Giant Pandas at Zoo Atlanta ~ Lun Lun-Yang-Ya Lun & Xi Lun Family

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Re: Giant Pandas at Zoo Atlanta ~ Lun Lun-Yang-Ya Lun & Xi Lun Family

Post by queenie » Mon Dec 23, 2019 9:14 pm

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Michelle E.
December 16, 2019
Yesterday was a great example of how well the primary keepers on the Panda Care Team know the animals they see every day! Lun Lun was in one of the outdoor habitats all morning and started walking around in the afternoon despite having plenty of bamboo and leafeater biscuits. Since as a Swing Keeper I see the pandas only once in a while, I was mystified – what does a panda ever want more than their food? But luckily Danica knew exactly what was going on! When I consulted her, she suggested we offer Lun Lun the choice to go into one of the dayrooms. As soon as we opened the door for her to move freely between the outdoor habitat and the indoor dayroom, Lun Lun walked into the dayroom and struck a comfortable pose against her climbing structure. For the panda who had it all, all she wanted was a little more choice and a favorite resting place. Thankfully she had a panda pro in her corner! I love being a swing and getting to see most of the animals and members of the team in the Mammal Department, but it does mean I don’t get to know each individual animal as well as those who see them every day. The deep knowledge of the primary panda keepers concerning the complex bears they care for still astounds me!
Michelle E.
Swing Keeper III, Mammals
{q. Yes panda pros are a blessing for sensitive and smart panda ladies like Lun Lun, so sweet she wanted to be able to have some space, to make up her mind} :rh: :pan:
Lovely Mama Lun Carefully Foraging and Smelling for Just the Right Boo~12/23/19 :chin:
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Behold the birds of the heaven, that they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; and your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are not ye of much more value then they? ~ ASV Matt. 6:26
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Re: Giant Pandas at Zoo Atlanta ~ Lun Lun-Yang-Ya Lun & Xi Lun Family

Post by IrishEyes » Sun Dec 29, 2019 6:54 pm

HI Queenie .. Catching up here .. I just looked at all your pictures and read your observations since I was here .. great educational comments and videos ... Hope you had a wonderful Christmas and wishing you all the best in 2020 :hug:
\
Bev
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Re: Giant Pandas at Zoo Atlanta ~ Lun Lun-Yang-Ya Lun & Xi Lun Family

Post by IrishEyes » Tue Dec 31, 2019 6:03 pm

Happy New Year queenie! :hug:

Bev!
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Re: Giant Pandas at Zoo Atlanta ~ Lun Lun-Yang-Ya Lun & Xi Lun Family

Post by queenie » Tue Jan 07, 2020 9:05 pm

Thank you! & Same to you Bev & everyone, the best in this New Year!
:hooray: :grhug:
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Amanda D.
December 30, 2019
Ninety-nine percent of the giant panda’s diet consists of bamboo. Here at the Zoo, we also supplement their diet with leafeater biscuits and produce to ensure we’re meeting all of their nutritional needs. Giant pandas eat the leaves of the bamboo, but they also eat the culm of the bamboo. This means that they are peeling the thin, hard exterior layer of the bamboo stalk and eating the woody fibrous material on the inside of the stalk. Bamboo is a really tough plant, but giant pandas are built to have the jaw strength to break through it. Whenever the giant pandas get up and move to another area of their space, the pile of shards that’s collected falls off. When the Panda Care Team goes into that space to clean, we are able to know where they spent some time eating.
Amanda D.
Keeper I, Mammals
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Danica W
December 27, 2019
The giant panda routine changes a lot as the weather gets colder, but my favorite change is that we get to use our outdoor habitats much more often. Our behind-the-scenes habitat is probably my most favorite, because we can interact with the pandas more easily and they can walk around and harvest their own bamboo. This habitat seems to bring out the playful side of all of the giant pandas, and it’s fun to watch them run around and interact with their environment. There is a particular portion of the habitat that has a slight hill, and the giant pandas love to play “chase” with their care team up and down it. This is always done through a protective barrier, of course, as we never share the same space with the bears – like other animals here at the Zoo, the giant pandas are still considered wild animals. Check out today’s video on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram to see Yang Yang and I enjoying some time playing between his afternoon nap and his dinner. Sometimes, if he really gets into it, he will even throw in a somersault or two.
Danica W.
Keeper II, Mammals
Behold the birds of the heaven, that they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; and your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are not ye of much more value then they? ~ ASV Matt. 6:26
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Re: Giant Pandas at Zoo Atlanta ~ Lun Lun-Yang-Ya Lun & Xi Lun Family

Post by queenie » Tue Jan 07, 2020 10:14 pm

:woohoo: ~~ :%: ~ ZA Play Today ~ 1/7/20
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Behold the birds of the heaven, that they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; and your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are not ye of much more value then they? ~ ASV Matt. 6:26
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Re: Giant Pandas at Zoo Atlanta ~ Lun Lun-Yang-Ya Lun & Xi Lun Family

Post by queenie » Sun Jan 19, 2020 10:25 pm

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Amanda D.
January 17, 2020
The IUCN Red List has the red panda (ailurus fulgens) listed as Endangered. Their populations are declining for a multitude of reasons such as “housing and commercial development, mining, and climate change”, but another issue they are currently facing is from poaching and the wildlife pet trade. The Red Panda Network shared in July of 2019 that the “poaching of this species is on the rise”, and this problem, in conjunction with the other aforementioned threats that red pandas are facing will continue to negatively impact their numbers. You can help make a difference by not sharing videos or photos of red pandas in non-naturalistic environments. Did you know that Zoo Atlanta supports the Red Panda Network and their efforts to help conserve red pandas in the wild? So just by coming to the Zoo you’re helping! Our hope is that if you get a chance to see Idgie the red panda and learn more about her and the threats that red pandas are facing in the wild, you will be able to spread this message to more people and help make a difference!
Don’t forget to check out the Red Panda Network’s website to learn more!
Amanda D.
Keeper I, Mammals
(Photo by Allyson Busch)
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Michelle E.
January 15, 2020
It has been a rainy week in Atlanta! Thankfully, the giant pandas have been staying nice and dry in the dayrooms. The rainy weather also means that the pandas’ bamboo is especially fresh. Normally in our hot state with its intense sun, our bamboo technicians have to be careful to not let the bamboo dry out as they are harvesting it and transporting it back to the Zoo. Once it’s at the Zoo, it stays in our misting coolers for a few days before being fed out. Thanks to all this rain, however, the bamboo stays well hydrated! Today we opened a bundle of bamboo that was extremely popular with the pandas. Lun Lun completely shredded a few pieces, and Ya Lun stayed inside to demolish the piece she was eating instead of shifting out to the dayroom full of other bamboo (Xi Lun had no such hesitation and went out to chow down in the dayroom). While rain around the Zoo certainly brings its challenges and messes, I’m glad the pandas are reaping the benefits of a perpetual misting machine!
Michelle E.
Keeper III, Mammals
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Behold the birds of the heaven, that they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; and your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are not ye of much more value then they? ~ ASV Matt. 6:26
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Re: Giant Pandas at Zoo Atlanta ~ Lun Lun-Yang-Ya Lun & Xi Lun Family

Post by queenie » Wed Jan 29, 2020 9:37 pm

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Heather R
January 29, 2020
The twins had a big adventure this week! Xi Lun finally convinced Ya Lun to join her in the behind-the-scenes habitat! Ya Lun was still a bit unsure of herself, but seeing how comfortable and relaxed Xi Lan was helped her to settle in. Typically, Ya Lun is the more confident and adventurous of the two, and Xi Lun looks up to her big sister for reassurance. So, it was interesting to see their roles reversed in this situation. Once Ya Lun was in the habitat, she spent the rest of the day eating and napping with Xi Lun. We were a little worried she may not want to come back inside at the end of the day, but by that time, all her hesitancy had disappeared and she easily followed us and Xi Lun back through the shifting area. We were so proud of Ya Lun for moving past her fears. She seemed to really enjoy her time foraging for bamboo and napping in the shade.
Heather R.
Senior Keeper, Carnivores
(photo by Heather R.)
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Danica W
January 27, 2020
Red pandas are listed as Endangered on the International Union for the Conservation of Nature’s (IUCN) Red List. This is just two steps below being declared extinct in the wild, and three steps below being extinct all together. While habitat fragmentation and poaching are both concerns for red panda populations, one of their biggest threats is the demand for them in the illegal wildlife pet trade.
As cute as red pandas are, they do not make good pets in any shape or form. The mindset that they do, and that people think they can adequately take care of them, is a driving factor in their population decline. Idgie, and all red pandas, require specialized diets, habitats and opportunities to exhibit species-specific natural behaviors. They also, despite their cute demeanor, can bite and scratch quite a bit. As you can see in the photo on the right, Idgie has sharp claws that help her grip as she walks. These claws would also help wild red pandas catch and tear smaller prey such as birds and rodents. While we do enter Idgie’s habitat with her here at Zoo Atlanta, we maintain our space and let Idgie have hers. We do not cuddle, pet, or pick her up, and any time we touch her it is for training purposes such as medical exams.
Red pandas kept as pets not only are deprived of the opportunity to engage with naturalistic environments and display natural behaviors, they are also kept from breeding and thus contributing to the survival of their species in the wild. If you would like to learn more, the Red Panda Network is a great resource for red panda information and what you can do to help ensure the species is around for years to come.
Danica W.
Keeper II, Mammals
(photos by Danica W.)
{q. I saw adorable Idgie :rh: in person several years ago~~~ and can testify she was as fast-active-moving/climbing as the Giant Pandas are calmer/slower-moving~~~ and so would not be a very easy pet that way as well as above mentioned claws & scratching ~~~and because of the other sad concerns coming against them in update also, I hope & pray they stop :luck: so Red Pandas come off the Endangered List ~~~so they can continue to survive and we get to watch/& observe them scooting all over their territories in the zoos, in their precious busy ways~~~she's older now and so has been downsized, but she had trees, houses, ramps, bridges, & toys & was fascinating/& playful to see scurrying all over her beautiful big green shady yard. :woohoo: }
Behold the birds of the heaven, that they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; and your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are not ye of much more value then they? ~ ASV Matt. 6:26
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Re: Giant Pandas at Zoo Atlanta ~ Lun Lun-Yang-Ya Lun & Xi Lun Family

Post by queenie » Wed Jan 29, 2020 10:49 pm

:hug: :out: ...Here She Comes!
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...There She Goes :bye 1:
Behold the birds of the heaven, that they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; and your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are not ye of much more value then they? ~ ASV Matt. 6:26
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Re: Giant Pandas at Zoo Atlanta ~ Lun Lun-Yang-Ya Lun & Xi Lun Family

Post by queenie » Sat Mar 14, 2020 9:09 pm

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Danica W
February 26, 2020
We have been seeing a lot of breeding season-related behaviors from Yang Yang recently. This is typical for this time of year, and although Lun Lun and Yang Yang are no longer breeding, we still see the behaviors we would expect to see from a male giant panda. Being a heavily olfactory (scent) communicating species, giant pandas can detect a lot of different things about another giant panda by smelling the scent mark of another panda. Yang Yang is spending more time walking around his habitats, sniffing around, and scent marking to make sure all of the habitats are clearly claimed as his. Due to his heightened awareness of smells this time of year, we gave him a big hay bed filled with some of his favorite smells to roll in, so he could make sure that he felt he smelled nice for any lady giant pandas hanging around. While there are many theories as to why giant pandas self-anoint, one of them is that the pungent smells, in this case Tabasco sauce and isopropyl alcohol, make them stick out compared to the environment and thus easier for potential mates to find. While it is cute, it is an example of a type of enrichment we provide the animals at Zoo Atlanta so that they can exhibit species-appropriate behaviors that biologically and innately mean something to them.
Danica W.
Keeper II, Mammals
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Danica W
March 4, 2020
With each enrichment activity or item offered, the Panda Care Team has a specific goal in mind. Certain enrichment might create a puzzle the pandas can try to solve to mentally challenge them. Other things might be novel foods, new smells, or simply something they can roll around and play with. Sometimes, despite well thought-out goals, the animals decide to use their enrichment in a completely different way, which when you think about it, is an enriching experience in itself. When recently giving Yang Yang a large tunnel, for example, the goal was to have Yang Yang use his great sense of smell to locate the biscuits we hid under it. Instead, he decided it was a fun place to eat a snack!
Danica W.
Keeper II, Mammals
Behold the birds of the heaven, that they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; and your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are not ye of much more value then they? ~ ASV Matt. 6:26
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Re: Giant Pandas at Zoo Atlanta ~ Lun Lun-Yang-Ya Lun & Xi Lun Family

Post by queenie » Sat Mar 14, 2020 9:16 pm

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Amanda D.
March 11, 2020
Did you know that both red pandas and giant pandas have pseudothumbs? Although they belong to different families (giant pandas are part of the Ursidae or bear family, while red pandas belong to the family Ailuridae), they both evolved with this same feature independently. This is called convergent evolution. Just like the giant pandas, red pandas have diets that are comprised of mostly bamboo. Having this adaptation allows red pandas to grasp and manipulate the stems of bamboo. Here at the Zoo, we also supplement Idgie’s diet with leafeater biscuits and some produce. In this picture, you can see Idgie using her pseudothumb to grasp a piece of banana. It’s a really interesting trait to be able to observe, and if you’re interested, there are studies that you can read that discuss more in depth about this shared trait between giant pandas and red pandas.
Amanda D.
Keeper I, Mammals

(photo by Amanda D.)
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Amanda D.
March 9, 2020
The Panda Care Team sometimes gets asked how to tell Ya Lun and Xi Lun apart from each other. They both have some unique physical traits, but they also have very different personalities, and I thought I’d share some of those differences so that if you’re ever at the Zoo, on our social media networks, or tuned into PandaCam you can figure out who it is! Some distinguishing features from panda to panda are determined by their saddle – the black fur that goes across their shoulders – as well as their eye patches. I think the easiest physical feature to go by when looking at both girls is that Xi Lun has the more “cat-eye” eye patch compared to her sister. As far as personalities go, if you see someone flinging herself off the top of the structure into the hammock onto the other, it’s definitely Ya Lun. Xi Lun is usually on the ground, attempting to run away, but never attempts her sister’s WWE throw-down moves. Also, when we are moving the girls from a behind-the-scenes space into a dayroom or outdoor habitat, Xi Lun typically goes to a pile of bamboo and starts eating right away, while her sister always goes for the leafeater biscuits first.
Amanda D.
Keeper I, Mammals
Behold the birds of the heaven, that they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; and your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are not ye of much more value then they? ~ ASV Matt. 6:26
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Re: Giant Pandas at Zoo Atlanta ~ Lun Lun-Yang-Ya Lun & Xi Lun Family

Post by IrishEyes » Sun Mar 15, 2020 11:38 am

Thanks Queenie .. It has been a while since I peeked in here... I can''t believe how big the Twins are and so beautiful! :love:
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Re: Giant Pandas at Zoo Atlanta ~ Lun Lun-Yang-Ya Lun & Xi Lun Family

Post by queenie » Wed Mar 25, 2020 9:00 pm

Thank you too Bev! You are right they are getting big, & wonder if they'll be as big as their parents, which are considered fairly large adult pandas. They are so spunky too, and seem more themselves today dealing with the lack of their loyal friends/fans at the windows :( March 14 to possibly March 31, 2020 {they always seem so interactive with Zoo visitors, oh my they are sort of in social-distancing also}
Such a difficult time for all in so many ways, everywhere with this virus, so my prayers and blessings go out to all to get through it as soon and as well as possible, even to our precious animals & birds who understand even less than we do. Thank goodness the Keepers are giving them extra quality attention and valuable training to keep them busy, as to not get too lonely..But our very sensitive Cool Daddy Yang still seemed a little draggy today; :dunno: but as always they are all beautifully positive studies/& views of nature, that are always uplifting/& love-ly to we humans. And I'm sure they will be as thankful to see us back ASAP ~ as we will them in person/panda. :rh: :pan:
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Danica W
March 25, 2020
During this temporary period when the Zoo is closed, between extra projects, cleaning and training, we are still making sure we take this quiet time around the Zoo to have fun and spend as much quality time with the animals as we can. Now that both Ya Lun and Xi Lun are comfortable in our behind-the-scenes habitat, they’re being playful out there with each other and their care team! Shauna now works in the carnivore area of our department, but this week she’s hanging out with me and the pandas. She was a nursery caregiver when the twins were born, so it’s fun to see her interact with them now that they’re subadults. Playing “tag” is something Lun Lun and Yang Yang like to do with their care team when they are in this habitat, and the girls decided to play with us today. It’s also very funny when one of the twins gets momentum running down the hill and can’t slow down before plowing into the other one (looking at you, Ya Lun). Don’t worry though, they bounce right back up to play some more!
Danica W.
Keeper II, Mammals
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Danica W
March 18, 2020
All Animal Care Teams are here at Zoo Atlanta caring for all of the animals even though the Zoo is temporarily closed. We are utilizing this time to work on projects in the animals’ habitats, brainstorming new enrichment items, and spending extra quality time with the animals. For us on the Panda Care Team, we will be utilizing this time to get in a lot of training with Ya Lun and Xi Lun! We wanted to share with you one of the ways that we are able to do voluntary blood draws with all of the giant pandas. While we are not doing an actual blood draw in this video, you can see the way that the panda is able to hold their arm in place while the keepers are still safe. In this position, our Veterinary Team would come in and collect a blood sample as long as the panda being trained is comfortable. It’s a really great way for us to monitor the pandas’ overall health! This is a complex voluntary veterinary behavior that the twins have known how to do since November of 2018, and is one of the many ways the animals here at the Zoo are able to participate in their own care.
Danica W.
Keeper II, Mammals
Behold the birds of the heaven, that they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; and your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are not ye of much more value then they? ~ ASV Matt. 6:26
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Re: Giant Pandas at Zoo Atlanta ~ Lun Lun-Yang-Ya Lun & Xi Lun Family

Post by IrishEyes » Thu Mar 26, 2020 12:56 pm

Thanks queenie .. good to hear from you and hanks for the updates and happy the Pandas are doing well :huggie: ~

I am doing well ~ Hope all is well with you !

Keeping all humans and wildlife in my thoughts and prayers . :grhug:
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Re: Giant Pandas at Zoo Atlanta ~ Lun Lun-Yang-Ya Lun & Xi Lun Family

Post by JudyB » Thu Mar 26, 2020 5:19 pm

Thanks, queenie - happy to hear that the pandas are doing well, and the care team is finding ways to make use of these challenging times.

Charlie and I (and kitty Chelsea Girl) are well, and hope all is well with you and yours.

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Re: Giant Pandas at Zoo Atlanta ~ Lun Lun-Yang-Ya Lun & Xi Lun Family

Post by queenie » Wed Apr 15, 2020 7:47 pm

Thanks Bev & Judy glad you are doing well in the current serious virus distancing.
Some good ways in below updates shown again to identify the adults from each other {they're solitary}~~ and the twins who are together. I'm glad they play with Daddy Yang I saw him doing somersaults in his den the other day, maybe he thought a show would bring an audiance :luck: He really enjoys his fans :rh: :pan: the other update explains that they have lost the Red Panda Idgie, what a wonderful panda she was & sweet memory she is ~ we saw her a few times at the zoo, very active and spunky then. So adorable she drew a crowd around her yard always! :grhug:
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Amanda D.
April 15, 2020
Earlier this week, we posted some tips on telling the giant panda twins apart on PandaCam. As a follow-up to that post, here are some tips on identifying the adults! If you need help figuring out how to tell the adult bears apart, here are some things to look out for.
For starters, Yang Yang is larger than Lun Lun. Yang Yang also has a very contoured face or chiseled cheeks and has a permanent “Five O’Clock Shadow.” The Panda Care Team also likes to say that he has “Shrek” ears (which are pretty cute, just sayin’).
Lun Lun has a small, round, fluffy face. You’ll typically see her sprawled out on the hammock in our outdoor habitat, as she loves to take her afternoon naps there. Another difference between the adults is that Yang Yang is very social and loves to solicit attention from us, whereas Lun usually just wants us to provide her with more leafeater biscuits or produce. When Yang Yang is feeling playful, :woohoo: we can fulfill that need by playing our version of “tug-of-war” (through a protective barrier, of course) or playing ”tag” where we run along a fence line or mesh as he runs on his side. As you’ve probably read or seen in recent updates, we have noticed Lun becoming more playful lately too, though! It’s been really awesome to see her playful side show! Anyway, I hope some of these traits help you to identify the adults when you’re tuned into PandaCam!
Amanda D.
Keeper I, Mammals
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April 13, 2020
Today, we wanted to tell you some of the ways to tell Ya Lun and Xi Lun apart when you’re watching PandaCam. The easiest way to tell them apart is by their eye patches. Xi Lun’s patches have a cat eye shape that swoop to the sides, and Ya Lun’s patches have more of a rounded, oval shape. Also, when you happen to tune into PandaCam as the twins are walking into their habitat from behind the scenes, Ya Lun, without a doubt, goes directly for the leafeater biscuits while Xi Lun heads for a nice pile of bamboo. And last, if you see them playing, Ya Lun is the more confident of the two, and she’s usually the one jumping off of structures onto her sister below. Thanks for tuning into PandaCam and supporting the Zoo!
Amanda D.
Keeper I, Mammals
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~~~~~~~~~ The Twins Swinging & Observing :%:
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Behold the birds of the heaven, that they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; and your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are not ye of much more value then they? ~ ASV Matt. 6:26
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