Giant Panda Fu Hu enjoyed his second birthday with visitors in Vienna's Schoenbrunn Zoo on Thursday.
Many visitors, including adults and children, had been waiting since early morning to see the panda on his special day.
To their joy, the superstar showed up soon after his birthday presents were presented: a stack of colorful boxes filled with carrots, sweet potatoes and honey dessert.
[Renate Haider, Giant Panda Breeder]:
"We prepared many birthday surprises for Fu Hu in his birthday cake, including vegetables, sweet potatoes and corns."
With all the eyes and camera lenses focused on the birthday boy, he took a little walk and then settled down to dig into his presents.
Haider said she had been taking care of Fu Hu since he was born in the zoo. Fu Hu has always been in very good condition, she said, and is becoming stronger. Born weighing 100 grams, he now weighs 48 kg, half the size of an adult giant panda.
Fu Hu is the second son of pandas Long Hui and Yang Yang, both of whom came to Vienna in 2003 for a 10-year loan and they still live in the zoo. Fu Hu and his brother Fu Long were born after natural conception in an artificial environment in Europe.
Fu Long, who is three years older than Fu Hu, was sent back to China when he was two years old as per the loan agreement for his parents. The same applies to Fu Hu, who will be sent back to China after celebrating his second birthday, in October or November.
The zoo is now negotiating with China, hoping to extent the contract after the loan period for Long Hui and Yang Yang expires in 2013.
