Singaporean eager expectation for baby pandas

The giant panda celebrities Kai Kai and Jia Jia living in Singapore are eagerly expected to have a baby panda. Singaporean visitors, experts and also media were all interested in it and looking forward to the breeding plan during the first year anniversary celebration party held on Friday. The Kai Kai and Jia Jia, known as Wu Jie and Hu Bao respectively in China, arrived in the city state in last Sept. 6, starting their 10-year overseas life. The first year anniversary celebration party was in sync with birthday party for Kai Kai, turning six on Sept. 14, and Jia Jia, turning five on Sept. 3. THREE-TIERED BIRTHDAY CAKE Kai Kai, the cute "Onion head", received a three-tiered birthday cake made of ice, bamboo and his favorite treats. It was created and presented by 10 Panda Party Planners who went behind- the-scenes with panda keepers to prepare these treats. Kai Kai walked around the cake and smelled for a little while and started to eat the bamboo, from carrots and bamboo leaves on the top to the ice at the bottom. He almost finished the whole cake before all panda party participants left his enclosure. Steven Goh, one of the Panda Party Planners, said he was very excited to prepare the cakes for the panda. "I understand that other than bamboos, they also eat carrots and some other food as well. So I put together carrots, foods, bamboos together to form a cake." Throughout the whole year, the Singapore keepers get to know Kai Kai better. Ang Cheng Chye, Assistant Director for Zoology of River Safari said he's more relaxed and laid-back. "We realize that every day about five plus here, he just climbed up to the trees to look over the enclosure at his keepers, as if reminding them it is time to take him back to his den for evening treats. That's basically a big time for him," Ang added. BAMBOO CHIME TOY Jia Jia, the shy girl, on the other hand, received a chime toy made of bamboo stems for her birthday. She is very sensitive and she usually choose to stay in her own den. The River Safari installed a closed-circuit television in February so that visitors can see her activities in her inside den. But she became more relaxed on her own "birthday party" on Friday. She walked around in the enclosure and drilled out through the swung bamboo chime toy. Finanlly, she began to grab the toy and began to eat. In recent months, Jia Jia started showing her playful side and can be seen tumbling down slopes and knocking down nearly 10 trees, which horticulturists have had to replant. "Even though we said she is shy, but on occasion you can see her just playing in front of public. While she's in playful mood, the crowd doesn't bother her. She will just do whatever she wants. She runs around the place. She's pretty oblivious of the crowd around her," Ang said. BABY PANDA HOT TOPIC When will you going to put Kai Kai and Jia Jia together? Share me more about your breeding plan for baby pandas. Is there any sign that the pandas are going to have baby pandas? These were the hot topic the panda keepers and the veterinary team were facing during the first year anniversary celebration party. Ang said breeding is the wish and goal of every institution that were given panda to. "The interesting thing about Jia Jia and Kai Kai is they are the first pair of pandas that are going to stay a long time in the tropic." He said pandas breeding season is triggered by increasing day light, changing day light from winter to spring. But Singapore has consistent day length throughout the year. "So we are not sure yet, and you have to observe," Ang added. Wildlife Reserves Singapore, the parent company of River Safari, is also scheduled to have a panda conference in October, in order to share feeding experiences, as well as the best practices on how to create the environment for breeding, with other keepers, veterinarians and other parties all over the world. "We work very closely with the Chinese authorities. They will send two of the experts, the two experts that work with us for the last four years bringing Jia Jia and Kai Kai here and the experts who we've consulted for all the management of the pandas. And both of them will be definitely coming to be the anchor expertise in this conference," Claire Chiang, Chairman of the Wildlife Reserves Singapore said. "To me, Kai Kai and Jia Jia are like children that are growing up fast," Claire said during the panda party. However, people want more, a baby panda, which could make Kai Kai and Jia Jia grow even faster to become Daddy and Mummy.