
Well, hello everyone…
Again let me apologise for how long it has been since I last wrote on my blog. We have been pretty busy on the panda round over here and although I have been trying to sit down and write I just never seemed to have enough hours in the day!
I would like to start by saying thank you to everyone who follows this blog and leaves their comments. It is still a very strange thought that people would be interested in what I do every day and want to read something that I've written…but I guess this is no ordinary job, is it?! I also want to thank all the people that have come to meet Wang Wang and Fu Ni, especially those that have been able to join us on one of our tours. It is very rewarding for all the staff here to pass on some of our knowledge and passion to all of you. I love being able to tell the funny stories to people about what the pandas have been up to and I think all of us here are very proud to be doing what we do.
Now for the Pandas! Well, as I sit here on the computer I am watching Wang Wang munching on what has become his favourite (or at least one of his favourite) bamboo species….Giant Bamboo. He has his happy face on which is when he is enjoying the food so much that he closes his eyes as he chews each mouthful….like there is nothing better in the world! I can see Fu Ni from here as well and she is also munching on some Giant Bamboo culm… lying flat on her back, getting the scraps all over herself.
The weather here in Adelaide is definitely getting cooler and the behaviour of both pandas has started changing. They are definitely picking up in their appetite and instead of eating all leaf they are starting to prefer the culm of the bamboo, which is the “stalk” of the bamboo. It is amazing to see the strength of their jaws when eating it - it just looks like solid wood to us! The Giant Bamboo is so thick that we have to split it up for them first, using an axe and a rubber mallet…it can be a great work out!
Over the past few days both Wang Wang and Fu Ni have actually ignored their panda cake on exhibit and chosen to seek out all the giant culm outside. We have previously never seen this before. They have been slightly more active as well lately and Wang Wang is even starting to have naps out on exhibit instead of coming into the day room all the time. Two days ago he fell into a deep sleep in his outside enclosure, while the keepers where putting his night feed into the day room (the temperature controlled inside enclosure). We had to call and call to him to get him to wake up! He must have been having a very good dream because it took us about 5mins - the funniest thing was that he was right at the front of the exhibit, very close to us!
Yesterday we gave them a large Piñata each in their day rooms. Gary, one of our BEEZA (Behavioural Enrichment) volunteers made them up for us. We sprinkled some lavender oil over them and then let them at them! The balls had been made to have a few floating empty boxes inside the body of the piñata to create a rattle effect. When we let Wang Wang and Fu Ni in to play neither of them spent too long with. They both pushed it around a little but by the end of the day there was only a few small areas that had some bite and claw marks. I was not disheartened though and had my suspicions that the following morning we would find cardboard scattered everywhere. Well, they did not disappoint us! In the morning both enclosures were full of cardboard scraps and there were some very content looking pandas sitting among the mess!
Until next time!
Simone
written by Katherine Heiland, July 14, 2010
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written by Anne in NYC, USA, July 06, 2010
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written by Simone, June 18, 2010
Fu Ni is 3 1/2 and Wang Wang is 4 1/2. Youngest age to come into season for a female is around 4 1/2yrs. As they have moved from the southern Hem to the northen we are un sure as to when she will come into season for the first time. We are hoping that her hormones will “change” over to the southern hem time zone. So probably not for another 12 to 18mths at the earliest.
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written by kanzys, June 07, 2010
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written by Maureen, May 29, 2010
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written by PANDAS ARE THE BEST , May 25, 2010
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written by brenda, May 12, 2010
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written by julie morgan, May 12, 2010
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written by Haylie King, May 12, 2010
i have also learnt alot more about the pandas from the blogs, and videos aswell so thanks heaps
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Finally I was able to see Funi & Wang Wang on the Panda Cam again as I have been having troubles....and I've just fallen in love all over again. I am in the middle of a photo book through Blurb.com which is coming along well, however, I am fortunate enough to be coming back down to see them again, so I won't be able to complete it until I do. The kids pressured me, which I must admit didn't take much. We'll be down at the end of August and can't wait! Would love to do the tour again, however, I probably shouldn't leave a 10 and a 6 year old unattended...... hope to see you then. Thanks for the updates,
Michelle