2020-11-15 Cubbie's 1st Tumble from the Rocks

#PandaStory: On day 86, one of two key events that you'll see watching Giant Panda cubs which will probably be very hard to accept or watch ... happened overnight. Cubbie fell of the playpen ledge in room 3. Cubs will fall ... from the rock structure, from trees ... and they will surprise you how resilient and bouncy they are. I can assure you cubbie is fine, and he will experience many more tumbles in his life! (The audio feed for the video comes from the den camera).

UPDATE: I have been corrected by Nancy ~ the cub fell previously off the ledge on 11-5-2020 https://youtu.be/B-iI4vUkTs4 (although it wasn't as visible, so I completely forgot!)

The 2nd event will be weaning ... whether it happens at 18 months or 24 months ... it will happen as our bears still have the instincts of their wild relatives. But for now, let's not rush cubbie and try to enjoy the here and now as the denning-phase of his life wraps up, and the lair-phase will begin sometime in the next few weeks, defined as "...the females bring their cubs along for those foraging trips, temporarily stashing the cub in a bed of bamboo or grass in a spot nearby as they feed. This lair is a type of temporary shelter, hiding the cub and providing some comfort against the elements. Though not as robust or safe as a den, the use of lairs allows the female to range farther and farther in her feeding forays, bringing the cub along". Again, our bears do not have to forage for food, but they still have the instincts of their wild ancestors.

Note from Doxie: I respectively ask that you do not post comments disparaging the Smithsonian Zoo's treatment of their Giant Pandas or comparisons to other Zoos. Also, a reminder that I am not employed by or affiliated with the Smithsonian National Zoo. Thank you for your cooperation in keeping this a place of positivity, celebration and joy!

Video recorded at Smithsonian's National Zoo's Panda Cam website: https://nationalzoo.si.edu/webcams/panda-cam
#PandaStory #MeiXiang

Видео 2020-11-15 Cubbie's 1st Tumble from the Rocks канала DoxieMom19