BY KARA FOWLER
Staff Writer
During the late October journeys of Xiao, the giant panda keepers were cleaning out his indoor enclosure. He was placed in an enclosure with his mother, Mei Xiang, to explore the environment through his sensory enrichment. The keepers believed that Mei and Xiao weren’t ready to go back into the enclosure so they ended up giving them a bubble bath solution. This is one of Mei’s favorite scents. When they enjoy a scent they will end up rubbing themselves in the scent, this is called scent-anointing. They ended up going into a wrestling match due to them having the scent all over them. The solution caused their fur to spike up.
These pandas are given a puzzle feeder in order to get some mental exercise every day. This helps them increase their problem-solving skills. Xiao has finally been given a puzzle feeder. It’s a large purple ball with many holes inside the ball. The toy has large holes which would end up making the treats fall out. The keepers put more hay in the holes and the treat inside to make it harder for the panda to get the treat out. In order for Xiao to receive his treats, he must spin, shake or roll the feeder. The biscuits will drop out.
Every day Xiao has become more independent. Instead of spending time with his mother, he finds himself projects to do. Mei would be enjoying her breakfast while Xiao explores the trees, futzing with tree branches, and climbing his home. He loves exploring the place to the point he wouldn’t hang out with his mother until late afternoons.
