A Place Dear to My Heart

Tomorrow Oct 1 I plan to make a trip to Hoo Haven. This is the place from which Ruffles...or actually Ruffles the second :) was rehabilitated and released back to his home nest area in August..

Click here for an update on Ruffles Jr. from the main Hoo Haven Website

Also be sure to read the story of Lauren Townsend Memorial on that website. I too had been prompted to watch that movie. I do find that awesomely strange and awe inspiring as most folks know I really do not watch all that much TV. I had no idea I would find reference to the story this morning as I was reading Hoo Havens home page as I prepare my trunk for the donations I will bring to this special place.

Hoo Haven like all of us finds its budget somewhat stressed. These animals are all very well cared for but they will need more folks to donate what they can to keep them fed. Would you consider making a donation to them perhaps for Christmas. Clicking here or on the above link to their website to see some donation options.

I hope you will enjoy the Hoo Haven Video. Double Clicking on the lower right of the video on the word You Tube will open it into You Tube. There you will be able to expand it and watch the Full Screen video.

What A Difference A Week Makes

So whats for lunch?

What do you think happened next?
click on photo to see larger image.

Baby Atlanta aka "Little Looney"

The baby was born on Saturday August 30 at 10:10 pm.

Monday, September 1, 6:30 PMBased upon the behavior of giant panda Lun Lun and her new born cub, Zoo Atlanta's colleague from China and the Zoo's Animal Management and Veterinary Teams jointly decided to place the new-born cub in an incubator for closer monitoring and observation.

Tuesday, September 2, 5:00 PMAfter almost nineteen hours of separation from mom, the giant panda cub born on Saturday at Zoo Atlanta was successfully reintroduced to Lun Lun at approximately 1:10 this afternoon. The reintroduction coincided with the cub’s scheduled feeding, and was chosen so that the cub would show the strongest possible nursing response.

Wednesday, September 3, 8:00 AMFollowing nineteen hours of hand-rearing and subsequent reintroduction yesterday afternoon, both cub and Lun Lun are doing remarkably well. Lun Lun is demonstrating excellent maternal behavior.

Sunday, September 7Lun Lun and her cub continue to do well. Lun Lun ate quite a bit during the cub’s 11:00 pm weight check last night. At that check the cub weighed 186.6 grams, which means that he gained a little over 15 grams since his last check at 2:30 the previous afternoon. We are all very pleased by this huge gain for our little guy!

Friday, September 12Lun Lun’s newest cub continues to do well. His prognosis has been upgraded from “guarded” to “good”. When the cub had to be placed in an incubator a week ago Monday, his body temperature and blood sugar levels were low. The cub responded well to supportive care, and has done even better back with Lun Lun. Based on several laboratory tests, we suspect Lun Lun may have been suffering from mild mastitis, an infection and/or inflammation of the mammary glands. This may have led to mild discomfort that resulted in her not attending to the cub just enough to result in the decrease in body temperature at that early age. Both Lun Lun and the cub were placed on a course of antibiotics because of these suspicions, and they have responded well to the treatment.

Tuesday, September 16At 10 o’clock this morning, interested panda aficionados will be able to once again partake in PandaCam broadcasts!

Lun Lun and cub go about their daily life together, completely oblivious to the schedules, task assignments, meetings and discussions, or the number of team members involved in their care. And, in spite of the cameras, lights, noise and periodic checks by staff, the cub and Lun Lun thrive.

The cub is taking on the plump panda features that make this species irresistible to so many. His once lanky arms and legs are filling out and his earlier uncoordinated movements are becoming more purposeful and controlled.

At this morning’s check, the cub weighed 444.4 grams.
Debbie Forde
Curatorial Assistant

To see more detailed info and follow the regular cub updates click here

How Old/Young is your brain

Well you will either love or hate your answer for this one but here ya go...Click the link to The Brain Game

The Brain Game

Touch start

Wait for 3 2 1

Memorize "very quickly" the number position: Then click the circle from the smallest number to the biggest number.
At the end of the game the computer will tell you how old your brain is.

Good Luck

This picture needs no words