Zoo Atlanta's new Giant Pandas prepare for debut

We've got to talk pandas. Something really big is happening at Zoo Atlanta right now. And if you've got questions about the new pandas, now is your time to ask them. There's a QR code right there at the bottom of your screen. You can scan it, send in your questions, and we will let you know. Ping Ping and Fu Shuang are making their public debut on November 6th. First, though, we want to know how they're doing right now and if they're excited to make their public debut. So let's get out live to Dr. Gina Ferry from Zoo Atlanta. And Dr. Ferry, it is wonderful to see you. How are you today? I'm great. Thank you, Paul. I actually had the chance to spend some time with the pandas this morning. So what better way to start your morning? I know. I'm so jealous. Well, tell me how they are doing today. They are doing great. Ping Ping has been, you know, I think we've said this all along. He adjusted so quickly. He's adventurous. He climbs on the different structures and he really he just loves to eat. we've started to expose him to more noise and sounds and people and he just today he even just took a break looked at the people and then just went right back to eating oh I love that yeah and on the other hand she is still quieter and I will say actually more skeptical of the people watching and people around but you know she actually is still doing great she was napping in the day room structures this morning well so that brings up a question because I know from my many, many visits to Zoo Atlanta. I mean, you watch these animals very closely and care for them so closely, and you know if they're ready to go out so that they can interact and see the public. So what are you looking for with these two pandas to know for sure, okay, they are good to go, we're going to introduce them to the public officially? We have over the last couple weeks and really starting this week since their health quarantine period has ended, exposing them to things that we know that they will see and hear as they are making their debut to guests. So our staff have started to get previews. And while it's been fantastic for the team, it's also allowed the pandas to see more people. We've still had final finishing touches to the habitat. So maybe a tool here and there, a leaf blower. We've been working on the lighting, all of that. Our expert animal care teams are watching the pandas reaction while all of this is happening to make sure that again we're not interrupting their feeding and their eating and their sleep schedule. Well let's talk about the feeding and the eating schedule because food is the most important part of my day and I think it probably is for them as well. We just saw some video of it looked like some bamboo being chowed on so what are they eating these days? Yeah so mostly bamboo. Two of our local varieties are really their kind of mainstay and favorites. We are able to throw in a few other species of bamboo in there a little bit. Turns out Fushuang really likes one type that she eats at night. So maybe that's her midnight snack. We've introduced them to what we call Panda Biscuits. It's a biscuit that gives them a little bit more fiber and some more vitamins and minerals. And also we've started to introduce more apple. Eventually we hope to use that apple more with their training. They're still getting used to our apple. And actually, the team told me this morning, Ping Ping has always loved apple before he even came here. But again, Fushuang was a little, it wasn't her favorite treat and snack. But I guess the team did a whole test with six different varieties of apples. And of course, you know, we're in the fall, so what better time to do that? And they said this morning, Fuji apples were her favorite. Oh, I love that. We love an opinionated panda with some strong views on food. let's talk for a minute about what people can expect next month when they get to come to the zoo to look at the pandas what what is the habitat and what is sort of the public space going to look like i think our community and visitors are going to be thrilled to see the new panda habitat i know we've given a few sneak peeks um but really you need to come and experience it um again with this beautiful fall weather it's open there's beautiful plantings and vegetation uh we have two our outside yards look great and you'll see a panda outside hopefully because of this nice cool weather our day rooms are double the size of what they were previously and so it's a whole different experience they have so much more space and I think we're really excited for the guests in our community to come visit and so I just say be patient come spend the day at the zoo we expect there to be lines we really hope because we know so many people are excited to see them and we're going to give everyone the opportunity to really just spend time and enjoy um pandas doing what they do best they will be eating and sleeping probably when everyone is visiting and it never fails to surprise me that people literally want to sit all day and watch pandas do you still have like the streaming panda cam that we can put on at work and keep an eye on them panda cam will be returning we have not released a date and format yet okay we're still having lots of internal discussions and conversations but it will be there we can't wait to show it for our guests it is there's something very zen and calming about watching pandas do almost nothing there is i love having it on just on one monitor at my desk and just knowing that they're doing okay and keeping an eye on them we do have a question coming in from a viewer right now so i want to put that up on screen samuel wants to know how much do they weigh right now what is the general size of these pandas do we know oh my goodness you know you're asking me a question that i don't know the exact number for we do weigh them um almost daily yeah and i don't know the exact number of kilograms so someone is gonna have to write in and check back with us so we can give the exact answer yeah we'll figure it out obviously they still have growing to do right um so i think that we we are they're at a consistent good weight okay okay before we let you go is there any like specific moment that you've had yet with the pandas that have just made you smile that really comes to your mind Oh, yeah. I think the first time I got to meet Ping Ping in person, he is so curious and he really does. I don't want to say interact with people, but he really is interested. And again, I use the word adventurous before. He's curious. He wants to know what's going on. But at the same time, he's always doing it with a piece of bamboo in his hand while he's eating. That is a panda after my own heart. Any panda that likes a midnight snack, I heard you say earlier, that's my spirit animal. Dr. Ferry, I cannot wait to get out there and see the pandas along with everybody else. Thank you for this update. This has made our day. Great. Thank you, Paul. And I can't wait for you and everyone to come see us. Yeah, we can't wait to. All right, Dr. Gina Ferry, we so appreciate that.