Search - Panda Is Born & Baby Panda's First Year (Full) on DVD

Oh, god, they're so cute...!!!!

Joe Sixpack -- Slipcue.com | ...in Middle America | 05/23/2008

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Originally broadcast on cable's Animal Planet channel, these two 40-minute features tell the story of Tai Shan, the first panda cub to survive birth in captivity at the Smithsonian National Zoo, in Washington, DC.

The offspring of two pandas on loan from China, Tai Shan is utterly adorable (as all giant pandas seem to be...) The first featurette tells the story of how his parents, Mei Xiang and Tian Tian were brought to America, and the long, 5-year process involved in getting them to breed. In this relatively frank presentation, the panda caretakers are as much characters in the drama as the bears themselves, and you may develop the same sort of affection for them as well, watching them get old along with the animals, and share their disappointments and joys.

The second chapter happily shows Tai Shan's growth and adventures in his first year of life, and the giddy reception he got as a major draw to the National Zoo. Crowds of happy zoo-goers flock to see him and delight in each step of his development. One sad note that the filmmakers could not foresee is that the Wolong wildlife preserve in China, where Tai Shan's parents are from, was leveled by the May, 2008 earthquake, as were several dozen other panda research centers. As of the time of this review, the pandas appear to be safe, although several escaped and the Wolong facility is in ruins, but is apparently still functioning. This documentary will give you a taste for the urgency (and joy) involved in panda nature conservancy efforts. (ReadThatAgain children's media reviews)
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