Goodbye for 7 weeks!
Wednesday, 24 February 2010 12:14
Well the time has come for me to say goodbye to all of you for 7 weeks as I am taking leave to go get married! I get hitched on the 27th February and then am going on an amazing honeymoon all over South East Asia! Of course I am getting my animal fix and am going orangutan trekking in Borneo, elephant meeting in Thailand and of course going to see the pandas in Chiang Mai! They had a cub born last year so I am very eager to see it and their facility.
I have lots of mixed emotions about going for such a long time. This trip (and the wedding) was booked well before I was even the Senior Panda Keeper! Of course I am excited but I am also going to miss Wang Wang and Funi a lot, as well as the rest of the panda team. I have been so fortunate to be given the opportunity to get to know these amazing animals and have formed quite a close friendship with both of them. They make me smile daily and I catch myself thinking just how lucky I am to get to spend time with them. I know that Wang Wang and Funi will be fine as the team over here do such a great job already. Matt and Steve will be holding the fort while I am gone and I know with their awesome keeping skills will shine through. Chris, Ang, Shawn and Jase will all be helping out as well….what a team!
So for a quick update on Wang Wang and Funi! They are both doing really well, Funi seemed to have had a major break through last week and she is now confidently coming in and out of the day room constantly. She seems to really love the outside exhibit now! Today I saw her climbing up on a large fallen tree for the first time and it is a common occurrence to view her sitting and splashing around in her waterfall.
Wang Wang is still active and playing in the waterfalls of course! He is loving his enrichment and the break time that we started providing the pandas in order to perform training procedures and bond with the pandas. He loves coming out the back and crashing out on the cold floor. After a bit to eat he normally gets to have a good sleep before the public arrive again. After this nap of course he is then revitalized to go and see his adoring fans!
So that is all for now. I hope you all enjoy coming and visiting the pandas while I am gone and I will write again when I get back!
Simone
Set as favorite
Share
Email this
Hits: 865
Comments (6)
Subscribe to this comment's feed
Michelle Fitz-Gerald
said:
 |
Congratulations! Hi Simone Congratulations. Your partner must be something special for you to leave Funi and Wang Wang, I am sure you will miss them, but congrats to you both. I have followed the story of Funi & Wang Wang for sometime, and having been Panda crazy since a kid, I am excited to finally be able to meet them as I have just booked a VIP tour in May, (my 40th birthday present). I couldn't aske for a better gift. I hope you will have returned by then and am looking forward to meeting you, Funi & Wang Wang! Until then, enjoy your trekking! Cheers, Michelle |
Amy Nielsen
said:
 |
... Congratulations Simone! I was volunteering at Bifengxia whilst the Adelaide team were working with Wang Wang and Funi, in the same section of the panda base...White Bear Ground. It's so lovely to see how they've settled in at Adelaide Zoo as it was emotional for everyone to see them go...even me and I'd only been there 2 weeks!! I live in the UK and would love to be able to watch the documentary that was being filmed in China...will there be a DVD version or any way of me seeing it here in England?!! xx |
Brett Bayly
said:
 |
... I can assure everyone that Simone is having a wonderful honeymoon in the jungles of S-E Asia after a wonderful wedding in the Adelaide Hills where two pandas (human kind dressed up) made a surprise visit. Simone's (proud) Dad. |
Dianna - Ohio, USA
said:
 |
... Hi... has anyone heard from Simone? I love the video posted of Simone and FuNi.... Could one of the keepers give an update on how the Pandas are doing? I just read on your website that they are permanently at Zoo Adelaide. So you don't have to give them back in 10 years or so? How is that possible? Thank you... FuNi is a really pretty Panda... |
Chrissy Beahan
said:
 |
... Same here to,, Congatulations Simone and to your future husband, I live in the U.K. and have been Panda mad for many years, well, since I was a child,, and when I heard you were getting a wonderful pair of these amazing adorable bears I was over the moon, Funi seems such a little darling, so full of fun and such a happy girl, and Wang sems like a normal bloke, laid back and food is his passion, I can't wait to get to know them better, what they are like and so forth,,, I don't know how your going to cope being away from them both for so long,, even though it's your honeymoon, My special girl live at the Smithsonian Zoo in Washington, her name is Mei Xiang and her mate is Tian Tian, and her son Tai Shan has just been returned to Bifengxia, China, I'm having terrible withdrawls, not being able to see him everyday, but Mei is making up for it, she is suck a very special Lady, I think your going to feel the same about Funi and Wang you know,, they really get right into your blood,,,,, Anyway, I've gone on enough,, good luck for your wedded bliss,, come back safe and sound,, enjoy Chiang Mai, I', so jealous,, love Chrissy Beahan XXXXXXXXXXXXXX |
Kylie
said:
 |
Congratulations Hi Simone, Congrats on the wedding...enjoy the trip. I appreciate everything you do for these pandas. I am an Aussie (as you can tell...who else goes by Kylie...LOL) who has lived in the US for 15 years. A good friend of mine loves pandas and has gotten me hooked too. So enjoy the honeymoon and come back and spread more fun with these cuties! Kylie |
Write comment
