No, not that king. Or not that king either, and definitely not the person who thinks he’s a king. I am, of course, referring to Otis. King of the Katmai Park, a bear to be reckoned with in the pecking order of the gang at Brooks Falls. Otis is now believed to be 27, which is old for a bear in captivity, and very old for a bear in the wild.
I read this most lovely tribute on Fezbook here. If it doesn’t bring a tear to your eye, you may already be dead. (I tried to link to this post, but since I couldn’t make it work probably due to some fez book noises, I added a screenshot instead, with the author of the post included)
Of course, ZooNooZ had to send their ace correspondents up to Alaska to interview the bears gathering in the park!
Mikey, too, is devoted to Otis.
Mikey (to Otis): You can have all my fish, buddy!
Be the Bear Bob T waiting for the next indictment Panda
I could go on and on, and I’m sure I will at some point, but I wanted to get this out to you without further ado. Tongue in cheek merriment aside, this is a sad day for our history, to realize how close we actually came to descending into fascism. I’m thinking about how glad I am to have all of you here with me, on this wild and terrifying ride.
Be the Bear, Bob T Democracy is worth saving Panda
Apologies! No new ‘toon today. Life got in the way of my time at the panda ‘toon table. So that you are not without something to chuckle over while you wait for any indictments to be handed down, here are some of my most favorite Wu ‘toons from over the years.
“Howdy do! I’m Mr. Wu! Who are you?”“Wu calls his dance, ‘Ode to a Weaf’ “An explorer’s work is never done.episode 1524) Dis. Will. Not. Stand!It’s so hard to be cool when you still live with your mom.
I hope these will tide you over till the next new ‘toon! (Hopefully coming Thursday!)
Be the Bear! Bob T is on indictment watch Panda
BREAKING NOOZ! MITTENS INDICTED ON ELECTION INTERFERENCE! 6 AS YET UNNAMED CO-CONSPIRATORS!!!!!
Now where were we?…Oh yes. Josie (Frank and Mikey’s sister and Pookie’s mom) has arrived. Lun Lun and Yang Yang snuck off from the goodbye party for Ya Ya, leaving Six and Sebben at the Panda House in DC (Bless their hearts!) Mei Xiang has been trying to figure out where to put everyone including Six and Sebben.
And then there is the new penthouse suite that Pinky had built for herself…
If none of this makes sense or rings a bell, just go back a month or two in the archives and catch up. What are you waiting for?
Oh no! Six and Sebben hav hacked Pinky’s security system and hijacked her elevator! And Mr. Bun went with them!
Oh those wild and wacky sea going mammals! If it’s not orcas attacking boats off the coasts of Spain and Scotland, or swimming around the Puget Sound with a fish on their head, it’s surf board stealing otters in California!
Let’s go surfing’ now Let an otter show you how Come on a safari with me!
Hey! I wouldn’t even have to change the acronym! Pinky: wait a minute! Dis is da PANDA chronicles! Pookie: it could be da pookie chronicles Pinky: no it couldn’t Frank: why not? Mikey: yeah. Why not?
Inspired by an offering in this year’s Zoo Auction! A Zoo Encounter with the Pookies! (I’m pretty sure you don’t get to go swimming with them, but maybe?)
Meanwhile, back in the Panda House, Mei is trying to juggle room assignments, head off fights between Six and Sebben and well, anyone else there, and keep Josie happy while keeping Frank and Mikey out of her way. Whew! I’d say she has her paws full.
Hold onto your boo shoots. I think this summer is going to get crazy between indictments and panda room assignments.
I’m still kind of having a moment after the news of Judy Young’s sudden departure so you’ll have to endure yet another rant from the fine cats and pandas at ZooNooZ about all things political.
I swear. There ought to be some kind of test to run for office.
Be the Bear Bob T I’m sure it looked just like this Panda
Hey everyone, friends to bears and all. Popping in on a Friday with a sad announcement. I just learned that my dear friend, friend to bears, and especially friend to Princess Pinky Bao Bao has departed from this world.
Judy Young was among the first of the panda people I met IRL when I stepped out from behind the ‘toons to go to the National Zoo to meet the real life panda fans for the first time in 2012. Tai Shan had already moved to China. Pinky Bao Bao had not yet been born. I remember coming to the zoo, going to the Panda House and Cyndi Anderson picked me out of the crowd with her innate panda sense.
Judy was among the people who I met that day, there in the back room at Lillie’s restaurant, just beyond the gates of the zoo. In the 11 years since we met, Judy has been a staunch supporter of all my creative pursuits. She hosted me several times when I visited DC. She was an extremely talented photographer, and like the panda whisperer Mollie Rivera, had an unerring instinct for soulful photographs of our beloved bears.
The real world is a little poorer today. I am reminded that life can be short. That we never know when our last chance to tell someone how much they mean to us and how much they have added to our life. I am reminded that I have one last person in my corner, having been so careless as to let them slip off the earth with no word of farewell.
I hate that the pandemic years robbed me of almost 3 years of seeing my friends at zoos around the country and the world. I’m mad that I won’t get to see her when I hope to visit our pandas one last time before they go to China. I’m sad she won’t have another chance to go to China and see the pandas.
Fuck cancer.
As you know, pandas are big fans of Shakespeare.
If you feel like it, please feel free to share your thoughts and memories of Judy Young in the comments. I know I’m not alone in being devastated at the news that she is gone.
