We headed out to the Panda park at 7.30am to get there in time to see them feeding. The first Pandas that we saw were a group of juveniles that were between 2 and 4 years old, two of them were sleeping and the third was running around poking them trying to get them to play.
The next group of Pandas we saw were 4 adults who were of mature breeding age, they were munching on their bamboo and having a great time wrestling and pushing each other into the ditch that surrounded their enclosure.
What stole the show though was the enclosure with the 1-2 yer old pandas. There were about 10 of them and they were all very keen to play, they chased their keeper around the enclosure and wrestled and chewed on each others ears. It was very entertaining stuff, we could of watched them all day except they don't play for much of the day, they mainly eat and sleep so I guess that would have got a bit boring eventually.
We checked out the Red Pandas as well, which kind of look like a bear crossed with a racoon, they are about the size of a medium dog but their long tails and striking markings make them very beautiful creatures.
There are abuot 2000 Giant Pandas left in the world, 500 of them are in captivity. The Chinese have set up a sucessful breeding programme and now have an almost 50% survival rate for cubs born in captivity (in the wild it is much much less). They use artificial insemination in most cases as Pandas will not mate unless they are "in love". So a Panda in the wild that does not meet its ideal mate and fall in love will just live and then die a solitary life. Another problem that faces the wild Pandas is habitat, every 20 years or so the bamboo that they eat flowers and dies, this destroys vast areas of bamboo and if the Pandas are not able to find another bamboo forrest they too will die. Because the Chinese have cleared so much land for buildings and farmland it is nearly impossible for the Pandas to move from one area with bamboo to another as they just aren't connected anymore.
We were very impressed by the breeding programe that they have in Chengdu and the Pandads seemed very happy in their enclosures, even with all the smog around them.
We got some excellent photos, enjoy! (click on the panda - he's a link to the album)
 |
| Chengdu - Panda Park |
8 comments:
Hi Li Li amd Ke Ke, We have been having a good laugh at your adventures and enjoying the stories of the people you meet.
The zoo wasn't all that bad Brock, at least the orangatang wasn't throwing poo at you like he does at Melbourne which by the way, is my daily bike ride destination, except for Friday when a bloke tried to kill me by not giving way at the lights and knocked me off.
Did we tell you that Nicole brought the puppies over last Sunday for a bit of family bonding?
We are glad you are enjoying your travels and the people that you meet. That's the secret. Enjoy good relationships wherever you go.
we had Bill Chilton here on Thursday. He is a big deal architect form Boston that we met in Switerland and later in England with the Nickeys and Henry Montgomery in 1974, so 34 years later he makes one of his meetings for a project in Dubai be held in Melbourne so we could get together and catch up on the last 34 years.
He is going to give us Henry's address so as you can catch up with a genuine British Lord and a bit of WW 11 trivia.
Keep up the good work and be sure to appreciate every moment and the incredible gift that you are to each other.
Hi Michelle and Brock,
Thanks for the entertaining half hour. Your blogs are always such fun to read and the photos (especially the ones with you in them) are fabulous, the new camera takes great shots. We look forward to the next installments as you continue your fantastic journey. Look after each other especially when needing to relieve yourself off the side of a cliff (Brock why didn't you go with Michelle????)
LOve and miss you both.
I went on the boys side of the bus. Duh
That's no excuse, she is your wife.
I am so jealous! Baby Pandas! It's so not fair. I have parent teacher interviews today, so there! How much more fun is my life? I bet you are soooo jealous.
I chose my frame for my painting of Ho Chi Minh city. It's like a 3D box with the canvas stretched in the middle, with a gap and a white frame. I can't wait to pick it up. It will look awesome.
Keep the blogs up, they are so funny. I miss you guys heaps. Dad says you're in Shanghai. I have been told there is the best prawn dish in the world there, called 'Drunken Prawns'. They put live prawns in Chinese wine and stun them, then they cook them somehow. Try them if you can. I want some too. Love you both. ox
PS I remembered my password!
So much praise for your talents as authors and it is well deserved! I think writing talent must be a genetic trait (see lilyandburnely@blogspot.com). I think that if the rest of us were on a grand adventure we would have something interesting to say too. It's just that work, the weather and traffic conditions on the Monash are a bit mundane. Oh you'll never guess but Big Brother has been axed for good, fortunatley the void has been filled by a new series of SYTYCD, I love the bad dancers they are just so tragic. Jamie Oliver killed chickens on tv last night and i can never buy battery farm eggs or non free range chicken again - scarred for life by that one. As you can see due to the coldeness in the weather I have been sitting inside in front of the heater watching a fair amount of mindless tv. I have also started to crochet a granny rug but Lily keeps stealing my wool so I haven't gotten very far.
There's not much else to say really except there has been an influx of abandoned shopping trolleys in Canterbury Street. The tone of the neigbourhood has really gone down since you guys left!
Chat to you later xoxo
Thanks for the phone call Brock. I was at the doctors getting my thingy cuts off so I couldn't talk for long. All is well though and Dr Mulvey is veery interested in you travels.
My old bike is broken in half. Nothing to do with the altercation though, just old age and fatigue, which I can relate to. I took you bike out the other day Brock, but the pedal fell off. See what I mean about fatigue?
Bobbi and Ben have moved into their house which looks much better since the christmas decorations ahve been removed.
Mum and are going to our neighbor Elmer Fudd's for dinner tonight which will be fun.
Mum is running the school again, but has it under control.
Hope you are both well. Make sure he looks after you Michelle. I agree that he should have gone to the girl's side. I am sure he won't look.
Big Wokka.
Hi Brock and Shell
I just read your latest episode to Nana and Pa. They said "cool" "awesome" and stuff like that plus they really like your writing which I told them they were not allowed to say. Joyce said she misses you and wants you to come home.
Have you succumbed to fatal respitory diseases yet? Both London and Los Angles had smog as bad as you describe and have overcome it so they is hope for Bejing.
A 50,000K train ride is a big one. The train will have to go in for reconditioning after that. Do you mean 5,000?
We had Genief stay with us over the weekend which was good. Ben and Bobbi ahve moved in and are in the middle of a full repaint. We bought them a musical dish washer which Bobbi is very excited about.
I have painted my car in preparation for a hillclimb at Broardford on Sunday which should be fun.
Post a Comment