San Diego Zoo Celebrates with a Special Conservation-theme Party
Giant panda Xiao Liwu (pronounced “sshyaoww lee woo”) turned 6 years old over the weekend, and the San Diego Zoo held a “Super Hero for Wildlife” conservation-themed birthday celebration to honor the much-visited white-and-black bear. Zoo guests and animal care staff packed the Barlin-Kahn Family Panda Trek and watched as Xiao Liwu—also known as “Mr. Wu” to his keepers and fans—walked into his habitat and enjoyed a multitude of special birthday items and decorations, including panda party bags filled with his favorite treats, stuffed burlap pillows and six bamboo-bread cupcakes. Volunteers also created papier-måché lanterns with conservation messaging printed on the front, as a reminder of how important it is to conserve energy and water, and to help fight species habitat loss and illegal wildlife trade.
Xiao Liwu is the sixth giant panda born at the San Diego Zoo to mother Bai Yun, and the fifth cub fathered by Gao Gao. The birthday gifts he received today are part of the enrichment that the young bear gets on a regular basis to keep him active and stimulated, and to encourage natural behaviors like foraging.
In 2016, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) reclassified the giant panda as Vulnerable, instead of Endangered—indicating in their report that current conservation efforts are working; however, low panda population numbers and habitat loss remain a problem, so more work needs to be done to increase the species’ population and provide giant pandas with suitable places to thrive. Currently, scientists count nearly 2,000 giant pandas living in their native habitat—and the majority of them are adults.

The San Diego Zoo is home to three giant pandas, on loan from the People’s Republic of China for conservation studies. As part of this long-term program, the Zoo, in conjunction the China Wildlife Conservation Association and the China Conservation Center for the Giant Panda, continues to work on science-based panda conservation programs. The Zoo also collaborates with the Chinese Academy of Sciences in studies of behavior, ecology, genetics and conservation of wild pandas.

Guests can visit Xiao Liwu and his mother, Bai Yun, at their Panda Trek habitat during the day, and then stay late for Nighttime Zoo—an annual summertime celebration that includes toe-tapping music, fascinating animal encounters, stilt walkers, exceptional acrobatic feats and African-themed music, dance, and more. Nighttime Zoo runs through Sept. 3, 2018. The Zoo will stay open until 9 p.m, with special activities starting at 4 p.m. daily. Nighttime Zoo activities and attractions are free with Zoo admission or membership.
I miss WuWu SOOO much. What a precious baby. I know he is not a baby anymore but he will always be a baby to.
I adopted him on his first birthday and loved, laughed and cried watching him grow up.
Am sure if he is being a papa to babies, they are adorable and very smart.
Have not seen Xiao Liwu for many days….Is he doing okay?
Blog Monitor’s note: He’s doing just fine; he’s in the habitat Gao Gao was in. It gives him lots of options for using his youthful energy, but unfortunately it is not featured on Panda Cam at this time.
I made an error in my last comment I meant to say 2016 not 2006. 2016 is last time I can find that the San Diego Zoo gave Mr. Wu am ice cake.
I am curious to know why the SD Zoo stop giving the giant pandas ice cakes? I understand that Gao Gao is older and has teeth problems and this may be the case for Bai Yun also. Mr.Wu last ice cake birthday that I can find was in 2006, meaning this change of not giving ice cakes is fairly recent. I would like more information about this thank you!
Blog Monitor’s note: Bamboo bread cupcakes have taken their place—and the bears LOVE them! We like to change things up to keep enrichment interesting.
Happy 6th Birthday, King Wu!! Long may you reign…adorable, loving, entertaining and peaceful dear one.
You bring so much joy to this world and I absolutely love you! <3
A lovely celebration for the very handsome Wu bear. 6 years seem to have zipped by but its been a joy to have PandaCam bring Wu & family into my home in Australia (also Condor, Polar bear & Orangutan Cams). Looking forward to more years of his WUnderful self at the San Diego Zoo. Happy Birthday Xiao Liwu. 🐼🎂💙
Three-pronged Panda Immersion
Come visit in person, watch webcam or YouTube, plus read panda news on the internet.
Happy Birthday Wu Bear!
Cheers to another year as Wu-nderful as you are.
Above photo of Xiao Liwu
His message: “Here is looking at you, kid!”
Very contented indeed.
Another birthday video
7/29/18 YouTube: ‘SDZ — 7.29.2018 — Xiao Liwu 6th Birthday Party’, posted by ‘ryoko123panda’, duration: 3:49 minutes.
Background comment was provided by, a zoo volunteer guide.