Home > Panda Watch > Archives > 2006 > December > 28 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USGov gets a gander at Mei Lan
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
On a day of firsts, Atlanta’s favorite baby, Mei Lan, the 113-day old giant panda, was examined by her first governor. And Gov. Sonny Perdue, a large-animal veterinarian by trade, did his first once-over on a giant panda this morning at Zoo Atlanta.
“What impressed me,” said the governor, “was that this magical animal is so tolerant of humans.”
He helped senior zoo vet Maria Crane poke and prod the little panda, who has gained about a pound and an inch since last week’s physical exam and now measures 28.9 inches from nose to tail and weighs in at almost 14 pounds.
Mei Lan underwent the exam with little protest other than strong wriggling and a few whimpers. Crane put her fingers in the baby’s mouth to check on the progress of her teeth, a topic of great interest because no one has yet charted the pattern of tooth eruption in giant pandas. Zoo Atlanta hopes to record that pattern for posterity. Crane said there were no new teeth today, but those already there are growing.
Perdue said after examining the panda he could now “check that off my Sonny Do list.” He complimented Crane’s professionalism, which he chalked up to her education at the University of Georgia’s School of Veterinary Medicine, which is where he got his degree.He said he was surprised that the baby panda’s pulse was a rapid 140 to 150 beats a minute and that “her fur is so thick you can’t even see the skin.”
He said he enjoyed that the examination was so “gentle. As any of you know if you’ve taken a child to the pediatrician, it can be a wrestling match. But she was very tolerant.”
Today’s was the last weekly, public examination. Crane said the panda would begin to walk any day now and would be harder to handle. Her examinations would become less frequent and less regular.
Zoo Atlanta public relations director Susan Elliott said zoo officials are hoping for a public debut for Mei Lan in mid January.
Comments
By Dave
December 28, 2006 03:28 PM | Link to this
I just glanced at the AJC.com headline “Mei Lan meets the Governor” and thought it said “Mei Lan eats the Governor.” Wishful thinking on my part, I guess.
By Vivica
December 28, 2006 03:33 PM | Link to this
Lol that was funny.
By Mei Lan
December 28, 2006 03:48 PM | Link to this
I was afraid the governor might have me for lunch.
By catlady
December 28, 2006 03:58 PM | Link to this
Them South Georgia hunters call me “Supper”.
By E Mutz
December 28, 2006 04:05 PM | Link to this
Panda, the other white meat.
By Mrs. Perdue
December 28, 2006 05:44 PM | Link to this
Anybody else tired of the Guv’s publicity stunts at the Atlanta Zoo? If he wants to use his doggy doctor degree, why doesn’t he find a cure for Gaspar the whale’s bone infection?
By Political Foreskin
December 29, 2006 07:38 AM | Link to this
I’m no Romeo. But I did get Katherine Harris to yell, “Ricola”, when she examined my hanging chad once. That’s why I think it’s important that Sonny Perdue visit the zoo every day. Some folks shine when they call home.
By Deneese
December 29, 2006 12:24 PM | Link to this
Sure it was a publicity stunt, but who cares? If I was in that office, I might pull a few strings to get my hands on Mei Lan too. I’d love the chance to get to hold her.
By JDW
December 29, 2006 12:53 PM | Link to this
Ol’ Sonny sure does know how to focus his time on the most important things. Wonder if we could get the legislature to spend this session at the zoo?
By Linda Hopcroft
December 30, 2006 10:39 AM | Link to this
I don’t know why people have to be so critical in their comments. I was taught, if you can’t say something nice, don’t say anything at all. Still good advice. Mei Lan is adorable. Everyone should read the book, The Lady and the Panda. True story that happened in 1936 when this woman ( Mrs. Harkness) brought back the very first Giant Panda cub to the USA.There was also a movie made in 2001-The Panda Adventure about this book.Availabe through Amazon online.Wonderful story.
By Political Foreskin
December 31, 2006 09:51 AM | Link to this
I have the perfect choice for your book: A little guy named Bling Bling. Let me tell you a thing or two about this new star. He goes 24/7 365. He chews rocks. He loves his name, and he hates the chinese. He has a parrot that cant stop chanting:
Tienamin Square! Tienamin Square! Tienamin Square!
Did you know that the chinese published magazines here in the 80’s that were all about their communist principles as applied to governing themselves and also about trying to explain their foreign policy.
I used to read them religiously, trying to decypher all the coded messages hidden in the personals, which usually read something like, “Looking for a man who will Order the tanks forward”.
Their unwavering, but Bush-esque slogan was “One country, two systems” The one country was China. The two systems were communism first, then a barely self-justified nod toward capitalism. NO where was democracy mentioned, or God, but there was plenty of photos of baby pandas………D’OH!!!
I wasn’t fooled, so dont you be.
The Chinese seek world dominance as clearly now as the soviets did in the cold war, and islamists do today. In fact there is a blatantly obvious China card that Iran doesn’t even have to play. They have trump cards in reserve in Iran. Too bad Donald doesn’t. I have no respect for Donald Trump anymore at all for his mishandling of a self embarrassed Rosie. They bait bear traps with roadkill, Mr. Trump.
Rosie now has a fan base: Anyone who hates Donald Trump. Trump had clearly the most show biz clout, so why would he waste one word in rebuking Rosie? He should have let a writer like me write his reply and then stfu. Donald’s Kramer-esque barrage was too easily drawn out of him by a too silly of a mime. Me2Trump: “You’re finished”.
By Mimi
January 5, 2007 10:09 AM | Link to this
AJC, have you noticed how much Mei Lan is walking around? Please report on her progress.
Thank you.
By dobby
January 5, 2007 02:09 PM | Link to this
I just saw her crawled out of the door with the high curb. She was on the curb for a few seconds then dropped to the other side and disappeared. The camera then followed her to the other side. It was so exciting.
By dismayed
January 9, 2007 10:29 AM | Link to this
Anyone see this today?? “Mei Lan is being introduced to some new environments, Panda Cam will feature Yang Yang in the mornings.”
What I’ve seen so far of Yang Yang has been blurry. Now I definitely think they need to add some viewing time. I’m so disappointed. It doesn’t make sense.
By GMC
January 9, 2007 10:49 AM | Link to this
The image is very fuzzy, hope this is not what we will see when Mei Lan is finally allowed outside! Don’t understand the “new environments” thing, she mostly sleeps during the day. Disappointing that coverage is so spare during one of the most exciting phases of development..crawling, walking, playing. They could supplement with video clips of these milestones but doesn’t appear they intend to do that either. The clips on the website are only a few seconds long with Dr. Crane’s voiceover, so we really don’t have a clue what kind of movements or sounds Mei Lan makes. Coverage in general is very stingy.
By dismayed
January 9, 2007 12:48 PM | Link to this
I am so frustrated with this right now. If they aren’t going to show Mei Lan, then I agree they at least need to have more videos available. Yes, I do remember & know that it is “free”; but things like this are what make or break people giving donations!!
By GMC
January 9, 2007 03:11 PM | Link to this
Oh, I want that job! Playing games with Mei Lan!
By csmf
January 9, 2007 04:21 PM | Link to this
Everyone who has gotten so attached to little Mei Lan is very disappointed to be missing such an important time in her development. In addition to the possibility of more videos, couldn’t the existing coverage from each day be rerun during the hours from 5pm to 12am so that those of us who miss so much could see it later? I understand the expense of extended coverage but would it be very costly to rerun each day’s coverage? I think that’s what they do at the Toronto Zoo where there are little girl tigar twins and their mom. It’s daylight time ALWAYS at the “baby tiger cam” so I assume they replay tape. I think that’s great and wish that Atlanta Zoo officials would consider doing the same.
By dismayed
January 9, 2007 04:34 PM | Link to this
csmf…that’s a great idea! but, I’m not sure it will happen. And now we’re looking at the floor again. I understand the need to work with Mei Lan (I wouldn’t mind that job, either!)—but please let us see her!