Lin Hui. Photo: Chiang Mai Panda Fanpage
Thailand’s mother-daughter panda stars received awards from panda lovers after more than 250,000 people around the world cast their votes.
Nipon Wichairat, Deputy Director of Chiang Mai Zoo, announced today Lin Hui won a bronze award for “Panda Personality of 2014,” while Lin Bing, who returned to China last year, won a silver award in the very specific category of “Favorite ‘Returned’ Panda” from the website Belgium-based “Giant Panda Zoo,” which promotes panda conservation.
“I’m sure she’s still one of the most famous animal personalities in Thailand, but Lin Bing returned to China. … she got 14 percent of the vote and has won the silver award for Favorite Returned Panda in 2014,” site owner Jeroen Jacobs explains in an amazing video presentation of the awards. “Congratulations Lin Bing!”
The website also took votes for other categories including “Favorite Panda outside of China,” “Panda Moment of the Year” and “Panda Keeper of the Year.”
Jacobs, who would probably win “Most Obsessed Panda Fan” if there was an award, proudly publishes a long list of locations he has seen pandas.
He said most votes came from China, USA, Taiwan, UK, Belgium and Thailand.
The award ceremony was held Saturday in Belgium, Jeroen’s home country, via a video of Jacobs standing alone in front of vaguely Asian architecture at a Belgian Zoo, speaking to the nominees watching him online.
Should we be worried, Jeroen?
See the Chiang Mai Zoo staff’s pre-recorded enthusiasm to Lin Bing winning at the 12:35-minute mark.
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