For the non FONZ members of the reading audience, Tian Tian is the adult male giant panda at the National Zoo. That is to say, he’s the Butter Daddy. He and Mei Xiang are to thank for bringing that lovable little fella we call Butterstick into the world. Of course, as is custom for giant pandas, there isn’t a relationship between the father and his offspring (beyond the occasional glimpse through the fence; they live in separate but adjacent pens as male pandas don’t play a role in raising offspring). And today is his birthday! A virgo like myself (that might explain all those independent tendencies), today marks his 11th glorious year on the planet. Does anybody know anything about panda years? Are they like dog years?

On August 27, 1997, Tian Tian was born at the China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda at the Wolong National Nature Reserve in the Sichuan province. According to his bio on the National Zoo website,

His name means “more and more.” Tian Tian has black “knee socks.” The black band across his shoulders narrows in the middle. His eye patches are shaped like kidney beans, and he has two black dots across the bridge of his nose. In spring 2007, he weighed about 275 pounds.

We hereby name black knee socks the it item for fall 2008.

So what has he been up to lately? “Tian Tian has been spending a lot of time on his back in his air-conditioned grotto, but by the peak heat of the day he is ready to retreat indoors.” All that laying on his back might explain how he got up to 275 pounds. We’re just kidding Tian Tian, big is beautiful! Here’s wishing you all the bamboo-sicles you can eat and a relaxing day in your air-conditioned grotto.

Photo by RoxandaBear