Panda-monium!
Have you heard the news ? The National Zoo's panda, Mei Xiang, might be pregnant.
Oh lord, here we go again.
All panda stories strike a particularly nostalgic chord with me. This is not because I lived across from the National Zoo when I was a toddler (I did. It was awesome). Nor is it because I just adore pandas in all their slow moving, bamboo-gnawing cuteness. Nor is it that I care about their plight as an endangered species.
No, any mention of a panda brings me back to my first days as a reporting intern a few summers ago. I was tasked with writing a brief piece about the last baby panda at the National Zoo. I can't exactly remember that day's breaking panda news. Maybe, the panda opened its eyes for the first time. Or it had a good check-up. Or it gained three pounds.
Whatever it was, it was clearly something MAJOR. So, I called the damn zoo, wrote the damn story, and didn't think much of it.
Apparently other people did though. The piece couldn't have been more than 400 words. But, I received two e-mails about it. Until that day, I'd never gotten a single reaction letter ever before for a piece.
Then, entirely unexpectedly: TWO!!!
Crazy.
One of them informed me that there was actually a 24-hour panda camera looking into the baby's pen. "Here's the link if you want to check it out!" he wrote. I didn't want to check it out. But, I learned a very important lesson that day. For some reason that is entirely inexplicable to me, people are infatuated with pandas.
This Washington Post commenter obviously grasps the same truth: "Why do people care so much about pandas that there has to be an article devoted to the possibility of a panda pregnancy. The panda is a pathetic creature. It subsists on low nutrition bamboo despite the fact that it still has a carnivorous digestive tract, breeds in low numbers, altogether a weak creature fit for extinction. Why not celebrate a creature that is majestic or strong like an eagle or a lion? I know the answer is because pandas look cute, so stupid."
3:28 pm
Ugh. The very reason we celebrate the pregnancy is because it's so damn hard for it to get knocked up.
But yes: we must celebrate the lion.
http://ca.youtube.com/watch?v=x-kGj97rI0A
5:53 am
Well i think you should be honoured that your local zoo has the pandas, some people travel across the world to see these beautiful, magical and endangered creatures.
If you actually took time to find out about them and learn you would be enlightened to something so magical that they have blog's dedicated to them and many people who take time to learn, and want to know how they can help!
10:23 am
Only 4 U.S zoo have Giant Pandas. These zoo are lucky to have them. People travel from around the world just to see these spectacular animals. They are not easily brought to a zoo like other animals, they cost a handful of money to have. The 3 wonderful ones that we have here in DC are a joy to see and bring happiness to the people that see them. Breeding pandas in difficult, and we must celebrate when one may be pregnant. When Tai Shan was born back in 2005, people fell in love with him and came from around the US and the world just to see him and still do. He and his mom and dad has brought happiness to the people that have seen them. Also consider that to see the DC Pandas along with the other animals/exhibits at the National Zoo is FREE! We are lucky to have these animals
10:47 am
Good Lord, what is with the cynicism?? Did your mother breastfeed you sour milk? The panda is a miracle of evolution and survival. While species all around them were succumbing to ecological changes, the panda adapted it's diet and living conditions and is a true living fossil. And that's just the scientific benefit. The panda is definitely cuter than you are, and cuter than your children are or ever will be. You got TWO emails? Tai Shan gets hundreds of thousands every year and he can't even type! He can, however, do a perfect somersault and gets more hits on his website than Disney. Beat that, willya? Personally, I think you've got a bad case of "Panda Envy."
11:12 am
Mary Ann, dat is a gweat wesponse, but I has to take excepshun to one point...I CAN TOO TYPE!!
Luv,
Tai Shan
12:50 pm
I'm sorry, Tai Shan, of course you can type, you're Sooperpanna and you can do ANYTHING!
1:04 pm
Tai Shan
You know full well it was me and your mummy who taught you to read and write, afetr all you need to keep up with the news now dont you!!
3:17 pm
nevermind.
9:38 am
Evewybuddy, pwease wemembew dat Tai Shan not only types on his computew, da one dat Unkle Bobby gave him, but he also bakes tookies and peetza on his Easy Bake Oven and pways da viowin, da one fwom Auntee Shawon.
My couzin Tai gets 21,000,000 hits on da pandacam evwy yeaw since he was borned on 2005.Dat's more dan wiww evew wead dis bwog. Hah! to you Mizz Wuth Samuewson. Hahppy Tunday, evwybuddy!
10:20 am
On the basis of your thinking Bill Gates must be pathetic because he exists on a low nutritional diet of hamburgers.
On the basis of your thinking only the strong human animal must be celebrated and the weak must be left to die out. (Oh, so that's why the poor were neglected for so long after Katrina hit and still are)
On the basis of your thinking the human animal arrogantly thinks itself superior to other species of animal. Wrong! The human animal rushes onto management courses to learn strategic thinking skills over several days and still doesn't get it. The Giant Panda cub Tai Shan just gets on and does it naturally. I've seen him do it.
If you wish to be a good reporter then you're gonna have to stand on your head and see the world from a different perspective. You can start with the fact that the Giant Panda was on this planet earth long before us and it is we who have spoilt it for them.
You're still an internee if you haven't yet learnt the lesson of a new angle on an old story.
10:45 am
Deaw Miz Tamuleton: My kid sis, Li'l Auntee, is vewy uptet! I towd her, who knows, maybe you'w nice pewson who gives to da Saveshon Awmy and dat you just doesn't like us pawndas, even stuffies and cewtainwy not da ones like couzin Tai in DC, Wani in Atwanta, Zoomy in San Diego and Fu Long in Vienna. But I know you wiww wefowm once you tee da beauty of pawndas! Yay fow da Bwack & White!
See what you have stawted on dis nice Tunday?!
http://www.flickr.com/groups/pandasunlimited/discuss/72157603602122035/page20/#comment72157605753308351
11:31 am
Hi eveybody! I am da weel Tai Shan, you can ask anybody, and day wiww teww you dat I am da weel one. My Unka Bobby taught me how to type. I hab a big keybowd, cuz my paws awe too big fow da weguwar keybowd. Anyway, I want to teww eveybody dat I know my mommy is pwegnant. Der wiww be anuddew cubbie pwaying in da yawds vewwy toon. You hab to pwomise dat you wiww aww wuv da new cubbie juss as much as you wuv me, my mommy, and my daddy! Hab a gwate Tunday! I wuv you guys!
~Tai~
11:43 am
Da WEEL Tai Shan, I know that you are the weel Tai. I promise to love the new cubbie, but you have a special place in my heart and, even though I do love your mommy and daddy I love you more! Hab a gwate Tunday! I wuv you!
12:30 pm
I wuv you too MEEEwuvvew!
2:37 pm
People, get a grip. This is an editorial blog, not a news article; it's all about opinion and not "reporting". Janet, the last paragraph was a quote from a commenter of a Washington Post article, if you had read correctly.
As for the giant pandas... it's a shame when you see over $10,000 donated to "enrich" the American zoo pandas (not to mention money raised to celebrate Tai Shan's birthdays), when the Wolong reserve in China so desperately needs funding right now for milk, medical supplies, and getting bamboo in to the pandas who need it.
4:02 pm
"As for the giant pandas… it’s a shame when you see over $10,000 donated to “enrich” the American zoo pandas (not to mention money raised to celebrate Tai Shan’s birthdays), when the Wolong reserve in China so desperately needs funding right now for milk, medical supplies, and getting bamboo in to the pandas who need it."
Perhaps you're not aware that many of the same
contributors have donated over $47,000 to the NZ's
fund dedicated to helping the Wolong Panda Reserve.
So if they want to donate to Tai's birthday
fund as well, I think they are entitled.
5:16 pm
I was there! The day (actually early morning before daybreak)Tia Shan was born. I watched the entire birthing process on the zoo's web cam. It was obvious to me that Mei was in labor as she paced, huffed and puffed.I became alarmed when no one else seemed to notice. After a sleepless night (me) I watched in fascination and fear as the wee one slipped from his Mother's body and landed on the floor with a squeal. He squealed - she jumped. Everyone was surprised and happy and in love with a baby panda. Signed, Tia's Grandmother
6:10 pm
Not Now: Yes, now! I adopted 2 pandas c/o Pandas Int'l to help the Wolong Fund. And I donated to the Red Cross, the National Zoo and San Diego Zoo quake relief funds. And I donated to Tai's Enrichment/Birthday Fund that helps other animals at the National Zoo too. What have YOU done for endangered animals and the starving in China?
As the Master said to Po: "Don't wash your 'pits in the Pool of Sacred Tears."
6:10 pm
Ruth Samuelson, what an attention craving woman you are.Bless your little heart. I hope you delight in all the responses you are getting. And perhaps in the future you might remember that the panda is an endangered species, even more so after the recent earth quake in its habitat. Where weak is concerned you need to do a bit more research, there is no doubt about the ursine ability of the panda. Any reporter worth his or her salt knows to do research.Your editors should know.
6:33 pm
Many of the people who are donating money to help Wolong recover are doing so because Tai Shan and his parents taught them to care about the fate of all pandas. Tai has been a wonderful ambassador for his species. He deserves to have his birthday celebrated.
6:48 pm
When I saw comments from actual pandas, I didnt think it could get any wackier. Until I noticed someone use "ursine" in a sentence. Which by the way, is actually a word, or so i didnt know!
Congratulations Ms Ruth Samuelson. I hope you are pleased!
6:57 pm
Not Now, I can absolutely assure you that many people who have contributed to the enrichment of pandas in America's Zoos, for the replacement of trees in the panda yard for example, have also contributed to the needs of the Wolong Panda Reserve through Pandas International and through the National Zoo's Wolong Relief Fund. Their generosity towards the welfare of this endangered species knows no bounds and they have dug very deep in their pockets. The earthquake has illustrated that the species is under considerable threat even in its own homeland which is surely all the more reason to ensure that it is well looked after in foreign zoos. Had the Wolong population been wiped out by the earthquake there would be a very strong case for being thankful for that.
7:09 pm
Whilst some say that it's all about the pandas, it is obvious that some are in major panda overload. It's time to say pu to the non-believers, relax, doodlebug if you need to, flop into your friendship group of choice and raise a margarita to Private tai and his family. Share a daily bear hug!
7:24 pm
No wonder a species can't be saved. . For Tai's sake, can't you all just get over yourselves and come together for the common good of this glorious animal and their natural habitat which is in danger of pushing them further to the brink? I've been at the National Zoo many times, trying to catch a glimpse and a decent picture of these beautiful creatures and like many visitors, have to elbow my way through those who think they are entitled. Why don't you give up the attitude, stop worrying about the "friendship groups" and who may be in your midst at the zoo,and put that energy into something more worthwhile like, gee, I don't know, helping save an endangered specie!