The Giant Pandas

Tai Shan, one of offspring from the two Giant Panda at the Smithsonian National Zoo.

Ranging in size from 220 to 250 lbs., the Giant Pandas are one of the rarest bears in the world ("Giant Panda Facts"). Only about 1600 survive in mountain ranges today, found typically in China. Approximately 160 Giant Pandas are carefully protected, observed, and bred in zoo facilities around the world. One of these facilities is located at the Smithsonian, where Tain Tain and Mei Xiang are its famous inhabitants.

What's interesting is the working relationship between China and the U.S. to bred these beautiful bears ("Meet the Zoo's Giant Pandas"). If you remember watching the news a few years ago, Mei Xiang and Tain Tain were transported to Washington from China to create offspring. Their child, a boy bear named Tai Shan (pictured above), was born in the National Zoo on July 9th, 2005. A month old, he weighed less than two pounds. As of December 2010, Tai Shan weighed over 150 lbs! Tai Shan was transferred to China while his parents, Tain Tain and Mei Xiang, remain in the U.S.

The Panda Plane!

I wanted to post this blog about the Giant Pandas because of the recent news on government budgets. If a budget plan is not finalized by today, it could mean that the National Zoo and other national parks across the country would be included in the government shutdown. What does this mean for Mei Xiang and Tain Tain? A recent article in the Los Angeles Times interviewed the Zoo's spokeswoman, Karin Korpowski-Gallo, yesterday. She stated, "Consider it business as usual inside the zoo". The article continued to say that:

The 30% of zoo staff, including administrative, that does not take care of animals ("like me,"

Tai Shan leaving Washington for China in 2011.

Korpowski-Gallo said) would not come to work. But the keepers, curators, vets, nutritionists (a commissary of staffers prepare 

daily meals)who minister to the needs of 2,000 animals would remain at work.Similarly, at the zoo's conservation facility in 

Front Royal, Va. -- which is rarely open to the public -- all hands-on animal care would continue. That means the two tiny clouded leopard cubs that were born last week and are considered genetically valuable will be oblivious to the government upheaval. They will continue to be hand-reared by the staff, get nightly feedings and be otherwise looked after round the clock.

Back in Washington, the zoo's giant anteater, Maripi, and her 

4-month-old pup,Pablo, who have been attracting a lot of 

attention, will still be wandering their grassy exhibit. She'll 

be sniffing out the peanut butter that keepers hide forher 

to find (a zoo enrichment activity) while transporting her 

offspring everywhereon her back. "He slides off on occasion,"

said Korpowski-Gallo. "She bends around 

to get him back on."

 If only members of Congress worked together that well.

("Government Shutdown: What about the Zoo Animals?", Observations and Provocations from the LA Times Opinion Staff)

Tai Shan's 1st Birthday.

One question pops into my mind: Why the Zoo? If it's shutting down to the public but employees and such are still busy at work, what's the huge savings here? Why not shut down a different museum? It's odd, isn't it? Especially when there are living creatures involved. I mean, the goal here of the Zoo is to keep the awareness in the public's mind that these animals are facing extinction -- and now, with the government shut down, the public won't be able to realize how much these Zoos need our help. I think that by the government shutting these parks and zoos down send a message that if desperate times came with desperate measures, the zoos and parks would be the first things to go. 

One way to challenge this battle is to become involved and stay aware. On the Smithsonian's National Zoo website, there are many ways to help. You can adopt a species, where for just $65 you can receive a plush likeness of the animal you adopt. Also, you can give a gift membership, sponsor an event, help build a new home for the sea lions, purchase a commemorative bench at the Zoo, or, if you are in the area, sign up to volunteer! Here is the website for supporting the Zoo: http://nationalzoo.si.edu/Support/

There are also live web cams were viewers can watch what the cute little bears are doing during the day. Right now, there's the image of one of the pandas munching on some delicious bamboo : )

Here's the link: http://nationalzoo.si.edu/Animals/GiantPandas/default.cfm

Also, here' a great video from "Good Morning America" highlighting the newest panda cub at the Atlanta Zoo. His name is Po, meaning "precious" or "treasure". This video gives fantastic insight into why zoos are so important and why these pandas need our help: (It's actually requested by ABC News not to embed, and it won't allow me to upload from YouTube. Here's the link however: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QS20BAmL8Fo ). 

Another video of a baby panda-- I would totally be like the women in here..."Baby, baby!" He's so cool looking, just chillin' out, ya know?

P.S. just found this one too -- should I be worried that the panda has the same first name as me?