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The cutest thief of all
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Mei Lan has developed a case of sticky paws. She’s a purloining panda, a sneak, a thief.
In recent days, Zoo Atlanta’s baby giant panda has been swiping the biscuits zookeepers give her mother, Lun Lun. If mom turns her back, zoo employees say, her 8-month-old daughter comes sneaking like a fat little shadow. Zip! The biscuits, made of leafy material, are gone.
Mei Lan isn’t ready to eat the biscuits yet — she likes to hide them — but she is growing steadily. As of last week, the cub weighed 32 pounds. From little nose to wiggly tail, she measured almost 40 inches. She’s doing great, said Susan Elliott, a spokeswoman for the zoo.
Of course, there is that problem with the sticky paws.
“She’s turning into a little thief,” Elliott said.
The thief — er, the cub is on display, and the zoo urges people who want to see her to get tickets online. Log on to www.zooatlanta.org to get yours.
But keep the tickets close if you go see Mei Lan. According to reports, a thief is at large at the panda den.




DEL.ICIO.US

Comments
By bwhit
May 3, 2007 6:00 PM | Link to this
She’s stolen my heart!
By deb
May 4, 2007 10:21 AM | Link to this
She has stolen my heart too! Long before she was even accused of being a thief! :-)
By June
May 10, 2007 11:32 AM | Link to this
Mark Davis is doing a super job reporting on Mei Lan. I enjoy him. Mei Lan has stolen my heart. I was in Atlanta to see her two weeks ago. She is so beautiful.
The Aquarium is really nice, also. It was worth the trip from Orlando.
June
By Joan
May 10, 2007 6:04 PM | Link to this
It is hard to believe that Mei Lan is 8 months old. Where has the time gone? It has been so enjoyable the last 8 months to tune in and see this beauty. She is a joy!!