Possibly the Best Job on the Planet

It’s been panda-monium at the San Diego Zoo since the arrival on Aug. 21 of Hua Mei, the first giant panda born in the Western Hemisphere since 1990. Hua Mei’s mother, Bai Yun, demonstrated marvelous maternal instincts and the baby survived her critical first three months like a champ.

Now nearly 8 months old, Hua Mei weighs a whopping 33.7 pounds and loves to spend her nights in the bamboo habitat at the Pacific Bell Giant Panda Research Station, while her mother generally opts for their cozy behind-the-scenes bedroom area.

Panda maniacs have been able to keep up with the daily development of Hua Mei on the San Diego Zoo’s panda cam at https://www.sandiegozoo.org and to see in person the zoo’s three pandas each day.

Kathy Hawk has the enviable job of being one of the keepers of Bai Yun, Hua Mei and the baby’s father, Shi Shi.

Hawk talked this week about taking care of these amazing endangered species from China.

Question: It sounds like you have the best job in the world.

Answer: It is definitely a wonderful high. All the keepers, including myself, we go to work with a big smile on our faces.

Q: How many panda keepers are there?

A: Originally, we had three full-time keepers, but since Hua Mei’s birth we have six full-time keepers now. The reason being that we have people working shifts during the day, but we do have keepers working overnight that observe her as well, taking very important behavioral data.

Q: How does one become a panda keeper?

A: I have been with the zoo for 14 years. I have a degree in equine science and management. When I was much younger I was thinking of vet school, but I was too sensitive about animal death and I turned my energies to exotics. I took on a job as a grounds attendant when I first started at the zoo. Eventually I was hired on as a temporary keeper. I practically took care of every animal in the zoo. Finally, I got a permanent position working with the bears and large cats. When the pandas were arriving, I was [asked] by my supervisor if I wanted to work with them. How could you say no? I was chosen because of my bear experience. It seemed logical to have a bear-related keeper with them.

Q: What type of interaction do you have with Bai Yun and Shi Shi?

A: As far as any close contact, we don’t do that. They are a bear species and a wild animal. But we do have some very close associations with the animals. We have a procedure cage. We put Bai Yun in what is called a squeeze cage. We have been able to train her to liedown on her back. We use positivefood rewards and a clicker as a reinforcer and we can hand-feed her through the bars. If she is lying there very quietly, she allows the veterinarians to run an ultrasound on her belly. We started this months in advance, even before we knew she was actually carrying a baby, to get her used to this. We have been actually milking her so we have been able to obtain milk samples from her. We have made these procedures very nonthreatening to her. We have never had any aggressions with her. She actually looks forward to the sessions. We have a little back scratcher in the station there [that we use] after the sessions. She loves that.

Q: Bai Yun seems to have a great rapport with her daughter.

A: She’s wonderful. Since this was her first cub, there was a lot of speculation as to how she was going to be as a mother. But the keeper staff didn’t have any concerns because we knew her well. We knew if she was given the appropriate conditions--the main thing was to keep everything quiet and low-key for her and keep her secure--we felt she would figure it out on her own because she is so smart. She proved us right. When that baby was born, she was on the ground just seconds before she looked at her, picked her up and cradled her like she should.

Q: How old was Hua Mei when you first held her?

A: My first time was when she was 2 weeks. That little tiny thingin the palm of your hand--I was scared to death. Any time we did do any hands-on with Hua Mei, especially in the early months, it was very, very briefly because one of the last things in the world we wanted was for Bai Yun to be overly stressed. Now that Hua Mei is older she could care less [if we hold her]. As long as she has food she’s happy. But in those early months, we were careful to wear plastic gloves as well, so our scent wouldn’t be on the baby.

Q: Hua Mei has a mind of her own.

A: She can be stubborn and there is a very playful side to her. I know on some of the vet exams now she is much bigger and a lot livelier and she loves to play. One of the things she loves to do is chew on your hand. So a lot of the times when the veterinarian comes in to do exams we always have to make sure we have a little toy with us so we can occupy her time so she is not chewing our fingers. She has some pretty sharp teeth now.

Q: What type of vocalizations do pandas have?

A: Pandas have a unique vocabulary. The most common [thing you might hear] is a bleat, which sounds very goat-like. That is considered more of a social greeting. A honk is an indication of stress or distress. One I hear quite often from Hua Mei, especially when mom is trying to get her out of the tree, is a squawk. Hua Mei is going “Meeee.” It is like “No.”

BE THERE

Panda exhibit at the San Diego Zoo, open 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. daily. Park Boulevard at Zoo Place, San Diego. Included in zoo admission: $18 for 12 and over; $8 for ages 3-11; and free for 2 and under. Admission hours 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily (grounds open until 6 p.m.). Information (619) 234-3153; panda hotline (800) MY PANDA.