Birthday Reminiscences
Three more hours or so and His Royal Chubbiness Tai Shan Butterstick (aka Little Stinker) at the National Zoo in Washington, DC will be officially one year old. The Zoo has announced his birthday presents – a custom-made fruitsicle (iced lolly with lots of fruits inside frozen juice), a new soccer ball and a baby pool filled with water (two new toys, generously provided by Fujifilm, one of the many sponsors).
The excitement and celebrations over this little fella turning 1 is understandable. He is the first panda cub to survive so far. However, that’s only for the West Coast. In the States as a whole, the first cub to survive infanthood is Hua Mei, born 21 August 1999, and now thriving as a mother of two sets of twins.
After Hua Mei, her mother Bai Yun had two more cubs – Mei Sheng on 19 August 2003, and Su Lin on 2 August 2005.
All this excitement over Tai Shan’s birthday got me thinking about past panda birthdays I’ve “celebrated” . I got a little nostalgic and went searching through my picture collection, and came up with both Hua Mei’s and Mei Sheng’s previous birthday celebrations. Here’s a precious selection.
Hua Mei
Hua Mei’s 1st birthday, which she shared with her mother:
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The front and back of a postcard to celebrate her 1st birthday:
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With her 2nd birthday cake in her mouth:
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Series of screen captures showing her getting to know her cake:
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3rd, and final, birthday at San Diego Zoo:
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Mei Sheng
Taking a tumble on his 1st birthday (top, left to right, and bottom, left to right):
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2nd birthday “carrot” blush:
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