Lin Ping, Thailand's beloved Chinese panda, celebrates 3rd birthday

[News Bandit]

CHIANG MAI, Aug 27 - Lin Ping, the first giant panda born in Thailand and a darling of the Thai people, has turned three years and three months old.

While it's a bit late for the actual birthday, the Chiang Mai Zoo in Thailand’s North, Lin Ping's home from her very first day in Thailand, hosted a celebration to mark her third birthday.

China's Consul General in Chiang Mai, Zhang Weicai, visited the zoo with a special gift for Lin Ping -- a four-layer iced cake topped with fruits.

Her name means “forest of ice.” In Thailand, she has found a forest of admiration.

Consul General Zhang, together with Chiang Mai Zoo Director Thanapat Pongpamorn led visitors in celebrating the birthday for the healthy, 180kg panda.

The Chinese envoy complimented Thailand in taking good care of the panda family including Lin Ping’s mother Lin Hui and her father Chuang Chuang.

All three bears have become goodwill ambassadors for China.

Mr Zhang promised he would inform the Chinese government of the closer diplomatic ties between Thailand and China created by the panda family so that their stays in the kingdom are extended.

Under an agreement with China, a panda cub born in Thailand must be returned to China after two years. Lin Ping’s stay in Chiang Mai was extended once. She was born on May 27, 2009.

The panda family is scheduled to be returned to China next year. A Thai delegation will meet with the Chinese authorities late next month to seek extensions of stay for Chuang Chuang and Lin Hui for 10 years and Lin Ping’s for another three years. (MCOT online news)

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[rpbc]

I'm glad someone is enjoying their life.

[CLIFFNORTH]

Went to the zoo last Christmas and saw the panda's which are the star attraction. You have to pay extra for this privilege.

I would not exactly call it 'having a life' in captivity and out of their natural habitat caged up in a small pen. But yes they are safe from external elements and preditors like man and they get fed and watered at regular intervals.

Ninety percent of the time they are sleeping but i was lucky to see Lin Ping performing like a seal doing a circuit of the pen rolling over and posing for photos.