Gao Gao’s 12th anniversary (he arrived in San Diego Jan. 15, 2003) is coming up at the San Diego Zoo and what a glorious time it has been. He has been the perfect mate for Bai Yun and has fathered five cubs (Mei Sheng, Su Lin, Zhen Zhen, Yun Zi, and Xiao Liwu). He may be small but he has a huge personality and presence among his keepers. As he always enjoys and demands his daily scratches from us.
This Thursday, Gao Gao will have a quiet anniversary celebration in the Classroom Exhibit with some special enrichment throughout the day that will include his favorite scents: cinnamon spice, ginseng root perfume, and rubbing alcohol!. He does not get an ice cake anymore due to his old teeth, but he will get extra apples and honey, and my favorite part of the day—extra scratches from his keepers.
Handsome Gao Gao has been with us at the Zoo for 12 years and fathered 5 cubs.
Lately, Gao Gao has preferred the quiet life of living in the classroom exhibits with access to his bedroom whenever he desires. His exhibit is not open to the public and only gets visits by early morning tours and special behind the scenes events. You can see him on Panda Cam Daily from 6:30a.m. until 2:30p.m. PST.
Jennifer Becerra is a senior keeper at the San Diego Zoo. Read her previous post, Panda Party for Mr. Wu.
i like this book
Maybe every Chinese panda fan knows GaoGao. He is a handsome boy who participated a documentary called Giant Panda Gao Gao Returning Home. A poor cub with one of ears injured was saved by workers at Fengtongzhai natural reserve, Sichuan province. They called him gaogao, a good wish for being strong, and took care of him, hoping he could return to the wild one day.
Gaogao was released but again he came back to around his human friends a few years later. He knew the workers missed him, and he loves them, too.
The workers and neighboring villagers made lots of contributions to panda protection. We all love the adorable species, hoping they will be strong enough to live in the wild, without human’s help.