Everland's twin pandas to start meeting fans on Thursday for first time

Social Affairs

Published: 03 Jan. 2024, 10:26

Everland's twin pandas to start meeting fans on Thursday for first time

A picture of twin giant pandas Rui Bao, left, and Hui Bao taken in November [SAMSUNG C&T]

Korea's cutest twin pandas, Rui Bao and Hui Bao, will start greeting the public on Thursday at Everland theme park in Yongin, Gyeonggi.

The six-month-old twin cubs, born in July, will meet visitors for the first time after only giving sneak peeks through Everland's official social media accounts.

The twins will meet their fans for limited hours with their mother Ai Bao for the time being, and the Panda World section will also accommodate a limited number of visitors to ease the baby cubs into the zoo, according to Everland's operator, Samsung C&T.

"We plan to expand viewing hours and number of visitors after carefully monitoring the twin's conditions," the operator said in a press release.

"The twins are currently growing their baby teeth and starting to eat bamboo, raising fans' keen interest in what cute and fun things they will show at the Panda World."

Twin pandas Rui Bao (left) and Hui Bao (center) walking around the yard with their mother Ai Bao (right) [SAMSUNG C&T]

The twin's older sister Fu Bao will not be shown together with the twins due to pandas' innate solitary nature. But she will be shown to the public in alternating hours, according to Samsung C&T.

All the five members of the Bao family — including the father panda Le Bao — may be shown together at special hours, Everland said, although details were not disclosed.

Born on July 7, first-born Rui Bao and second-born Hui Bao's names were chosen through a public selection process to celebrate the 100th day of birth in October. Around 700,000 people took part in the event. The names were ultimately decided through two public polls after being shortlisted by the staff.

Rui Bao means "wise treasure," and Hui Bao means "shining treasure." Their names were bestowed in anticipation of the traditional celebration, as giant pandas have a low survival rate.

The cubs were born at 180 grams (0.39 pounds) and 140 grams each, but now both weigh over 11 kilograms, according to Samsung C&T.

BY YOON SO-YEON [yoon.soyeon@joongang.co.kr]