2013-02-05 Xiao Liwu: The End of a Lazy Day

Highlights of footage shown on Panda Cam from 2:30pm - 4pm PT: Xiao Liwu joins his mother Bai Yun on the platform (she's just finished eating her treats), and then they both leave. Over an hour later we find Xiao Liwu on the platform with Bai Yun ...

Video recorded at San Diego Zoo's website: http://www.sandiegozoo.org/pandacam/i...

• Category

  Pets & Animals

[HenryDavidT]

Animals, including babies, are pretty tough & resilient. But sooner or later, one of those falls from that high platform's going to land babies like Liwu on his skull or nose & shatter some bones, causing serious internal injuries, because the floor is cement, not soft earth.

Zoo staff needs to tweak with that platform a bit by lowering the height or putting some scaffold of some type by the side, so during some rougher plays w/ mother, when he falls, it's not straight down like a rock...

[DoxieMom19]

Please read the SDZ Blog titled Panda Cub: Answers as it addresses this very issue: "Now, about those falls. The substrate in both the exhibit and the garden room is comprised of lomax, rather than dirt. Lomax is much softer than dirt, so when cubbie falls, and he will, it’s not on concrete or hard-packed dirt. When he falls, he may land on his feet, his side, or his cute little bottom, but panda cubs are born stuntmen: they know how to fall and roll to prevent injury." Thank you!

[Edie Koller]

Such sweet interactions except when Bai Yun pushes Xiao Liwu off the platform a few times..but again that little guy is so amazing. Nothing seems to bother him. I just love it when he is laying on his back mouthing eating the bamboo. Thanks DoxieMom19:)

[DoxieMom19]

Edie, it's almost as if he knew he had to go burn off a bit of energy before trying to go back up to the platform. He's very fearless, and I was once again reassured when Dr. Kinney said in his last exam that he has plenty of muscle (and probably layers of fat) to protect his bones. He's a trooper ;) ~ Doxie

[Sharon Elston]

So funny looked actually shoved that big piece of boo off the platform.Mom ignored it and actually left.Whew lucky Wu this time. He does seem to be much more interested in the boo.Thanks so much for keeping us from missing all interactions.

[TheDrcatatonic]

Thank you so much for your hard work, DoxieMom!

[TheDrcatatonic]

I read on the SDZ blog that the metal platform in the garden room is ONE FOOT off of the ground. And besides, as DoxieMom points out, people who work with animals for a living certainly know best, and know better than we amateurs. I think after studying animal behaviour in a scientific context for so many years, they are pretty clear on what works and what doesn't. Of course we also know that the Zoo is on the hook to the tune of a million dollars for these pandas! They are loving and careful.