Adelaide Zoo Adelaide Zoo Giant Pandas

[Jambo]

To continue the Panda conversation here;

Yes I know, hence why I used them as an example. Pandas are not an easy keep species, especially when you consider that even with elephants and people thinking monarto is to dry, asian elephants inhabit the dry grass and semi arid areas of India as well, like the Gir forrest. And are adapted to this. Pandas are not adapted for weeks where night time temps are above 30 degrees C and will need there complex cooled for 6 months of the year. There actual costs, plus the costs to grow and secure food, plus the 1mil to china annually to keep them. Makes them more expansive than a large herd of elephants.





This Is the issue, from the reading (limited) I have done. It seems keeping multiple males on site works better than having just one. Which seems to be the issue in zoos. You either get a dominant enough male for the female to accept or she decides no and its game over red rover. Then you Delve into using repro sciences which are not overly cheap for a species that isnt easy to use AI on. Even elephants are far easier to achieve pregnancy with AI.

In some instances, but in most Western zoos that have had successful breeding - with only a single breeding pair. For instance, 5/6 of the facilities in North America bred pandas successfully (with one breeding pair at a time). However in Europe there's been a lot more on and off success, with some facilities having success with their pairs and others didn't.

In most cases too it has been rare to have two unsuccessful breeding pairs in a row, so Adelaide does have history on their side in this case!

 

[Tiger91]

To continue the Panda conversation here;

In some instances, but in most Western zoos that have had successful breeding - with only a single breeding pair. For instance, 5/6 of the facilities in North America bred pandas successfully (with one breeding pair at a time). However in Europe there's been a lot more on and off success, with some facilities having success with their pairs and others didn't.

In most cases too it has been rare to have two unsuccessful breeding pairs in a row, so Adelaide does have history on their side in this case!

Let's hope they will be successful!
It's an expensive species for them that is more than likely coming at the cost of them housing other species that may actually be better for the zoo financially. While a baby panda would immeasurably bring in income. Is that income actually going to be enough to properly recover what's they have invested. I dunno it'll be interesting to find out.

 

[Trua]

I would posit that a baby panda will certainly bring in enough revenue to make up for it in the meantime. I know how much it means not only to Adelaide but Australians in general. A few colleagues of mine have already begun planning trips down to SA in the event a panda cub does arrive eventually. More out of excitement at this point in time it seems

 

[Tiger91]

I mean, while I think there expensive and probably have come at a cost of multiple other species being held at Adelaide. Id still fly down there to see a panda cub

 

[Trua]

Pandas are the symbol of Adelaide. That's really what's keeping them on par popularity wise with Melbourne, Taronga, Australia. The big dogs. A panda cub would do absolute wonders for Adelaide, the popularity is there they just need the big draw. The main attraction!

 

[Zoofan15]

I would posit that a baby panda will certainly bring in enough revenue to make up for it in the meantime. I know how much it means not only to Adelaide but Australians in general. A few colleagues of mine have already begun planning trips down to SA in the event a panda cub does arrive eventually. More out of excitement at this point in time it seems

Some of the US pairs have been highly successful repeat breeders - namely Zoo Atlanta’s pair; but also Tian Tian and Mei Xiang (four surviving cubs) and Bai Yun (six cubs).

If Adelaide’s pair breed once, it’s reasonable to expect more cubs could follow.

 

[Luke899]

First images of Yi lan in the day-room area of the bamboo forest, with some Christmas enrichment.

Xing Qiu and Yi Lans debut is now just over 2 weeks away. Looking comfortable in their new area.

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=2398334090505212

 

[steveroberts]

First images of Yi lan in the day-room area of the bamboo forest, with some Christmas enrichment.

Xing Qiu and Yi Lans debut is now just over 2 weeks away. Looking comfortable in their new area.

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=2398334090505212

Thanks for sharing man, exciting bet so many can't wait to meet them in a fortnight. Saw on social media they got a little santa shaped enrichment toy as part of the zoo's time of year presents to the animals.

 

[steveroberts]

@Luke899

Sorry obvs' video you shared shows them getting their pressies too, meant saw some other footage of it on insta', happy ny man

 

[Luke899]

From socials:

Giant Pandas Yi Lan and Xing Qiu are settling in very well at Bamboo Forest

The panda pair have slowly started to explore the front of their day rooms, still within quarantine restrictions until later this month.

Keepers and the volunteer BEEZA (Behaviour and Environment Enrichment for Zoo Animals) team continue finding fun and creative ways to keep Adelaide Zoo's newest residents mentally and physically engaged within their new environment.

the interface of this forum is having a tantrum, and the video won't embed so here's the link:
68 reactions · 4 comments | Giant Pandas Yi Lan and Xing Qiu are settling in very well at Bamboo Forest The panda pair have slowly started to explore the front of their day... | By Adelaide Zoo | Facebook

 

[steveroberts]

it's a bit ''glossy'' as a news segment but was good to see Funi & Wang Wang again one more time in footage though.

 

[Zoofan15]

it's a bit ''glossy'' as a news segment but was good to see Funi & Wang Wang again one more time in footage though.

It’ll be interesting to see whether either of them experience breeding success upon their return to China; though at 19 years old, there’s a very slim chance of Funi joining the handful of pandas that have bred into their early 20’s.

Meanwhile, it’ll be exciting to see whether Adelaide’s new pair are successful in breeding. The earliest we can expect a cub from the female is in her fifth year and it’s worth noting that none of the three most successful females in the US (Bai Yun, six cubs; Mei Xiang, seven cubs; and Lun Lun, seven cubs) successfully bred until they were 7-9 years. We can write off Adelaide’s first couple of years as practice attempts, at least with regards to natural mating which will be likely trialled for a couple of years before undertaking AI (as it was for Wang Wang and Funi).

Spoiler: Reproductive History of Wang Wang and Funi

2009: Wang Wang and Funi arrive
2011: Natural only (fails)
2012: Natural only (fails)
2013: Artificial insemination (fails)
2014: Natural only (fails)
2015: Artificial insemination (fails)
2016: Artificial insemination (fails)
2017: Artificial insemination (fails)
2018: Artificial insemination (fails)
2019: No breeding due to contract negotiations
2020: Natural only (fails)
2021: Natural only (fails)
2022: Artificial insemination (fails)