Giant panda lovers celebrated the 21st birthday anniversary of Lin Hui which remains as the only and healthy giant panda in the country despite its old age.
Wuthichai Muangman, director of the Chiang Mai Zoo, Yang Jiong, vice Chinese consul general in Chiang Mai, and giant panda lovers sang the Happy Birthday song for Lin Hui and used Chinese fans to blow out candles on its birthday cake.
The cake was made from three tiers of ice decorated with Lin Hui’s favourite foods including bamboo leaves and sticks, carrots, apples, bamboo shoots and bread. In its display zone, Linhui enjoyed the cake and birthday party before the eyes of about 100 happy visitors including children.
This year Lin Hui is 21 years old and weighs 130 kilograms. It has stayed at the Chiang Mai Zoo since it was two years old and played the roles of a goodwill ambassador of China for 19 years.
Veterinarians said that if it was a human, this year the giant panda would be considered as being over 70 years of age and thus the only one giant panda grandmother in Thailand. Its mate, Xuang Xuang, died three years ago at the age of 19.
Mr Wuthichai said zoo staff checked the health conditions of Lin Hui including its heart and blood pressures daily as recommended by China. He also said the giant panda research project in which China lent the giant panda to Thailand would expire next year.
Ms Yang Jiong said staff of the Chiang Mai Zoo took good care of Lin Hui and thus it was a healthy and favorite zoo animal of Thai people. She expected the Chinese government would extend the giant panda research and display contract for Thailand because, she said, it symbolized good ties between Thailand and China and between people of both countries. (TNA)
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