They grow up so fast—Happy 2nd Birthday Xiao Qi Ji! 🐼🎂 📸: cityfeature
Cake was on the menu this morning at the National Zoo, where giant panda cub Xiao Qi Ji celebrated his second birthday by chowing down on a panda-friendly fruitsicle cake at 9 AM.The Sunday morning crowd gathered in anticipation and sang “Happy Birthday” when the fruity confection was brought out for the panda.
Xiao Qi Ji’s mother, 24-year-old Mei Xiang, was also invited to the festivities, but Xiao Qi Ji had the cake all to himself for at least the first 30 minutes. Unlike most two year-olds, Xiao Qi Ji took a neat approach to his treat, sniffing around and surgically slicing individual bananas and pears off the mound of frozen fruit.
The celebration is part of a 50 year “Pandaversary” commemorating Giant Pandas at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute, and their “unprecedented achievement in the care, conservation, breeding, and study of giant pandas.” Since we’re celebrating Xiao Qi Ji’s birthday, here is some footage of his ultrasound, birth, and first birthday party last year.
Itching for more Panda content? Here’s an 11-video playlist of panda footage curated by the Smithsonian.More:
South Africa Latest News, South Africa Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Store-Bought Granola Is the Crispy-Crunchy Topping Your Cake NeedsStore-bought granola is the crispy-crunchy topping your cake needs.
Read more »
Lemony Layered Cheesecake RecipeThe trick to this Lemony Layered Cheesecake is using prepared ingredients to compose this tangy icebox cake:
Read more »
National Zoo celebrates panda cub Xiao Qi Ji’s second birthdayTime for cake!
Read more »
The 38 Best Honolulu RestaurantsWhere to find pho French dip sandwiches, kalua pig, liliko‘i honey biscuits, uni and ikura shooters, and strawberry matcha cake in Hawai‘i’s capital
Read more »
National Zoo celebrates panda cub Xiao Qi Ji’s second birthdayTime for cake!
Read more »
'Miracle' red panda born in EnglandThe zoo wasn't expecting a cub after their adult male died. However, they learned the adult female was pregnant two weeks after his death.
Read more »