Panda Mania

©Panda ©Mania© at the Zoo©

The San Diego Zoo is home to 3700 different animals of more than 650 species. But by far the most popular animals at the zoo are the Giant Pandas.      Don’t you just love Pandas? 

In 1996 a female named Bai Yun and a male named Shi Shi. The agreement was that San Diego would try to breed in captivity and send their cubs back to China for the next 12 years. Shi Shi was not interested in mating so Bai Yun was artificially inseminated and gave birth to a cub in 1999 that was eventually returned to China. Finally in 2003 Shi Shi was sent back and a new male named Gao Gao came to San Diego. With instant attraction, Bai Yun & Gao Gao had 3 more cubs that have since been sent to China.

In 2009, Bai Yun  had a male named Yun Zi who turns 3 years old on August 5^, 2012 and lives at the zoo with his parents. Here is a picture of Yun Zi and his ice cake. He is said to be all boy; tears up his toys, loves to climb and weighs 180 lbs.

On July 29, 2012, Bai Yun gave birth to San Diego’s newest cub and is in seclusion for several months but mother and baby are doing great. You can go to the San Diego Zoo Panda Cam to see them. What is so amazing is that Bai Yun is over 20 years old and has now given birth to 6 cubs. Experts believe she may be nearing the end of her reproduction cycle. Also the sex of the cub will not be known for several months so they have not named the baby cub yet.

The zoo is packed full of people but very few lines but the Panda Trek had a 5 minute line to get to see Gao Gao (dad) and Yun Zi (3 yr son) and the wait was well worth it. They also had some red pandas on display while waiting in line.

There is several Panda Gift Shops and all the visitors seemed to be there buying up trinkets and stuffed animals.

More Panda Facts:

There are 44 Pandas living outside of China in 16 zoos in 12 countries including the US (4 locations), Spain, Russia, Mexico, Scotland, Germany, Austria, France, Thailand, Taiwan, Australia and Japan.

4 zoos in the United States have Giant Pandas; San Diego has 4, Atlanta Zoo has 4, Memphis Zoo has 2, and Washington DC has 3.

China has been in negotiations with the Toronto Zoo and is expected to get a pair of Giant Pandas in the spring 2013.

February 1937, Su Li was the first Giant Panda to be sent to the Brooklyn Zoo in the US.

©I found this wonderful website that has info about all the pandas of the world. I spent about an hour reading about them and looking at their pictures. I highly suggest this site:  www.giantpandazoo.com

Here are more links to get information on the Giant Pandas.

San Diego Panda Cam

How Can You Help

Fun Panda Facts

Fun Panda Facts for Kids

San Diego Zoo Global Wildlife

Plants at the San Diego Zoo

Visit the zoo at 5333 Zoo Drive, San Diego CA 90027 or go to www.sandiegozoo.org/

These photographs taken in San Diego, CA. by Kristin Hamilton

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My name is Kristin Hamilton and I sell Real Estate. Call me for all your real estate needs. If you want to sell your home, call Kristin @909-557-6966 or email me at kristinhamilton@kw.com.

This post was authored and or picture was taken by Kristin Hamilton. ©2012, All Rights Reserved, This content may not be reproduced or reprinted (Except for ActiveRain Re-blogging) without express written permission of Kristin Hamilton, Keller Williams Realty, Redlands, CA.