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National Zoo Panda Splashes Away in Tiny Tub: Video
The Smithsonian Institute recently released video of Tian Tian playing while bathing in the March sun.
What's more adorable than a panda at the National Zoo? Perhaps video of the panda playing while bathing, which the Smithsonian Institute just released on YouTube.
Tian Tian, the 18-year-old, 275-pound male panda at the National Zoo, was recently recorded splashing around in the late March warmth.
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"Keepers provided him a tub of water with non-toxic bubble bath soap," reads the video description. "He really soaked it up. He rubbed it on his ears—which is called scent-anointing. (Wait for the tail wiggle!) Pandas do not bathe regularly in the wild, but when Tian Tian is in rut—meaning he’s exhibiting behaviors associated with breeding season—he especially likes to play in water."
Tian Tian is the father of two cubs born to another panda at the zoo, Mei Xiang, in August last year. One of the cubs was named Bei Bei, and the second cub died four days after birth.
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You can view the video below:
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