Our veterinary team visited the giant panda habitat last week for routine checkups on all of the pandas. Of special note in Bei Bei's check-up, the team successfully collected blood and gave him two vaccinations. He held still for the procedure because keepers treated him to honey water. Keepers have been working with Bei Bei to participate in voluntary veterinary exam training since he was about six months old. They started with very basic behaviors such as asking him to touch a target with his nose. Since then they have introduced him to the training chute and the blood draw sleeve.

Bei Bei seems to be well ahead of the learning curve. Tai Shan was 25 months old before he participated in his first blood draw. Bao Bao was 27 months old. Bei Bei is 13 months old.