Hi everyone

Have been having a wonderful time here in China and being able to see so many beneficial things that will help us in the future.

We have met up with Luo Bo again, one of the staff members that came over to Adelaide with Wang Wang and Fu Ni. It has been so nice to catch up with him, he even remembers some of the Aussie slang we taught him....when we thank him for anything he always replies with a big smile on his face and says "no worries mate".

It is so nice to see the wonderful working relationships that we have with CCRCGP and all the staff we have gotten to know.

Luo Bo has been very hospitable and has helped us with any questions we have needed answered as well as showing us around a bit more. We have been taken to the the International Panda Paradise housing area which is currently holding Tai Shan, a male panda from Washington Zoo, Fu Long, Vienna Zoo's first cub and Zhen Zhen, a female from San Diego Zoo.

We have also been lucky enough to go and meet Fu Ni's mother, Long Xin, and Father, Lu Lu. Fu Ni looks so much like her father (see photo 2)! On the day Luo Bo was showing us around we were unable to see Wang Wang's father, Lin Lin, as he had just left for a very a short trip to another zoo for breeding! He arrived back a few days ago and so we have been able to see him as well (photo 1). Of course we were unable to meet Wang Wang's mother, Mao Mao, as she was killed in the huge earthquake that hit China in 2008.

It has been great to see their parents. Many of the pandas here look so much like their parents. If you look the photo of Fu Long, the panda from Vienna you may notice his big beautiful ears! If you look back at my previous blog while I was in Vienna you will find a photo of Long Hui, Fu Long's father... he has the same big fluffy ears! It is so nice to see the genetic lines being passed down.

Will write again soon!

Simone
Senior Panda Keeper, Adelaide Zoo