Monday, November 6
Lun Lun and her cub continue to do well. Lun Lun is periodically using the additional space we started to provide last week. Today, she interacted with Yang Yang briefly at a small mesh panel located between a transfer hallway and one of the outdoor exhibits. The interaction was friendly. Lun Lun chirped (an affiliative or friendly vocalization) at Yang Yang and they sniffed each other for a few minutes. We are happy that the interaction was friendly. It’s a good sign that Yang Yang’s presence in the building and exhibit space is not stressful to Lun Lun. We will continue to keep Lun Lun and Yang Yang separated from each other, because that is normal for giant pandas. Lun Lun would most likely not tolerate him being near her cub or the den the cub is in.
Dr. Rebecca Snyder
Curator of Giant Panda Research and Management

Friday, November 3
We have started to give Lun Lun more space in the giant panda building. She now sometimes has access to another den, which is farther away from the den the cub is in. We are doing this to give her the opportunity to get some exercise and move around more. A wild mother with a cub this age would be traveling some distance to forage. So, we are giving Lun Lun the choice to move farther from the cub. She spent some time smelling and walking around in the other den, but she didn't rest there and she returned frequently to check on her cub. Eventually, we will also start giving her access to some of the exhibit space. Yang Yang is outside and separated from all the areas that Lun Lun is using.
Dr. Rebecca Snyder
Curator of Giant Panda Research and Management

Relaxing after her exam today...

Thursday,
November 2
The cub had her sixth health check this morning. She continues to thrive. She weighed 2.79 kg (6.15 lbs) and was 49 cm (19.3 in) long from her nose to the tip of her tail. She used her forelegs to push her upper body up during the procedure, which is a precursor to learning to walk. Her ears are more erect now and she has been reacting to sounds for the last several days.

Lun Lun was very calm while the cub was away. She participated in a training session as usual. Shortly after she returned to the cub, she nursed. Both mother and cub spent most of the remainder of the morning resting.
Dr. Rebecca Snyder
Curator of Giant Panda Research and Management

Wednesday, November 1
The cub is 8 weeks old today and she still seems too good to be true. She is the result of the help and hard work of many dedicated people and their institutions. The Chengdu Research Base sent a reproductive physiologist to assist with semen collection from Yang Yang and perform the artificial insemination (AI) that resulted in the cub. Smithsonian’s National Zoological Park sent an endocrinologist who specializes in giant panda hormone assays to predict ovulation and timing of AI by measuring Lun Lun’s hormones several times a day. The Zoological Society of San Diego also sent a reproductive physiologist to assist with semen collection and AI. The University of Georgia Veterinary College sent an expert theriogenologist (specialist in animal reproduction) who has assisted with every AI and semen collection we’ve conducted with our giant pandas. The Memphis Zoo also sent their reproductive physiologist to assist with semen collection and AI in previous years. Georgia Tech’s Center for Conservation and Behavior contributed graduate students who assist with behavioral data collection which is also used to predict ovulation. The Atlanta-based Center for Behavioral Neuroscience (CBN) also conducted hormone assays to help predict ovulation this year and in previous years. We are extremely fortunate and grateful to have this exceptional team of partners. One of the best things about working with giant pandas is the supportive and collaborative relationship among all of the scientists, veterinarians, animal care professionals, and institutions involved with giant pandas. I think this is also one of the most encouraging signs for a bright future for the giant panda.
Dr. Rebecca Snyder
Curator of Giant Panda Research and Management

A typical view of a panda nap

Tuesday, October 31
Lun Lun got into the Halloween spirit yesterday. The keepers gave her a jack-o’-lantern filled with scented wood wool and biscuits. She pulled out the wood wool and rubbed it on her head. This is called scent anointing and giant pandas often do this with anything that smells interesting. She also manipulated the pumpkin with her paws and clawed it to retrieve the biscuits.

Yang Yang also received more Halloween themed enrichment over the weekend, including a ghost toy (a sheet hanging over a bamboo frame). He charged the ghost and wrestled with it for several minutes. Eventually he was victorious – he ripped the sheet off and ate part of the bamboo frame.
Dr. Rebecca Snyder
Curator of Giant Panda Research and Management

Monday, October 30
The cub was more active today and is becoming a little bit mobile. Once while Lun Lun was away, the cub spent about 20 minutes using her legs to push herself around in the next box. She didn’t get far and mostly just moved around in a circle, but this behavior is a good sign that she is strong and becoming more aware of her surroundings. We expect this behavior to increase and become more coordinated over the coming weeks as she starts to learn to walk. By the time she is four months old, she will be able to walk well.
Dr. Rebecca Snyder
Curator of Giant Panda Research and Management

Sunday, October 29
It may appear that our beautiful baby girl is just lying about most of the time, but she is in fact working out. As with most babies, she sure does sleep much of the time, but when she is awake, you can see her, via the Panda Cam, moving her arms, legs and head. While these movements may seem uncoordinated or not very noteworthy, she is in fact strengthening and coordinating her muscles and their movements. This is vital if she is to develop at a normal progression towards walking, climbing and running. Much like a human child, at birth the cub’s muscles are not developed enough to allow for her to do very much. However, it didn’t take very long before she started passing some significant milestones. She has already mastered the art of rolling herself over when she winds up on her back. She has also been seen lifting her head and pushing herself up onto her forelimbs. Both of these milestones are part of the normal progression of development. At around two and a half months, she will be able to sit up by herself for the first time.  Sitting up will soon be followed by her scooting around on the floor—not quite mobile, but well on her way. At about three months of age, the cub will officially become mobile and start to crawl. From this activity, she will gain a lot of muscle mass and coordination needed for her to literally take the next step in her development. At four months of age, the cub will begin to walk and will begin climbing onto things, including Lun Lun, as everything will start to become a play object. Once she has mastered walking, she will be off and running at about five months of age. Also at this time, she will master the art of climbing, going higher and higher than she ever has. As all parents know, this is when thing start to become really interesting. All of these things are very exciting to imagine her doing in the future, but for now we will just have to wait and watch. Next time you look at our beautiful girl and think that she isn’t doing much of anything, remember that she is working diligently to continue her development towards opening up the world for her to experience.
Kenn Harwood
Large Mammal Relief Keeper III

Saturday, October 28
Mother and cub are doing great again today. Lun Lun’s appetite is increasing in response to her cub’s nursing demands. Her food intake is closely monitored by zoo staff.  She is eating increased amounts of bamboo each day.  Just yesterday, she ate 5.64 kilograms of bamboo.  Her weight this morning was 105.7 kg (232.5 lbs).  The cub is nursing and growing well.  Lun continues to take excellent care of her baby.  
Tom Smith
Lead Keeper Large Mammals

Friday, October 27
The animal care staff who monitor Lun Lun and her cub 24 hours per day have kept an excellent record of mother and cub behavior, including nursing. Over the first 6 weeks of the cub’s life, the time between nursing bouts has gradually increased from about 3.5 hours to 5 hours. The total time spent nursing each day has also increased from about 20 minutes to 60 minutes. So, the cub is now nursing less frequently, but for longer periods of time. This is a normal pattern. As the cub gets older, the mother leaves her for longer periods to feed and so nursing frequency decreases. Likewise, as the cub gets older, her stomach capacity enlarges, which means she can ingest larger volumes of milk each time she nurses.
Dr. Rebecca Snyder
Curator of Giant Panda Research and Management

50 days old! watch video from her exam today

Thursday, October 26
The cub received her fifth health check today. She is strong and in excellent health. She weighs 2485 g (about 5.5 lbs) and measures 46 cm (about 18 in) from her nose to the tip of her tail. Her coat is becoming denser and coarser, which is typical for giant pandas, and two of her teeth are close to erupting.

The procedure went very smoothly. Lun Lun shifted into the adjacent den as soon as she was asked. She participated in a training session while the cub was examined. Lun Lun was calm while the cub was away and did very well with training. She cooperated with injection training, which requires her to present her shoulder to the keeper, who then inserts a needle and injects a small amount of saline solution. Both Yang Yang and Lun Lun are trained for injections. This allows us to inject them with anesthetic drugs for their annual physical exams, rather than having to dart them. The periodic injection of saline (usually once a month) ensures that the pandas are used to the procedure and helps us maintain the behavior. Lun Lun had not been asked to perform this behavior since June 28, but she responded to the request right away today and held still for the injection.
Dr. Rebecca Snyder
Curator of Giant Panda Research and Management

Wednesday, October 25
Lun Lun and her cub continue to do well. Lun Lun’s weight this morning was 106.7 kg (about 235 lbs.). So, she continues to gradually gain weight, which is excellent. We plan to conduct the fifth health check on the cub tomorrow.
Dr. Rebecca Snyder
Curator of Giant Panda Research and Management

Tuesday, October 24
Lun Lun’s appetite for bamboo continues to increase. Yesterday for the first time she ate bamboo while holding her cub. She now sometimes spends 30-50 minutes eating bamboo in a feeding session. She and Yang Yang are currently eating Phyllostachys nigra henon as well as another favorite, Plyllostachys bissetii.
Dr. Rebecca Snyder
Curator of Giant Panda Research and Management

Monday, October 23
Lun Lun has been receiving enrichment items in one of the adjacent dens. She especially likes puzzle feeders, which require her to manipulate an item to release biscuits and pieces of fruit. Yang Yang received some Halloween themed enrichment on Saturday for Boo at the Zoo. He had a carved pumpkin stuffed with Tabasco scented wood wool. Tabasco is one of his favorite scents. He also had a tub filled with water and apple pieces, so that he could bob for apples. However, he quickly figured out the he could just dump over the tub, and then eat the apples. Boo at the Zoo continues Oct. 28-29. So, Yang Yang will have more pumpkins and a ghost toy that he can wrestle.
Dr. Rebecca Snyder
Curator of Giant Panda Research and Management

Sunday, October 22
It seems that the cub is gaining around a pound a week and that is only with the intake of her mother’s milk. Nursing for the 46 day old cub has fallen into a pattern. I can now tell when the cub is ready to eat, for she starts by getting a little fussy and vocal. Lun Lun responds by adjusting the cub the best she can with her paws until the cub’s head can reach Lun Lun’s abdomen. The cub then starts rooting around in search of a nipple. Once found, the cub can be heard sucking as she latches on. Now that she is bigger and in need of more milk during each nursing session, she usually tries three or all four of Lun Lun’s nipples to fill her belly. As she switches between the nipples, she will root and vocalize with a whine like noise. Once complete, Lun Lun will stimulate the cub to urinate and defecate. During the last week, we have seen the cub nurse about four times a day, with each bout lasting between 15 to 30 minutes.
Kate Roca
Giant Panda Keeper II

Saturday, October 21
We know that everyone checks these daily updates to find out all of the exciting news about Lun Lun and her cub.  However, we prescribe to the old adage, “No news is good news!” On the cub team, we monitor and care for Lun Lun and her cub 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Long quiet nights may be boring to most people, but they are music to our ears. It simply means that both the cub and Lun Lun are calm and everything is going well. Except for the excitement of the Thursday exams or an occasional milestone, the days and nights are quite quiet. Lun Lun and the cub have fallen into a predictable routine, which is great. Working with any animal is all about routine. Any deviation from a routine is a big clue for keepers that something may be wrong and immediate action may need to be taken. With all of that being said, I am happy to say that so far today, the day has been routine, and I have absolutely no news to report!
Kenn Harwood
Large Mammal Relief Keeper III

Friday, October 20
Lun Lun is spending significantly more time away from her cub. She now sometimes chooses to rest away from her cub for one to two hours, which is normal. The cub is usually quiet while Lun Lun is away. Sometimes the cub rests the entire time and other times she squirms and opens and closes her mouth without vocalizing.
Dr. Rebecca Snyder
Curator of Giant Panda Research and Management

mugging for the camera during her fourth exam, watch the video

Thursday, October 19
The cub had her fourth health check today. She continues to thrive. Her weight was 2.24 kg (4.9 lbs). She gained over a pound (514 g) in the last week. Her length was 43 cm (17 in) from her nose to the tip of her tail. The cub’s teeth are now visible under the gum line. The first teeth usually erupt when the cub is around 75 days old.

Obtaining a weekly weight on the cub is important to track her growth, ensure that she is receiving adequate milk, and ensure that her development is normal. Her weight and measurement information will also contribute to the global database on giant panda infants. Zoo Atlanta is using a more hands off approach in managing Lun Lun and her cub than some other institutions, particularly those in China. Thus, it is important to collect regular weight and measurement information on this cub, so that her development can be compared that of cubs managed differently.

The cub nursed right before the exam. Lun Lun shifted into the adjacent den readily and participated in a training session while her cub was away. The exam took less then 10 minutes. When Lun Lun was given access to her cub after the exam, she did not return immediately. She spent a few minutes grooming and then returned to her cub. Lun Lun then picked up her cub and licked her.
Dr. Rebecca Snyder
Curator of Giant Panda Research and Management

face to face

Wednesday, October 18
The cub is exhibiting more voluntary muscle movement. She is also exhibiting frequent involuntary muscle movement or twitching. I am not sure why giant panda cubs twitch frequently, but I think it’s related to neurological development. More than 99% of body growth and 99.9% of brain growth occur after birth in giant pandas. Frequent twitching is common in young giant pandas. All of the other 20 cubs in my study of behavioral development showed similar twitching behavior.
Dr. Rebecca Snyder
Curator of Giant Panda Research and Management

Sunday, October 15
It is said that “it takes a village to raise a child”, or in this case a giant panda cub. Though Lun Lun is doing most of the work, we have a little “village” here as support. There are three keepers who cover the 70 hours a week it takes to care for Yang Yang. Plus, three keepers, one Chinese colleague, and one vet tech to cover the 168 hours per week required for 24-hour monitoring, feeding, and general care of Lun Lun and her cub. Then there is the vet, who not only checks on Lun Lun and her cub everyday, but is on call 24-hours a day. We also have a curator that keeps everyone on track as well as collects data on Lun Lun for the maternal behavior study. The bamboo team cannot be forgotten. There are four people who cut 1,250 lbs of bamboo a week for the giant pandas. So, in total, there are 14 people in this “village” for three pandas. Those are just the staff who are directly involved in giant panda care. The entire zoo staff contributes to the success of the giant panda program and we are all enjoying the beautiful result!
Kate Roca
Giant Panda Keeper

Saturday, October 14
Lun Lun and her cub are doing excellent today. Her appetite continues to increase. She has been spending more and more time away from the cub, which has allowed keepers to resume some of the normal training sessions that were conducted prior to the cub's birth. During these sessions, she has also been more receptive to participating in enrichment activities. Lun Lun has been very motivated to train and continues to do very well with it. The cub appears significantly larger each day. She is moving her legs more readily and lifting her head. Nursing sessions have become longer and the time between the sessions has been increasing. We are continuing to monitor Lun Lun and her cub around the clock.
Tom Smith
Lead Keeper Large Mammals

She now measures to be 16 inches long and weighs 3.8 lbs

Thursday, October 12
The cub had her third health check today. Everything went well. We separated Lun Lun from the cub when Lun Lun went into the adjacent den to be weighed. Lun Lun participated in a training session while the cub was away and remained calm during the session.

The cub’s eyes have started to open. Giant panda cub’s eyes usually open by 35-49 days of age. So, Lun Lun’s cub is right on track. The eyes are only partially open now. They will gradually open more and more and should be fully open by 72-76 days. The cub weighed 1726 g (3.8 lbs) and measured 41.5 cm (about 16 inches) from her nose to the tip of her tail.

The health check took about 10 minutes. After Lun Lun returned to the cub, she picked her up and carried her into an adjacent den. She sat in this den with the cub for a few minutes and then carried the cub back to the usual den and nest box. The cub nursed shortly after she was returned to her mother.
Watch video from the third exam.
Dr. Rebecca Snyder
Curator of Giant Panda Research and Management

snuggling up for panda cam today

Wednesday, October 11
Lun Lun and her cub continue to do well. We are planning to do another health check on the cub tomorrow. So, the most recent weight and measurements will be available in tomorrow’s update. Read about the cub's development on our online timeline.
Dr. Rebecca Snyder
Curator of Giant Panda Research and Management

Tuesday, October 10
Lun Lun’s appetite for bamboo is gradually increasing. She has been eating more leaves in recent days as has Yang Yang. Wild giant pandas have been found to eat mostly leaves in the summer, fall, and winter and mostly culm (stalk) and shoots in the spring. Lun Lun and Yang Yang follow this pattern somewhat, but they tend to eat more culm. Both Lun Lun and Yang Yang currently prefer a bamboo species called Phyllostachys nigra henon or simply henon. This is one of their favorites. It takes Lun Lun longer to eat bamboo than biscuits and fruit. So, she has been spending more time away from her cub while feeding.
Dr. Rebecca Snyder
Curator of Giant Panda Research and Management

Monday, October 9
Lun Lun has started to spend a little less time in contact with her cub. Sometimes she rolls away from her cub and continues to rest out of contact with her for a few minutes. This is normal. Lun Lun will gradually spend less and less time in contact with her cub and more time feeding and resting away from her cub.
Dr. Rebecca Snyder
Curator of Giant Panda Research and Management

Sunday, October 8
Lun Lun has bleated to her a cub a few times when approaching her after leaving to feed in the adjacent den. Giant panda bleats sound a lot like a goat’s bleat. Giant pandas use bleats as an affiliative or friendly signal to other pandas. I have not heard a mother bleat to her cub when it is this young. So, it’s interesting that Lun Lun is doing this.
Dr. Rebecca Snyder
Curator of Giant Panda Research and Management

Saturday, October 7
Several body measurements are made during the cub’s health check, including tail length. The length of a giant panda cub’s tail is often surprising to people. The cub’s tail is 7 cm (about 2.8 inches) long. Lun Lun’s tail is 17 cm (6.7 in) long and Yang Yang’s is 19 cm (7.5 in) long. So, although the cub’s tail now looks very long in proportion to her small body, it’s not as long as it will be when she is an adult.
Dr. Rebecca Snyder
Curator of Giant Panda Research and Management

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