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

Record ID: 142850

  • Title: USA-PANDA/BAO BAO BIRTHDAY Bao Bao celebrates second birthday day after birth of twin panda cubs
  • Date: 23rd August 2015
  • Summary: VIEW THROUGH TREE LIMBS OF BAO BAO LICKING CAKE BAO BAO CLIMBS ONTO CAKE AND LICKS AT THE NUMBER TWO ON TOP OF CAKE (SOUNDBITE) (English) ZOOGOER WILL WETZONIS SAYING: "We heard about the twins being born and my daughter Rose loves pandas although we can't see the twins today, we understand there's a birthday for one of the pandas, right?" WETZONIS LEANS IN TO DAUGHTER ROSE AND SAYS "You like birthdays." DAUGHTER ROSE NODS WETZONIS SAYING: "So, we're really excited for the whole event. It's a great day. Everybody should be out here with their families." WOMAN WITH TWO CHILDREN POINTING TO PANDA HABITAT (SOUNDBITE) (English) ZOO GOER EXPLAINING THAT HER DAUGHTER WANTED TO COME TO THE ZOO TO ATTEND BAO BAO'S BIRTHDAY PARTY "It's her favorite animal and she knows that they are extinct so it's important that pandas are being kept in captivity here and their future is being protected by, you know pandas being born here so one day we hope pandas won't be endangered." ZOO GOERS IN FOREGROUND LOOKING AT BAO BAO'S HABITAT BAO BAO USING HER NOSE TO NUDGE HER BIRTHDAY GIFT BEFORE NIBBLING AT IT PEOPLE TAKING PICTURES OF BAO BAO WITH BIRTHDAY PRESENT BAO BAO LIFTING PLAYING WITH BIRTHDAY PRESENT BEFORE ACCIDENTALLY DROPPING IT ON OTHER SIDE OF ROCK KIDS WITH PANDA HATS ON LAUGHING (SOUNDBITE) (English) SMITHSONIAN NATIONAL ZOO DIRECTOR DENNIS KELLY SAYING: "We've been working with pandas and with the Chinese for 45 years and in that time, 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." PANDA TAI SHAN ENJOYS FROZEN FRUIT ZOO GOERS WITH PANDA HATS SEATED ON BENCH
  • Embargoed: 7th September 2015 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Topics: General
  • Reuters ID: LVA456C9IWURLELK3AJD0EZUAAN9
  • 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.
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