Photo courtesy of the National Zoo

Photo courtesy of the National Zoo

Yesterday, the Post reported that D.C.’s own Bao Bao came in second place in the “Panda Personality of 2014” portion of the Giant Panda Awards. On one hand, that’s kind of delightful because who even knew that such a thing existed?

In fact, the Giant Panda Zoo Awards have ostensibly only been around since 2012, although the Giant Panda Zoo website has been live since 2000. Kudos to Belgian Jeroen Jacobs for his innate understanding of how the Internet populace operates.

On the flip side, Bao Bao only received the silver medal in this “Panda Personality” contest. Silver. Second place? Really? That’s some nonsense right there. Admittedly, we’re a little biased towards our local panda, and the cake-eating panda in Taipei is pretty adorable, but perhaps the judges don’t fully understand the furry ball of awesomeness that is Bao Bao. In order to show these personality judges the error of their ways, we’ve compiled a highlights reel that shows Bao Bao at her best.

Bao Bao loves to play in the snow.

The Post showed the footage of her tackling mother Mei Xiang in the snow, but let’s not also forget that she spent her first snowfall rolling and rolling (and rolling!) in down a snow covered hill. Adulthood means that snow is akin to driving delays and shoveling sidewalks but pandas with fun personalities can still remind the most cynical grown-ups that snow can be fun.

Bao Bao has no shame in falling.

Like most human toddlers, Bao Bao wasn’t terribly steady on her feet in her first year. But did she complain about it? NO! She just kept getting up and falling again. See, persistence! It’s part of a great personality.

Bao Bao loved climbing this tree and really kept at it.

She started scaling a tree much sooner than expected. In fact the keepers worried that they might need to retrieve her from the tree, she enjoyed climbing it so much. But apparently that adventurous spirit only gets her second place. It’s robbery!

Bao Bao slept through her opening day.

Photo courtesy of the National Zoo.

Call it panda snobbery, but we like to think of it as not being above a nap time, even with a line of adoring panda watchers looking on. Plus, everyone that saw her sleeping said she was worth the wait. We prefer to think of it as being down-to-earth. She gets tired! Just like you!

Did we mention that Bao Bao loves the snow?

The National Zoo just put out this video and COME ON, PEOPLE! How is this not the best panda personality of 2014??

Filed Under: bao bao, bao bao highlights, bao bao in the snow, giant panda awards, giant pandas, national zoo,