PETALING JAYA: The sight of the second giant baby panda enjoying a cake made of ice, bamboo shoots and panda treats to mark its first birthday is delighting visitors at Zoo Negara’s Giant Panda Conservation Centre.

Known as “Adik” among its caretakers, the female panda cub weighs in at a healthy 34kg, which is a good indication it has adapted to the local environment.

Zoology, Veterinary and Giant Panda Conservation Centre director Dr Mat Naim Ramli said Adik’s growth has shown positive development.

Adik is being nursed by its mother although it will sometimes eat bamboo shoots, he added.

“Adik is very playful although she is not as active in exploring the compound compared to her sister Nuan Nuan.

“She prefers to rest on the trees with her mother,” he told reporters during the baby panda’s first birthday celebration yesterday.

The event began at about 11.30am with a cake-cutting ceremony.

The baby panda is the second offspring of Xing Xing and Liang Liang, that arrived in Malaysia in 2014 on a 10-year loan.

Their firstborn Nuan Nuan returned to China in November last year after turning two.

Dr Mat Naim said although the celebration was held in moderation, the cub’s first birthday was highly significant as its birth was outside of mating season.

Asked about the official name of Adik, Dr Mat Naim said Zoo Negara was still waiting for a decision from the government.

The second cub, born on Jan 14 last year, made a world record of two panda cubs being born within three years of each other. — Bernama