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Pa n da P r e s s

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Letter from the directorMy first trip to a panda center was in 1999, when I was fortunate enough to visit the magical land of the Wolong Panda Center, high in the Qionglai Mountains. The trip was so inspirational it encouraged me to adopt my first panda, “Harvey”, who we named after my father. The trip also resulted in the nonprofit Pandas International, which I am still privileged to serve as the volunteer director.

In the last 14 years, with your donations, Pandas International has been able to provide a wide variety of support to the Pandas. There was lots of exciting panda news in 2014, so we wanted to use this opportunity to review some of the Highlights.

I hope you enjoy the 2014 in review, which details events and Pandas International’s activities that your generosity made possible. Our work to make sure every panda has everything it needs depends on the contributions and participation of caring people like you. Your support is needed now more than ever. Please join me and help to continue our work to save all the Giant Pandas.

Thank you again for all that you do.

What YOU made possible in 2014 direct support of the three Panda reserves at the China Conservation & research Center for the Giant Panda (CCrCGP);

Wolong nature reserve Wenchuan, sichuan Province P.r. 623006 China

Bifengxia nature reserve Yucheng district, Ya’an City, sichuan Province 625000 China

dujiangyan Center for disease Control, dujiangyan, sichuan Province 625000 China

Medical Program & direct support of the Panda reserves

Vet equipment, Medical supplies, Hospital supplies, reproduction supplies,

Laboratory supplies- Lab equipment, Hormonal reagents, microplate reader

reintroduction Program GPs Collars Lotek (see reintroduction story on page 10)

nursery esbilac Milk Formula

adoption Fees (see adoption pages 6, 7 and 8)

staff Training for the new lab at dujiangyan

staff support for the keepers- uniforms and banquet

suzanne Braden, director

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did you know? at a year old panda cubs are already proficient at climbing trees and while they are still dependent on milk, they have started eating bamboo as well.

Mother date of Birth Gender name of

Cub

Meaning

Hai Zi June 22, 2013 Female Xin Xin a lot of gold, prosperous

Cao Cao July 6, 2013 Female Hua Jiao Tender, pretty and lovely girl of China

Cao Cao July 6, 2013 Male Hua Hu Tiger of China

Xi Xi July 10, 2013 Male Hua Bao Leopard of China

Xin nier July 13, 2013 Female Hua ni Little girl of China

Hua Mei July 18, 2013 Male Hua rong Honor of China

Xi Mei July 24, 2013 Female Xi Le Happiness and Joy

Zhuang Mei august 5, 2013 Male Xing Ya *star Ya

Zhuang Mei august 5, 2013 Female Xing an *star an

Gong Zhu august 11, 2013 Female Wu Wen Flower shaped cloud

shui Xiu august 12, 2013 Male Hua Yang sun of China

Ye Ye august 14, 2013 Female Hua Yan Beauty of China

Feng Yi august 18, 2013 Male Gong Gong Tribute, present, gift

na na august 27, 2013 Male shun shun name of an ancient empera

Ying Ying august 29, 2013 Male sen sen Forest

Ge Ge september 2, 2013 Female Hua Li Gorgeous

naming the 2013 Cubs

*Ya and an make up the name of the city.

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Birth of the World’s Only Known surviving Giant Panda Triplets

The cubs were born within four hours of each other on July 29 at the Chimelong safari Park in Guangzhou, capital of south China’s Guangdong Province.

Professor Zhang Hemin, director of the China Conservation and research Center for the Giant Panda told us that this is the first known set of triplets to survive. They celebrated their 100 day Birthday on november 5th 2014.

The mother Ju Xiao was not able to feed them all, so they were swapped out each week, so each can bond with mom and get the benefits of mother’s milk and mother’s nurturing care, a procedure developed by CCrCGP’s very own dr. Li

desheng. CCrCGP sent the Head nursery Keeper Mr. Wei Ming to help care for the triplets, from the Bifengxia Panda Base.

“The first-born appears to be a very gentle girl,” said Wei Ming, an expert in charge of the newborn panda’s feeding and management. The other two are boys, both of them have grey hair between their eyes, but one is larger. “The elder brother

is a naughty and energetic boy with a slim figure, while the younger brother is a quite big boy,” Wei added.

The cubs in the nursery get a special panda formula which Wei Ming brought from the Bifengxia Panda Base, and was provided by Pandas International. Their daily intakes are strictly measured and carefully monitored.

Wei is one of the country’s top baby panda caretakers. In his 13-year career with the Conservation and research Center for Giant Pandas, he has nursed more than 100 newborns, including Yuan Zai, the first Taiwan-born panda.

The triplets will most likely stay at Guang Zhou but because the mother is from CCrCGP the cubs belongs to CCrCGP and

are in the list of their newborns.

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did you know? When panda cubs are born they are 1/900th the size of their mothers - approximately the size of a stick

of butter - and weighing approximately 100 grams (4oz).

Mother date of Birth Gender

Guo Guo May 26, 2014 Male

Qing Qing June 27, 2014 Female

Zhang Ka July 7, 2014 Female

Ju Xiao July 29, 2014 Female

Ju Xiao July 29, 2014 Male

Ju Xiao July 29, 2014 Male

su Lin august 3, 2014 Male

You You august 8, 2014 Female

na na august 10, 2014 Male

na na august 10, 2014 Female

Fei Fei august 12, 2014 Male

Gong Zhu august 15, 2014 Male

shui Xiu august 16, 2014 Female

shui Xiu august 16, 2014 Male

Wang Jia august 22, 2014 Male

Zhen Zhen august 25, 2014 Male

Ge Ge september 2, 2014 Female

shen Bin september 29, 2014 Female

2014 CCrCGP new Born Panda Cubs

Pandas International will host its annual Chinese new Year’s dinner on saturday, February 28, 2015. This year, the Year of the sheep, will mark our 15th year of fighting to preserve the endangered Giant Panda. Proceeds from the dinner will allow us to help fund the reintroduction program of the China Conservation and research Center for the Giant Panda. CCrCGP has had 3 successful Pandas released into the wild and we hope for many more. These pandas are crucial to helping the wild population from going extinct.

The evening will feature a wonderful dinner, silent auction, Wine Garden, cash bar and the traditional Lion dance. Pandas International advisory Board member, dr. david Kersey, who spent several weeks in China last October will give a recap of his staff training in the new CdC Laboratory.

The dinner will be held at Min J, conveniently located at 6585 Greenwood Plaza Blvd, Greenwood Village, CO and will feature authentic Chinese cuisine.

Mark your calendars

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adoptor adopted Panda nickname Country

Marty Leonard su shan Oso Usa

Marty Leonard Yang Hua Lyda Usa

Mary Vinquist Hao Hao Usa

Melissa rowcotsky &

William Holt

Yun Yun Boop Usa

Michelle Fitz-Gerald Han Han australia

Mirella roberts Tao Tao Usa

Mollie rivera Hua Mei Usa

Molly Yi ran Usa

nattaprapa

suriyamontol

Lin Ping Thailand

nottaporn

Visutasunthorn

Lin Ping Thailand

Patricia Millius Yun Hui Miracle Usa

Quynh Le nhu &

Olivier schneegans

Fu Long France

richard Pearsall Hua ni Panda-monium

Usa

rita dunn shui Xiu australia

ron & susan Telesko Ge Ge su-lin Usa

ron & susan Telesko Jun Zhu ar-lin Usa

rose richards Xiao r australia

sachi Koide Cai Tao snowflake Usa

sachi Koide Hua rong avalanche Usa

sanyaluk Pramanpol Bai Xue Thailand

sanyaluk Pramanpol Zhuang Mei Thailand

selah Miao Miao Usa

shannon Tucholski &

Tiffany Finley

Yi ran Usa

sharon Ludwig Xue Xue Chun Chun Usa

simon Xin nier UK

sophia Lim Yun Hui Usa

susan Guill Ying Ying Usa

suzanne & Jerry

Braden

Qing Feng Harvey Jr. Usa

suzanne & Jerry

Braden

su shan Usa

suzanne & Jerry

Braden

Zhang Ka evelyn Usa

Tom & Monica rogan Jin Ke Peter Usa

Velia Watts Yun Hui Bao Bei Canada

Village school Tong Tong Village Usa

Walter Kopcza* Xin nier saba dream Usa

Wayne robinson duo duo Jasmine australia

Wenyang Liao Gong Gong France

William & Karom Burke

Bai Xue Usa

William & Karom Burke

Lin Ping Usa

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adoptor adopted Panda nickname Country

ally swanson su shan Pee-Paw UK

andi McLean & Jim Tupper

Qing shan an di UK

andi McLean & Jim Tupper

shen Bin’s 2014 cub

Joan UK

anne Wescott dodd Yin Ke Xi shan Usa

anne Wescott dodd Zheng Zheng Xiao Lu Usa

annette Yuen ao Yun Hong Kong

annette Yuen si Jia Hong Kong

annette Yuen Yang Hua Yau Yau II Hong Kong

annie Lai rong rong Hong Kong

annie Lai ning ning Hong Hong Hong Kong

ayesha Jeanette

Javed Lovlimo

Yang Hua norway

Bonnie Budwig ao ao Usa

Carol Loveless su shan Hope Usa

Cecilia, david,

emma & Paige

Xue Xue Canada

Chet Chin Feng Yi Yoong Ping Malaysia

Chet Chin Gong Zhu Malaysia

Chet Chin Gong Gong Feng er Malaysia

Christie & Todd

Harper

Bao Bao Usa

Christie Harper Zhen Zhen Usa

Cynthia Murphy Cai Yun Usa

Cynthia Murphy Mei Ling Usa

denver Language Miao Miao Usa

ellen Keely see article Usa

ellie Miao Miao Usa

evan Pivonka & ashleigh Mitchell

ao ao Usa

FirstBank su shan Penelope Usa

Fran Mandeville Xin nier Usa

Gayle Lego Cai Tao Usa

Gayle Lego Min Min Usa

Giant Panda Lovers Wen Yu Usa

Grace Xue Xue Yankee Usa

Hannah Moore Miao Miao Cutie United

Jeanette deines su Lin Usa

Jeanette deines Yun Hui Xiao Lin Usa

Jim & ashley

Oberhofer

Jia Jia Tammy sue Usa

Judy dolan Huan Huan Usa

Judy dolan Qian Qian Usa

Judy etherington* si Jia Usa

Karen Wille Pan Pan Usa

Karen Wille Zhi Chun Usa

Linda Wroth Hai Zi Usa

Marilou Villacorta Wang Jia Tai Two Usa

record number of Panda adoptions

* Individual adoptions

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ellen Keely is what you might call a super adopter. she is from Montrose, Colorado and has loved pandas from time spent at the san diego Zoo with Hua Mei. Back in 2000, she received a calendar of pandas which listed PI on the back cover. she used a “phone book” to find our number and called and had a long chat with suzanne about pandas. since then both andrea and suzanne have had the wonderful pleasure of visiting ellen in her beautiful hometown of Montrose which is about 4.5 hours from the Panda office!

ellen learned she could adopt Hua Mei after she returned home to China in 2004. so ellen adopted Hua Mei, and then her cubs, and then her cub’s, cubs, and any other pandas which have returned to China from the san diego Zoo. Thus her love for pandas and adopting them flourished.

In 2014, ellen adopted a record 21 pandas! so a huge thank you to ellen from Pandas International and all her adopted “babies”!

ellen’s adopted pandas are: Hao Hao, Hua ao, Hua Long, Hua Mei, Hua rong, Jia Jia, Mei Ling, Mei sheng, shen Bin, shen Bin’s 2014 cub, su Lin, su Lin’s 2014 cub, Ting Ting, Tuan Tuan, Wei Wei, Yuan Yuan, Yuan Zai, Yun Hui, Yun Zi, Zhen Zhen, and Zhen Zhen’s 2014 cub

ellen Keely

William & Karom BurkeWilliam and Karom Burke are avid adopters through Pandas International. They have adopted two pandas- Lin Ping and Bai Xue. Love of Pandas

July 2005 - actually, we came to know about pandas quite accidentally. One day we were watching Cnn and a reporter named Jeanne Moos was walking on the streets of nYC, carrying a stick of butter. We were wondering, “What’s going on?”

she stopped people and asked them, “do you know that a baby panda was born at the Washington national Zoo and it’s the size of this stick of butter!” she went around asking several people and it was an enjoyable, heartwarming and most enlightening show. Little did we know that Tai shan would start a new chapter of our lives. To tell you the truth, in our case, the rest is history because at the end of her program she left a panda cam link and we clicked on it and we have been in love with pandas ever since. needless to say, not a day goes by that we do not look at panda cams, talk or read about this puzzling creature.

We have traveled and volunteered to places that allow us to spend time with the pandas. We spent 5 days at Chiang Mai Zoo as volunteers to work with the pandas as well as Bifengxia and Chengdu Panda Base. When opportunity comes, we plan our trips around pandas in captivity at various zoos around the world.

Last, but not least, thank you, Pandas International for being a gateway to the inside world of pandas. You have been marvelous!

William and Karom Burke

Honolulu, HI

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a very special adoption in memory of director’s Mother

sometimes the best adoption is in memory of a loved one, the adoption helps remember them in a positive way. When director suzanne Braden’s mother visited the panda center in 2003, she loved all the pandas. suzanne was honored with a very special honor in 2012, when a cub of Zhang Ka’s was named su shan after suzanne.

suzanne thought it was appropriate to adopt Zhang Ka, su shan’s mother, in memory of her Mother- evelyn Waldman who passed away in august of this year. evelyn remembered Pandas International in her will with a generous donation.

Have you considered including Pandas International in your estate planning?

Village school adoption by Panda Protectors

Village school, an independent K–6 school in Pacific Palisades, Ca, began adopting with PI in 2007. The kindergarten social studies curriculum, called Passport to adventure, explores nine countries on three continents. The exploration includes both learning about the culture and doing a community service project for each continent. The young students were passionate about helping animals, and since the panda is such a symbol of China, they chose to help PI. To raise money, the students decided to hold a school-wide bake sale.

Panda Protectors Kids who make a difference!

Pandas International encourages young people to think about conservation and philanthropy at all ages. Our exciting kids program, Pennies 4 Pandas hopes to teach children the rewards of sharing and working together to help ensure the survival of the giant panda. Getting children interested in giving seems to foster an interest in helping that continues throughout a lifetime. Including children in parent’s charitable interests highlights parental values, informs ideas about social responsibility and explains why it’s important to help others.

In 2014, over 50 kids and several schools did projects to raise donations to save the Pandas. This year alone, Panda Protectors raised over $ 12,000 to help the pandas!

Tell your school or ask your child if they want to become a panda protector.

In 2007, the bake sale raised over $500 to be able to adopt Tong Tong whom they nicknamed Village. The Panda Bake sale, as it is known around campus, has now become an annual school-wide tradition with profits exceeding $1100 last February.

Tong Tong has become a celebrity on campus. students look forward not only to the Bake sale each year, but also to the updates that Pandas International sends us each trimester. In 2012, shea Morris, the teacher in charge, was able to participate in the Hug Your Baby event. Going to the Panda reserve to meet and interact with the staff who take care of Tong Tong has deeply enriched their kindergarten curriculum and provides them with a stronger connection to Pandas International.

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forests, occasionally we were met with a cool breeze and, finally, the pandas that my heart had been longing to see. Their lovely image left a deep impression in my mind, though at that time I did not know these cute bears would become such a huge part of my life.

Fate is such a wonderful thing. In 2000, when most high school graduates chose to enter prestigious universities and pursue “hot” majors, I applied for the major of animal science, which was the least popular, despite my family’s objections. Four years later, I graduated and went to work at CCrCGP at Wolong to support the cause of protecting the Giant Panda.

Happiness behind hardship

day to day care of pandas is dull work and heavy labor. Maybe to an outsider’s eye caring for pandas is wrapped in a veil of mystery and excitement. The job seems admirable, simple in nature, with no complex office politics or interpersonal communications, easy and light, and you can be with the lovely pandas from morning to night. However, when you are really doing it, you taste the hardship and dullness of the job behind people’s admiration. despite this, watching pandas growing up to be healthy and strong has given me great joy. When I see them happily eating tasty food, playing as they do a lazy roll, I feel that everything I do is meaningful. Gradually, I’ve come to see the pandas as

my own children.

Meeting with a broken heart

On aug. 1, 2005, a severely injured panda was found in Ping Wu County. Both of his hind legs severely fractured. CCrCGP sent vets out to rescue the panda immediately after it was noticed. since the injury was so severe, it was impossible to save the panda’s legs. reluctantly, amputation had to be done immediately. On aug. 3 at 9pm, the panda was transferred to our center. all staff members were shocked at the sight of him. From examining his teeth, his age was estimated at about 20 years old. By visual observation, his weight was about 60kgs, which was 40-60kgs lighter than a normal panda. In other words, his weight was only a little more than half of that of a captive panda. His two hind legs were amputated at the knees and he could not walk.

His spirit was shattered, his fur was dark with no shine, he was very bony. The mood in the room was frozen. everyone’s heart was aching and we could not hold back the tears. For over 20 years, since the center was established, no one (including many experienced keepers) had ever seen or even heard of a panda with two fractured legs, so thin and so small, who had survived in the wild. at that moment, although no one wanted to believe it, we had to face a grim fact: this panda would likely pass away soon because of his weakness.

Beyond the limits of belief and desire

at that moment, Mr. Zhang, director of the center, wiped his tears and spoke emotionally to encourage everyone. He said: “now that he has come here, this will be his home! We will make every effort and will never give up. We will help him survive and live happily! I have confidence in our team. even if there is only 1% of hope, we will make 100% effort to save Qiang Qiang!” everyone was moved and said firmly: “We will do it. We will help him live well”.

although he was very weak and near death, there was still some spark from his eyes. He showed strength, persistence, a desire for living and not giving up. For the first time, I felt a deeper respect for life and renewed tie to the giant panda.

On that very day, the panda got its own name: Qiang Qiang. It did not only represent his persistence, it also represented everyone’s best wishes and confidence that we would help him survive.

To read the rest of Qiang Qiang’s story, please visit our blog on our website. If you do not have a computer, please let us know and we will mail you a copy of the entire story.

Qiang Qiang and IWritten by Qiang Zhou, CCrCGP

Translated by Pat Weiyi Zhang

For 8 years I have been working to protect the Giant Panda. Time has flown so quickly and so much has happened during that time between the pandas and myself. The particular panda that I think of most, however, is Qiang Qiang, whose legs were both fractured when I met him – but first, some history.

a Fantastic Journey

When I was 10, my parents took me to see the pandas in the Wolong natural reserve. It was my first time being so close to nature: ranges of lofty mountains, rugged and steep mountain roads, torrential but clear river water, dense and well grown

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reintroduction Project

On October 14, 2014, the panda Xue Xue was released into the wild into the Liziping nature reserve at shimian, Ya’an in sichuan Province, in the Xiaoxiangling Mountains. Liziping nature reserve was chosen by experts in the reintroduction field. doctors Li, Wang and deng all went to Hetaoping to give Xue Xue one final wellness check before she was released.

The two-year-old female giant panda at first appeared very nervous and reluctant to step out of the container cage, barking and even returning to the cage after researchers had released her. eventually, she took her first steps into the wild.

researchers said the two-day trip to the release point, and an unfamiliar environment had made the panda uneasy.

Caretakers wear special panda suits while taking care of Xue Xue so she will not become acclimated to humans, but to make her wary of humans, they stopped wearing the suits while giving her injections, transporting her long distances or other unpleasant activities. (new panda suits for the staff will be needed for 2015)

researchers hope that releasing giant pandas raised in captivity will help boost their population in the wild. Only the giant pandas considered fit or those that “pass” all the testing parameters are allowed to be reintroduced to the wild. To monitor her progress and movements, “Xue Xue” was equipped with a GPs tracking collar, which was provided by Pandas International’s supporters.

The initiative of sending captive-bred giant pandas into the wild began in 2006. The first to be released was a five-year-old male giant panda Xiang Xiang. Unfortunately, he died the year following his release, due to fighting with other males during the mating season.

Tao Tao was released on October 11, 2012 and Zhang Xiang was released on november 6th, 2013. Huang Yan head of the reintroduction program reports to PI that Tao Tao and Zhang Xiang are doing very well. They have gone far away from the spot where they were released. Field researchers are still getting GPs data from the radio collars you provided for them.

Xue Xue was the fourth panda released by CCrCGP and an additional release is planned for later this year.

“Between 1970 and 2010 populations of mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, and fish around the globe dropped 52 percent,” says the 2014 Living Planet report - This is why Pandas International supports

the reintroduction program to increase the wild panda population.

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a sickness called “Panda Love” by Bill Mcshea at TedxFoggyBottom

dr. Bill Mcshea doesn’t love pandas as much as we do! In his talk the panda is an “average bear,” but he hilariously explains why, and how our affection is actually a good thing for our world.

dr. Mcshea talks about how the panda is an ordinary bear, but conservations efforts to save the panda have vastly expanded Panda reserves and many other animals live in these reserves. By providing Panda reserves many other animals are saved by extension. Mcshea stated his favorite is the Takin, who would not exist if it was not for the Panda reserves. He talks about the asiatic Bear being hated and hunted by local farmers for stealing corn and honey, who are safe in the Panda reserves.

In his conclusion he says, “so your love of Pandas has created a place for these animals to live, so don’t worry- you are sick but it is a good sick. What you are doing is your love for the panda is saving wildlife beyond this ordinary bear and for that I say Thank You.”

dr. Bill Mcshea is a wildlife ecologist for the smithsonian’s Conservation Biology Institute at Front royal, Virginia. He has worked at the Front royal facility since 1986.

Watch his hilarious talk at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=amIiQvj_XPI

Here at Pandas International we don’t think our pandas are either average or ordinary but we are happy our efforts are helping save other endangered animals as well.

dr. david Kersey Joins the PI advisory Board and Travels to China to Train staff

david Kersey, Ph.d., began his career in wildlife conser-vation in 2000 working as an endocrine technician at the smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute (sCBI). In 2008 he earned his Ph.d. in environmental science from George Mason University.

For his dissertation, he conducted research at sCBI in collaboration with Chinese colleagues to study the reproductive and adrenal biology of the male and female giant panda. during this time, dr. Kersey refined previous ideas of reproductive physiology and worked towards improving breeding and management of the species in captivity. among his many accomplish-ments is a refinement of when natural breeding and/or artificial insemination should be done based on urinary hormone levels.

dr. Kersey and Ms. Morgan Maly from the smithsonian Institute traveled to China to assist the researchers at the new dujiangyan Center in setting up the lab and training staff in proper lab protocols. You can read about his visit in his journals which will be featured on the Pandas International Blog in the coming months.

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now accepting auction and Wine donations

To ensure the auction and the Wine Garden are a success, we are again asking you to donate an item of your choosing. We will highlight your generosity as follows:

• Your donations will be displayed with your name on the bid sheet.

• YouwillbepublicallythankedforyourdonationintheMarchissueof our newsletter as well as on our website.

• YouwillbeformallyrecognizedasadonorintheDinnerProgram.

Through your participation in the silent auction and the Wine Garden, we are able to continue the work we both feel is necessary and urgent. If you have any questions, please contact us at info@pandasinternational.org or 303-933-2365. as always, our deepest thanks.

Major sponsors

Panda energyaccessory Power

annenberg Foundation/explore.orgspiritHoods

Gift republic

Colorado Gives day

Please make your year-end donations on Tuesday, december 9. see enclosed insert for more information.The Holidays are here so claim your panda kisses & get your Holiday wishes

with a donation of $30 or more.

Please provide us some feedback on this printed Panda Press, so we know if we should make this an annual project.

email us at info@pandasinternational.org or call us at 303-933-2365.

visit us online at www.pandasinternational.org

TWITTer: PandasInt FaCeBOOK: Pandas International