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Happy 14th birthday, Tai Shan.
Hat tip: I was throwing out old newspapers and magazines this morning, and I ran across an article in Smithsonian about Tai Shan. I really should clean more often.
Learning from Tai Shan
The giant panda born at Washington, D.C.’s National Zoo has charmed animal lovers. Now he’s teaching scientists more than they had expected
By Laura Tangley
Smithsonian Magazine | Subscribe
June 2006
Follow us: @SmithsonianMag on Twitter
The giant panda born at Washington, D.C.’s National Zoo has charmed animal lovers. Now he’s teaching scientists more than they had expected
By Laura Tangley
Smithsonian Magazine | Subscribe
June 2006
Follow us: @SmithsonianMag on Twitter
Tai Shan (giant panda)
Tai Shan
泰山
Tai Shan on June 10, 2007
Species: Giant panda
Sex: Male
Born: July 9, 2005 (age 13); National Zoological Park, Washington, D.C. United States
Residence: China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda: Dujiangyan Base, Sichuan Province People's Republic of China
Parent(s): Mei Xiang, Tian Tian
Tai Shan (Chinese: 泰山; pinyin: Tài Shān, pronounced [tʰâiʂán], also known as Butterstick after birth and before naming) is a giant panda born at the National Zoo in Washington D.C. on July 9, 2005 at 3:41 AM. He is the first panda cub born at the National Zoo to survive for more than a few days.
....
Media attention
Tai Shan in his favorite tree in June 2006
Tai Shan and mother in February 2006
Tai Shan made his public debut on December 8, 2005, after the National Zoo issued 13,000 free timed entry tickets. These tickets were gone within 2 hours, and some were quickly offered for sale on eBay and craigslist, with an asking price as high as $500 apiece.
The cub became widely popular; he was frequently mentioned on D.C.-oriented websites, such as DCist and Wonkette, as well as traditional media outlets, including National Public Radio, The Washingtonian, The Washington Post, and The Washington Times. Fans set up sites selling cub-related merchandise, including one partnered with cafepress.com that donated approximately $1,900 in profits to the National Zoo.
The panda cub was featured in an Animal Planet documentary titled A Panda Is Born, which follows the National Zoo's giant panda breeding efforts and Tai Shan's birth. A few months after Tai Shan's first birthday, Animal Planet premiered a documentary titled Baby Panda's First Year, which followed him during his first 12 months at the National Zoo.
Tai Shan
泰山
Tai Shan on June 10, 2007
Species: Giant panda
Sex: Male
Born: July 9, 2005 (age 13); National Zoological Park, Washington, D.C. United States
Residence: China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda: Dujiangyan Base, Sichuan Province People's Republic of China
Parent(s): Mei Xiang, Tian Tian
Tai Shan (Chinese: 泰山; pinyin: Tài Shān, pronounced [tʰâiʂán], also known as Butterstick after birth and before naming) is a giant panda born at the National Zoo in Washington D.C. on July 9, 2005 at 3:41 AM. He is the first panda cub born at the National Zoo to survive for more than a few days.
....
Media attention
Tai Shan in his favorite tree in June 2006
Tai Shan and mother in February 2006
Tai Shan made his public debut on December 8, 2005, after the National Zoo issued 13,000 free timed entry tickets. These tickets were gone within 2 hours, and some were quickly offered for sale on eBay and craigslist, with an asking price as high as $500 apiece.
The cub became widely popular; he was frequently mentioned on D.C.-oriented websites, such as DCist and Wonkette, as well as traditional media outlets, including National Public Radio, The Washingtonian, The Washington Post, and The Washington Times. Fans set up sites selling cub-related merchandise, including one partnered with cafepress.com that donated approximately $1,900 in profits to the National Zoo.
The panda cub was featured in an Animal Planet documentary titled A Panda Is Born, which follows the National Zoo's giant panda breeding efforts and Tai Shan's birth. A few months after Tai Shan's first birthday, Animal Planet premiered a documentary titled Baby Panda's First Year, which followed him during his first 12 months at the National Zoo.