In Spring, a Panda’s Thoughts Turn To ….

The Smithsonian National Zoo reports that panda daddy Tian Tian is “in full rut,” scent-marking, rolling around, and bleating at panda momma Mei Xiang, who is restlessness but not really into it: “She often responds to Tian Tian’s calls with a moan vocalization that indicates she is not interested in him just yet.”

The female panda only goes into heat for at most 3 days a year, leaving 362 when she’s JUST NOT IN THE MOOD thankyouverymuch. Pass the bamboo, please.

More:

“Giant Panda Tian Tian Is Feeling Horny, Restless,” Rachel Kurzius, DCist

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Snowzilla In DC

Area schools closed Thursday and Friday, and the mayor declared a state of emergency, but the best reaction to this week’s Snowzilla blizzard came from National Zoo resident Tian Tian:

Double-Good News from Washington DC

In the Nation’s Capital, Congress and the President may be on vacation, but the Smithsonian’s National Zoo has been busy. The zoo’s 17-year-old Giant Panda Mei Xiang gave birth to two cubs over the weekend. The twins are pink, and while new-born pandas are often said to be be the size of sticks of butter, they’re really more like packs of Starburst. The father of the two is Tian Tian, who had a little help from the National Zoo staff. Mother and cubbies are doing fine.

More:

“National Zoo’s twin pandas are only the 3rd set to be born at a U.S. zoo,” Michael E. Ruane, Washington Post

“It’s panda-monium! National Zoo says Mei Xiang has twins,” Jessica Gresko, AP via Deseret News

“Bamboo-zled: Panda surprises with birth of twins,” AFP via Asia Times

“Double the Joy at National Zoo as Panda Gives Birth to Twins,” Daniel Politi, Slate

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Panda Passion

There’s romance in the air at the Edinburgh Zoo, but it’s in the minds of zookeepers, not in the hearts of the pair of pandas they hope to breed. Tian Tian and Yang Guang (“Sunshine” and “Sweetie”) got together on a brief date which included a cuddle, but cupid’s arrow missed its mark. The Sun has video (the swine).

The female panda only goes into heat for 1 day a year, leaving 364 when she’s JUST NOT IN THE MOOD thankyouverymuch. Pass the bamboo, please.

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Woman of the Year 2011

BBC News named its Women of the Year for 2011. The list: Gabrielle Giffords, Adele, Eman al-Obeidi, Sarah Burton, Nafissatou Diallo, Jelena Lecic, Princess Charlene, Pauline Pearce, Rebecca Leighton, the Duchess of Alba, Corporal Kelsey de Santis, and Sweetie the panda (aka Tian Tian).

As you might expect, the last choice endeared The Beeb to women in the UK and worldwide.

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Panda Passenger Now Boarding

Washington-born giant panda Tai Shan is apparently at Dulles Airport, waiting for cousin Mei Lan to arrive from Atlanta on the FedEx Panda Express. The two are scheduled to depart this morning for a romantic panda breeding station in Chengdu, China.  Remember: Valentine’s Day is only ten days away — order your juicy bamboo gifts now.

 

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Hail and Farewell, Panda Princess

Today Dulles Airport will experience a brief royal visit by Atlanta’s panda princess, Mei Lan. The three-year-old cub is on her way from Zoo Atlanta to China, where she will take Chinese lessons and seek romance at a panda breeding station in Chengdu, Sichuan Province.

Mei Lan’s older cousin, Tai Shan, will  join her on the private plane for the last leg of her journey.

 

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The Panda Express

Washington-born panda Tai Shan (known locally as “Butterstick“) is set to leave the National Zoo for Bifengxia (“Green Peak Canyon”) in China. By FedEx.

Federal Express has prepared a special “Panda Express” airplane to transport the four-year-old chubby cub to a panda breeding center in his ancestral home. The plane’s name is rather unfortunate; it’s the same as Andrew and Peggy Cherng’s 820-store fast food chain.

Tai Shan, the Movie

Tai Shan, the young Giant Panda born in Washington DC, is heading to his ancestral homeland to seek romance. Okay, to participate in a breeding program in Sichuan Province, China.

Still, it sounds like a great premise for a film.

Image by Mike Licht. Download a copy here. Creative Commons license; credit Mike Licht, NotionsCapital.com

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