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News from the Fujifilm Giant Panda Habitat

Please note: Tickets are no longer required to see the pandas.

July 16

We would like to thank everyone who responded to our call for help for the Wolong Giant Panda Reserve in the wake of China's devastating earthquake in May. In just six weeks, more than 900 donors contributed more than $90,000, online and offline! Your generosity amazed us and exceeded our expectations.

About the earthquake damage to the Wolong Giant Panda Breeding Center.

July 14

Mei Xiang has been spending most of her time in den three. Typical for this stage of her pregnancy or pseudopregnancy, she prefers to keep to herself and sleep. On Thursday and Friday morning, we coaxed her out to the training cage for an ultrasound. It took a lot of effort from the panda, and her keepers. Just as we settled into position, Mei jumped up and then declined to return to complete the procedure.

She is generally comfortable and calm, and seems very introspective now. We can ask her persistently and nicely, offering all her favorite treats, and she will just sit and wait patiently for us to get the message. She will eat the treats and scent anoint with the ultrasound gel, but she cannot remain in the position we need because it is just not part of her plan for the day. Lethargy rules!

It is always amazing to see the effects of the now elevated hormone progesterone, which is responsible for the changes to a female’s body to support pregnancy. Mei is beginning to show maternal behaviors, such as cradling her Kong toy, licking and grooming her paws and nipples, and shredding bamboo. The keepers have added hay to her den for extra comfort.

The 24-hour FONZ volunteer behavior watch began this morning. Of course, we don't know whether Mei is pregnant or not, but we have finalized our plans for all possibilities relating to the birth of a single cub or twins. We are lucky to have so much information from our colleagues in the U.S. and China to help us prepare for the birth. This time around, we can also plan with additional confidence based on the knowledge gained from Mei Xiang’s own maternal behavior and experience.

Thanks again to hundreds of donors who are helping the Wolong Giant Panda Breeding Center recover from earthquake damage. We have received more than $56,000 and are grateful for your generosity.

Let's Play Ball—and Get a Panda Webkinz and Help Pandas
On August 3, the Washington Nationals will celebrate the National Zoo's giant panda program. The Nationals will donate a portion of ticket proceeds from this game to the Zoo in support of giant panda research and conservation. The first 10,000 children (ages 12 and younger) at the game will receive a free Panda Webkinz. Participate in this special event.

More Than Sixty Tai Shan Wallpaper Choices Now Available!
Support the National Zoo's panda conservation efforts, and get lots of Tai Shan wallpaper and a screen saver as thanks for your donation to the Giant Panda Conservation Fund. Donate now.

What to Expect if Mei Is Expecting
We wanted to let our pandas' fans know our plans for the panda cams and exhibit if Mei Xiang gives birth to a cub this year. The web cams will be turned off if we believe a birth is imminent. We will turn them back on soon after the birth but we cannot say exactly when. (We may think a birth is imminent and later learn that Mei experienced a pseudopregnancy.) If Mei has a cub, the indoor panda habitat will be closed for several weeks to months. The outdoor portion of the Fujifilm Giant Panda Habitat will be open to the public. We will work as expeditiously as possible to share all the news with you.

Panda Photo Gallery | Help with cam
Watching giant pandas: The panda cams provide a window into the world of the Zoo's giant pandas—three-year-old Tai Shan, his mother, Mei Xiang, and his father, Tian Tian. If you see two pandas on the cam, you're watching Mei and Tian. At Tai's first exam, he weighed a little less than two pounds. In June, he weighed 181 pounds.
Giant Panda Facts | Get Tai Shan Wallpaper When You Help Us Protect Giant Pandas | Adopt a Giant Panda

July 9

Tai Shan turned three today! He enjoyed a special fruitcicle made of water and gelatin in the shape of a three. He also received two tiered fruitcicles made of water, bamboo leaves, and various fruits and vegetables. Thanks to everyone who came to the Zoo today to celebrate the big day, and to the hundreds of you who have sent him birthday wishes online.

Get Tai Shan birthday wallpaper for your computer with your donation to the Giant Panda Conservation Fund.

July 7

Mei Xiang is moving in slow motion these days, preferring to spend her time sleeping on the rock mountain inside, and sometimes in den three. She has found a special place that she molds her body on to, right on the edge of the mountain in enclosure two. She picks all the poses that epitomize comfort, resting on her arms either all tucked up or all stretched out in varied and always creative positions. Last week it took 20 minutes for her to come out for her ultrasound procedure. She must trek all the way from her inside enclosure, into the chute to the specially designed training cage, just outside the doorway. Once there, all she has to do is lie down with her belly exposed, while a keeper feeds her little tidbits of her favorite foods. What an effort it is now for her to travel this mere 50 to 60 feet. Even the reward of a fruitcicle or sugar cane may not draw her out. Just two weeks ago, she was her normal responsive self.

Mei is also beginning to leave some of her biscuits and produce, although not consistently. Every time we think she is going to establish a trend with her behaviors she changes her plans on us. We continue to plan for every possibility.

The 4-7 p.m. shift of the pregnancy (or pseudopregnancy) watch will begin tomorow.

June 20

Zoo scientists have detected a secondary rise in urinary progestin levels in Mei Xiang. The results from yesterday's test lead them to believe the hormone rise indicates that it would be mid- to late July before Mei Xiang either gives birth to a cub or comes to the end of a pseudopregnancy, or false pregnancy, which is common in giant pandas.

Our scientists artificially inseminated Mei Xiang with semen from Tian Tian March 19. Since then, the scientists have conducted weekly hormonal analyses on urine samples from Mei Xiang. Zoo veterinarians are conducting weekly ultrasounds on Mei Xiang to monitor any changes in her reproductive tract and look for evidence of a fetus. So far, they have not seen evidence of one. Because panda fetuses do not start developing until the last weeks of a gestation period, Zoo veterinarians say they do not yet expect to see a fetus. They stress that it is still too early to determine if Mei is actually pregnant or experiencing a pseudopregnancy. Stay tuned! 2008 Pregnancy Watch

On another note, we'd like to thank all of you who have donated to help the Wolong Giant Panda Breeding Center recover from earthquake damage. We have received more than $47,000 and are grateful for your generosity.

Read previous panda updates.

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 160 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 on a ten-year loan from the China Wildlife Conservation Association. They are the focus of an ambitious research, conservation, and breeding program designed to preserve this endangered species.