At the Washington Zoo, baby panda Xiao Qi Ji celebrated his first birthday.
For the occasion, the staff had prepared cakes for him made from fruit juice and ice cream.
He devoured them in the company of his mother Mei Xiang, and in front of many visitors who had come for the occasion.
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Some came very early in the morning to get the best view.
Like Barbara Hill, who says she is “delighted” to have come.
She is a regular at these events: "It is the third first birthday of baby panda that I attend".
Ditto for her accompanying friend, Elizabeth Len: “Same for me.
I came here for Bao Bao, Bei Bei and now our little Qi Ji.
So I'm really happy to be here ”.
“We came on May 21 when it reopened because we were very excited.
We had to see it because we missed so much!
»Barbara continues.
The birth of Xiao Qi Ji, in the midst of the pandemic, had been viewed by park staff as "a miracle".