TORONTO, ON Thursday, October 13, 2016: In March 2013, Er Shun and Da Mao arrived at the Toronto Zoo as part of a Global Giant Panda Conservation Breeding Program. On the morning of October 13, 2015, the Toronto Zoo announced that Er Shun had given birth to the first giant panda cubs born in Canada.

Today, the Toronto Zoo proudly hosted a First Birthday Celebration for our giant panda cubs. Jia Panpan (Canadian Hope) and Jia Yueyue (Canadian Joy) were treated to a festive birthday party including some of the other Toronto Zoo babies (in the form of artwork displays) who brought the cubs gifts which contained traditional Chinese fortunes of "Prosperity", "Happiness", "Wealth" and "Lots of Bamboo". Jia Yueyue was quick to select a gift of "Wealth", whereas Jia Panpan let his tummy lead, and he selected a gift of "Lots of Bamboo". Media, Zoo staff, VIPs including Mr. Zheng Guangda, Vice President & Secretary General and Ms. Zeying Yu, Vice General Secretary, Chinese Association of Zoological Gardens (CAZG) were on hand to help celebrate this milestone for Canada's only giant panda cubs.

"The Toronto Zoo is thrilled to be hosting this one-year birthday celebration for our giant panda cubs," said John Tracogna, Chief Executive Officer, Toronto Zoo. "We are grateful to all of the partners who continue to support the ongoing success of our giant panda program, including the Chinese Association of Zoological Gardens, Chengdu Research Base of Giant Pandas, Chongqing Zoo, State Forestry Administration of China and the Canadian Embassy in Beijing."

Toronto Zoo Keepers have had the unique opportunity to experience the growth and development of these rare cubs over the past year, and there have been a number of challenges balanced with a number of joyous moments that have been a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for many of the dedicated and professional staff having the pleasure to work with the giant pandas. Karyn Tunwell, the senior panda keeper, has been with the cubs from their first day, and says, "watching them grow and surpass the many milestones throughout their first year has been unlike anything else I have experienced in my career."

This monumental birthday celebration is a perfect opportunity to celebrate the success of the Global Giant Panda Conservation Breeding Program. A true indication of this collective success, the giant panda was recently downgraded from "endangered" to "vulnerable" by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). This positive shift remains a primary goal of all species protection plans, and a significant focus of efforts and educational messaging by accredited and responsible zoological organizations globally.

The Toronto Zoo is honoured to be part of this ongoing success story for the giant pandas, and will continue tirelessly supporting and leading the many other species survival programs to maintain healthy and prolific populations within the animal kingdom for generations to come.

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Toronto Zoo Media Contacts:

Katie Gray, Supervisor of Public Relations and Events
[email protected] or #416-392-5941

Amanda Chambers, Public Relations and Events Associate
[email protected] or #416-392-5974