Monday, December 29, 2008

Good-bye panda cam, Hello Xi Lan!

Atlanta Zoo's newest panda cub Xi Lan made his debut today.  He is still learning to walk and climb, but he is on display for a few hours every day.  Xi Lan, meaning "Atlanta's Joy," was born on August 31, 2008, and was the only panda cub born in the States this year.

Sunday, December 28, 2008

Picky, picky....

Guess who's been losing weight since arriving in Taiwan?

Wednesday, December 24, 2008

What will the Japanese think of next?

I used to think this was a bad idea, but then, after half a minute, I thought....hmmm....for those of us who don't have access to thousands of pounds of bamboo, genius, perhaps?

Welcome, Tuan Tuan and Yuan Yuan!


Thanks to my friend AG for sending me this video link heralding Tuan Tuan and Yuan Yuan's arrival in Taiwan!

Are pandas really cute enough to thaw decades of political tensions between two nations? Beyond all the cuteness, here is some serious reporting on the implications of Tuan Tuan and Yuan Yuan's arrival in their new home:

Friday, December 19, 2008


Vienna's Fu Long played in his first snow today!

Thursday, December 18, 2008

I used to hate Moira Kelly's character, Mandy, on the West Wing...

...but she pretty much channeled my sentiments here.

As a resident of Northern Virginia as a child, I grew up adoring Ling Ling and Hsing Hsing of the National Zoo. At the time, and for many years, they were the only giant pandas in the United States. I managed to visit them quite a bit, because I was fortunate enough to have a dad who would take us kids into the District to visit the Zoo, the museums, and other national monuments before he picked my mom up from work every day. I had such an affinity for the two bears, that my older cousin affectionately nicknamed me, "Ling."

Sadly, they never managed to have any panda cubs that lasted much longer than a few days. And sadder still, after Hsing Hsing passed, leaving Ling Ling behind, she met her demise a few years after. Which left the United States without any panda bears at all.

At the time, my adorable young cousin (who is now 17 years old), was about two years old, and, with her cuteness, could get away with anything. I remember thinking to myself, I wish she would meet the President, and with her incorrigible little sweetness ask, "Mr. President? Could you ask China for a new panda bear?"

Well, apparently Scotland is asking China for a new panda bear. Which I think would be fantastic. I would lend them my cousin to ask the powers-that-be for one, but I don't think the supplication is as cute coming from a seventeen-year-old!

As for Toby's bright idea in the clip, looks like someone's got that one covered....

Tuesday, December 16, 2008

Your "awwwww" minute of the day

Some panda holiday cheer :0)  Enjoy!


Saturday, December 13, 2008

Panda Headlines of the Week

Panda diplomacy: Taiwan's pandas, Tan Tan and Yuan Yuan are shortly on the way!

Good news for San Diego Zoo.

But sad news for Atlanta Zoo panda fans.

And in Hong Kong, bad An An, bad!
(Blogger's note: I saw young An An years ago in Ocean Park. He and Jia Jia are the most lazy, boring pandas I've ever seen. They lived in a multi-million dollar facility and hid behind rocks and vegetation. After traveling from so far, fighting with the masses, and straining to peek through the tall grasses, I think I caught a glimpse of one of their ears.)


Friday, December 12, 2008

Oldie but goodie...

Hilarious video from CNN's Jeanne Moos.  A "scientific" survey of New Yorkers, comparing the cuteness of baby panda with baby Shiloh, featured in this video.

Inaugural Posting


When I was younger, my mother proudly announced that she invented Pandamania.  She owns a T-shirt from every place in the world where she has seen a panda: the National Zoo, Beijing Zoo, Ocean Park in Hong Kong, and San Diego Zoo.  My co-worker jokingly suggested that I start a panda blog the other day.  As the daughter of a self-proclaimed "Pandamania" founder, at first I laughed, but then it didn't sound like such a bad idea.  Finally, a blog that I would be willing to share with friends.  And my mother.

So of course this blog will focus on panda pics, photos, news, and adorable videos.  A great way for us Pandamaniacs to keep up with our favorite cutie pies.  Enjoy!