Oldest ever giant panda celebrates with bamboo, veggie cake

HONG KONG - The Associated Press

AP Photo

The oldest giant panda ever in captivity has tasted a vegetable ice cake and, of course, bamboo in celebration of her 37th birthday.

Jia Jia was recognized on July 28 as holding two Guinness World Records, the oldest ever and the oldest living giant panda.

Born in 1978, Jia Jia has lived at Hong Kong Ocean Park since 1999.

The park’s veterinary service director, Paolo Martelli, says typical panda life expectancy is around 20 years, and only eight of about 400 living in captivity today are older than 30.

So, he says, “it’s quite exceptional to reach such an old age for a panda.”

Jia Jia’s age is equal to about 110 for humans. She suffers high blood pressure and arthritic pain, though her health is stable.