2021-05-18 Xiao Qi Ji ~ Mei's Truculent Tot Takes a Terrific Tumble

#PandaStory Day 270: Warning, Xiao Qi Ji takes a tumble off the rockwork's high point during this video ~ as this is a compilation video, you can jump to the 13:30 mark to view some of today's more serene moments.

Just before 5pm on Monday afternoon, Qi Ji woke from his nap, found Mei Xiang and proceeded to climb all over her head. For the next 2 hours he was pestering her as she tried to eat her bamboo, but she did stop and play with him, which still did not curb his behavior. Qi Ji doesn't realize that Mei Xiang is eating for two these days, and in order for her to ensure quality, nutritious milk for his growing body, she has to eat a lot of bamboo. Mei tried repeatedly to get him to stop, and she showed incredible patience when he came back for more. (From about the 3:50 mark to the 8:00 mark there is an echo because I forgot to turn off the audio on the other camera ... the 2nd crunch of bamboo or vocalization from Qi Ji is the actual sound.)

They went back and forth between the rooms, and eventually Mei Xiang went up to the water bowl to cool off ... and Qi Ji followed. Shortly after, he tumbled off the rockwork (with some help from Mei Xiang), and she bleated ... but he was perfectly fine as you'll see his reaction was to race back and forth between the rooms with momma on his heels. And then he got all goofy!

The first outdoor scene in the video occurred around 8:41am this morning. Qi Ji had already been up and down his tree, played in the evergreen, followed his mother all over the yard. Then I've included a few more random scenes from their time outdoors ... someone was trying to give us some closeups of Qi Ji in his hammock and eating his fruitie and I've included them as I was thrilled to see more detail of his face and eyes ... and you can clearly see his teeth while he's nibbling in the hammock! Also he visited his reflection in the door between the yards, examined the larger howdy window in the middle of the yard, sat at the front of the yard eating vegetation, and ate fruities both inside and outdoors. This is the first time I've seen him join Mei Xiang and Tian Tian outdoors eating fruities as he's usually indoors. Qi Ji did put paws up on the howdy window, but Tian Tian was busy with his treats.

Note from Doxie: I respectively ask that you do not post comments disparaging the Smithsonian's National Zoo's treatment of their Giant Pandas, or Mei Xiang's parenting of Xiao Qi Ji, or any comparisons to other Zoos. Comments pertaining to anything other than the video content will be removed. Also, a reminder that I am not employed by or affiliated with the Smithsonian's National Zoo. Thank you for your cooperation in keeping this a place of positivity, celebration and joy!

All video footage recorded by me from the Smithsonian's National Zoo's Panda Cam public website: https://nationalzoo.si.edu/webcams/pa...
#PandaStory #MeiXiang #XiaoQiJi