The 6th Grade Language Arts class atAlbert Einstein Academy Elementary School - a STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering Art and Math) based school focused on hands-on project based learning curriculum - were recently involved in a novel study of a book called, The One and Only Ivan, by Katherine Applegate. The book is about a real gorilla named Ivan who was kept in a small mall enclosure for over 27 years and never went outside. Eventually, he was adopted by the Atlanta Zoo. During their study of this novel, their teacher led them through a series of projects to answer a guiding question, “Do humans have a right to capture or cage wild or endangered animals?” Another guiding question that they explored is, “How humans can impact wild animals and their habitats?” One of the projects was to create a music video. For this project, the teacher asked the students to research organizations that had similar goals to what they are portraying in their videos about the animals they have selected to focus on as the topic of their video. The students believed that Pandas International matched their message. Part of our project-based curriculum is that students make meaningful pieces of work that are then shared out into the world so that they learn beyond the book and worksheet and can understand that they have a voice and can contribute to society in a meaningful way. The students shared their video with us and we would like to share it with the world! ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Count On Me by Bea Tan ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Have you ever found yourself caged in the dark and you can’t see I'll be the light to guide you If you ever find yourself in a zoo and cannot flee I'll risk my life to find you Oooh Ill find out what your made of and tell people to stop encaging you You can count on me like 1,2,3 Ill be there And I know when I need it i can count on you like 4,3,2 you’ll be there ‘cause that’s what keeps you from getting extinct Ooooooh, ooooh yeah, yeah if your searching and [...]
The recent winter storms that hit the Sichuan Province of China knocked the power out at the Wolong Panda Center at Gengda. While the pandas LOVE the snow and cold weather with their nice heavy coats, the keepers have no such luxury.
The National Zoo sponsored a trip to China in September 2008 and I was fortunate enough to go on it. Initially we weren’t sure that we would even be able to see pandas on the trip because of the devastating Wenchuan earthquake that struck in May 2008, but we did. We were one of the first groups of tourists who visited the Sichuan area and we spent an awesome day in Bifenxgia. One of the highlights was being able to spend time in the panda kindergarten. I decided to stay near one panda (although there were several to play with) and afterwards I asked the keeper to write down her name for me, Xin Nier. This is a photo of us in the panda kindergarten as well as a photo of her after she ate – a bit messy, I’d say. When I got back to the states, I realized that I could “adopt” her through Pandas International and have been renewing the shared adoption since that time. It is my special Christmas present to myself. I was able to go back to Bifengxia in 2010 on a trip sponsored by Pandas International – this time it was to volunteer with the pandas at Bifengxia. I asked the folks at the Wolong Panda club office if there was any way that I could volunteer to clean and feed Xin Nier, or at least spend time with her. Her keepers said that was fine so I was thrilled to spend the day with her (and her roommates). I wanted to spend as much time as I could watching her and I did that in my spare time on the third day. I just hung out and watched her and her roommates interact and of course, eat bamboo. I have to laugh because every update that I’ve received has had comments on how much she likes to eat – that didn’t change at all. Someday I hope to go back to see her again, but until then I excitedly keep an eye out for photos and updates on how she is doing.
Today marks a very special day in the Panda world, the world’s only surviving giant panda triplets, Ju Xiao's miracle babies, celebrated their 100-day birthday. The trio were born on July 29 at Chimelong Safari Park in Guangzhou, capital of south China's Guangdong Province. The triplets, two boys and a girl, each weigh more than 11 pounds, up from just over 3.5 ounces at birth. They started teething at around 80 days old and have two small teeth each. The cubs alternate time with mom as she is unable to care for all of them at once. The cubs are "swapped" on a weekly basis so that each can bond with mom and get the benefits of mother’s milk and mother’s nurturing care, a procedure developed by CCRCGP’s very own Dr. Li Desheng. CCRCGP sent the Head Nursery Keeper Mr. Wei Ming to help care for the triplets, from the Bifengxia Panda Base. He says of the triplets, “The first-born appears to be a very gentle girl. The elder brother is a naughty and energetic boy with a slim figure, while the younger brother is a quite big boy.” The cubs in the nursery get a special panda formula which Wei Ming brought from the Bifengxia Panda Base. The formula was provided by Pandas International. At 100 days, Chimelong general manager Dong Guixin says physical exams show the cubs’ health to be ideal. Starting Wednesday, the cubs will be displayed to visitors for limited times. They have not yet been officially named but will be soon, according to the zoo.
We are always so excited when we find out the names of the previous years cubs - this year was no exception! So, here they are: Mother Date of Birth Gender Name of Cub Meaning Hai Zi June 22, 2013 Female Xin Xin 鑫鑫 a lot of gold, prosperous Hai Zi June 22, 2013 Female Miao Miao 淼淼 vast water Cao Cao July 6, 2013 Female Hua Jiao 华娇 tender, pretty and lovely girl of China Cao Cao July 6, 2013 Male Hua Hu 华虎 Tiger of China Xi Xi July 10, 2013 Male Hua Bao 华豹 Leopard of China Xin Nier July 13, 2013 Female Hua Ni 华妮 Little girl of China Hua Mei July 18, 2013 Male Hua Rong 华荣 Honor of China Xi Mei July 24, 2014 Female Xi Le 喜乐 Happy and happy Zhuang Mei August 5, 2013 Male Xing Ya 星雅 *Star Ya Zhuang Mei August 5, 2013 Female Xing An 星安 *Star An Gong Zhu August 11, 2013 Female Wu Wen 武雯 Flower shape cloud Shui Xiu August 12, 2013 Male Hua Yang 华阳 Sun of China Ye Ye August 14, 2013 Female Hua Yan 华妍 Beauty of China Feng Yi August 18, 2013 Male Gong Gong 贡贡 tribute, present, gift Na Na August 27, 2013 Male Shun Shun 舜舜 name of an ancient empera Ying Ying August 29, 2013 Male Sen Sen 森森 Forest Ge Ge September 2, 2013 Female Hua Li 华丽 good looking girl of China * Ya and An together is Ya’an, name of the city Cubs in blue have been lifetime adopted. All others are available for adoption. To learn more about adopting a panda visit our ADOPTION PAGE.
