Home > Panda Watch > Archives > 2006 > December > 14 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USPanda baby takes first wobbly step
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Panda fans, post this on your message boards: She’s walking.
Zoo Atlanta’s 99-day-old giant panda cub rose on four shaky legs Thursday morning and took a few tentative steps — a first for the youngster.
She wobbled like a drunk in a windstorm, but there was no mistaking her intentions: She’s ready to move on her own, nearly in time for her naming ceremony.
It happened while Dr. Maria Crane, the zoo’s senior veterinarian, conducted her weekly exam of the cub, born Sept. 6. Joining her was Dr. Zhang Zhihe of the Chengdu Base of Giant Panda Breeding, in Atlanta for the cub’s 100-day naming ceremony, taking place Friday.
She’d been sound asleep, curled as tight as a comma, when Crane reached into her den. The cub slowly came awake while technicians weighed and measured her.
She stuck out a sturdy left front leg and dug her claws into a fiber mat examiners had placed on the exam table. The right front leg followed. And then…
The left rear leg reached out, shaking. The right leg followed. She quivered all over for a moment, then rose. The cub swayed on her feet. With Crane hovering like a worried mom, the cub took one step, another, a third. She flopped back down on the mat, looking sort of winded from all the exercise.
Zoo officials were as tickled as if one of their own youngsters had grabbed a stool and pushed it all around the kitchen. They’ve been predicting the cub will be walking by early next year or sooner.
“She tried to walk off the end of the table,” Crane said.
That’s not all. Her nails, shiny and hard, got clipped for the second time. Crane left them long enough so the youngster can get plenty of traction should she decide to take a turn around her den.
Here are the vitals:
She weighs 12 pounds now, a “significant gain” of more than a pound in the last week.
She’s about 26.5 inches long — more than an inch of growth in the past week — but that’s just an estimate. Her wiggling makes getting an accurate reading about as easy as threading a needle on a roller coaster.
Her fur now seems as thick as that of her parents, Lun Lun and Yang Yang.
In short, said Crane, she’s ready for her naming, taking place at a 10 a.m. ceremony. When everyone stands to cheer her name, maybe she will, too.
Comments
By micha
December 14, 2006 11:59 AM | Link to this
How wonderful! She is amazing!!!
By Carla
December 14, 2006 12:01 PM | Link to this
Oh baby’s first step! I can’t wait to see what her name will be tomorrow.
By Karen
December 14, 2006 12:02 PM | Link to this
I love watching “cubcakes” and can’t wait to hear her name tommorrow!!! She and her mom are so calming to me! I still want to see the Panda Cam hours extended to Saturdays and Sundays too! I miss her over the weekend!
By Kaye
December 14, 2006 12:03 PM | Link to this
Our little girl is growing up! Thank you for the wonderful coverage you’ve provided. Your articles and videos are excellent!
By gg
December 14, 2006 12:04 PM | Link to this
Where’s the video from today’s exam?
By shay
December 14, 2006 12:06 PM | Link to this
She is absolutely adorable!!!
By Amber West
December 14, 2006 12:14 PM | Link to this
Choose the name
By Jana
December 14, 2006 12:21 PM | Link to this
How exciting——baby’s first steps!
By mika
December 14, 2006 12:29 PM | Link to this
nice…to bad there is no video…earthlink suck
By GMC
December 14, 2006 01:04 PM | Link to this
Mika and gg: The video is on the AJC homepage. Scroll down and look in the left column, AJC Video, then click on “panda cub starts to cop an attitude”. Earthlink does not provide the video, AJC does.
By Shirley
December 14, 2006 01:09 PM | Link to this
I have been watching the baby from Portland Oregon for the past 2 months. I really appreciate that the zoo is sharing this special gift with the world!
By gg
December 14, 2006 01:21 PM | Link to this
Thanks GMC. I found it and watched it! Absolutely amazing!!
By baxter
December 14, 2006 01:21 PM | Link to this
You can also view lots more videos at the Zoo Atlanta website
By acq
December 14, 2006 01:39 PM | Link to this
Well, I am just so thrilled at the hospitality of Atlanta! I have enjoyed every moment I can steal to watch this beautiful cub. Thank you to the AJC, Atlanta Zoo and the Chengdu Reasearch Base for helping Panda’s around the world and for generously sharing the wonderful experience of this little gem. I wish I could be there for the ceremony.
By Christi
December 14, 2006 01:45 PM | Link to this
My heart! We’re having our own naming celebration at my office here in Texas tomorrow. We are an 8 physician OB/GYN office and we’ve monitored this baby like one of our own.
By Lawdhavemercy
December 14, 2006 02:32 PM | Link to this
What an insult…the AJC list of “2006 Celebrity Babies” does not include our cub.
By Colleen Horan
December 14, 2006 02:33 PM | Link to this
awww what perfect timing for our baby to make her first steps!! Sure wish I could attend her naming ceremony, but I’ll surely be there in spirit.
Did anyone see Princess come very very close to standing up yesterday…(unfortunately at 4:57)?? She was working SO hard on getting up!!!
sending a big kiss for Ms. Princess from Lansing Michigan!!
By Pamela G
December 14, 2006 03:48 PM | Link to this
A bunch of us from New Jersey will be watching, too! Congratulations, Atlanta!
By Deborah Miller
December 14, 2006 04:27 PM | Link to this
I am so thrilled! I have looked in on her every day since her birth and have been anxiously awaiting her first steps. I have always referred to her as “beautiful”, so I hope that’s her chosen name.
By Donna Waller
December 14, 2006 04:45 PM | Link to this
I can’t wait for the naming!!! I have watched this baby since day one! I saw her try to stand yesterday. Thank you so much for keeping the folks in Ohio updated.
By Toi
December 15, 2006 08:02 AM | Link to this
I have looked in on baby girl almost everyday, she is precious. I can’t wait for her to be given a name.
By Tracie
December 15, 2006 08:29 AM | Link to this
Thank you for the updates. The panda cam is probably the worst thing anyone could have sent me, because now I watch when I should be working. But she’s so adorable I have to see what she’s doing. I saw her trying to walk yesterday and she seemed to exhaust herself out. Can’t wait for the naming ceremony later today. Wish I could be there.
By wvgal_dana
December 15, 2006 08:44 AM | Link to this
Buta Buta (named after a stick of butter) is a beautiful panda cub. She is loved by our group which is called the Eaglet_Momsters. Even gals from the UK on our site watch Buta Buta. We know she will get her new name today. Yes we all voted. Although she will still be Buta Buta to us. A gentle, beautiful, and precious panda cub. DC National Zoo has Tai he is a little older panda cub that is so much fun to watch. Maybe later they could mate Buta Buta with Tai. Tai loves to climb trees.
By Peggy
December 15, 2006 09:05 AM | Link to this
How exciting!
What a wonderful gift to see her grow each day.
By Bob Miller
December 15, 2006 09:11 AM | Link to this
That panda is tight!?!
By GMC
December 15, 2006 09:13 AM | Link to this
The ceremony will begin at 10am EST, and the name will be revealed around 11:15am. http://www.zooatlanta.org/animalsgiantpandaredenvelope.htm Don’t know if any local media will do a live feed, but hopefully it will be posted soon after at ZooAtlanta’s site or on ajc.com home page.
By billy Joe
December 15, 2006 09:15 AM | Link to this
That was the wierdest thing i seen.
By Bob Miller
December 15, 2006 09:16 AM | Link to this
I say Santa Claus F*ing mommy lastnight!!!!!!!!!
By Bob Miller
December 15, 2006 09:18 AM | Link to this
Corey is GAY!!!!!!
By bob miller
December 15, 2006 09:18 AM | Link to this
Did you know i did a panda before.
By Bob Miller
December 15, 2006 09:20 AM | Link to this
That’s not true.
By maira
December 15, 2006 09:46 AM | Link to this
how cute but where do you see the videos
By JCC
December 15, 2006 09:47 AM | Link to this
There are many of us in Illinois watching and admiring your charming young cub and her mother. We have enjoyed her growth, right before our eyes, even though we are so far from Atlanta. We are excited about the naming ceremony today, but regret no longer having 24 hour access to panda cam. It was a wonderful to be able to watch at any time of the day or night.
By maira
December 15, 2006 09:51 AM | Link to this
oh and iam not dr.maria crane iam maira flower
By Theresa in San Jose
December 15, 2006 10:16 AM | Link to this
We are waiting with excitement on the West Coast to hear our precious little girl’s new name! She is a treat to watch. What a lovely gift to the world, and Mama Lun Lun has been a perfect example of a loving and nurturing mom. Thank you Zoo Atlanta and all the caretakers who have made it possible for us to share in this beautiful new life! Yes, we voted too!
By Steve Wood
December 15, 2006 10:23 AM | Link to this
What a waste of time and money! There are children, women and men without homes and hungry in Atlanta and we have all this hype over the name of a bear that should be in the wild..NOT IN A ZOO!!
By whatdoesstevedoforthehomelessandhungry
December 15, 2006 10:47 AM | Link to this
Steve is a troll. Do not respond.
By Elaine
December 15, 2006 12:06 PM | Link to this
I am trying to find the option to purchase a picture of the panda and her cub. Anyone know where it went ? Thanks. Elaine
PS: whoever is monitoring these posts - you are falling down on your job.