Katyusha is her mama’s girl: life of a giant panda cub in the Moscow Zoo
Silky nose, clumsy gait, and insatiable curiosity: a giant panda cub, daughter of male Ru Yi and female Ding Ding, is growing up in the Moscow Zoo. The little one was born in August 2023; in January, Muscovites chose the name for her (Katyusha) by voting at the Active Citizen platform.
Katyusha is nearly six months old now. She knows how to walk, crawl, roll, and grab bamboo leaves with her paws. Let us have a closer look at the life of the little panda, see what she eats and when Muscovites are finally going to see her.
Fun games and sound sleep
Katyusha has been the first panda bear born in Russia. It is a one-of-a-kind occurrence, because giant pandas are notoriously reluctant to procreate in captivity. A new cub being born in a zoo is a huge bit of luck and the fruit of extensive, painstaking effort. A giant panda reproduction expert from China helped Moscow zoologists prepare the couple for their newborn. They did not rush things and tried to provide the animals with the best conditions possible. Ru Yi and Ding Ding met in April 2023; the cub, who weighted about 150 grams at birth, was born four months later.
The little panda is growing up very fast. In five months, Katyusha went from a tiny, palm-sized baby to a fluffy daredevil who weights over 13 kilograms. Despite already having her milk teeth, she keeps on feeding on her mother’s milk so far.
Katyusha has about three meals a day, and is already trying bamboo sprouts. She is not yet strong enough to bite off their hard stems, but keeps practicing her biting abilities on toys, and even sinks her teeth in her mother’s fur from time to time.
Katyusha’s paws are already strong. One of giant pandas’ features is the so-called sixth finger, very much like a human thumb. It helps them grab things and hold them. At five months, Katyusha can already hold bamboo in her paws, examine it, and even tries picking on its leaves .jpg)
Aside from feeding and honing her skills, the little panda spends most of her day fast asleep. Sleep takes up about two thirds of her time: about 16 hours a day. After replenishing her energy, the panda cub starts doing what she likes most: play and wander over her territory. That is how she gets to know the world.
Katyusha has more than enough space to grow up in the zoo. There is a closed-off small enclosure, the big enclosure and the outdoor one: like a three-bedroom apartment. For now, Katyusha is living together with Ding Ding in the inner enclosure, away from any onlookers, and does not go anywhere else. Keepers are monitoring the microclimate in their residence round the clock. They maintain the temperature at about 15 degrees, and humidity at 50 per cent. Those are the conditions the pandas feel the most comfortable in.
They can leave their small enclosure and go into the bigger one, suitable for viewing. So far, it has also been closed off for visitors. In addition to toys, it has a small pool the pandas can splash in. The enclosures are connected by a small wooden ladder, Katyusha’s favorite spot. She spends a lot of time there, watching her mom, climbing, or resting. The third enclosure Katyusha and Ding Ding own is the outdoor one. They will go there after they get comfortable indoors.
“When Katyusha was very little, she had medical check-ups every day. Veterinarians felt her all over, weighted and measured her to make sure she was healthy. Now it is almost impossible to drag her onto the scales. Ding Ding helps us with that, though. Knowing her commands, she goes to be weighted on her own, and Katyusha follows. She climbs onto the scales, as if to say, “I’m gonna be like mom!” says Mr. Vervald.
Katyusha also loves rolling. Keepers think she took after her dad in that. The baby panda never met him, so they believe it might be hereditary. No meetings between them are scheduled in the future. Male panda bears do not recognize their offspring, so Katyusha will grow and mature in Ding Ding’s company.
Mama’s girl
Seasoned zoologists are monitoring Katyusha as she grows up. Six handlers are assigned to Katyusha and Ding Ding. Chinese experts join them, if needed. Zoologists watch them round the clock using surveillance cameras. They do not interfere with Ding Ding’s parenting, entering the enclosure only for feeding and cleaning.
“Ding Ding likes that approach. She is already confident enough to leave Katyusha alone at a small distance. We love it that she has turned out to be such a good mom, full of patience, and able to do all these things. She gives freedom to her cub, but always remains vigilant. She perches somewhere high up, and watches Katyusha while acting as if she does not care,” says Irina Ovchinnikova, Head of Chinese Fauna department, Moscow Zoo.
At the same time, Ding Ding is gradually returning to her normal life. She remembered all the commands our keepers taught her, and took up her paint and brushes again. Katyusha never leaves her mom, copying everything the elder panda does.
“Katyusha is mama’s girl. She copies Ding Ding in everything. It is funny to watch sometimes. Like how she started sitting up, for instance. No one taught her that. She develops her own skills and behavior by watching her mother,” explained the zoologist.
Keepers do not want to rush things with the cub. They believe Katyusha is going to learn everything, but gradually; all she needs is a bit of curiosity, courage, and time. But Katyusha is making confident progress even now, surprising experts with her new skills every day. She is not scared to venture forward, because her mom is with her.
“The bond between Katyusha and Ding Ding is very strong, so the little one is growing up surrounded by her mother’s care. There’s a Chinese legend saying that pink pandas are happy ones, because they turn pink after their mothers lick the newborns all over,” added Ms. Ovchinnikova, “Katyusha’s fur used to be pink head to toe.”
Feisty cub
Keepers say that this is a very interesting period in Katyusha’s life. In human years, the baby panda is now about two years old. She explores, spends lots of time with her mom, and even shows attitude.
“She can be feisty. She has quite a temper on her. She can fight back, bite, as if saying to her mom, “Don’t make me, I do what I want!” But she is playful and extremely curious at the same time,” says Ms. Ovchinnikova.
To celebrate the Chinese New Year (February 10), keepers gave Katyusha a present: a bamboo dragon. It was an edible toy made by hand of organic materials only. Adult animals’ presents can be fastened with strings to last longer, but every last element of Katyusha’s dragon, even the most intricate one, was made of bamboo. The fluffy star liked the toy, tearing it apart quickly.
The baby panda enjoys everything new. Any item she finds can easily turn into a toy for her, be it bamboo her mother eats or tree bark. But she has been cautious so far, despite her curiosity. She is not in any hurry to leave her small enclosure: she has just been watching everything that happens outside. Keepers are waiting for her decision to step out; it would be a big event, signaling that Katyusha is ready to meet visitors and even enter the outdoor enclosure, to see sun, rain and snow for the first time in her life.
Katyusha will be able to live independently after she turns two. Meanwhile, she brings us joy with her openness and playfulness. I think she can feel how we all care about her, and how unique she is 