Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — Eating bamboo, preparing steamed buns, and cleaning enclosures are the daily tasks of "nanny" for the pandas, a caretaker named U Kai.

U Kai, an employee at the China Giant Panda Protection and Research Center in Chengdu, Sichuan Province, is involved in breeding bamboo bears. In 2023, the experienced panda keeper traveled to Moscow specifically to care for the newborn panda Katusha and her mother, Dindin.

Katusha is the first giant panda cub born in Russia and has quickly become a star. Her parents, Zhui and Dindin, arrived in Moscow in 2019 to commemorate the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and Russia.

Recently, Katusha celebrated her first birthday at the Moscow Zoo, receiving a large bamboo cake adorned with leaves and carrots, topped with a large number one symbolizing her age.

U Kai frequently watches videos of Katusha and Dindin online. "It seems they are living happily. I feel Katusha is growing very quickly. She seems quite comfortable in the Moscow Zoo," said the Chinese panda specialist.

Despite the different climatic conditions between Moscow and Chengdu, Li Deshen, Deputy Director and Chief Expert at the China Giant Panda Protection and Research Center, noted that "giant pandas are not afraid of the cold when it snows; they enjoy it quite a bit."

The Russian people have long been familiar with giant pandas. In 1957, a panda named Pingping arrived in Moscow from Beijing Zoo, marking the first time a bamboo bear, a national treasure of China, traveled abroad as a symbol of friendship.

The Moscow Zoo prepared extensively for the arrival of Zhui and Dindin. They constructed a spacious enclosure of about 600 square meters, divided into indoor and outdoor zones. Each panda was provided with a separate pool, climbing structures, and a storage area for bamboo. Additionally, the pandas had numerous toys.

"The transfer of giant pandas took place on the 70th anniversary of diplomatic friendship between Russia and China. We are certainly grateful to the leaders of both countries for making such an important decision to send pandas to Moscow, as it symbolizes peace and friendship," stated Svetlana Akulova, Director General of the Moscow Zoo.

According to her, the zoo regularly sent its staff to Sichuan Province in China for training on feeding pandas and providing medical care. "Everyone who currently cares for the pandas has been to China and received training there," Akulova said.

"We invited our Russian colleagues to come and participate in feeding, breeding, and disease prevention efforts," Li Deshen noted, adding that they learned from Chinese experts and shared their results.

Giant pandas have captured the affection not only of Muscovites but also of residents in other cities across Russia. Many Russians specifically travel to the Moscow Zoo to see the bamboo bears.

Katusha’s birthday also featured a ceremonial cancellation of a postage stamp depicting her and her parents. This event was timed to celebrate the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and Russia.

Giant pandas have become a symbol of Sino-Russian friendship. As Akulova emphasized, the birth of a giant panda cub in the Moscow Zoo is a historic event for Russia. "We bear a significant responsibility for the two countries and for preserving this friendship, and now we have the fruit of that friendship — a little female panda," the zoo director highlighted.