Newest Tai Shan Update from the Zoo

From the Giant Panda Page at the National Zoo:

March 7, 2006: Tai's Latest Trick
Tai Shan has a new trick. He climbs up the mesh barrier between the keeper area and the yard to hang out and try to get ahold of any conduit or metal he can reach from this position. The first time he climbed the mesh, he let go and fell about six feet to the walkway. Undeterred, Tai shook himself off and went right back up again. This time he slid down with his claws dragging the mesh to slow his descent to the ground. The third time he went up only half the distance. Lessons learned, he now climbs all the way up and down the mesh regularly.

Tai and his keepers are pretty sure he will be able to get up another tree soon. We will need to pick some strategic trees that will allow him to climb while staying in view. The trees will be clothed in leaves soon, and that will add to the challenge of keeping Tai visible for his audience. We may also add some more vertical perching to his enclosures. We all chuckle when we recall the time we could not find Mei Xiang, shortly after her arrival at the Zoo. Just when we were getting worried, we remembered to look up. There was little Miss Mei, hanging like a bat from a pipe in the ceiling, perfectly comfortable upside down, from her newly discovered perch.