Pandacam Addict

For the last few years now, I've been able to escape most of my daily stresses by watching the online Pandacams that are on the Zoo Atlanta, National Zoo (DC), and San Diego Zoo websites. It started with Tai Shan at the National Zoo in 2006. Next came Mei Lan in 2006 at Zoo Atlanta and, most recently, Xi Lan born this year at Zoo Atlanta. I got my friend Kim addicted to the Pandacam

It's relaxing to watch these panda cubs as they grow and learn about their world. There's something very innocent about it in the not-so-innocent world we live in. It's not just the cubs. We also get to see the silly side of their mothers as they play with their rambunctious cubs. I just noticed yesterday on the Zoo Atlanta site that, due to limited resources, they are shutting down their Pandacam at the end of the year. Xi Lan, who I call Fuzz, has a lot of growing up to do in the next 3 weeks. We will still be able to get updates and photos but it won't be the same.

Hopefully there will be a new cub at National Zoo in the summer of 2009 for us to watch. The San Diego Zoo had a new cub in 2007 but their video isn't as good as the other zoos...it's not a smooth streaming video and I find it difficult to watch. Better than nothing I guess so maybe I'll tune in there occasionally.