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News from the David M. Rubenstein Family Giant Panda Habitat
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Giant pandas are black and white bears that live in temperate-zone bamboo forests in central China. Among the best recognized—but rarest—animals in the world, they have come to symbolize endangered species and conservation efforts. As few as 1,600 giant pandas survive in the mountain forests of central China. More than 300 pandas live in zoos and breeding centers around the world; most of these pandas are in China.
Giant pandas Mei Xiang and Tian Tian are at the National Zoo under a Giant Panda Cooperative Research and Breeding Agreement, signed in January 2011, between the Zoo and the China Wildlife Conservation Association. This extends the Zoo’s giant panda program through 2015. Mei and Tian are the focus of an ambitious research, conservation, and breeding program designed to preserve this endangered species.
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Watching giant pandas: The panda cams provide a window into the world of the Zoo's giant pandas—female Mei Xiang and male Tian Tian. There are only about 1,600 giant pandas living in the wild in China.
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Archived Giant Panda Videos
Tai Shan Exam, September 19, 2005 | Mei Xiang and Tai Shan, October 2, 2005 | Tai Shan Exam, October 31, 2005 | Mei and Tai, November 10, 2005 | Tai Shan’s First Year (Highlights)
February 3
Pili and Damini, now sub-adult red pandas, are settled into their enclosure in the giant panda house. They, as well as their parents, Shama and Tate, adjusted well to their move. This is the time that they would have gone their separate ways in the wild. The next big milestones for the red pandas revolve around breeding. For Shama and Tate, breeding will occur in the next month or so. For Pili and Damini, springtime will mean moving to other zoos where they can be paired with suitable male red pandas for breeding in the future.
Meanwhile, for the giant pandas, not much has changed behaviorally since the last update. The behavior watch is now in full swing, but there really hasn’t been a noticeable change in either Tian Tian’s or Mei Xiang’s behavior. Both are continuing to scent-mark and to investigate each other’s scent marks. Keepers are rotating them through different yards on a regular basis to give them maximum opportunities for scent communication.
Keepers are also incorporating some special training into the giant pandas’ daily routine. Tian Tian participates in daily leg-strengthening exercises, which we started to train last breeding season. The purpose of the exercises is to make sure that his hind legs are strong enough to hold a breeding position for an extended period of time. Mei Xiang is called into the training area each morning, so that keepers can look for physical signs (changes in her genital region) that indicate estrus is near. So far, no changes have been noted. In recent years, she’s exhibited early estrus cycles in January. We continue to keep our fingers crossed that she’ll wait until spring this year, which would put her back on a more normal cycle. The norm for the species is for females to go into estrus between March and May.
We are making sure that things are just right in the giant pandas’ environment to set them up for success this breeding season. For example, the lights in the building now go out promptly at 5 p.m. each evening, and remain off until 7 a.m. the next morning, and there is no human activity in or above the panda house during those hours. This way, we can be sure that the bears’ circadian rhythms are not disrupted.
Get a Charming Panda Memento That Benefits FONZ
We are proud to introduce new jewelry whose sales benefit Friends of the National Zoo (FONZ). These gold and silver panda charms, perfect for every panda fan, make great necklace pendants or additions to a charm bracelet. And 50 percent of the net profits of the panda charm benefits FONZ.
Get a charm.
Get a FONZ Capital One Visa® Credit Card Featuring Our Pandas
Carry the card that keeps ongiving—the FONZ Capital One Visa® credit card, the only card that helps provide support for the National Zoo. Your card will feature one of our animals—a giant panda, an elephant, or cheetah cubs.
Find out more.
Support Panda Conservation
Support the National Zoo's panda conservation efforts with a donation to the Giant Panda Conservation Fund.
Don't Miss Out on Panda Souvenirs
National Zoo Stores—including our online store—offer an abundance of panda souvenirs: key chains, magnets, mugs, socks, plush pandas, T-shirts, and much more. As always, proceeds support the Zoo and members get a discount. Check out our panda boutique.
