Photos: Germany-born pandas celebrate their 4th birthday ahead of expected trip to China

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Photos: Germany-born pandas celebrate their 4th birthday ahead of expected trip to China

Pit and Paule have been a star attraction at the zoo since their birth in 2019

Published: August 31, 2023 14:50 Compiled by Nathaniel Lacsina, Senior Web Editor and with inputs from AP

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357252-01-02-(Read-Only) — Berlin: The first giant pandas born in Germany celebrated their fourth birthday Thursday as the Berlin Zoo prepares to send them to China, a journey that was delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic. Image Credit: AFP

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357250-01-02-(Read-Only) — Pit and Paule, who also are known by the Chinese names Meng Xiang und Meng Yuan, have been a star attraction at the zoo since their birth in 2019. Image Credit: AFP

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357259-01-02-(Read-Only) — On Thursday, keepers presented them with an ice cake made with apples, carrots and beetroot, and a side serving of snow. Image Credit: AFP

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357253-01-02-(Read-Only) — While China for decades gifted friendly nations with its unofficial mascot as part of a policy of “panda diplomacy,″ the country now loans pandas to zoos on commercial terms. Image Credit: AFP

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357258-01-02-(Read-Only) — Pit and Paule's parents, Jiao Qing and Meng Meng, arrived in Berlin in 2017. Image Credit: AFP

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357256-01-02-(Read-Only) — Florian Sicks, the zoo's curator for mammals, said the young pandas belong to China and its Chengdu Panda Base, and officials hope the pair will travel there soon. Image Credit: AFP

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357326-01-02-(Read-Only) — “As a rule, this happens at age 2 or 3,” Sicks said. “Because of the pandemic, it was delayed a bit so that they are now celebrating their fourth birthday here, which we of course are very, very happy about. Image Credit: AFP

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357329-01-02-(Read-Only) — But at the moment, we assume that this will probably be the last birthday the two of them will celebrate here in Berlin.” Image Credit: AFP

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357331-01-02-(Read-Only) — Giant pandas have difficulty breeding and births are particularly welcomed. Image Credit: AFP

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357262-01-02-(Read-Only) — There are about 1,800 pandas living in the wild in China and a few hundred in captivity worldwide. Image Credit: AFP

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