--- title: Oldest Panda in Captivity Celebrates 37th Birthday description: Jia Jia the oldest panda in captivity according to Guinness World Records celebrates 37th birthday at Ocean Park in Hong Kong canonical: https://time.com/3974844/oldest-panda-captivity-jiajia-birthday/ author: Olivia B. Waxman article:opinion: false article:content_tier: free article:published_time: 2015-07-28T15:24:36.000Z article:modified_time: 2026-08-04T07:43:44.280Z og:title: Oldest Panda in Captivity Celebrates 37th Birthday og:description: Jia Jia the oldest panda in captivity according to Guinness World Records celebrates 37th birthday at Ocean Park in Hong Kong og:url: https://time.com/3974844/oldest-panda-captivity-jiajia-birthday/ og:site_name: TIME og:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt4d5a2f03ccb6705b/69885cc6196cf4b8c20374c8/gettyimages-482174284.jpg?branch=production&width=594&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 og:image:width: 594 og:image:height: 334 og:image:alt: HONG KONG-ANIMAL-PANDA-OLDEST og:type: article twitter:card: summary_large_image twitter:title: Oldest Panda in Captivity Celebrates 37th Birthday twitter:description: Jia Jia the oldest panda in captivity according to Guinness World Records celebrates 37th birthday at Ocean Park in Hong Kong twitter:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt4d5a2f03ccb6705b/69885cc6196cf4b8c20374c8/gettyimages-482174284.jpg?branch=production&width=594&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  # See How the World's Oldest Panda Celebrates Her Birthday > Sponsored content. 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Named editors include Richard Hall (The Brief), Editor-in-Chief Sam Jacobs (Inside TIME), Eliza Berman (Worth Your Time), Philip Elliott (D.C. Brief), Justin Worland (Future Proof) and Harry Booth (In the Loop). Health Matters is written by TIME's health desk. #### How do I sign up for a TIME newsletter? Go to time.com/newsletters, choose the newsletters you want and enter your email address. There is no cost and no subscription requirement. ### Sources * TIME Newsletters: [time.com/newsletters](/c/time-nl-network-2026q3/newsletters?i=9fd4931d-bac1-4d7f-80d5-d0a492a4e852&cr=time-nl-network-2026q3-v1) ## Video: Inside New York's First Cat Cafe [Watch (HLS stream): Inside New York's First Cat Cafe](https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/0MiiFeak.m3u8) (1:49)  _Published 2014-12-12. Meet the cats of NYC's first cat cafe, Meow Parlour, and hear more about the growing trend of paying to play with cats from the cafe's two owners._  by [Olivia B. Waxman](https://time.com/author/olivia-b-waxman/)  ## Olivia B. Waxman Staff Writer Jul 28, 2015 3:24 PM UTC  Giant panda Jia Jia stands next to her cake made of ice and fruit juice to mark her 37th birthday at an amusement park in Hong Kong on July 28, 2015\. It may not be considered a landmark birthday for humans but turning 37 made Jia Jia the oldest ever giant panda in captivity ageing the equivalent of more than 100-years-old in human terms. Giant panda Jia Jia stands next to her cake made of ice and fruit juice to mark her 37th birthday at an amusement park in Hong Kong on July 28, 2015\. It may not be considered a landmark birthday for humans but turning 37 made Jia Jia the oldest ever giant panda in captivity ageing the equivalent of more than 100-years-old in human terms. Philippe Lopez/AFP—Getty Images  by [Olivia B. Waxman](https://time.com/author/olivia-b-waxman/)  ## Olivia B. Waxman Staff Writer Jul 28, 2015 3:24 PM UTC While some humans might dread turning 37, it’s a record birthday for one giant panda. On July 28, Jia Jia celebrated turning 37 — or about 110 years old in panda years — with a bamboo and vegetable ice cake at Hong Kong’s Ocean Park. [Guinness World Records](http://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/news/2015/7/oldest-panda-ever-celebrates-her-37th-birthday-and-two-new-record-titles-388909) has recognized the giant panda for setting two records — one for the “oldest panda ever in captivity” and one for the “oldest panda living in captivity.” Born in 1978, Jia Jia was given to Hong Kong in 1999 to celebrate the second anniversary of Britain handing over control of the city to China. She has had six cubs (four are still alive). These days, Jia Jia is on medication to treat high blood pressure and arthritic pain. ### What Life Is Like for America’s Most Famous Panda Cub  Abby Wood—Smithsonian's National Zoo  Abby Wood—Smithsonian's National Zoo  Abby Wood—Smithsonian's National Zoo  Abby Wood—Smithsonian's National Zoo  Abby Wood—Smithsonian's National Zoo  Bao Bao, the Giant Panda cub is seen by the media for the first time January 6, 2014 inside his glass enclosure at the Smithsonian's National Zoo in Washington, DC, a few days before going on display to the general public. Bao Bao was born at the Smithsonian's National Zoo August 2, 2013\. AFP Photo/Paul J. Richards (Photo credit should read PAUL J. RICHARDS/AFP/Getty Images) Paul J. Richards—AFP/Getty Images  Matt McClain—The Washington Post/Getty Images  Bao Bao, the Giant Panda cub is seen by the media for the first time January 6, 2014 inside his glass enclosure at the Smithsonian's National Zoo in Washington, DC, a few days before going on display to the general public. Bao Bao was born at the Smithsonian's National Zoo August 2, 2013\. AFP Photo/Paul J. Richards (Photo credit should read PAUL J. RICHARDS/AFP/Getty Images) Paul J. Richards—AFP/Getty Images  Matt McClain—The Washington Post/Getty Images  Connor Mallon—Smithsonian's National Zoo  Courtney Janney—Smithsonian's National Zoo  Abby Wood—Smithsonian's National Zoo  Abby Wood—Smithsonian's National Zoo  Abby Wood—Smithsonian's National Zoo ## Transcript [ MUSIC ] I'm Christina Ha. And I'm one of the founders of Meow Parlour. And I'm Emilie Legrand and I'm one of the founders of Meow Parlour. I had visited cat cafes in France and in Japan before. And so, because we both love cats. And we were sad we couldn't get to a cat cafe in New York, so if you're sad you just build it. [ LAUGH ] We partnered with a rescue group called kitty kind they're based out of the union square pet co. They're a non profit all volunteer no kill shelter [ MUSIC ] Kitty Kind handles all of our adoptions for us. So they're the ones who know the cats best and understand their personalities. Through the exposure we really hope they get adopted. And if it urns out for some reason they don't like you know, other cats. They don't like people. Then, we're already home, then, into the proper situation. For the moment, we have seven cats, and we're planning on having a dozen cats. Gillian, Sqwinkles, Spot, Liza, Luck Eleven, Kirsten and Marley. Marley. We're cat ladies. [ LAUGH ] Yeah. I mean we love cats and. I've had cats all my life so I'm really trying to make sure they are really comfortable here. Our residential super cat lady. [ LAUGH ] So we have these cats that have like really different quirks to them. And they're all very, very unique and super individual and I think it's so interesting to get to. Interact with them and get to know them better. 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