A pair of twin giant pandas celebrated their first birthday on Tuesday at the Chongqing Zoo in southwest China, and it was the most adorable thing ever.
Yu Bao and Yu Bei had a panda party complete with a special birthday cake made from their favorite treats — bamboo, carrots and apples.
The zoo invited local children to the birthday party to celebrate with the twin giant pandas.
According to CCTV News, the pandas seemed to understand that it was their birthday and appeared extra playful as onlookers watched and laughed. Despite recent temperatures reaching higher than 95 degrees, the pandas energetically climbed trees and clambered over swings and ladders. The zookeepers set up pools for them to keep themselves cool and prevent heat stroke.
“The pandas are healthy and enjoy playing very much, every day. In the early morning, we let them play in the playground and offer them toys specially designed for them, which they like very much,” Yin Yanqiang, chief technology officer of the Panda House at Chongqing Zoo, said to CCTV News.
Yu Bao and Yu Bei were born on July 11, 2016, at the Chongqing Zoo to 14-year-old panda mom Lan Zing. One panda year of life is the equivalent of four human years. According to the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), twin giant pandas are born more frequently in captivity and when artificial insemination is used. They can live up to 30 years in captivity. According to Pandas International, there are more than 300 giant pandas left in captivity around the world.
According to Chinese news site Xinhuanet.com, the names Yu Bao and Yu Bei mean “the precious treasure of Chongqing” when combined.
Click through the gallery to see how they celebrated their birthday and just how adorable they are.
