Bye-Bye, Butterstick

This Thursday, after four years, six months and four weeks as the National Zoo's reigning prince of bears, Tai Shan, Washington's beloved giant panda will leave the place of his birth and head to China to enter a breeding program, according to a prior agreement with that country.

Frances Nguyen, founder of the local Tai Shan fan club said, in the Washington Post, "There has been a lot of emotion.  It's like sending your own child to college."  On the one hand, she said, devotees want him to grow and have offspring of his own. "Nobody wants to see him here by himself, and pacing." At the same time, she added, "a lot of us never thought he would leave."

Tai Shan's leaving will be particularly difficult for his principal keeper, Nicole Meese. According to the Washington Post:

She was present the morning he was born, held him a few weeks later, trained him, played with him, fed him and cleaned up after him.  She has watched him grow from a tiny, nearly hairless newborn into the lanky, precocious bear to whom she now must say goodbye.

She's been present for all four birthdays, for his first time outdoors -- "really neat to watch," she said -- and for his first time eating bamboo.

He knows her voice,she said, and her face, and responds to the hand signals she devised to help school him. She talks to him, calls him "cutie," and he bleats in reply.  Every day he makes me smile," she said.

Meese will accompany Tai Shan on his long flight to China, and it will be First Class all the way.  He will fly in a huge new airplane with his own logo on the side, only eight people on board, including his doctor, a member of the opposite sex right beside him and more than 50 pounds of his favorite food available "on demand" during the 14.5-hour flight.

The Sassistas! think Tai Shan and his beloved keeper ought to fly with our sentiments and thank you's.  Please share them today.  Fly high, Butterstick!

 

Comments

[Flannista]

Well, the third bear post in a row. This was NOT planned. I recently told a friend that when it comes to deciding what to post about I try "to kiss the sass as it flies by."

That being said, when I first read that Tai Shan would be returning to his native China, I thought I would post about it. When I read the story about this principal keeper, Nicole Meese, I knew I would post about it.

Seems to me this is a story about good mothering and that's what touches me so.

[Flannista]

And for heaven's sake, look how cute that dude was when he was first born and then at six-month's old!

When Tai Shan was born, he was the size of a butterstick and that was his name until he was formally christened "Tai Shan" which means "peaceful mountain." About five Chinese names were put out for a vote at that time, and I rallied all of my friends and colleagues to go on line and vote for the name "Tai Shan" as one small way to counter all the bad mojo in the air of the Nation's Capitol because of the unnecessary and badly led War in Iraq.

[Chrysosistah]

These guys are so cute it's hard to think of them as real bears - hope he has good travels and finds a good partner in China. "Peaceful Mountain" does have a very nice ring to it...

....AND that China dedicates more energy to preserving the last of their habitat and punishing poachers!!

[Jerseysista]

I heard on the radio yesterday one of the staff or fan club members lamenting Tai Shan's departure. She said, "I understand that this was the agreement that Tai Shan return to China but couldn't we trade something for him? Like, wouldn't China like some eagles or something?"

When I told Flann this she said, "Yeah. Maybe we can send them Paris Hilton".

[babysis]

Not only do I join in wishing Tai Shan well, I think we should all go visit him in China one day. Maybe take Nicole along too, to see her boy.

[Flannista]

Here is a link to a gallery of goodbye cards for Tai Shan created by kids:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/gallery/2010/02/01/GA2010020102805.html?sid=ST2010020102935

[Flannista]

Jersey -- America can perhaps do better than Paris Hilton. How about Lady Gaga?

[Flannista]

Wonder if Tai Shan saw his shadow this morning.

[Flannista]

Let me step outside today's sass feed (but still in the spirit of critters) for a moment to wish HAPPY BIRTHDAY to Matissta's and my dawg, Huckleberry, who is today, celebrating his 5th birthday.

Now back to regular programming.

[Matissta]

This little guy, Tia Shan, has captured the area's heart. He is so cute and fun to watch. Like many others, I didn't think China would ask for him back. Originally, he was only suppose to be here for 2 years, but they extended it to 4.

I remember when Flann asked our congregation during the "announcements" to vote for the name, Tia Shan. We also sent out emails to our friends. I often think that she was the reason the name won.

I feel for Nicole Meese, the caretaker. She's going to need therapy.

And for those of you who couldn't visit in person, you can watch him for 5 minutes at a time:
http://nationalzoo.si.edu/Animals/GiantPandas/default.cfm

Scroll down to the Panda cam.

As for my own furry boy, Happy Birthday Huck! Here's a photo of him, when he was bigger than a butterstick and known as "2 Spot."
http://www.sassistas.com/sassistas_our_dish_on_the/images/2010/02/2spot.jpg

[Jerseysista]

I looked at the cards from the kids. Did anyone notice the one with the slot machine jackpot tumblers on the side. WHERE does this kid live, in a casino?

[Flannista]

Jerse -- I think the casino is in the eyes of the gambler. When I first saw that goodbye card, I thought it was a shelf of food for Tai Shan, but now I wouldn't bet on it.

[Flannista]

Matissta -- thanks so much for posting a link to the Panda Cam. I just watched it for a bit and it looks like Tai Shan is having a late-morning snack. He's chewing on some bamboo, laying on his back in the snow.

Man, what a life!

[Flannista]

Here's a link to one of Matissta's favorite photos of Tai Shan:

http://www.sassistas.com/sassistas_our_dish_on_the/2010/02/panda-585_655665a.jpg

[Matissta]

That snack must have knocked him out. He's now sleeping in the snow.

And yes, that is one of my favorite photos. It shows how playful he is.

[PEACEsista]

I second the motion to go visit Tai Shan in China!

Happy travels, Tai Shan and a blessed return to the homeland of the Great Pandas!

[Flannista]

Here's part of the reason why Tai Shan means much to me: my mother and I kind of bonded over him.

My mother has always had soft spot for animals and when Tai Shan was born, I began to regularly send her articles and photos from the Washington Post about the little tyke. (She does not use a computer.) About the time Tai Shan was born, my mother lost the ability to write legibly because of essential tremor in her writing arm. So I never knew what she thought of the articles, etc. (she also never picks up the phone to make a call). About a year ago, I discovered that she had kept all of those articles and photos in a special file.

I'm almost certain that she does not have a special file on me, but that she kept these articles/photos does tug at my heart a bit. Seeing Tai Shan go means, in some way I can't quite pinpoint, that I continue to let go of my mother. Just as it is a good thing that Tai Shan return to his homeland of the Great Pandas, it is a good thing that I claim my own homeland.

[Jerseysista]

Because of the SARS outbreak, I ended up cancelling a planned trip to China in 2003. I never rescheduled it but would like to. I am definitely up for visiting Tai Shan.

[Flannista]

I think we ought to get back into figuring out a uniquely American item to trade for Tai Shan so we can keep him here.

How about the Ford Fusion?

[Flannista]

How about Super Bowl Sunday?

[Flannista]

Glenn Beck?

[Jerseysista]

Buffalo wings

[Jerseysista]

Monster trucks with confederate flags in the windows.

[Jerseysista]

Hack-proof Google accounts

[Flannista]

(Love that last one, Jersey! Here's to First Amendment of the UNITED STATES Constitution!)

Mr. Clean and/or Mr. Coffee