Tag Archives: Xiao Liwu

It’s a Beautiful Tail!

You knew it would come to this. Following the scripts of the various debates that we have been bludgeoned with, politicians trading insults…Liars lying about previous lies, BEARS BEHAVING BADLY!!!!! Is this the panda kindergarten? A Beautiful Tail? Looks a little short to me.

“This is not a loser tail!!!!!”

Are Bob and Pinky reaching a new consensus? Could Bob be inspired to concede and get behind Pinky’s candidacy? Stay tuned! anything can happen where pandas are involved.

Daddy Panda News for Father’s Day

Meanwhile among real pandas and the people who love them, we have just learned sad news from San Diego Zoo. The rock star, stud muffin wild guy panda with one short ear and extra furry feet, father of five fabulous cubbies here at SDZ, Gao Gao, has been diagnosed with a very bad heart condition. They think he is around 26. Being wild born, they don’t know his exact age. He has been in somewhat compromised health for a few years now and they have been monitoring his heart condition carefully. We don’t know how long he has left, but I can assure you that the veterinary staff at SDZ is doing everything they can do for him.

Gao Gao has an interesting story of how he came to live at the San Diego Zoo. As a two year old, he was found injured and brought to one of the panda research centers to be treated. After he healed, he was released. But finding that being fed and waited upon was far superior to having to fight for territory and scarce resources, he returned to the center and asked to be readmitted. Eventually, he went to live in San Diego with the Beautiful Bai Yun and together they had five cubs, the last of which is Xiao Liwu, known to his friends and fans as Mr. Wu.

A panda fun fact about Gao Gao is that he has one short ear, most likely the result of a fight when he was a wild cub fending for himself. It is the reason my cartoon version of Mr. Wu always has his left ear taped down! It is a tribute to his dad!

I know many people who have not been to a zoo in over 30 years have an antiquated and unfortunate preconception about zoos. yes, there are still some of those horrible zoos with too small cages and depressed animals, but most zoos in North America, Japan, and Europe have taken huge strides in providing comfort and engagement for their animals, and San Diego Zoo is one of the best. Yes, it would be wonderful if panda’s traditional roaming areas were still intact, but the virgin forested areas where they once roamed are reduced to a tiny percentage of what they once were. But the pandas that live in these well staffed and well appointed zoos live the life of Riley (whoever he is) and generally live 10 to 15 years longer than their wild counterparts.

Happy Fathers Day to those who celebrate their relationship with their dads as something wonderful and nurturing. and for those who don’t…well…go have a cuppycake or two and think about someone who loved you.

Be the Bear
Bob T. panda

An Embarrassment Of Pandas

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Recently, it was brought to my attention, that the collective noun for a group of pandas is an embarrassment of pandas. I find this highly suspect, not to mention somewhat demeaning to pandas. Is this a ploy by certain political factions to imply that pandas are not fit for office? The Hmmmph! factor for this little piece of so called news is extremely high. What’s so embarrassing about being a panda, I’d like to know! well, yes, we are kind of messy eaters, and not much to brag about in the romance department, but we are awfully cute, don’t you think?

Meanwhile happy happy happy news from Belgium yesterday, where Hao Hao and Xing Hui are the proud parents of a bouncing baby cub! Fingers and paws are being crossed that the little pink bundle of joy survives its first days and weeks. Panda cubs weigh about four ounces at birth and have no fur!

So to celebrate this blessed event in Belgium, I thought I would share some ‘toons about….baby pandas! Huzzah! Let’s start with my first baby panda, the ineffable Wu Self!

“Howdy do! I’m Mr. Wu! Who are you?”

“Wu calls his dance, ‘Ode to a Weaf’ “

Moving on, we have the early days of her pink (but slightly dangerous) self, Princess Pinky!

Pinky tests her powers….

And who could forget the early days of Meihem?

The first appearance of the Meihems!

And how happy we were when Bubba arrived in DC…

These paws are made for walking….eventually.

Feed me, Mama!

Don’t forget to tune in Sunday when we continue with our coverage of the Mr. Bun Disappearance!

Be the Bear!
Bob T Panda

Fabulous Furry Wu-Day!

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Having just returned from the Panda fest at the Pandiego Zoo, I just had to share a few more ‘toons about the very wonderful Wu Self for fabulous Furry Wu-Day! As a side note, when I was there at the zoo, I gave a copy of The Book of Wu to the panda keepers and narrators, and when they looked at it, they were amazed that someone had written stories about Wu. Pretty cool, huh?

So, here are more ‘toons, celebrating the ever popular Mr. Wu!

“Wu calls his dance, ‘Ode to a Weaf’ “

An explorer’s work is never done.

Don’t you love “rear shots” of baby pandas?

Whatever could be in the box the panda kindergarten is delivering to Mr. Wu?

Of course, if you want to read all the Mr. wu stories, you know the drill! Buy my book! Huzzah! Remember, it’s book 4 of The Panda Chronicles: The Book of Wu; Available at Amazon!

Be the Bear!
Bob T. Panda

And Speaking of Baby Pandas…

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What? Weren’t we speaking of baby pandas…? Well, with all these incredibly cute pictures of the adorable baby Bubba (aka Bei Bei) at the national Zoo this week, it is most difficult NOT to have baby pandas on the brain.

THIS is your brain on pandas. Any questions?

If there was a cute-o-meter installed at the exit to the panda house at The National Zoo in Washington DC, it would have broken under the strain of so much cuteness.

But Bubba is not the only American Panda to have ever trod the trail towards the bright lights of stardom. This week, Fabulous Furry Friday brings you highlights of some of our other favorite panda cubs!

“Howdy do! I’m Mr. Wu! Who are you?”

For some reason, panda cubs are fascinated by fallen leaves…

“Wu calls his dance, ‘Ode to a Weaf’ “

And Pinky became her…um…pinkitudinal self very early…

Such a little darling! How could her big brother resist spoiling her?

And then there was the gender reclassification of the Meihem twins of Cublanta…

downloadable paper panda upgrade

Ready for panda kindergarten!

So remember to check in with us on Sunday, when we bring you live coverage of Bubba’s debut to the public, which will actually be occurring the day before. Okay, okay, so it’s really not live. What can I say? We are a low budget operation here.

Keep being the bear, and buy stuff with pandas on it!
Bob T Panda

Fabulous Furry Friday presents:

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Fabulous Furry Friday wanted to celebrate Bubba’s debut to the public, but we have…um…been busy with other stuff. we promise we will get right on it, but in the meantime, here are some of The Panda Chronicles’ favorite panda cubs in their own debuts!

Oh, and if you happen to be descending on Washington DC’s most celebrated pandas for today’s opening, be courteous to your fellow panda fans. #Don’tBehaveLike Pinky

Thank you all for coming! Buy my book here!

Pinky answers difficult questions from the press in her own way.

Sweet dreams, little bears!

Atlanta twin panda cubs Mei Lun and Mei Huan and older prother Po

Huzzah! a guest appearance by little Po!

Stay tuned for more from the saga at #OpenLateGate and exciting coverage of Bubba’s debut to the public! I’m sure Pinky would never consider using this as an opportunity to put forth her own agenda!

(psst! hey! why not vote for bob?)

Be the bear!
Bob T Panda

Day 29: We Are So Ready for 2015 to be Over

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I don’t know about you, but I am so ready for 2015 to be over. Actually, with the upcoming election season swinging into full speed ahead mode, I might be ready for 2016 to be over too.

Apropos of nothing, I would like to announce my Lifetime Achievement Award I just received for…going to Pittsburgh! Twice! In one year! Friends who I originally met while living in western MA, now live in Pittsburgh, which are my childhood stomping grounds. As writers of one of the only amusing holiday letters I have ever read, they started a Roll of Honor some years back, which they award to people who have come to visit them in the various cities where they have lived over the last 30 years. Various achievement levels are obtained depending whether you just drop by for dinner, or stay over at their house, or meet up with them in their travels. Because I had to make two trips to Pittsburgh (and maybe because I hounded John incessantly about making this years Roll of Honor, I got the aforementioned Lifetime Achievement Award.

Huzzah!

I really am easily amused. and now…..

No WONDER I didn’t get any presents!

F-F-F-FI-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-VE Cuppycaaaaaaakes!

Are you still singing?

As we get ready to say buh bye to 2015, let me tell you a little of what will be in store for next year…
Pinky will comment on the kerfuffle at the National Zoo, caused by Zoo Director Dennis Kelly’s decision to change the opening and closing hours at the zoo.
Bob and Mehitabel will discuss the plans to try to bring pandas to the other Washington.
Pinky will outshine Bob in her campaigning efforts, and Bob will try to gain an advantage.
Plans to revise “The Case of the Picturesque Panda” into a graphic novel will continue.
Bob will continue to lament the lack of a MacArthur Foundation Genius Grant in the field of Panda Satire.

It’s going to be a panda-ful year, and I hope you will continue to visit all of us at The Institute for Contemporary Panda Satire!

Day 27: Countdown to the New Year Begins

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Could it really be true? Could we be starting the countdown to the new year already?

Well, yes we could. In some ways the year flew by, and in other ways it was excruciatingly long. We have a new panda cub in Washington DC, twins in Toronto, and now the faintest glimmer of the possibility of pandas in the Pandacific Northwest. Huzzah!

And now, for the last new cartoon of the new year, I offer this, as my wish for the new year, probably guaranteed to delight and annoy, in equal measure. Feel free to tell me what you think in the comments, but I won’t post anything really mean or abusive. Other than that, have at it!

Consider this my Werld Peez Pandifesto

No fairs unka bob, indeed!

Well, why the heck not?

Isn’t that just the cutest thing?

Vote for Pinky. Do YOU want to explain why you didn’t?

Hey! Why NOT vote for Bob? Peace, prosperity, and buy stuff with pandas!
Be the Bear,
Bob T. Panda

Day 26: 31 Days of Pandas Continues

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So did Santa bring you everything you wanted?

No, me neither. But right around the corner is a brand new year, all shiny and untouched by tragedy and meanness. A new year full of hope and possibility.

I had hoped to have some early sketches of my new work in progress, but I am not that far along yet. You can be sure that when I get there, I will be sharing it right here!

On January 3rd, I will go back to my regular schedule, so no more pandas every day, (boo! hiss!) BUT, two new ‘toons per week, plus encore presentations for Fabulous Furry Fridays (yay! Huzzah!) There’s something to be said for that, right?

So sit back and have some leftover fruitcake and get ready to sing along as 31 Days of Pandas brings you day 6 of the 12 Days of Crispmoss!

Oh…could you not sing while eating leftover fruitcake? Especially not with your computer’s webcam turned on… Ick!

HOW many more days are there?

Are you singing?

Don’t forget to tune in tomorrow for a brand new cartoon, starring all of your favorite pandas! While this will be the last NEW ‘toon of the year, I am already hard at work writing and drawing new cartoons starring all of you favorite pandas! I hope I will see you all then!

Be the Bear,
Bob T Panda

Day 25: Merry Christmas to you all!

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Have yourself a pandy little Christmas….

Babette at the ice skating rink in Rockefeller center a few years ago with her good friend Frances A.

A Merry Christmas to you all! Thank you for stopping by and being the bears, thank you for buying my books and stuff with pandas on it, thank you for thinking I’m funny, and telling me when you think I’m not. (Not that I pay any attention to that, but I still appreciate hearing that I’ve seriously annoyed you!)

The world has gotten smaller and farther apart all at the same time. It turns out that our friends we make here in cyberland, are just as important to us as our friends in the real world. Sometimes we only find that out when we lose one, and then it is too late. My holiday wish is that more people choose hope, peace, and black and white bears over hating and killing. Oh, and that there should be more cuppycakes that don’t make us..um..more pandaesque, but still taste really good.

Which reminds me…

FIIIIIVE cuppycakes! ( Sing this one REALLY LOUD!!!!!!)

whew!

And because I’ve been very very very (mostly) good, can we please have pandas move to Washington State?

I hope you get to spend today (and every day, actually) with people you love, eating cake. Hey! bears do not live by bamboo alone!

Be the Bear,
Bob T Panda

Day 18: Today, I am a Bear

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We wouldn’t want to appear to be biased towards one holiday over another here at the Panda Chronicles, so even though the holiday of Pandukkah is now over (thank you for that, Nina L.) we celebrate that turning point in any young panda’s life, the Bear Mitzvah! 31 days of Pandas proudly presents…

Today, I am a Bear…

Today, you are a bear.

…if I were a panda, yadda dah dah da- da- da- AAARGH! I can’t stop!!!!! You’re welcome.

Meanwhile, the debates go on….

I’m sure you can trust this cat!

Be the Bear,
Bob T. Panda