Happy 5th Birthday, Qing Bao

Zoinks—it's Qing Bao's 5th birthday! To celebrate our female giant panda's special day, keepers went "far out" and created a 1970s-themed fête full of bright colors and iconic pop culture slogans from that groovy era.  

The panda team affectionately refers to Qing Bao as "QB." To sleuth out her breakfast of "QB Snax," the birthday girl foraged for boxes and bags that were lovingly decorated by keepers using non-toxic, water-based paint. Concealed inside the colorful enrichment was some of her favorite non-bamboo foods, including nutrient-rich leafeater biscuits, carrots, apples and sugar cane.

The party's pièce de résistance was "The Bamboo Machine"—a panda-friendly fruitsicle cake shaped like a van. Crafted by the Zoo's Department of Nutrition Sciences, the cake was made using frozen diluted grape, plum, apple and carrot juices. Special touches included orange flower "decals" made of carrot pulp and a frozen "5" topper filled with bite-sized pieces of carrot, sweet potato, plum, apple and pear.  

To help the pandas keep physically active and mentally sharp, keepers give them puzzle feeders. Qing Bao is especially skilled at solving the mystery of how to get the diet items hidden inside into her belly. Keepers gifted her a new pink puzzle feeder to spin, shake and roll around the habitat, as well as a pink ball with a handle she could carry around.  

"Qing Bao has really come into her personality over the past year," said giant panda keeper Mariel Lally. "Visitors may think of her as being a little bit more reserved and regimented compared to Bao Li, but she is actually quite goofy and quirky. She is a very smart panda and enjoys difficult enrichment, especially hanging feeder toys! Although she may not be as social as Bao Li, she will wait for all of her keepers to say 'goodnight' before shifting inside in the evening."

Lally says autumn is a great time to visit the pandas. "In the cooler months, Qing Bao seems to get the panda zoomies in the afternoon and can be seen climbing trees, tackling her bamboo, play bowing at her enrichment and rolling down the hill." 

The Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in the United States of America joined the panda party with a selection of family-friendly activities including calligraphy, coloring, face painting/nail art stations, a panda mascot, plus giant panda-themed trivia with prizes. Virtual visitors tuned into the Zoo’s Giant Panda Cam, sponsored by The Boeing Company, to watch Bao Li enjoy his birthday festivities. 

Want to visit giant pandas Bao Li and Qing Bao? Plan your visit and reserve your free entry pass here.