Quote by: MaryF

panda lovers!! I received this update from the National Zoo in my email today. Scroll down to "January 7" and read the latest!!


http://nationalzoo.si.edu/Animals/GiantPandas/

Thank you for the news also posted by carly.(somewhere )
So.... we wait and see. Here's hoping.

Here is my latest email with big news from the National Zoo...and it's mostly good news .


http://nationalzoo.si.edu/Animals/Giant ... #January20

June 15

Mei Xiang continues to spend most of her time indoors, resting on the mountain structure and adding to her nest. She is still participating in ultrasounds, which are now occurring three times a week, but she's becoming even more sensitive to noises around her. Over the weekend, when keepers attempted to re-shave her belly, she was easily distracted by the sound of the clippers as well as the birds calling over the training cage.

Mei Xiang has also become pickier when it comes to the kinds of produce she's eating. She has been leaving her cooked sweet potatoes (usually a favorite treat) for the past several days. Also, during Monday’s ultrasound, she refused to take any apple pieces, and would only train for pear rewards. When the ultrasound was completed, she cradled her half-pear “jackpot” for several minutes before consuming most, but not all, of it. Her behavior continues to keep us guessing.


Double-click these images from 6-19-2011 to enlarge

June 22

Mei Xiang is spending even more time in her den these days. She continues to eat very little, and spends almost all her time conserving her energy, which is consistent with both pregnancy and pseudopregnancy. She has been intermittently participating in ultrasound sessions, picking and choosing which times are agreeable to her, but there have been no significant findings thus far.

The 24-hour behavior watch began Monday morning. Our dedicated team of Friends of the National Zoo behavior watch volunteers is an integral part of the panda program, manning the cameras round the clock. They are given special training with specific instructions on the behaviors that indicate imminent birth. Panda staff are on call round the clock as well, ready to race to the Zoo once those behaviors have been observed. We know that a birth can occur any time, day or night. Mei Xiang’s first cub, Tai Shan, was born at 3:41 a.m. Panda keepers eagerly await that kind of wake-up call!

Mei Xiang was in her den all morning but ventured out for some sort of treat

Hello Panda Lovers

I'm so glad to see Mei keeping everyone guessing again. I've been reading all you're post and watching video's, they're simply the best Doxiemum and Queenie

Mei's softly grunting or sighing as she cuddles' her ball - hopefully a cubby soon





Junie

Junie!! Great to see you!! I've been watching Mei for the past couple of weeks and it's such a heart breaker to watch her go through this. Truly hope there is a cubbie at the end of all this!!

Here's a scap from yesterday that is virtually identical to yours, Junie!

Great to see you too! Doxiemum - PandaLover - Camfan and all Panda Pooh bear lovers.

Mei seems' her usual self, sleeping, sighing, soft grunts as she looks down in hopes' the wee cubbie will show. One things for sure, if we hear that peircing squeal, we'll know Mei's cubbie is finally here - fingers' and paws' crossed for them, Tian too!!







Mei grunts, she gets up, lays down on the bed - nope she's back in den corner again!


Panna Lovers - dream of Mei's soon to be cubbie