Giant panda devours a "cake" to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the species' arrival in the United States

Giant panda Mei Xiang and her cub Xiao Zhijie had a different breakfast on Saturday (16). The duo had a “cake” to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the historic visit of the President of the Republic weRichard Nixon Chinain 1972.

Giant pandas have been awarded to the United States by the Chinese government and are among the most popular tenants of the National Zoo, also known as the Smithsonian Zoo, located in Washington, DC.

In addition to welcoming the historic moment in the relationship between the two countries, the celebration also highlighted the success of the global giant panda breeding program, which has helped bring bears back from the brink of extinction.

Panda eat breakfast in front of a crowd. The “cake” was made with frozen fruit juice, sweet potatoes, carrots, and sugar cane and lasted about 15 minutes.

Giant panda Mei Xiang and Xiao Qi Ji – Photo: AP Photo / Jose Luis Magana

The event was attended by the Chinese ambassador in weQin Gang. The diplomat hailed the bears as a “symbol of friendship” between nations. Chinese practice ‘Lending’ pandas to zoos around the world The main goal is to preserve the species.

However, analysts believe that this “Panda diplomacy” has other strategic functions, such as improving the public image of the Asian giant and promoting trade relations.

National Zoo director Brandi Smith and Chinese Ambassador Qin Gang this Saturday (16) – Photo: AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana

The original pair of pandas at the National Zoo were Ling-Ling and Hsing-Hsing. Since their arrival in 1972, they have been a major attraction at the zoo, but carrying the pandas is remarkably complex and none of their cubs have survived.

Mei Xiang and Tian Tian – Xiao Zhi Jie’s father – arrived in 2000, and the couple successfully gave birth to three more dogs: Tai Shan, Bao Bao and Bei Bai. They were all transferred to China At the age of four, under the terms of the zoo’s agreement with the Chinese government.

Similar agreements with zoos around the world helped revitalize the population: in the 1980s, there were just over 1,000 bears of this species. Currently, the giant panda has been removed from the lists of endangered animals.