WATCH | South Koreans bid farewell to beloved Fu Bao as first panda born in South Korea heads to China
Fu Bao, first panda born in South Korea
Dozens of South Koreans were seen holding umbrellas and wearing raincoats as they braved the rainy weather to bid farewell to Fu Bao, the first giant panda born in the country, as she left for China, on Wednesday (Apr 3).
Fu Bao's emotional farewell
The first giant panda was born in 2020 in South Korea’s Everland theme park near the capital city of Seoul. Fu Bao is the daughter of pandas Ai Bao and Le Bao who came from China in 2016 on a 15-year lease programme.
On Wednesday, the truck carrying Fu Bao slowly moved to a plaza which was surrounded by her fans standing in the rain as many shouted their parting messages and took photos and videos on their phone.
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The vehicle was also decorated with a huge picture of the panda whose name means lucky treasure along with the message, “It was a miracle to meet you. Thank you, Fu Bao.”
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She made her last public appearance a month ago and has been inside the park since. On March 3, the theme park witnessed thousands of fans queuing up in the early morning chill to see their beloved Fu Bao before she left for China.
“You are our baby panda forever even if 10 years pass or 100 years pass,” zookeeper Kang Cheol-won said in a speech during the ceremony, as quoted by the Associated Press.
He added, “Dear all, Fu Bao is now leaving. Please, remember Fu Bao for a long, long time…and please don’t cry much!”
Fu Bao lands in China
The cub’s parents, 10-year-old female Ai Bao and Le Bao (11) came to South Korea from China’s Sichuan province, the home of the giant pandas, as part of Beijing’s “panda diplomacy”.
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In July 2023, Ai Bao gave birth in South Korea to giant panda twins, one of whom was Fu Bao.
The beloved panda cub landed in China’s Chengdu, Sichuan Province, on Wednesday (Apr 3) night on a chartered flight, reported the Chinese newspaper People’s Daily.
Fu Bao will be transported to the Shenshuping giant panda base in Wolong National Nature Reserve, located 130 kilometres northwest of Chengdu for quarantine.
(With inputs from agencies)