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Panda celebrates first birthday in Malaysian zoo with ice cake

The giant panda is the second cub born to a pair of pandas loaned to Malaysia by China.

A female panda (unnamed) born in a Malaysian zoo last year looks at her Ice birthday cake on her first birthday at the National Zoo in Kuala Lumpur.
A female panda (unnamed) born in a Malaysian zoo last year looks at her Ice birthday cake on her first birthday at the National Zoo in Kuala Lumpur. Source: AAP

A giant panda born in a Malaysian zoo celebrated her first birthday Monday with a cake made of ice in front of adoring visitors.

The youngster looked around shyly as a zookeeper carried her to a platform in her enclosure where the cake, which had a large number "one" on top, was waiting.

A female panda (unnamed) born in a Malaysian zoo last year looks at her Ice birthday cake on her first birthday at the National Zoo in Kuala Lumpur.
A female panda (unnamed) born in a Malaysian zoo last year looks at her Ice birthday cake on her first birthday at the National Zoo in Kuala Lumpur. Source: AAP

After nibbling at some carrots used to decorate the creation, the panda -- who has not yet been named -- seemed to tire of the celebrations, and fell asleep.

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Currently weighing 34 kilos, she is the second cub born to Liang Liang and Xing Xing since they were sent from China to Malaysia in 2014, on a 10-year loan.

The panda is the second offspring of giant pandas Liang Liang and Xing Xing.
The panda is the second offspring of giant pandas Liang Liang and Xing Xing. Source: AAP

The first, Nuan Nuan, was born in August 2015 and sent back to China in 2017. Beijing and Kuala Lumpur have agreed that cubs born in captivity must go back to China at the age of two.

The pandas are kept at the national zoo's panda centre outside Kuala Lumpur.

It's estimated there are some 1,800 giant pandas left in the wild, living mainly in bamboo forest in the mountains of western China, according to environmental group WWF.

The baby panda being tickled by her mother Liang Liang during her birthday celebration.
The baby panda being tickled by her mother Liang Liang during her birthday celebration. Source: AAP


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Source: AFP, SBS



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