USA-PANDA/BAO BAO BIRTHDAY Bao Bao celebrates second birthday day after birth of twin panda cubs

Record ID: 142848

  • Title: USA-PANDA/BAO BAO BIRTHDAY Bao Bao celebrates second birthday day after birth of twin panda cubs
  • Date: 23rd August 2015
  • Summary: WASHINGTON, D.C., UNITED STATES (AUGUST 23, 2015) (REUTERS) CROWD LOOKING INTO PANDA HABITAT
  • Embargoed: 7th September 2015 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Topics: General
  • Reuters ID: LVA7MI707A2G7WG04J9BIN8N1SFV
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: Giant panda Bao Bao celebrated turning two on Sunday (August 23) with all the typical accoutrements - birthday cake, presents and scores of delighted onlookers.
    Bao Bao licked at her massive birthday cake made from frozen fruit as zoo goers sang "Happy Birthday" to the two-year-old panda.
    Many zoo goers oohed and aahed as Bao Bao examined her birthday gifts. At one point, Bao Bao accidentally dropped a gift beneath her perch and had to scramble to retrieve it.
    The young panda will soon have to share the spotlight with her younger siblings who were born on Saturday (August 22) to Bao Bao's mother Mei Xian.
    Some visitors to Washington's National Zoo said they initially came to see the new panda cubs only to learn the twin's habitat was closed to the public.
    Zoo goer Will Wetzonis and his daughter Rose said their disappointment over not seeing the twin cubs was short-lived after learning of the birthday party.
    "We're really excited for the whole event. It's a great day. Everybody should be out here with their families," Wetzonis said.
    Others who came exclusively to celebrate with Bao Bao said the news of two new cubs was a bonus.
    "It's important that pandas are being kept in captivity here and their future is being protected...so one day we hope pandas won't be endangered," one zoo goer said following Bao Bao's birthday.
    The zoo has a lot to celebrate, especially regarding pandas, Zoo director Dennis Kelly said.
    "We've seen a number of breakthroughs. We've seen the survival rate of pandas go up dramatically. In that time, we've only had two, now four surviving cubs. It demonstrates that relationship we have with conservation is very long and that conservation is hard," Kelly said.
    Zoo goers also had a chance to see panda Tai Shan who nibbled on a piece of frozen fruit as tourists snapped photos.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2015. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
Register