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 » Wed Aug 07, 2019 9:01 pm

^ One cub is selectively eating bamboo around the den like in above update: and the other conserving her needed energy by napping. An interesting possible explanation in it, for why they are selective and smell their bamboo, being they are looking for high starch & protein content ~ also there is a reference to an article that explains more about their nutrition & digestion. :rh: :pan:
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Amanda D.
July 31, 2019
As you might remember from my recent panda update, I’m new to the Panda Care Team, which means I’m making sure to spend time observing the animals in our care and getting to know each individual better. On several occasions I have spotted Idgie the red panda sticking out her tongue out as she moves around the habitat. The reason that she is exhibiting that behavior is because she has what’s called a Jacobson’s organ (or vomeronasal organ). When Idgie is sticking out her tongue she is essentially testing the odors or particles by passing them from her tongue to a gland located in her mouth. It’s an interesting adaptation to be able to observe!
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 queenie » Mon Aug 26, 2019 9:51 pm

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Heather R
August 26, 2019
Recently, one of our very generous donors gifted the giant pandas with a new enrichment item from our Wish List! The feedpods™ is an electronic feeding device that allows the Panda Care Team to offer the giant pandas leafeater biscuits remotely, either through scheduling timed feedings or a manual feeding using a computer or mobile device. Our team is super excited about feedpods™! We can use it to offer the giant pandas leafeater biscuits overnight, when we are in meetings, or any other time we are not physically in the building. We are still figuring out all of the features of the feedpods™ and working through some kinks, but all of the pandas have experienced the feedpods™ and have enjoyed eating biscuits at random times during the day and night.
Heather R.
Senior Keeper, Carnivores
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Amanda D.
August 19, 2019
Being able to adapt to a change in routine and come up with a new plan is key when working with animals. This is especially important when working with the giant pandas. For example, there are days where the giant pandas will spend all afternoon sleeping. That’s okay, though! We don’t want to disturb them while they’re sleeping and instead, the Panda Care Team will use this time to work on other projects. Other days, the giant pandas might not prefer the bamboo we’ve put out, so when we bring them in to clean their dens or dayrooms, we’ll make sure to provide more bamboo (or a different species of bamboo) from a different bundle. No matter what comes up during routine, the Panda Care Team is always able to ensure the needs of the giant pandas are met.
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 queenie » Mon Aug 26, 2019 10:01 pm

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Amanda D.
August 14, 2019
Even when a female giant panda is not pregnant, she may still exhibit behaviors or undergo physiological changes as if she is. This phenomenon is called pseudopregnancy. Because certain behavioral changes and hormonal indicators might suggest pregnancy, it can be hard to tell if a giant panda is actually pregnant (although in our case, we know that Lun Lun is not). Research looking at certain protein markers, like ceruloplasmin, to confirm pregnancy in giant pandas has been studied but more research is needed (Wilis et. al). Lun Lun is no longer breeding, so obviously we know the signs she has been exhibiting are signs of a pseudopregnancy. Lun Lun is at the final stages of a pseudopregnancy, which means we are observing the shift in her activity levels. Behaviors such as sleeping more often, creating nests out of the materials provided in dens, and eating less bamboo are common during a pseudopregnancy, and all are normal. We are starting to observe her returning to regular activity levels and increasing her bamboo intake, which are both indicators she’s coming out of it.
If you’d like to learn more about some of these interesting complexities, check out the article below!
Source: https://journals.plos.org/plosone/artic ... ne.0021159
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 queenie » Fri Aug 30, 2019 8:46 pm

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August 30, 2019
Like other bears, giant pandas, whether they live in the wild or in human care, have seasonal behavioral and physiological changes throughout the year. Late summer is one of the times of year that we see seasonal changes in the pandas’ behavior. We call this period the “summer slump.” This is a time when the pandas sleep more and eat less. The “summer slump” is sensible for pandas when you think about how they spend their time during the rest of the year.
During late fall and winter, males and females spend more time eating to bulk up for spring breeding season. Males want to put on as much weight as they can to be able to compete with other males for breeding access and to impress the females. Females want to be in optimal body condition to become pregnant. It also helps to put on some extra weight prior to breeding season because both males and females are busy finding mates and tend to spend less time eating once breeding season begins.
When breeding season is over, males start to slow down and rest more often. However, after breeding season, the females enter a hyperphagia period, which means they have a highly increased appetite and eat as much as they can for as long as they can prior to preparing for a birth. Fortunately, most bamboo species shoot while females are going through hyperphagia, so they can easily pack in the calories.
Birthing season coincides with the “summer slump,” which seems appropriate since females do not leave their dens for the first month after giving birth. The do not eat, drink, or eliminate waste during this time. Although they are very busy taking care of a newborn cub, they don’t move around much to conserve energy. Non-pregnant females also go through the same behavioral and physiological changes as pregnant females do and sleep most of the time.
Heather R.
Senior Keeper, Carnivores
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 Sep 03, 2019 9:02 pm

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Amanda D.
September 3, 2019
~~~ :pan: :rh: :pan: ~~~Happy 3rd Birthday Xi Lun & Ya Lun~~~ :cake: ~~~

Hey everyone! A lot has been going on in PandaLand recently, as the giant pandas birthdays are all happening around this time. We recently celebrated Lun Lun’s 22nd birthday! As soon as her birthday was over, it was already time to start planning for the twins’ third birthday — today! We hosted two celebrations during the day today. The Panda Care Team and interns made multiple gift boxes as well as ice “cakes.” The gift boxes and cake contained yummy treats like sweet potato, bananas and sugarcane. Thanks to all who joined us for today’s celebrations or watched from afar on PandaCam!
Amanda D.
Keeper I, Mammals
:vid: https://www.facebook.com/ZooATL/videos/380054419556072/ 28 second video of Xi Lun & Ya Lun's Birthday Party ~ Photos from Video below >
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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 » Tue Sep 10, 2019 9:03 pm

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Amanda D.
September 9, 2019
Based on the latest data sourced from the IUCN Red List, the giant panda population is estimated to be around 2,000. However, most recent sampling surveys of their geographic range shows their numbers rising. This is due to conservation efforts such as “forest protection and reforestation measures” that have been promoted in China (FAO 2010). For years, giant pandas have been thought of as an “umbrella species”. This means that by protecting giant pandas throughout their native range, other animals that share the same habitat are also protected. A study in 2015 determined that giant pandas are indeed an umbrella species. The studies author Stuart Pimm stated, “96 percent of this range overlaps with important conservation areas for other endemic forest species”. Efforts like protecting forests, creating wildlife corridors between fragmented land, and limiting other human caused threats will ensure that not only giant pandas’ numbers will continue to keep climbing, but other species as well. It’s important to note that more could be done to protect a variety of amphibian and bird species that fall outside protected ranges. By increasing the number of protected lands throughout China it will ensure other animals share the same role as an umbrella species like the giant panda ensure the survival of many other species.
Source: https://blogs.scientificamerican.com/ex ... servation/
Study mentioned: Li, Binbin V., Pimm, Stuart L., Li. China’s endemic vertebrates sheltering under the protective umbrella of the giant panda. Conservation Biology. 2015.
https://conbio.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/ ... cobi.12618
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 Sep 10, 2019 9:07 pm

:cake: :rh: ~~ Happy 22nd Birthday Cool Daddy Yang Yang 9/9/19! :pan: ~ :rh: :cloud9:
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Zoo Atlanta Facebook
Yesterday at 3:30 PM ·
Here are some more photos of Yang Yang’s 22nd birthday. Yang got an ice “cake” topped with some of his favorite treats like sugar cane, apples and sweet potatoes, a tiered box “cake” filled with some more of his favorite treats, and he got more ice “cakes” with his name spelled out in one of his most favorite of treats, banana slices! So many treats! (Photos my Danica W.) >->
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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 » Fri Sep 20, 2019 4:01 pm

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Heather R
September 20, 2019
There are a lot of misconceptions about giant pandas out in the world. As giant panda care specialists, we hear them daily, even from fellow animal caretakers! So, we are taking some time here to dispel some of those myths and put the truth about giants pandas out there. Many of these myths come from information that is outdated and has been disproved as we have learned more about giant pandas through detailed research and observation.
I would like to address the widely accepted misconception that giant pandas are cute, cuddly and harmless. Yes, they are cute, but cuddling one would be a huge mistake. They are real bears and can be just as dangerous as any other species of bear. Giant pandas pack a lot of muscle into their smaller frames and are well-equipped with large teeth, claws and strong jaws. They have thick, heavy skulls and their jaw muscles are attached at the top of their skulls at the sagittal crest, which gives them incredible jaw strength. Giant pandas have one of the strongest bite strengths of land mammals, ranked closely among hippopotamuses, polar bears, tigers, brown bears and lions. Their teeth and jaws are designed to break and crush bamboo stalks, and they can inflict serious damage on other animals or humans if they need to do so. So, though giant pandas appear to be living teddy bears, they are not; they can be dangerous, and should be given the same respect and distance as we give other wild animals.
Heather R.
Senior Keeper, Carnivores
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Danica W
September 18, 2019
For our next few panda updates, we thought it would be interesting to share some common misconceptions of giant pandas. Despite the fact that they are widely known animals, there is still a lot of research to be done on giant pandas, and some “stereotypes” have given pandas a reputation. As members of the Panda Care Team at Zoo Atlanta, we’d like to share some of the things we know and have learned from spending time with these animals every day. One of the things we’d like to talk about is the common misunderstanding that giant pandas are incapable of breeding and surviving as a species without human intervention.
To answer this one, you really must think about how long giant pandas have been around, and when they started to get into trouble. Giant pandas made their lifestyles work for a very long time before their biggest threat came about: human-driven habitat fragmentation. Their low numbers in the wild have less to do with their desire to breed and more to do with high-density human populations in the remaining bamboo forests. The primary goal of having giant pandas in human care is to raise awareness and increase genetic diversity. For that reason, many zoos often house a genetically matched female and male pair. It is unrealistic for us to have an unlimited number of male companions for a female to choose from, so sometimes that is the cause of unsuccessful breeding years in the zoos that house pandas. That aside, the desire to breed is just as present in giant pandas as it is other mammals.
(Photo by Amanda D.)
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 » Fri Sep 20, 2019 4:08 pm

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Danica W
September 13, 2019
Bamboo is the fastest growing plant on Earth. It grows so quickly that in some instances you can see it grow right before your eyes. However, despite being the fastest growing plant, it is also one of the slowest plants to flower. A bamboo species can go anywhere from 60 years to 130 years between flowering and seed dispersal events. In addition, that species of bamboo, regardless of geographic location and climate, will all flower at the same time if they came from the same mother plant. Most bamboo species are descended from one another, and they share the same or similar genetic makeup, so when that species starts flowering in one part of the world, that same species will start flowering on the opposite side of the globe at roughly the same time. This crazy phenomenon is called gregarious flowering. This phenomenon was responsible for the starvation of many wild giant pandas in the 1970s. The pandas preferred bamboo all flowered and died off at the same time. That, along with pressures from human development, caused about 250 giant pandas to die of starvation. There was other nutritionally valuable bamboo still living, but the pandas were unable to travel to it because of agricultural expansion. This is why habitat fragmentation is one of the largest threats to giant pandas in their native habitats. Sure, bamboo grows quickly, but the risk of a mass amount of it dying off at the same time is high. Luckily, here at Zoo Atlanta, we can offer a variety of bamboo species and adjust to the bears’ preferences.
Danica W.
Keeper II, Mammals
(photo by Danica W.)
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Darling video of family I found today of the 3
:vid: 2.19 min. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4hmJ2YiL-hQ 2.19
Giant Pandas Lun Lun, Xi Lun, & Ya Lun in the Hammock! 03-07-17
12,056 views
•Published on Mar 7, 2017 by BooBoo Panda 799 subscribers
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 » Fri Sep 27, 2019 10:18 pm

9/27/19~Every Nap You Take~6.48 min.
Published on Sep 27, 2019
Zoo Atlanta cubby misses her sleepy sister, and seems to want to wake her up. First chomping boo right under her {which is loud} & swishing it near her; then walking past her after she slides down the pole to get away, & flops down back to sleep; then eating closer & closer to her on the ground; finally near her covering her with boo. Don't know how it ended, if she woke up or not? as cam went to the hammock [enjoying herself so much @ 3.25 mark she even scents the near-by log]
:vid: https://youtu.be/aFYqDuJAvaY 6.48 min.
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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 Oct 06, 2019 2:13 pm

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Danica W
October 2, 2019
We’re back with more from our series on myths and misconceptions about giant pandas! Pandas are sometimes referred to as an “evolutionary dead-end,” meaning that what some consider to be biological deficiencies are responsible for giant pandas’ own population decline. These so-called “deficiencies” primarily refer to the fact that they are carnivorous animals feeding almost exclusively on bamboo, along with the erroneous belief that giant pandas are poor breeders. However, when you look at giant pandas compared with other bear species (as we have in a number of these updates), you will see that they really aren’t that much different than other members of the bear family. Panda reproductive success in human care, as we mentioned, has a lot to do with the inability to provide an infinite number of mate choices. In their native habitat, giant pandas reproduce about as frequently as other bear species, having offspring every two to three years. In addition, what bamboo lacks in nutritional quality, it makes up for in abundance. Giant pandas are well adapted to eating bamboo and absorbing the surprising amount of protein it contains. It’s actually very valuable to have such an abundant food source because it means that there is minimal to no competition for food. Giant pandas as a species have survived well over 2 million years on a bamboo diet; their populations started decreasing as human populations started increasing. As we’ve mentioned before, most of threats that pandas face, and unfortunately a lot of the stereotypes associated with them, have to do with human-made causes such as habitat fragmentation and deforestation. If you’d like to learn more and see some cited scientific articles referring to these issues, you can check out the Giant Panda IUCN page at https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/712 ... at-ecology.
Danica W.
Keeper II, Mammals
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Amanda D.
September 23, 2019
As we continue in our series on myths about giant pandas, what about the statement “Zoo pandas are lazy?” This is far from accurate, and is typically expressed when people are watching the giant pandas eat. Giant pandas spend most of the day consuming large quantities of bamboo, but this comes after they have spent a majority of their time foraging for a bamboo stand with sufficient nutritional value. In the wild, it has been reported that giant pandas will walk over six miles to find their preferred type of bamboo. As such, it is typical for them to find bamboo of their liking, sit (or recline) next to it, and consume it before moving on to find more. When you visit the Zoo and see the giant pandas sitting next to a bundle of bamboo, just know that what you’re seeing is exactly what they would be doing in the wild!
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 queenie » Sun Oct 06, 2019 2:21 pm

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Danica W
September 27, 2019
Time for more in our series on myths and misconceptions about giant pandas! For various reasons, pandas are sometimes jokingly referred to as “fake bears.” I don’t think that phrase necessarily refers to their body structure, as they are very clearly a bear, but more so their behaviors and diet. But, when you really think about it, pandas having their distinctive black-and-white coloring isn’t that odd when you look across all the color variations in the bear family. Among the bear family you can see coats of all white (polar bears), all black (American black bears), or a huge range of color variation in brown bears. So, pandas having black-and-white coats isn’t that far-fetched, and it helps them blend in among shady bamboo forests.
When it comes to their bamboo diet, you must remember that bears are generally omnivorous, meaning that they can eat a variety of plants, insects, and meat (the only exclusively carnivorous bear is the polar bear). In China, wild pandas have been observed breaking into livestock pens and eating goats and sheep, as well as consuming other deer species. Despite their bamboo diets, they have continued to retain the carnivorous dental makeup and gut flora to consume meat. Bamboo actually has a decent amount of protein for a plant, so pandas transitioning to an almost 99% bamboo diet many years ago isn’t as bizarre as it might seem. For a number of reasons, pandas choose to eat almost exclusively bamboo, but that doesn’t mean they don’t have the same digestive capabilities and ability to consume a variety of diet items like other bears.
Danica W.
Keeper II, Mammals
(photo by Danica W.)
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Danica W
September 30, 2019
A huge benefit of being a zoo accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) is that we can look to other AZA-accredited organizations and learn from them. We have our own set of practices and enrichment items in place here at Zoo Atlanta for the giant pandas, but there is always room to learn more! A while back I saw our colleagues at Smithsonian’s National Zoo post a video of one of their giant pandas self-anointing and playing in some wood shavings. After seeing how much their pandas enjoyed it, I thought it might be something fun to try out with Yang Yang, Lun Lun and the twins. So, after getting approval from our Veterinary Team, Yang Yang was the first to get to try out the new enrichment. We placed some shavings in a behind-the-scenes den area and gave him access to it. He almost immediately came over and started rolling and throwing the shavings around. He continued to go back to the shavings for about 10 minutes to play in them! We will definitely be trying out this enrichment with the other giant pandas, and hopefully they like it just as much as Yang Yang did. As an animal care professional, one of my most favorite things is to watch the animals enjoy the enrichment we provide for them. It’s safe to say Yang Yang definitely put a smile on my face today! Go check out a video on the Zoo’s Instagram or Facebook page!
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 » Mon Oct 07, 2019 11:28 pm

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Amanda D.
October 7, 2019
Fall is finally here, and for the Panda Care Team, that means the giant pandas can spend some time in their outdoor habitats! Well, for at least part of the day! It’s still a little too warm in the late afternoons for the giant pandas, but yesterday morning was a crisp 66 degrees, which meant Yang Yang was able to enjoy some time in the outdoor habitat. Yang Yang spent a good portion of his morning eating bamboo and then afterwards he took a nice, long nap on the structure.
Lun Lun and the twins spent the morning in our climate-controlled dayrooms, but with the cooler mornings we’ve been having, everyone will start to get a turn spending some time outside! Since Lun Lun and Yang Yang never share space with each other or with the twins, this means we usually have one of the giant pandas (or the twins) in their behind-the-scenes dens, but cooler weather also means that both the dayrooms and the outdoor habitats can be used, meaning no one is behind the scenes. So, if you stop by the Zoo while the weather is cooler, there is a good chance you will see all four of the giant pandas in the habitats!
Amanda D.
Keeper I, Mammals
(photo by Amanda D.)
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 Oct 13, 2019 9:13 pm

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Amanda D.
October 11, 2019
One thing I’ve gotten a lot more experience with since I started in the Panda Care Team a few months ago is talking during our Giant Panda Wild Encounters. Wild Encounters are a great way for guests to get a better insight into what the Panda Care Team does to ensure the needs of the giant pandas are met. Guests are able to feed one of the giant pandas and watch a training session. As you might already know, everything we do at the Zoo is through positive reinforcement and is always voluntary, meaning if one of the giant pandas doesn’t want to participate in training, that’s totally okay; we just try asking for another behavior or end the session early. It’s been really great getting to see people connect with the giant pandas, and it’s always awesome when a guest says they’ve learned something new. As an animal care professional, that’s one of the best feelings and I’m glad that I’m able to be a part of that experience!
Amanda D.
Keeper I, Mammals
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Heather R
October 9, 2019
I was recently reflecting on this past year since Idgie the red panda was diagnosed with arthritis. Idgie is doing amazingly well, not only for a red panda of her age (13), but also as a red panda living with arthritis. I was also thinking about how it took a proverbial village to help her to get where she is today. Her care team carefully observes her behavior and reports any changes to her veterinary team. Her veterinary team devises a diagnostic plan and subsequent treatment plan to address any medical issues. The veterinary team also works with her care team to find ways implement treatments. For example, we have discussed how Idgie participates in cold laser therapy; her care team came up with a way to train Idgie to participate in the therapy before the vet team could initiate the treatment. Additionally, red pandas can be difficult to medicate – they don’t like to try new things, so if you can’t hide medications in their favorite foods, it can be tricky to convince them to take medications. We tried a couple of different versions of medications before we found the right one that Idgie would take reliably. In the meantime, her care team also worked closely with our talented Habitat Maintenance Team to design and build ramps and structures to allow Idgie to continue to live arboreally, but in a safe manner. Because of the teamwork between the Animal Care Team, the Veterinary Team, and the Maintenance Team, today Idgie is thriving!
Heather R.
Senior Keeper, Carnivores
(photo by Heather R.)
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
Member since: 08/16/06 with Previous Posts: 4386

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queenie
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Location: The Heartland, USA

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

Post by queenie » Sun Oct 13, 2019 9:13 pm

2019-10-13_230653.jpg
^ click 2X biggest ~ after clicking to view, go to return arrow on top left screen, back to post
Amanda D.
October 7, 2019
Fall is finally here, and for the Panda Care Team, that means the giant pandas can spend some time in their outdoor habitats! Well, for at least part of the day! It’s still a little too warm in the late afternoons for the giant pandas, but yesterday morning was a crisp 66 degrees, which meant Yang Yang was able to enjoy some time in the outdoor habitat. Yang Yang spent a good portion of his morning eating bamboo and then afterwards he took a nice, long nap on the structure.
Lun Lun and the twins spent the morning in our climate-controlled dayrooms, but with the cooler mornings we’ve been having, everyone will start to get a turn spending some time outside! Since Lun Lun and Yang Yang never share space with each other or with the twins, this means we usually have one of the giant pandas (or the twins) in their behind-the-scenes dens, but cooler weather also means that both the dayrooms and the outdoor habitats can be used, meaning no one is behind the scenes. So, if you stop by the Zoo while the weather is cooler, there is a good chance you will see all four of the giant pandas in the habitats!
Amanda D.
Keeper I, Mammals
(photo by Amanda D.)
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
Member since: 08/16/06 with Previous Posts: 4386

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