TAIPEI, Taiwan (AP) — Setting aside any political differences, a crowd of supporters came together to celebrate the 20th birthday of the oldest giant panda at the Taipei Zoo.
Visitors formed a line around Yuanyuan’s enclosure to capture photos of her beside a birthday cake shaped like the number 20.
The beloved panda, Yuanyuan, was born in China and came to Taiwan in 2008 with her mate, Tuantuan. Unfortunately, Tuantuan passed away in 2022 at the age of 18, but not before he became a father to two daughters, Yuanzai and Yuanbao, who are now 11 and 4 years old, respectively, and still reside at the zoo.
Danielle Shu, a 20-year-old Brazilian student living in Taiwan, mentioned that she enjoys watching videos of the pandas online as a delightful break from her daily routine. “I find them really funny and adorable,” Shu expressed.
Giant pandas, which are native exclusively to China, are often given as gifts between countries as a gesture to show goodwill and friendship. Yuanyuan and Tuantuan were sent to Taiwan during a time when relations between Taiwan and China were relatively stable. However, the political landscape is complex, with China claiming Taiwan as part of its territory and stating it could use military force for annexation if necessary.
Meanwhile, giant panda populations are facing serious challenges. Due to a loss of their natural habitat and their low birthrate, there are only about 1,900 giant pandas left in the wild, primarily in the mountains of western China. Additionally, approximately 600 pandas are currently living in zoos and breeding centers across China and the world.
