Two Pandas

Up at 6.30 to use the shower early while the water is hot and there is still water.  In and out quickly ,although the water is hot the air coming in the window is fresh.  A sweet warm coffee is welcome, although at home I would not have sugar I had only been able to find sachets of Nescafe in the shops which had the sugar already in.  I have a adapted quickly to the taste as there is not much choice of hot drinks. Even the tea  we have every day with our meals although very nice is always  luke warm and as the room is cold if you do not drink it straight away it soon goes cold., you cant beat wrapping your hands around a mug of something that is steaming early on a chilly morning.  To add to the sweetness, three slices of sweet bread toasted with jam.  At this stage I am thinking how nice a bowl of cereal would be but tuck into what there is as I have to be at work for eight.
Today I meet Ya Ya. A volunteer left at the weekend who had been there four weeks so now I would be looking after Xing Xing and Ya Ya.  Ya Ya is only  three years old and was born at the panda rescue center.  She is a real character and has a sense of mischief about her.

Ya Ya had been previously trying to escape from her outside enclosure so she had been moved to the one next to Xing Xing.

The first time Ya Ya was let out into the new enclosure the keeper kept a close eye and removed any branches on any trees that would of helped her with her escape plan.

All watching Ya Ya explore her new home.

I had two lots of milk to make up in now and both Xing Xing and Ya Ya  rattle the cage waiting for me to mix up the powder.  Ya Ya became inpatient  and decided to pick up her water bowl and throw it, one look at her cute face and you had to smile.  Ya Ya would also sit and slide the connecting door backwards and forwards making a loud crashing sound and occasionally glancing in my direction to see if she had my attention .  

One of my jobs was to carry the bamboo through the tunnel to the outside enclosure and place it against a bank ready for them to pick the leaves off.  After I had finished all my cleaning I go to the outside and watch them eat the bamboo that I have left for them.

The pandas pick individual leaves off and store them in the side of their mouth

When they have enough to make a decent size bundle they then twist them with their paw , make them into a tight bundle and then eat them.

This is Ya Ya enjoying eating outside in her new enclosure. You can see the leaves collecting in the side of the mouth, then her munch the bundle in the second picture.

 Ya Ya was distracted by a fly, she followed it and ended up falling backwards!

Watching the pandas eat was so relaxing , they did not rush just took their time occasionally looking around, unless there was a tour group visiting it was usually so quiet you could just hear the bamboo rustling and birds singing .  It is easy to just watch these animals all day.