WASHINGTON, D.C. — Bei Bei, the popular giant panda at the National Zoo in Washington, D.C., turned 3 years old on Wednesday. To celebrate, zoo staff offered him an ice cake, an animal-friendly painting session and a new toy.
The zoo’s department of nutrition sciences created the “cake” out of some of the panda’s favorite foods: diluted apple, cranberry, pears, bananas, shredded carrots, cooked sweet potatoes and grape juice with "leaf-eater biscuit puree," the zoo said in a press release.
A large number "3" made of diluted apple juice with the puree topped the creation.
Weighing in at almost 215 pounds, Bei Bei has spent the summer splashing in his big tub and napping in his new hammock. You can watch a live cam of the panda exhibit here and his birthday celebration below.