When you visit Wang Wang and Funi, make sure you stop by and say hello to the red pandas. It’s easy to miss them if Funi is out and about as when you are at her enclosure you will find them directly behind you. Her antics may keep you so entertained you may not even think to turn around.  Anyway, there have been a few arrivals and departures which I want to bring you up to date on.

Departures

August 2012 saw the loss of Shahin who died of a blood disease.

Himal (son of Shahin) now lives at Symbio Wildlife Park in New South Wales.

Imandari (daughter of Himal) has been released back to the wild and now lives in India. She is the second red panda to have been re-released.

Arrivals

June 2012 saw the arrival of Pemba. Pemba came from Hall’s Gap Zoo in Victoria and he’s a lovely young male.

He is making friends with the female red panda Maya. Maya is Himal’s other daughter.

You can learn more about red pandas by reading my article: The Red Panda.

Adelaide Pandas - For the love of pandas!

Like the panda, the Sumatran tiger is endangered.

Adelaide Pandas - For the love of pandas!

It’s been a very long time since I’ve updated my blog. Apologies for that. I’ve had a few visits to the pandas but to be honest they’ve been pretty quiet.

Over winter we popped in to say hello and what I did notice was that a plastic barrier had been put up around Wang Wang’s tree. Presumably it was to prevent him climbing it. However when we went back last month it had gone.

Also as part of the attempts to get Wang Wang and Funi to breed, the panda have been swapping cages. Although whenever we see them they are in their original cages. Apparently they have been on the odd date but nothing much happened!

On our last visit we were disappointed to discover they weren’t in their cages. There was a sign up saying they would not be out between 2:30 and 3:30pm. Not sure where they were. When they did come out, Funi stayed inside with her back to us, but Wang Wang went on a wander.

I look forward to bringing you more frequent updates, photos and videos.

Adelaide Pandas - For the love of pandas!

Funi was torn between Julia Gillard and Bob Brown, but went on to lift up the photo of Mr Brown. Gillard was later given a quick kiss and Abbott was pushed aside. Wang Wang also selected Bob Brown. Sadly for Abbott, his card was picked up and crushed.

Adelaide Pandas - For the love of pandas!

Whilst most people were admiring Funi, I went off to say hi to Wang Wang. Whilst there, I watched him pick up an egg. He managed to break it open. However, it became clear it was a novelty for him as he didn’t know what to do with it and let the egg dribble down him! Soon after this, one of the keepers came up asking if I’d seen what he’d done with the egg. Apparently the day before Wang Wang had caught a pigeon. Unfortunately he didn’t seem to know what to do with it and was trying to remove feathers from it whilst it was still alive. This reminds me of two things. First, that pandas eat more than bamboo and second, no wonder they are known as great bear cat in China! The reason for giving him the egg was because they believed he may have been craving something raw.

Funi as usual delighted her audience and would sit posing while tucking into her bamboo.

Adelaide Pandas - For the love of pandas!

http://www.giantpanda.org.au/index.php/giant-pandas/pandacam.html

You can choose to watch Wang Wang or Funi go about their day. Having seen them a few times, I’m sure you will be entertained by their antics.

Adelaide Pandas - For the love of pandas!

My first visit was in December and amazingly we found ourselves at the front of the queue. We knew that they would not be outside, but were excited nonetheless. I’m not sure what the odds are of pandas being asleep during visiting hours, but I am sure they are great. So surprise, surprise, they were asleep! For the whole time. They did shift position occasionally but that was it. It was amazing to see these creatures however. They looked exactly as you would expect a panda to look like! No surprises. They lay draped out over rocks and seemed pretty huge.

We went again over the Christmas holidays on a special members only visit. Impressed that we were there for 8am, what with it being holiday. Anyway, they were both awake and tucking into their bamboo breakfast. By the way, they are in separate enclosures, cos that’s how pandas like it. Funi soon displayed her character and was very sweet, playful and fun. At one point she climbed up some rocks so she could pose on a branch and seemed to love the audience. By contrast, Wang Wang seemed a little more serious.

Last Friday we went again, knowing that the pandas were now allowed outdoors. Funi, unlike her former self was sleeping at the back of her enclosure with her paw over her eyes, like my cats do sometimes. She wasn’t going outside. Apparently she’d found the visitors a bit startling and there had been flash photography. However, watching Wang Wang wander for an hour was great entertainment. We were one of the last to leave and we are so glad we stayed. We got some great photos and video. It was pretty hot that day and Wang Wang would take regular dips. He never seemed to stop moving. At one point he started running around and jumping about, much to the concern of some of the staff there. Then his keeper arrived and it became clear he was just playing. It was great to watch her call him for a snack and him to go running to get to it.

Adelaide Pandas - For the love of pandas!

Adelaide Pandas - For the love of pandas!

Adelaide Pandas - For the love of pandas!

The panda enclosure has an official opening on the 13th December, then visitors can visit from the 14th. You will need to book tickets though, to ensure you’re not disappointed. I’ve got my ticket to go see them and can’t wait. I look forward to sharing my own photos and videos with you.

Adelaide Pandas - For the love of pandas!