WASHINGTON 鈥� Not to be overshadowed by all the panda-monium 鈥攖he birth of twin giant pandas at the National Zoo on Saturday鈥攂ig sister Bao Bao celebrated her second birthday on Sunday.
Plenty of panda loving people came to her outdoor exhibit to help her celebrate, as she enjoyed a fruitcicle cake carved into the shape of a number two.
鈥淚’m a 44-year-old panda loving maniac,鈥� said Darrell Lee Martin .
Martin said Bao Bao helped him cope after his 9-month-old child was killed in an accident. He鈥檚 even been to China to visit with pandas.
鈥淚f you could have seen this big, 230 pound, bald-headed, tattooed guy crying, you would have had a picture to see,鈥� Martin said.
Another family came all the way from Philadelphia. Their 4-month-old Isabella Chase was dressed in a panda outfit, all in honor of Bao Bao’s birthday.
For panda lovers, it seems Bao Bao鈥檚 two years have gone by fast. 鈥淪he鈥檚 doing great,鈥� said Don Neiffer, chief veterinarian at the zoo. 鈥淲e鈥檝e had absolutely no health concerns at all with her. She鈥檚 maturing and growing nicely.鈥�
But it鈥檚 also a reminder that Bao Bao鈥檚 time at the National Zoo will come to an end.
鈥淥ur agreement with China, the loan agreement, stipulates that all cubs born here at the National Zoo will go to China at age 4,鈥� Pamela Baker-Mason, a spokeswoman for the zoo, said.
On Saturday, Bao Bao鈥檚 mother. Zoo officials said mom and cubs were doing well.
Unfortunately, Bao Bao and the cubs won鈥檛 know that they are family, Neiffer said.
Bao Bao won鈥檛 get to meet her new siblings, though they will be able to smell each other through a fence, Neiffer said. They also may get to see one another from afar.
