Birthday party for north China giant panda

A giant panda in a zoo in north China's Taiyuan City celebrated his fifth birthday on Tuesday with many of his young fans.

The Taiyuan Zoo held a party for Caitao and his little sister Huchun, by inviting children to color plaster panda models.

Caitao and Huchun were sent to Taiyuan from Ya'an Giant Panda Protection and Research Center in southwest China's Sichuan Province two years ago.

Giant pandas are among the world's most endangered species. About 1,600 pandas live in the wild, mostly in the mountains of Sichuan, while about 300 are held in captivity in zoos worldwide.

Most giant pandas in captivity are not good breeders. Only 24 percent of females in captivity give birth, posing a serious threat to the survival of the species.