Rare Panda Sighting!
@DeborahDiane (40296)
Laguna Woods, California
May 15, 2016 6:46pm CST
If you visit the San Diego Zoo, you have the rare opportunity to see their giant Pandas. They are on loan from China. The Washington, DC zoo also has pandas on loan from China.
We saw them during a recent visit to San Diego. The docent at the zoo said there are only 1800 pandas left in the world, so the ones on loan to the zoos are carefully mated with other captive pandas occasionally as part of a plan to rebuild the population of pandas around the world.
They mostly lay around and rest during the day, so we were fortunate to see this one at the end of the day when he was moving around, waiting for dinner time. They are easily disturbed, so guests to the zoo are asked to talk softly when viewing them. 
17 people like this
20 responses
@DeborahDiane (40296)
• Laguna Woods, California
17 May 16
It was a wonderful treat to see the Pandas!
3 people like this
@jillybean1222 (6407)
•
16 May 16
our zoo has done that. we had a polar bear for a few years. now we had to say goodbye and send him elsewhere (to try to mate)
2 people like this
@Jdaw1985 (3967)
• Harrells, North Carolina
16 May 16
@jillybean1222 Oh wow that is interesting so when they send him off to mate do they bring something new in so you feel like you are getting a different view since you dont get to see that one?
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40296)
• Laguna Woods, California
17 May 16
China does not give or sell their pandas. They loan them and then they move them around when they mate them so that the gene pool is kept as diverse as possible.
@ElizabethWallace (12074)
• United States
17 May 16
It is smart to plan trips to zoos when animals are not napping in the afternoon sun/heat.
2 people like this
@DeborahDiane (40296)
• Laguna Woods, California
20 May 16
@ElizabethWallace - It is a lot of fun to go places like zoos with our grandchildren, isn't it?
2 people like this
@DeborahDiane (40296)
• Laguna Woods, California
18 May 16
Yes, animals are much more active early in the day and right around closing time.
2 people like this
@ElizabethWallace (12074)
• United States
18 May 16
@DeborahDiane I once was at the zoo with my grandsons, and a member of the staff explained this to us. Good info to have.
2 people like this
@DeborahDiane (40296)
• Laguna Woods, California
18 May 16
@JudyEv - Maybe it is the same species. I certainly hope that two species of rhinos have not gone extinct. They probably consider a species extinct if there is only one left ... there are no others for it to mate with. It is very sad.
@JudyEv (340278)
• Rockingham, Australia
17 May 16
@DeborahDiane I think it was Lany said one rhino species is now considered extinct. It hadn't been seen in the wild for x years. I don't know if it's the same species. It is very sad.
1 person likes this
@cindiowens (5120)
• North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
16 May 16
I saw the ones in Washington DC. They are beautiful.
3 people like this
@DeborahDiane (40296)
• Laguna Woods, California
17 May 16
I'm glad you saw the ones in Washington, DC. They are beautiful animals, aren't they?
1 person likes this
@JohnRoberts (109846)
• Los Angeles, California
16 May 16
Fine shot. Surprised San Diego doesn't own some pandas.
2 people like this
@DeborahDiane (40296)
• Laguna Woods, California
17 May 16
Only the Chinese own the world's pandas, as far as I know. They loan them to zoos around the world and then move them around periodically for mating. That keeps the gene pool diverse.
@betlynfrnds (4069)
• United States
22 May 16
What a treat to be able to see them. They are absolutely beautiful. It is my hope that their population continues to grow and flourish. They and all animals deserve our respect and attention. Thank you so much for sharing.
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40296)
• Laguna Woods, California
23 May 16
@betlynfrnds - I agree that pandas, and all animals, deserve our respect and attention. I also hope that they continue to grow and flourish.
@BelleStarr (61102)
• United States
16 May 16
Great photo, I have never seen a panda but since the national Zoo is a lot closer for e it is something I may do this fall.
1 person likes this
@BelleStarr (61102)
• United States
17 May 16
@DeborahDiane I think we probably will if we go to Virginia this fall.
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40296)
• Laguna Woods, California
17 May 16
I hope you do go to the National Zoo. I understand it is also a top-notch zoo!
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40296)
• Laguna Woods, California
23 May 16
@jstory07 - I agree that it is very sad that there are so few pandas left in the world. I hope the population can be rebuilt.
@wiLLmaH (8802)
• Singapore, Singapore
17 May 16
@DeborahDiane Maybe that is why the congregation of panda is called "embarrassment"? Hmmmm..
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40296)
• Laguna Woods, California
17 May 16
You are absolutely right ... they do tend to be lazy. That is why I was delighted to see one walking around!
1 person likes this
@Tampa_girl7 (50288)
• United States
16 May 16
We had the good fortune to see some at the Memphis Zoo.
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40296)
• Laguna Woods, California
17 May 16
The Memphis Zoo must be a good one, because the Chinese only loan pandas to the top zoos in the world.
@TheHorse (218953)
• Walnut Creek, California
22 May 16
@DeborahDiane You know the "Panda walks into a bar and restaurant" joke?
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40296)
• Laguna Woods, California
23 May 16
@TheHorse - No ... you'll have to tell me the "Panda walks into a bar and restaurant" joke.
@DeborahDiane (40296)
• Laguna Woods, California
22 May 16
Yes, I think pandas eat chutes and leaves, but I am not sure if the specifics.
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40296)
• Laguna Woods, California
17 May 16
Ohhh! What a wonderful picture of the nursing baby panda. It was obviously well worth the wait!
1 person likes this
@norcal (4889)
• Franklinton, North Carolina
17 May 16
@DeborahDiane Don't they look relaxed? It was nice to see the pandas, but the polar bears and the orangutans were more active.
1 person likes this
@DesirousDreamer (34776)
• Peoria, Arizona
21 May 16
I saw the pandas at washington dc a few years ago and we actually got to pet them! Only about 25 people could do it. I cried I was so happy. I love pandas and I am so sad that there is not many left in the world. They are always an animal close to my heart.
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40296)
• Laguna Woods, California
22 May 16
You are so lucky you got to pet a panda! Cool!
@DesirousDreamer (34776)
• Peoria, Arizona
24 May 16
@DeborahDiane I know! I am always so lucky when I go to zoo I got to hold ocelots and feed lynxes. It is so awesome!
@jillybean1222 (6407)
•
16 May 16
YES! my son used to beg to go to a zoo with panda bears! i remember telling him we would try to go to the memphis zoo & then it didn't happen... ( i think it was memphis)... now here we are 4 years later... he's 14 & probably doesn't care so much... but i would STILL love to take him... i know he's be filled with at least a LITTLE bit of wonder.r...
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40296)
• Laguna Woods, California
17 May 16
I think people of all ages feel a little bit of wonder when they see the pandas!
@DeborahDiane (40296)
• Laguna Woods, California
17 May 16
That would have been amazing to see one in a zoo in China. Funny, but we have visited a wide variety of countries, as well as every state in the United States, and never thought about visiting a zoo when we travel. We'll have to think about that on our next trip!
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40296)
• Laguna Woods, California
17 May 16
I'm glad you enjoyed the photo of the panda!
1 person likes this
@Castlerock34 (2259)
• Minneapolis, Minnesota
17 May 16
How cool is that, it is amazing what they are doing to keep the pandas around. I would love to see the pandas.
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40296)
• Laguna Woods, California
17 May 16
I was lucky to get a picture of him moving around. Most of the day, they are are not very active.
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