Fu Bao (, , born July 20, 2020
) is the first naturally born
giant panda
The giant panda (''Ailuropoda melanoleuca''), also known as the panda bear or simply panda, is a bear species endemic to China. It is characterised by its white animal coat, coat with black patches around the eyes, ears, legs and shoulders. ...
in
South Korea
South Korea, officially the Republic of Korea (ROK), is a country in East Asia. It constitutes the southern half of the Korea, Korean Peninsula and borders North Korea along the Korean Demilitarized Zone, with the Yellow Sea to the west and t ...
. She was born to parents Ai Bao and Le Bao at the Everland theme park. She currently resides at the Shenshuping giant panda base.
Life
Fu Bao was born in July 2020 to parents Ai Bao and Le Bao, who subsequently produced twin cubs, the first twin pandas to be born in South Korea. Fu Bao's name means "lucky treasure". She became popular amongst South Korean netizens during the
COVID-19 pandemic
The COVID-19 pandemic (also known as the coronavirus pandemic and COVID pandemic), caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), began with an disease outbreak, outbreak of COVID-19 in Wuhan, China, in December ...
and her presence also doubled the number of visitors to Everland's Panda World.
Like all cubs born to pairs loaned from China, Fu Bao was to be relocated to China within a span of 4 years. She left for China on April 3 2024. 6,000 people attended a "farewell ceremony" to see her out of the country. Fu Bao's arrival at the
Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport
Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport (; traditionally as Chengdu Airport) is one of two international airports serving Chengdu, the capital of Sichuan province in Southwestern China, with the other being Chengdu Tianfu International Airpo ...
was met with concern by South Korean and Chinese netizens, who criticized the Chinese reporters for using flash cameras and not wearing facemasks, and an official for reaching into her cage and touching her without gloves. In response to the claims, the
China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda and Fu Bao's former South Korean keeper, Kang-Cheol-won, re-assured fans that Fu Bao was safe and clarified that the officials had sanitized their hands before touching her. Kang also expressed his confidence in the Chinese zookeepers.
She is the subject of a documentary titled "My Dearest Fu Bao"
which chronicled her keepers, Song Young-gwan and Kang Cheol-won (who have been dubbed "panda grandfathers"
), and their efforts to care for her.
See also
*
List of giant pandas
This is a partial list of giant pandas, both alive and deceased. The giant panda is a conservation-reliant species, conservation-reliant vulnerable species. Wild population estimates of the bear vary; one estimate shows that there are about 1,590 ...
References
{{reflist
2020 animal births
Individual giant pandas