Shanghai Wild Animal Park held birthday celebrations on Saturday for eight-year-old giant pandas Xue Bao and Qian Jin, and six-year-old Kang Kang.
The celebrations featured birthday cakes and decorations for the cute animals, attracting a lot of visitors at the zoo.
Zookeepers said they had spent two weeks preparing the special cakes and gifts for the three giant pandas.
"We designed the cakes, decorated the venue and prepared the gifts very carefully. Everything was meticulously tailored for them. While celebrating their birthdays, we also hope to raise public awareness of species conservation and ecological protection," said Zhu Qingpo, head of the zoo's animal management department.
China has actively protected giant pandas for decades by establishing vast protected areas like the Giant Panda National Park, restoring bamboo forests and implementing breeding programs.
The wild giant panda population has grown from approximately 1,100 in the 1980s to nearly 1,900 in 2024, largely due to successful conservation efforts.
Shanghai zoo celebrates three giant pandas' birthdays
Shanghai zoo celebrates three giant pandas' birthdays
The opening ceremony of the Milano-Cortina 2026 Paralympic Winter Games will celebrate the spirit of inclusiveness and the core values of the Paralympic Games in the language of creative and tech-supported contemporary art, according to the ceremonies director.
The ceremony is scheduled to take place on Friday at the Verona Arena, a UNESCO World Heritage site, in Verona, Italy.
Centered on themes of inclusion, participation, and emotional connection, the ceremony aims to convey the spirit of the Paralympics to a global audience through artistic expression.
"Titled 'Life in Motion,' the ceremony tells the stories of a progressing society, which is empowered by sport to bring about change. We will present this theme in a way that is distinct from any other ceremony, namely through art, contemporary art in particular. Contemporary art always has the power to break down barriers. It will guide us in celebrating the athletes, the spirit of sport, and the core values of the Paralympic Games," said Maria Laura Iascone, ceremonies director for Milano-Cortina 2026.
The Milano-Cortina 2026 Paralympics hold historic significance as this year marks the 50th anniversary of the first Paralympic Winter Games and also sees the Games return to Italy for the second time, two decades after Torino 2006.
Opening ceremony of Milan-Cortina Winter Paralympics to feature contemporary art: director
Opening ceremony of Milan-Cortina Winter Paralympics to feature contemporary art: director
