Perfect Pandas

The National Zoo in Washington, DC has a new addition - a baby giant panda cub born on Sunday to mom Mei Xiang.  Male giant pandas can weigh up to 350 pounds, but baby pandas can fit in the palm of your hand and their weight is measured in ounces, not pounds.   With a baby so small it will be months before the as yet unnamed wee one will be seen by the public.

There are only four zoos in the United States with giant pandas - the National Zoo, Memphis Zoo, the San Diego Zoo, and Zoo Atlanta.  When I lived in Georgia, I had the privilege of being there when Zoo Atlanta received their two pandas on loan from China, Lun Lun and Yang Yang, and had to wait in line to see them when they were revealed to the public. They were such fun to watch as rambunctious youngsters of one and a half or two-year-olds.  I could have sworn I took pictures and certainly should have, but darned if I can find them if they indeed exist.  I certainly remember the visit - the two stars of the zoo were totally adorable and zoo reps had their work cut out for them to keep the line moving because people just didn't want to leave the exhibit.  Here is Yang Yang today; he's grown since I saw him!

Yang Yang, Zoo Atlanta   Source:  Wikipedia

I also visited the National Zoo back in the 70s when I was living in New York City and saw the original and first pandas in the country, Ling-Ling and Hsing-Hsing.  I think this is Ling-Ling.

 I know - not a great picture but it IS almost 40 years old!

Lun Lun and Yang Yang have had three babies since I saw them.  Because they are on loan, all babies born in the states must eventually go back to China, so their first baby, Mei Lan, is at the Chengdu Research Base.

Source:  Zoo Atlanta

Xi Lan was born in 2008.  What a handsome boy!

Source:  Zoo Atlanta

And this is the latest cub, Po, born in 2010, with mom Lun Lun.

Source:  Zoo Atlanta

Pandas are endangered which is the reason for the Chengdu research center and it is estimated that only around 1500 individuals are left in the wild in their very limited range.  Pandas are specialists and in the wild over 90% of their diet is bamboo having lived in the bamboo forests of China for millions of years.  The panda's paw consists of five fingers and a 'thumb' which helps them hold the bamboo.  Cubs stay with their moms for at least two years so increasing the population is a slow process.

As adults or babies, these roly poly seemingly playful creatures have stolen many peoples' hearts.   For a video of panda cubs playing, click here.  For a short video about the Chengdu Research Center, click here.

Update:  Unfortunately little panda cubs are fragile and the cub just born last week at the National Zoo has died.  Very sad.