Not too far from Mission Valley in San Diego, California, is the world-famous San Diego Zoo, one of just a handful of Zoos in the world that have some giant pandas. The San Diego Zoo has been at the forefront of working with China on research to try to save the giant pandas from becoming extinct, and the Zoo's results in breeding the pandas here has been nothing short of amazing, with several pandas being born here. Our newest giant panda arrived on August 5, 2009, although at a mere four ounces, he was anything but giant. Following Chinese tradition, cubs are given names after 100 days, and following San Diego Zoo tradition, the public gets to suggest names and then vote on those names. Beginning Saturday, October 10, and ending on Monday, October 19, the public is invited to suggest names for the little fellow, now weighing in at a whopping 6.4 pounds. In order to suggest a name, you have to visit the Giant Panda Research Station at the San Diego Zoo to deliver your suggestion in person. The suggested name should be Chinese (Pinyin), have an English translation, and be symbolic in meaning. After the suggestion period ends, the Zoo's panda team will choose several of the suggestions to send to the Chinese Wildlife Conservation Association for approval. Once approved, the names will be posted on the Zoo's web site and it's FaceBook page for a final vote by the world. The San Diego Zoo has five pandas now, the largest number of any Zoo in the United States. All the pandas in the United States, including the San Diego Zoo's, belong to China and are on loan here, typically at a significant cost to the Zoos. The San Diego Zoo spends one million dollars a year in payments to China for the privilege of having these pandas here, so when you come to San Diego for the 2009 NAR Convention in November, please make a trip to the Zoo to see the pandas. Your dollars support continued conservation and breeding efforts for threatened wildlife throughout the world. I'll let everyone know when world-wide voting starts.
**********
If you're looking for a great condominium in Mission Valley, I'm available 24/7, so feel free to contact me by phone or email.
**********
Jim Frimmer, Realtor **********
15 recent blog posts:
Join me in the following ActiveRain Groups:
the heart and soul of San Diego, please give me a call.
Century 21 Award Mission Valley
California DRE License #01458572
619-729-5701
jimfrimmer@century21award.com
Mission Valley Condos Information
I love Pandas.. they are so cute.. what a great idea to let the public name them.. :)
Jim, I hope the panda gets a good name, but at the sound of it, it doesn't seem very easy to pick a chinese name, with an English translation & symbol. Thanks for sharing.
I hope you'll remember me if you learn of anyone moving to "The OC" and I will do the same!
Best regards,
Michael Caruso, Broker ABR ABRM CRB CRS GREEN GRI
2007 President, Orange County Association of Realtors
Jim - Nice shots of the Panda. They have a soft place in most people's hearts.
The close-ups look so furry, I just want to pat them :) Please post more panda photos, and maybe baby photos when the new one is out in public? Good for San Diego for making a great place for the pandas, too!
Hi Jim,
Nice post! Don't forget to let us know what the baby Panda's name will be! Thanks for sharing!
Chris
Hey, Konnie - I don't know if this is how the Chinese typically name their pandas, or if this was the idea of the San Diego Zoo, but I like it, too.
Hey, Michael - Which is why I've never submitted a suggestions - LOL.
Hey, Jack - They do, but I saw a news report somewhere the other day where someone said they should all be allowed to die because they add nothing to the Earth. Hmmmmm. Sounds like a Scrooge to me.
Hey, Matt - I'll let everyone know when online voting begins, as well as what the final name is.
Hey, Shoshana - You can find the panda web cam over at the San Diego Zoo's web site: http://www.sandiegozoo.org/pandacam/index.html
Hey, Chris - See my comment above to Matt.
Comments(8)