Giant panda Mei Xiang's 25th birthday celebrated at US zoo

WASHINGTON - Giant panda Mei Xiang's 25th birthday was celebrated at the Smithsonian's National Zoo in Washington, DC, on Saturday.

In the morning, animal care staff presented Mei Xiang, a female, with a special panda-friendly fruitsicle cake made by the zoo's nutritionists.

Commissary keepers crafted the multi-tiered cake and "25" topper using frozen diluted apple juice. Mashed sweet potatoes, mashed carrots, apple slices and bamboo added a decorative flair to the festive treat.

"Happy 25th birthday, Mei Xiang," the zoo tweeted. "Join us in wishing her a happy birthday!"

Mei Xiang's male cub, Xiao Qi Ji, will turn three years old on Aug 21. Tian Tian, the cub's biological father, will turn 26 in late August.