San Diego Zoo’s giant panda cub, Yun Zi, debuts to the public
Jan 8th, 2010 | By mervi | Category: Featured articlesJanuary 7, 2010 | 11:57 am, Source Los Angeles Times, Photos by Lenny Ignelzi/AP
Yun Zi, the San Diego Zoo’s 5-month-old giant panda cub, was apparently determined to be as cute as physically possible in his debut to the media Wednesday. Photographers were on hand to document the cub in advance of his debut to the public this morning. As of today, he can be seen in a special outdoor exhibit zoo workers have dubbed “the classroom” for a few hours a day.
Keepers have waited longer to place Yun Zi on display than they did with his older siblings, brother Mei Sheng and sisters Hua Mei and Zhen Zhen. Unlike his brother and sisters, Yun Zi whose name translates to “Son of Cloud”) was something of a homebody until recently, often opting to remain in the den he shares with his mother rather than explore outdoors. But in the last few weeks, he’s “started picking up speed in the behavioral milestone department. … His social play has picked up,” senior research technician Suzanne Hall wrote on the zoo’s blog. “He now seems very ready to meet the challenges of being on exhibit.”
Despite Yun Zi’s apparent readiness to appear before the public, Hall was quick to point out another potential problem with having him on display: His sleeping schedule. “Keepers have noted that when they come in at 6 a.m., he is often busily tumbling around,” she explained. “Unfortunately, the San Diego Zoo doesn’t open at 6 a.m. In fact, by the time grounds open, it has been our boy’s habit to be sound asleep in the den.” To get him ready for his big debut, keepers have been working with him to alter his schedule so that he wakes up a few hours later. Even so, the zoo cautions panda fans that, although his exhibit will be open daily from 9 a.m. to noon, “there are no guarantees that Yun Zi will be awake!” (You might not be able to see him awake in person, but we can promise he’s up and at ‘em in the additional photos you’ll see after the jump.)
Link to San Diego Zoo’s pandacam
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Dear Mervi,
this panda cub is so cute. How funny it is that its bio-rhythm is different than that of the visitors and the zoo’s opening times.
Thank you so much for this lovely publication.
Hugs from caren
Mein Gott, der Kleine ist ja unschlagbar süß und toll gewachsen, wenn man an die Webcambilder denkt – tolle Fotos!!!
Dear Mervi,
I think that maybe the words “Panda” and “cute” are a redundancy in terms!! Panda = cute!! The San Diego Zoo sure is having good success with their pandas. Thank you Mervi for bringing this article to us with its fabulous photos.
Hugs from Sarsam
Liebe Mervi
Das Pandajunge ist so niedlich. Hoffentlich hören wir noch ganz viel von ihm.
LG
Bea
A little heavy pawed- on the mascara but adorable. This panda is so sweet I just want to steal him away.
Thank Mervi.
Dear Mervi,
Isn’t he charming? I’ve been following him and his mama since birth….I love to watch him on the pandacam…..especially when he and mama sleep….he is right next to her (at least he was when he was very little) and she cuddles him….so maternal and dear….xo k-j