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We scientists don’t have much patience for myths, science fiction, or pseudo-science. Legends of Bigfoot irritate our rational sensibilities. But sometimes it is really fun to dive into myths and tall tales and try to discover a factual basis for these wild ideas. Let’s consider my favorite one: the mighty, some would say creepy, jackalope! … Continue reading "Are jackalopes real?"

I hope you all don’t mind that we are posting so much about Jackie lately. But, since he’s new to us, we are still learning about him and seeing new things from him every day. We have mentioned before that Jackie is very active right now, as is expected, being winter and red panda breeding … Continue reading "Panda Updates – Friday, January 29"

Every morning, the Panda Care Team checks on all of the giant pandas, as well as Jackie the red panda. We have cameras set up that allow us to see each individual in dayrooms which are not visible from behind the scenes. When I’m checking in on Jackie, I will swing by his habitat and … Continue reading "Panda Updates – Wednesday, January 27"

Lately it has been pretty funny to see what Ya Lun and Xi Lun do when we shift them into a new area. Typically, when they go into a set-up area with fresh bamboo and leafeater biscuits everywhere, Ya Lun books it to eat all the biscuits, whereas Xi Lun takes her time and may … Continue reading "Panda updates – Monday, January 25"

We talk a lot about the giant pandas “culming” bamboo, but what does that actually mean? Well, technically, nothing! “Culming” is a word we have made up for this behavior; you won’t find it in reference to giant pandas in any dictionary. However, in giant panda parlance, “culming” or “to culm” means to split apart … Continue reading "Panda Updates – Friday, January 22"

I know when I first started working with the giant pandas, bamboo was simply bamboo, and it all looked yummy enough for me if I were a giant panda. Oh man, work a day with these giant pandas, and you will quickly learn that is not the case! It is incredible how what we may … Continue reading "Panda Updates – Wednesday, January 20"

Red pandas are arboreal, meaning they spend most of their time in trees. They are perfectly adapted for life in the trees. Their long tails help them balance as they walk across branches. Their ankles are extremely flexible and their arm bones can rotate on their axis to allow red pandas to climb down trees … Continue reading "Panda Updates – Friday, January 15"

The giant pandas amaze me all the time, but one of the aspects I am most incredulous (and jealous) of is their ability to find a comfortable resting place wherever they are. While monitoring PandaCam, we see the giant pandas fast asleep or relaxing in all sorts of uncomfortable-looking contortions or perches. They sleep balanced … Continue reading "Panda Updates – Wednesday, January 13"

If you follow our giant panda program, you’ll often hear us talking about the fact that giant pandas are a solitary species, and during your visits to the Zoo, there are a few animals you might see who live alone. Unlike social species such as western lowland gorillas, African lions, meerkats and more, solitary species … Continue reading "Panda Updates – Monday, January, 11"

Yang Yang had a very playful day recently! We have some tough canvas strips that we use to play tug-of-war with him, so the other day I grabbed one to see if he was interested in a round or two. He was in the behind the scenes dens eating and seemed torn between his dueling … Continue reading "Panda Updates – Wednesday, January 6"