MOSCOW – Even in August, months after the Chinese New Year, Moscow Zoo takes on a distinctly Chinese air.
Scarlet lanterns, an iconic symbol of joy and festivity in Chinese culture, sway above a tea-ceremony stall, while visitors pose in colorful costumes and gather around images of "Katyusha", the first giant panda born in Russia. The festive scene is all in celebration of the little celebrity's third birthday.
On Monday, the zoo marked her birthday with the start of a thematic "panda week," bringing together zoo staff, visitors and guests, including Chinese Ambassador to Russia Zhang Hanhui and Svetlana Akulova, the zoo's general director.
"After all these years, we see that 'Katyusha' was born and has thrived. This is a fine fruit of our friendship, bringing our peoples closer," said Zhang, pledging continued support for the Moscow Zoo and expressing hope for more fruitful outcomes.
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The cub's parents, "Ru Yi" and "Ding Ding", arrived in Moscow in April 2019 as part of a China-Russia panda conservation collaboration. On Aug 24, 2023, "Ding Ding" gave birth to her first cub, making "Katyusha" the first giant panda born in Russia. The cub's name was chosen via a public vote that drew over 380,000 Russian participants.
Akulova extended her heartfelt gratitude to the Chinese people and her zoo's Chinese co-operating partners, thanking them for their unwavering trust and for the invaluable opportunity to join a conservation program dedicated to protecting this rare and captivating species.
"'Katyusha' turns three today. It may sound young, yet it represents a major milestone. Tremendous efforts have been made by our keepers and staff, as well as through our diplomatic cooperation," Akulova added.
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On her birthday, "Katyusha" was the center of attention. A large portrait of the panda hangs near her enclosure against a traditional Chinese-style backdrop, while visitors nearby use tufting techniques to create a carpet featuring her likeness.
For young visitor Lida Yermolaeva, the celebration means more than just pandas. "When we talk about things that are simple, warm and positive, I believe they have a very positive effect and only serve to strengthen our bonds," she told Xinhua.
As zookeepers brought out a bespoke birthday cake decorated with flowers, parents lifted their children into the air for a better view of the young panda enjoying her special treat.
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Among the visitors was Irina, a middle-aged woman who had traveled from another city to visit Moscow Zoo. She told Xinhua that pandas inspire people to embrace kindness and peaceful coexistence. "They are so fluffy, soft and gentle. It is simply wonderful," she said with a smile.
The celebration reached another high point when a traditional Chinese lion dance began in front of the enclosure. As the performers, dressed in colorful lion costumes, blinked and bounded through a series of acrobatic routines, visitors gathered around to take group photos.
Once the cake was gone, "Katyusha" returned to her usual routine, sitting quietly beneath the roof of her enclosure and munching on bamboo. Around her, visitors lingered, watching and smiling. It was a small birthday celebration, but one that offered a simple reminder of how a panda can bring people closer.
