Giant Panda celebrates 2nd birthday in Vienna

VIENNA - Giant Panda Fu Hu on Thursday celebrated his second birthday in Vienna's Schoenbrunn Zoo with visitors.

Giant panda Fu Hu (meaning lucky tiger) approaches parcels containing vegetables on its second birthday at the zoo in Vienna, Aug 23, 2012. [Photo/Agencies]

Many visitors, including adults and children, had been waiting since early morning to see the panda on his special day. To their joy, the superstar appeared soon after his birthday presents were presented: several colored boxes filled with carrots, sweet potatoes and honey dessert.

With all eyes and camera lenses trained on the birthday boy, he took a little walk and then settled down to dig into his presents.

"It's our first time seeing a real giant panda. Before we could only see them on TV. We like them very much," a father said with his young daughter sat on his shoulders to get a better view of Fu Hu eating.

"We are the second zoo in Europe to have giant pandas. It is lucky that the pair kindly given to us by China mated in 2007 and had their offspring here," zoo director Dagmar Schratter told Xinhua.

Giant Panda breeder Renate Haider said had been taking care of Fu Hu since he was born in the zoo. Fu Hu has always been in very good condition, he said, and is becoming stronger. Born weighing 100 grams, he now weighs 48 kg -- half the size of an adult giant panda.

Fu Hu is the second son of pandas Long Hui and Yang Yang, both of whom still live in the Vienna zoo. Fu Hu and his brother Fu Long were born after natural conception under artificial feeding in Europe.

Fu Long, who is three years older than Fu Hu, has been sent back to China as per a loan agreement.