Celebrations all around! Giant pandas across the world celebrate their birthdays
Giant pandas in zoos around the world celebrated their birthdays on 19 September with special festivities organised by their keepers. These celebrations included specially prepared treats, decorations, and gifts designed to enrich the animals' lives and mark significant milestones in their care.
In Chongqing, China, Liang Yue turned ten years old and was treated to a cake, flowers, toys, and an ice bed to keep her cool, whilst her cub Wang Shu joined in the festivities. Simultaneously in Madrid, Spain, giant pandas Jin Xi and Zhu Yu—among only two giant pandas in the country—celebrated their sixth birthday with a cake, with zoo visitors and staff gathering to mark the occasion.
- Giant pandas celebrated birthdays on 19 September at zoos in China and Spain
- Chongqing's Liang Yue turned ten; Madrid's Jin Xi and Zhu Yu turned six
- Keepers provided cakes, flowers, toys, and enrichment activities for the celebrations
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Giant pandas are a species native to China, where they live mainly in mountain forests and eat mostly bamboo. They are kept in zoos in several countries as part of efforts to care for the animals and support conservation and breeding programmes.
Keepers often mark pandas’ birthdays with treats, toys and changes to their surroundings, such as decorations or cool resting places. These activities are designed to provide mental and physical stimulation, while also giving visitors a chance to learn about the pandas and the work involved in caring for them.