Even as plenty of the National Zoo's other animals are efficiently producing adorable offspring, its giant pandas have generated little more than deflated hopes for another Butterstick. One philanthropist is hoping his investment will change that.
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Results tagged “panda”
For Pandas, Zoo Hopes That Money Equals Love
Sunday One of Us Photo: September 4, 2011
We're all aware of how overused black and white post processing can be -- making a drab photo seemingly more interesting, but lackluster nonetheless. But sometimes finding a colorless subject can pop out at the eye as much as any colorful photo. And what is more quintessential black and white than a panda? Here Flickr user spodieodie shoots a clone army of our favorite National Zoo celebrity; those rococo peacocks need not apply.
And Now, A Baby Panda Hiding Under A Towel In A Plastic Tub
Why, you ask? Just 'cause, that's why.
Sad Panda: No Cub This Year
It's another year, another false pregnancy for the National Zoo's giant panda duo.
City Extends Public Pool Hours To Battle Heat
Too hot for you today? Take a cue from Mei Xiang up there and head to the pool!
Cheetahs Never Prosper (Except The National Zoo's, Which Keep Pumping Out Babies)
We had worried. It had been, like, several weeks since the National Zoo announced a new group of adorable, internet-friendly additions to its menagerie. Not to fear, though! Today, the Zoo brings word about five cheetah cubs which were born at its Front Royal facility in late May.
A Fine Summary of Our Panda Paranoia
Obviously, no one around the city wants to jinx the possibility that the National Zoo's female giant panda, Mei Xiang, might be pregnant. (In fact, I just knocked on wood after typing that sentence.)
It's Really Unkind To Tease, National Zoo
Guess what? It's that time of the year again, when we get our collective hopes up in the anticipation that Mei Xiang, the Zoo's female giant panda, might be pregnant and deliver another black and white fuzzball. (It's our favorite annual exercise in crushing disappointment!)
Please Make This Happen: National Zoo's Animal Mashup
Having April Fools' Day fall on a Friday usually means the stream of jokes and hoaxes will keep trickling throughout the weekend news cycle. In this case, we couldn't help but post the National Zoo's horrific -- or uber-squee-worthy, depending on how you look at it -- contribution: a super animal mashup of two endangered species. According to the caption, the zoo will be "combining 2 endangered species conservation programs by combining 2 endangered species." There's no doubt that if the zoo ever ironed out the kinks in the insemination process and pulled this off, the panda and tiger would no longer be endangered, not for its epic animal skills, but rather because every child in the world would want one. Just imagine what the cubs would look like. In fact, don't, you're head might explode from the massive rush of erupting squee.
Loof lirpa, I believe you've met your match.
Butterstick Is Living Large In China
You'll have to excuse me if I get a little verklempt tomorrow morning while putting together the Morning Roundup -- after all, tomorrow will mark one year to the day from which we published what has to be one of the saddest photosets in this fair blog's history, documenting Butterstick's departure from the National Zoo. So how's our buddy doing?
Panda Haters Gonna Hate
Is it kind of insane to spend $5,000 for a trip to China in order to gather "clumps of fibrous, multicolored panda poop" produced by Tai Shan? Sure it is. But it looks like the Post's attempt at reminding us that people still care about the big fuzzy thing that used to roam the corridors of the National Zoo's panda habitat has brought out a small, yet very vocal minority of Washington's panda haters.
Of Course You Realize, This Means War
On his Slate blog, Tom Scocca notes -- in a post titled "Puny and Decadent American-Bred Panda Is Being Retrained to Chinese Standards," which, by the way, incorrectly attributes the "Butterstick" moniker to Wonkette and not its actual creator -- that after ripping him away from us, the Chinese found our beloved Butterstick to be, well, not up to standard.
Flickr's Redesign Features Surprise Panda, Just For Us
Omg panda! Okay, okay, we know many of you may not care or will just make fun of us for our never ending panda obsession, but we still squealed with something a little bit like joy when Flickr unveiled its brand new look yesterday, complete with surprise panda bear action.
Mei Xiang Definitely Not Pregnant
If we could somehow justify using emoticons in our stories, there'd be a big, weeping frowny face right about here.
Here, I Just Saved You Eight Hours
What do you mean you haven't been watching the National Zoo's Pandacam all day? Well, while you were busy "enjoying your Saturday," I've been intently studying these images (read: hitting Ctrl-R repeatedly), and I can say with certainty that I haven't the slightest idea whether Mei Xiang is preggers or not. On the other hand, I can confirm Mei Xiang is still a big bear that likes to eat and laze about on that block. Yay, journalism!
Tai Shan Gets Corporate Sponsorship
Our beloved Butterstick has only been in China for a few hours, and they've already pimped him out as a corporate spokesperson. The Washington Post reports that Sichuan Auto Industry Group, a Chinese automaker, will fork over $150,000 to "adopt" Tai Shan for life.
Butterstick Arrives at His New Home in China
Butterstick, aka Tai Shan, has arrived at his new home at Wolong's Bifengxia Base in Ya'an, Sichuan, according to a news release from the National Zoo.
Tai Shan's Departure Bittersweet for National Zoo
Say what you will about obsessive panda fans becoming overly emotional about Tai Shan leaving D.C. this morning for China, but there's one group of people who have every right to cry: the National Zoo's panda team.
Last Chance to See Butterstick: Right Now
If you've been putting it off, wait no longer. Sneak out of the office right now and get on up to the Smithsonian's National Zoo, because Tai Shan is leaving in the morning. Animal exhibits are typically only open until 4:30 p.m. in the winter months, so time is fleeting.
So Long, Farewell, auf Wiedersehen, Tai Shan
We are human. There are so many different ways in which we react to the unhappy occurrences we experience throughout life. Washingtonians had the chance to emit such varying emotions publicly at the goodbye party for the National Zoo's youngest giant panda on Saturday. Sure, Tai Shan will be here until Thursday, but people from all over the world -- including chatty visitors from Massachusetts, Canada, and China -- came to the Zoo to just get a peek of our pal Butterstick.
Zoo Closing at 1, Butterstick Farewell To Be Cut Short
The National Zoo will be closing at 1 p.m. today, due to the snow. Of course, this means that Tai Shan's farewell celebration will also be ending at that time -- the big fella was scheduled to get a special frozen cake at 1:30; but he'll now receive the treat at noon. If you had plans to say goodbye to our beloved Butterstick, better get yourself to the Zoo on the double.
Tai Shan's Personalized FedEx Plane
Butterstick may be leaving us in less than a week, but at least he'll be doing it in style.
Date Set for Tai Shan to Leave D.C.
We already knew the date for Butterstick's going away party, but now it looks like we at last have the final date when he'll permanently depart for dread Red China. The Associated Press is quoting Smithsonian Secretary Wayne Clough as saying Tai Shan will leave D.C.'s National Zoo on Feb. 4.
Tai Shan to Be Deported to China
We knew this day was probably coming, but somehow we still weren't prepared. Tai Shan, the National Zoo's only surviving giant panda cub, the pride and joy of Washington, the one and only Butterstick, is being snatched away from us. Zoo officials have scheduled a 10 a.m. press conference this morning to announce that our favorite furball will soon be sent to the People’s Republic of China, per the agreement between the Zoo and the Chinese government.
Panda Pregnancy Watch: Still No Idea
The Post offered up a panda pregnancy update this morning that contained nary a scrap of news. Not that we can blame Michael Ruane for teasing us with vague reports that Mei Xiang has refused to allow zookeepers to perform an ultrasound on her of late. (She did the same thing when she was pregnant with Tai Shan! But that doesn't necessarily mean anything!). Panda Fever is practically a religion around these parts, and with young Tai Shan now almost fully grown, D.C. is starting to get desperate for a brand new bundle of joy. It's been nearly three years of false pregnancies for Mei Xiang in the interim (not to mention the 4+ years before her only successful pregnancy), and we should know either way in the next couple of days whether the latest attempt at artificial insemination has worked. Either a new little stick o' butter will shoot out of Mei's uterus, or we'll have to settle for just another false alarm. In the meantime, the zoo's Panda House remains closed until further notice.
Goodness Gracious, What Is In The Water At The Zoo?
As if an anteater pup, a baby gorilla, and fluffy leopard cubs weren't enough: the AP is reporting that the National Zoo is temporarily closing the panda house to determine whether or not Mei Xiang is having a cub. The most recent round of insemination from Tian Tian was in January -- Mei Xiang has been sprucing up the den and doing some cuddling recently, so who knows? Drink from the water fountains at the Zoo at your own risk, people.
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