Hong Kong-born giant panda twins turn 2 years old

HONG KONG, Aug. 15 (Xinhua) -- Jia Jia and De De, the first giant pandas born in Hong Kong, celebrated their second birthday on Saturday in front of devoted fans at their home at Ocean Park Hong Kong.

The female panda Jia Jia and the male De De were born to Le Le and Ying Ying, the second pair of pandas gifted by the central government to the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR).

The two bears, born pink cubs as light as 100 grams, now weigh about 60 kilograms each. At the birthday party on Saturday, they munched on a cake made from frozen carrots and some fresh bamboo in the loving company of their mother Ying Ying.

The second birthday is very likely to be the last one the twins spend with their mother, because they will soon be old enough to live independently.

"Please don't miss the short window and come visit the family more often," Rosanna Law, secretary for culture, sports and tourism of the HKSAR government, called on residents and tourists.

City-wide birthday celebrations began early this month. Images of giant pandas adorned popular tourist sites like Causeway Bay while panda-themed buses and trams traveled across Hong Kong. Enditem