Thirst for Adventure
February 21 — April 23, 2006
On February 21, Tai Shan noticed his father, Tian Tian, for the first time through a window between their outdoor enclosures. Male pandas do not share parenting duties in the wild, so Tian Tian may not ever meet his offspring face-to-face in the same enclosure.
By late February, Tai Shan had figured out how to get up just about every climbable tree in his yard. Sturdier and more robust by the day, Tai Shan continued looking for new adventures. His favorite activities — climbing trees and play-fighting with Mei Xiang — kept him busy otherwise. His play fights with Mei Xiang were becoming more and more vigorous.
In March, zoo keepers began to see signs that Tai Shan was finally starting to consume bamboo rather than just toying with it.
Tai Shan on March 26, 2006.
