It’s time for a special birthday party for pandas. The world’s only living giant panda triplets, Mengmeng Shuaishuai and Kuku, are celebrating their second birthday in Guangzhou.
A big day for these giant panda triplets.
Caretakers at their Guangzhou safari park held a party to celebrate their second birthday. And each little cub received a special cake made of bamboo and fruits.
The triplets have grown a lot since they were born. Now each of them weighs about 65 kg -- and is ready for weaning.
"We are gradually switching their food from milk to bamboo. We pay attention to their nutrition to make sure they continue to steadily gain weight. Now each of them gains around 100 grams each day," said Prof. Dong Guixin, Guangzhou Chimelong Safari Park.
Giant panda triplets Mengmeng, Shuaishuai and Kuku eat bamboo shoots and carrots at their birthday party in Guangzhou, capital of south China's Guangdong Province, July 29, 2016. A party celebrating the second birthday of the world's only surviving panda triplets, who were born on July 29, 2014 in Guangzhou, was held at Chimelong Safari Park here Friday.
Two years for a panda is the equivalent of 7 years for a human being. And it’ll take three more years for these bears to fully mature.
Since making their public debut two years ago, the giant panda triplets have become huge animal stars and have attracted a large number of fans. Today, hundreds of people came to their party to wish them a happy birthday.
"I wish them a happy birthday, I want to invite them to my home so that I can treat them with a feast of apples, oranges and bamboo."
"I wish them fast growth and I hope they can bear more cubs for us when they grow up, as they are a national treasure for our country."
A cartoon movie featuring the triplets was aired at the party as a special gift for the guests.
China has the world’s biggest research center for giant pandas and has made great progress in panda conservation efforts. Chinese caretakers have bred over 420 giant pandas in captivity. The number of giant pandas living in the wild is estimated to be around 1,800.