Panda Updates – Friday, August 11

It’s almost party time in PandaLand! This time of year, there are a lot of exciting things happening for the pandas and their keepers. As we near the end of summer and beginning of fall, we will hopefully start to see some cooler weather (I think that may be the Pacific Northwesterner in me being optimistic), which means the pandas can start utilizing their outdoor habitats again. This August and September are really special because it’s birthday time for all of the giant pandas here at the Zoo. Lun Lun, Ya Lun, Xi Lun and Yang Yang all have birthdays within three weeks of each other! Lun Lun’s birthday is coming up first on August 25, Xi Lun and Ya Lun shortly after on September 3, and then last but definitely not least, Yang Yang’s birthday is on September 9. The girls will be celebrating their first birthdays, and both Yang Yang and Lun Lun will be turning 20. Each year we present the pandas with special ice cakes filled with their individual favorite foods and scents. Additionally, the pandas also receive birthday enrichment like cardboard “presents” filled with leafeater biscuits and paper chains. We are currently working on some special plans for all the ice cakes, but you’ll have to wait to see. I hope you’re excited. Xi Lun (pictured) looks like she is!
Danica W.
Swing Keeper I, Mammals