Panda Updates – Friday, September 4

When Lun Lun is experiencing a pseudopregnancy (as a reminder, a pseudopregnancy is not an actual pregnancy but is a condition that closely mimics pregnancy), she chooses to stay in her behind-the-scenes dens. We often give her the choice to go out into the dayrooms or habitats, but she ignores the open doors. The last couple of years, she has spent most of her time in the maternity den, making a bamboo and hay nest and sleeping in it, as she has been so accustomed to doing with all seven of her cubs. However, this year, in addition to nest-building in her maternity den, she has been sleeping in an outdoor patio that is adjacent to her dens. She has spent more time on the patio during this pseudopregnancy than she has in the dens. The patio might look boring and bare, but Lun Lun is loving it right now! The last time that Lun Lun spent this much time on the patio was during her pregnancy with her third cub, Po. Lun Lun was pregnant with Po in the autumn, so the outdoor temperatures were perfect for pandas. Even though it is warm outside right now, the patio is mostly shaded and the concrete floor stays cool, which is why she can enjoy time out there despite late August/early September temperatures.

Michelle E.
Keeper III, Mammals