2021-02-05 In Momma-Bear Mode, Mei Keeps Xiao Qi Ji Close

Day 168 #PandaStory: At 4:45am there was a strange, unknown noise outside that woke Xiao Qi Ji up, he cocked his head, and Mei Xiang reacted by racing from room 2 to room 3, and then settled in the den with Qi Ji in protective mode. For the next 5+ hours, except for a brief time outdoors, she kept Qi Ji near her. This video is comprised of highlights from those hours. EDIT: I have been told by a reliable source that the noise came from a wild animal that frequents that area of Asia Trails.

Before I forget, there was a new blog post today:
https://nationalzoo.si.edu/animals/ne...
"In the next few weeks, Xiao Qi Ji will have an opportunity to explore the outdoor habitat. Our team has been busy this week installing new tree guards in the yard he shares with his mother, Mei Xiang. These guards are designed to keep young cubs towards the bottom of the tree, where they can practice their climbing skills at a safe height. As Xiao Qi Ji grows and gains more confidence, he will be able to climb over the guards and higher up into the canopy."

After deeming it was safe to leave the den around 5:30am, Mei took him to the playpen to nurse, snuggle, and watch over him. By 6:30am they were well into their normal routine of Qi Ji climbing (including a new place for Qi Ji along the back wall of room 3's rockwork), and pacing with his mother.

At 7:30am Mei Xiang goes outdoors (and a keeper returns a restless Qi Ji to the den). But it appears Mei wants to be back indoors. At 7:42am we see her in room 3 eating sugar cane with Qi Ji climbing all over her. Qi Ji keeps going back into the den, and Mei Xiang keeps getting him as I assume she's still in precautionary mode, and wants him close. At 8:00am, she takes him from the den to room 2, where we see him again climbing all over her, trying to get to her enrichment. While we don't see him get up on room 2's bedroom platform, we do see him come down head first ~ great job Qi Ji ~ I'm sure he's been practicing when the cam is not on him :)

At 9:30am Qi Ji has moved to the playpen, room 3 with mother Mei Xiang. 10 minutes later he heads to the den. When the cam switches back to the den, he's asleep, as is Mei Xiang atop room 3's rockwork.

If I find out what that noise was, I will let you know as I do not want to speculate. This video is a positive tribute to Mei Xiang's maternal, protective instincts. And we were able to see some views today of them together that we hadn't seen before!


Note from Doxie: I respectively ask that you do not post comments disparaging the Smithsonian's National Zoo's treatment of their Giant Pandas, or Mei Xiang's parenting of Xiao Qi Ji, or any comparisons to other Zoos. Also, a reminder that I am not employed by or affiliated with the Smithsonian's National Zoo. Thank you for your cooperation in keeping this a place of positivity, celebration and joy!
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Video recorded at Smithsonian's National Zoo's Panda Cam website: https://nationalzoo.si.edu/webcams/pa...
#PandaStory #MeiXiang #XiaoQiJi