China News Service, Chongqing, August 16 (Han Lu, Li Lutong) On the 16th, Chongqing Zoo celebrated the 38th birthday of the world’s oldest captive female giant panda, "Xinxing". According to reports, a giant panda's 1 year old is roughly equivalent to a human's 3 to 4 years old, and a 38-year-old "nova" is equivalent to a human's age of 110 to 140 years.
On the 16th, Chongqing Zoo celebrated the 38th birthday of the world’s oldest captive female giant panda "Xinxing". The picture shows the scene of the "Rising Star" birthday party. Photo by Li Lutong
The giant panda "Xinxing" came to Chongqing Zoo in 1983. As of the end of 2019, there were 153 offsprings of "New Star", and 125 of them currently live in more than 20 countries and regions.
The outdoor temperature in Chongqing exceeded 35℃ that day. Attracted by the "birthday cake" made of bamboo leaves, bamboo shoots, iced watermelon and other foods, "Xinxing" slowly walked out of the cage and climbed to the ladder with the cake. After climbing up the ladder and sitting down, "Xinxing" sniffed it and started to enjoy this "iced birthday cake". Seeing the emergence of the birthday star "New Star", the people on the scene spontaneously sang "Happy Birthday" for the "New Star".
Although it is the “hundred-year-old grandma” of the giant panda world, bamboo is still the favorite food of “new stars”. According to Yin Yanqiang, senior animal pastor and technical director of giant pandas at Chongqing Zoo, the teeth of “Xinxing” wear out with age. “So now, the staple food of “Xinxing” is different from other giant pandas in the park. Bamboo shoots are mainly used. Bamboo leaves and concentrated feed are its'snacks'." Yin Yanqiang said that the bamboo leaves eaten by "Xinxing" are manually selected, cleaned and chopped before feeding. Bamboo shoots are also peeled before feeding. "'Xinxing' has a good appetite. Under normal circumstances, its stools add up to about ten kilograms a day."
Yin Yanqiang said that in addition to factors such as genes, personality, and sports, the longevity of "new stars" is scientifically feeding. As the oldest captive panda in existence, "Xinxing" has been carefully taken care of by the breeders.
"In terms of the feeding of'Xinxing', we have made precise plans for staffing, feed configuration, and feeding mode. Among them, the feed configuration is based on the physical condition and mental state of'Xinxing', and its diet will be changed at any time. Adjustment." Yin Yanqiang told the reporter of Chinanews.com that under normal circumstances, "Xinxing" eats 3 times in the morning, 2 to 3 times in the afternoon, and there is a meal of bamboo shoots and a supper in the evening. For the care of "new stars", there are generally 3 to 4 panda nurses.
The summer weather in Chongqing is very hot. How can the thicker "Nova" spend the summer safely? Yin Yanqiang said that the staff have transformed the living environment of "Xinxing". The indoor living environment of "Xinxing" is a high-rise design. The vegetation in the living area is dense. The staff will also adjust the indoor temperature and humidity according to the weather conditions. "Outdoors, we also prepared a pool for'New Star', it can play in the water at any time to cool off the heat." Yin Yanqiang said.
It is understood that Chongqing Zoo will measure the blood pressure and teeth of Xinxing every week, and weigh it once a month. "Its main indicators are quite good, and its weight is basically controlled at 95 to 100 kg. For its age, this is a moderate weight." Yin Yanqiang said that the zoo also conducts comprehensive physical examinations for the "new star" twice a year. Check blood routine, liver function, kidney function, etc. "At present, "Xinxing" is still very sensitive in hearing and smell, except for the decline in eyesight."