Politics took a backseat as visitors at the Taipei Zoo gathered to celebrate the 20th birthday of Yuanyuan, a beloved giant panda, with a special cake and heartfelt wishes, Fox News reports.
Yuanyuan, who arrived in Taiwan from China in 2008, was showered with attention as zookeepers presented her with a birthday cake shaped as the number 20, adorned with edible decorations.
“I just find it really funny and cute,” said Danielle Shu, a 20-year-old Brazilian student in Taiwan, referring to the online clips of the pandas.
Yuanyuan’s arrival at the zoo with her partner, Tuantuan, marked a period of relative calm between China and Taiwan. However, the anniversary of Yuanyuan’s arrival comes as tensions between the two sides simmer, with Taiwan recently conducting its annual Han Kuang war games, designed to simulate actual combat. China views Taiwan as its own territory.
Despite the political backdrop, the celebration for Yuanyuan served as a reminder of the enduring appeal of these majestic animals. The panda couple had two female cubs, Yuanzai and Yuanbao, who are now 11 and 4 years old and still live at the zoo.
While the lifespan of pandas in the wild is around 15 to 20 years, those in human care can live up to 30 years, according to the Smithsonian’s National Zoo. With only an estimated 1,864 giant pandas living in their native habitat and another 600 in zoos and breeding centers worldwide, their conservation remains a priority.
Panda diplomacy seems to become a growing trend in politics. Just last month, two pandas arrived at the San Diego Zoo, marking the first time pandas have been sent to the US in 21 years. Additionally, the National Zoo in Washington announced in May that China will be sending two young pandas to the nation’s capital by the end of the year.
