Happy Birthday Sweet 17

PHOTO: The Nation

Happy birthday Lin Hui.

Lin Hui is one of the stars of Thailand’s ‘panda frenzy’ a decade ago. Today she’s 17 years old and fans assembled at the Chiang Mai Zoo to sing “Happy Birthday” and maybe share some special birthday bamboo.

Lin Hui’s mate Chuang Chuang got in on the fun as well, sharing her birthday presents of food treats from the zoo.

Today’s birthday celebrations started at 9am with zoo officials presenting Lin Hui with a birthday “cake” – all her favourite food encased in ice, including bamboo leaves, apple, carrot and watermelon.

Lin Hui was born on September 28, 2001, and arrived in Thailand with Chuang Chuang on October 12, 2003, on loan from the Conservation and Research Centre for Giant Pandas in Wolong, China.

The panda couple famously had one baby, which was the lead actor in its own 24 hour television show for a couple of years before moving to China.

Wuthichai said the zoo hadn’t given up hope on Lin Hui conceiving another offspring, but that won’t happen until at least the next mating season, next January to May.