Thailand-born panda cub celebrates birthday amid Olympics spirits

BANGKOK, July 28 (TNA) - The first female giant panda born in Thailand, Lin Ping, at the northern Chiang Mai Zoo celebrated her birthday anniversary on Friday amid Olympics spirits. Chiang Mai Zoo's executive team and staff, led by director Tanapat Pongpamorn and Prasertsak Boontrakul-poonthawee, head of zoo's panda section, organized the birthday celebration for Lin Ping on the same day the 2012 London Summer Olympics was set to kick start and last until August 12. The event was joined by a number of visiting panda’s lovers. Inspired by the Olympics spirits, certain parts of the Chiang Mai Zoo were decorated and arranaged to become demonstration models of boxing and weightlifting stadiums of the 30th Summer Olympics, as well as checkers board. Donations made by the zoo's visitors on Friday's activities will be handed out to various charitable foundations and agencies, as part of the Chiang Mai Zoo's pandas help friends initiative. Lin Ping, now three years and two months old, has reached a healthy weight of 107 kilograms, almost as heavy as her mother Lin Hui. Thailand is negotiating with China, with the next meeting set in August 2012, for a further three-year extension of Lin Ping's stay at the Chiang Mai Zoo. (TNA)