Alone Again
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Mama Bai Yun is on her own again, son Mei Sheng having “left home” on 15 February 2005. The proper term in giant panda language is the “separation process” during which time the cub is weaned from his mother.
Apparently, the separation came quite naturally, as they grew apart more and more until the 15th, when according to the San Diego Zoo PandaCam site, the separation was complete.
It was a different picture when Hua Mei was separated from Mama Bai Yun around this time four years ago in February 2001. There was a video to commemorate their last time together, which was quite touching, and the web page is still available for all to read:
Hua Mei Weaning
But with Mei Sheng, there was no such “farewell”; could it be an example of the “second child syndrome”? However, there is news that he now weighs in at 105 pounds (48 kilograms), and that he is currently in an off-viewing area. Keepers have started training sessions with him and are happy to report that the panda youngster looks forward to his “lessons”!
Meanwhile, in preparation for panda breeding season, adult pandas Bai Yun and Gao Gao can now watch each other through a wire mesh gate between their respective enclosures in the main exhibit area. The two adult pandas also get to “trade places” twice a week, giving each a chance to smell and deposit scent marks in the other’s enclosure.
Ooo …
