Giant pandas wrestling

Two giant pandas scrum in Chengdu Giant Panda Breeding Centre in the picture taken on August 19, 2006. Pandas are not always gentle and peaceable, they sometimes play rough-and-tumble games.

Elizabeth Irwin of Anderson, SC visited the Zoo on April 11, 2003, as the grand-prize winner of an online sweepstakes hosted by Fujifilm called Meet the Pandas.

Highlights of the tour included a behind-the-scenes visit to the observation area at the Fujifilm Giant Panda Conservation Habitat and a face-to-face meeting with Norman, a 600-pound California sea lion and a long-time favorite of Zoo-goers and 17 panda cubs all born in 2006 take a group picture at the China Wolong Giant Panda Research Center, Southwest China's Sichuan Provice November 7, 2006. Giant pandas in China had a baby boom in 2006 with 17 of 19 cubs survived.Panda cubs, all born in 2006,make a pubic appearance at the China Wolong Giant Panda Research center A three month old panda cub plays at the China Wolong giant Panda.

We started a new study, a nursing watch, last weekend. We will collect data two weekends per month to learn about Tai’s nursing frequency and duration. This watch, conducted by volunteers, will run continuously from 7 a.m. Friday morning through 7 p.m. Monday evening. This means more quality time for our nighttime web cam viewers! In January, we will look at his nursing frequency, as well as hormonal data, to determine the progress of his weaning. One specific hormone of interest is urinary cortisol. Increased corticoid levels are associated with the maintenance of lactation in mammals. We have documented this phenomenon for Olympic pandas, and Mei’s levels have doubled since Tai's birth. We have endless learning opportunities with Mei Xiang and Tai Shan. This information will also help us begin to plan for the 2007 breeding season.

Surce :chinadaily.com.cn ]