Xinxing, the oldest captive giant panda, celebrates its 38th birthday in Chongqing Zoo on August 16. Fans gathered together, sang songs, and sent cakes and wish to the birthday panda, the longest living captive one in the world.
Panda Xinxing is tasting the birthday cake.
Xinxing was born in the wild in Baoxing, Sichuan Province, in August 1982. In 1983, it got lost and separated from its mother. Fortunately, it was found by rescuers covering with mud. Then it was sent to Chongqing Zoo and tended to by about ten keepers one after another. Now 3-4 keepers undertake the responsibility for looking after it. It is the world's oldest captive giant panda.
Panda Xinxing and her offspring.
There are less than 30 giant pandas in the world 30 years old and above. Generally, a giant panda one-year-old, is as young as a human baby 3-4 years old. The 38-year-old Xinxing is already the god of longevity, like a person 110-140 years old.
Panda fans make birthday cakes for Xinxing.
As of the end of 2019, there were 153 descendants of Xinxing. They are distributed in more than 20 countries and regions such as Canada, the United States, Japan, Chinese Taipei, Hong Kong, Chengdu, Ya'an, and Shanghai. Xinxing has been in good health for the past 38 years, seldom catching colds, not to mention serious illnesses. The zoo conducts comprehensive physical examinations for Xinxing twice a year. Despite its old age, Xinxing has become more docile and sedate than when it was younger. It is still strong and agile.