Russia’s first giant panda cub, Katyusha, marked her second birthday with a festive celebration at the Moscow Zoo on Sunday .

Katyusha, born to Ding Ding and Ru Yi – a pair of pandas on loan from China – was the first ever baby giant panda born in Russia.

On her second birthday, she was gifted with special cake made of fruits, ice, and bamboo. She ate the cake in front of crowds of Moscow Zoo visitors taking pictures of her.

Visitor Olga Batsuknova came from Rostov-on Don, a city in the south of Russia, to see the panda’s birthday celebration.

"We are very happy, it is really a wonderful celebration. Super!" she said.

Another visitor, Anna Maksimova, said the panda brings them joy.

"It is also a symbol of the Russia-China friendship. And we are very happy to have such good ties with China," she said.

The minister counselor of the Chinese embassy in Russia, Feng Litao, thanked his Russian friends for treating the pandas with warmth and kindness.

Svetlana Akulova, director of the Moscow Zoo, praised Katyusha’s development.

"Birthday-girl is growing quickly. Her weight is already 78kg. She eats bamboo with a great relish and shows her bright and courageous character. She also succeeds at different trainings.

"Katyusha is not just a symbol of the Russian-Chinese friendship but also she is an important part of the scientific program to study giant pandas," she said. (Reuters)