Panda Fun and Games
Monday, 08 February 2010 11:42
Hi Panda People,
Well what fun times we have been having over here at the panda house! It is so nice to see our two favourite black and white friends doing so well here in Adelaide.
Funi has really started to settle into life here and has now also discovered the beauty of water! Oh what fun she has! Hopefully soon you guys will also be able to see how much fun she is having here. Monique, who works at the zoo (and puts my blog on line!), has come over to get some footage of Funi and her funny antics playing with me behind the scenes just yesterday. Can’t wait for you all to see it! She runs up and down, does headstands, somersaults and rubs up and down the mesh…waiting for me too rub her or try to push her over! It is very funny!
Wang Wang also showed his more playful side to me this morning for the first time (he must have seen Funi and thought it looked like fun!) For the first time he was rubbing along the mesh for scratches. He was even standing up and I was able to poke/tickle his tummy… he seemed to think this was very funny and was rubbing his paws along his belly. I gave him a new enrichment toy today on exhibit . He seemed to enjoy it but I think the public liked it even more! It was made for me by our lovely BEEZA volunteers that come into the zoo and volunteer their time to make up all sorts of enrichment items for all of the animals throughout the zoo. This one was made of PVC pipe and had been capped at both ends. A hole had then been cut into the side of the pipe to allow food treats to be put in it. Wang Wang was seen carrying it around in his mouth and dropping it to the floor. He didn’t even seem to really want to food…just the toy itself was enough.
With school going back this week we have been able to incorporate a break period for the pandas during the day so we can focus on training behaviours that we will need in the future. I am sure I have mentioned this before but for a quick recap... these are behaviours that benefit the pandas and keepers alike. It benefits the pandas by providing an extra stimulus during the day, to keep them thinking and mentally active. They seem to love it ! It also benefits them because it builds a great relationship between the keepers and the pandas, ensuring that they have a good trusting relationship with us. This trust can then be used to work together and perform medical procedures that could not be possible if this relationship was not there.
As you know Wang Wang and Funi are already trained to get their temperatures taken, accept injections and also to get blood samples taken. This new training time slot allows us to focus on training new behaviours such as urine collection training and desensitization training of different body parts, in particular for Funi and her belly area for future ultrasounds. This training/break time also allow the pandas to have access out to their private areas. Wang Wang is particularly fond of this as he loves lying on the cool concrete with his head poking through to the day rooms. Apparently one of his platforms out the back makes the perfect rubbing post as well!
As far as Wang Wang and Funi in general are going... Funi is getting better every day with her outside enclosure. She is gaining confidence and as even seen been hanging out in the waterfalls. Wang Wang is still full of energy and wanders around his exhibit a lot. He loves coming into the day room and sitting in his pond to cool off from the outside and then he goes outside and plays in the waterfall outside!
All fun and games!
Simone
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Susan
said:
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... I just cannot tell you how much your video brings tears to my eyes. The bond that Simone has formed with Wang Wang and Funi is just incredibly precious. BRAVO to all of Adelaide Zoo! Be VERY proud of your accomplishments! Wang Wang and Funi are GORGEOUS! Keep the updates and videos coming. We love them in the US! |
Katherine Heiland
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Mrs Simone, how wonderful to read your update on the Pandas - really enjoyed it. I visited Adel to see the pandas in January, but didn't get to see them in their outdoor quarters  Can't wait to be able to download video footage - wow. I live in Queensland, Gladstone, and miss those gorgeous animals very much. Thank you Adelaide Zoo for making it possible to see them in the flesh - so exciting, exhilerating, rewarding. I'll do anything for another chance to see them, soon hopefully. Katherine |
Darlene
said:
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... What a wonderful video of Funi.. It shows us how well these animals can adapt after a move. Those of us that are missing Tai Shan and Mei Lan so bad will take comfort in this, thankyou so much for posting!!! |
brenda
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funi and wang wang I have enjoyed visiting Funi and wang wang on various occasions and have some great photos of both of them outside. I love watching wang wang enjoying his water. I'm also not surprised that funi is doing headstands as I saw her do something simliar in her inside enclosure at the panda breakfast - they are both very cute and fun to watch. |
Joan
said:
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Joan Nice to hear they are adapting well - perhaps you can provide some more pictures of the two in the near future. Or videos!! |
RJ
said:
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Love that Wow! So the pandas really like it here at Adelaide Zoo, your panda team is a magic! I believe that in the coming future, we will be able to see the scene Funi and her baby (Kong fu Panda, as was said by the Chinese ambassador at the opening ceremony) chewing bamboo together behind the hedge.  |
