Public flocks to Everland to see Fu Bao for the last time

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Public flocks to Everland to see Fu Bao for the last time

Fu Bao, the first giant panda born in Korea, is seen for the last time at Panda World in Everland in Yongin, Gyeonggi on Sunday. [YONHAP]

Fu Bao, the first giant panda born in Korea, is seen for the last time at Panda World in Everland in Yongin, Gyeonggi on Sunday. [YONHAP]

 
Hundreds flocked to Everland to see Fu Bao for the last time on Sunday.
 
Fu Bao, the first giant panda born in Korea, met with the public for the last time over the weekend at Everland, the amusement park in Yongin, Gyeonggi.
 

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Fu Bao appeared at the Panda World in Everland around 9:30 a.m. as camera flashes exploded and adoring fans called the panda’s name. She took her usual spot beside a pile of bamboo sticks and ate habitually, seemingly unaware of the fact that this was her last day meeting with the Korean public.
 
“Today, March 3, is a meaningful day because it is the day that Le Bao and Ai Bao, Fu Bao’s parents, took their first steps in Korea,” zookeeper Song Young-gwan told reporters. “It has been 1,322 days since Fu Bao was born here, and we would like to thank everyone for accompanying us on this journey.”
 
Zookeepers Song Young-gwan, left, and Kang Cheol-won speak about giant panda Fu Bao to visitors at Everland in Yongin, Gyeonggi on Sunday. [YONHAP]

Zookeepers Song Young-gwan, left, and Kang Cheol-won speak about giant panda Fu Bao to visitors at Everland in Yongin, Gyeonggi on Sunday. [YONHAP]

 
“Yesterday, I sat quietly in the indoor room where Fu Bao plays and felt sad thinking that she can’t ride the play pole here anymore,” said zookeeper Kang Cheol-won. “I will never forget Fu Bao, who was the first friend I gave my heart to, for the rest of my life.”
 
Crowds of people waited as early as 3 a.m. in the morning to line up to see Fu Bao on her last day. People were running at top speed to reach Panda World when the gates to Everland opened in the morning.
 
After her last day of being shown to the public, Fu Bao will be moved to a secured location within Panda World for a physical checkup and management before being airlifted to China.
 
A huge crowd of visitors wait for the gates to open at Everland in Yongin, Gyeonggi, to see the giant panda Fu Bao for the last time on Sunday. [YONHAP]

A huge crowd of visitors wait for the gates to open at Everland in Yongin, Gyeonggi, to see the giant panda Fu Bao for the last time on Sunday. [YONHAP]

 
Under the agreement with China, all giant pandas, even those born outside of China, must be returned to China when they reach sexual maturity at the age of four.
 
Fu Bao will be moving to China on April 3. Zookeeper Kang will be accompanying the giant panda on her flight.
 
“Through consultation with Chinese panda experts, we will make every effort to prepare in advance to ensure that Fu Bao can travel in a healthy and safe manner,” said Everland zoo director Jeong Dong-hee.
 
A huge crowd of visitors wait for the gates to open at Everland in Yongin, Gyeonggi, to see the giant panda Fu Bao for the last time on Sunday. [YONHAP]

A huge crowd of visitors wait for the gates to open at Everland in Yongin, Gyeonggi, to see the giant panda Fu Bao for the last time on Sunday. [YONHAP]

 
Everland Panda World will start screening a special video of Fu Bao twice a day at the amusement park’s indoor theater from Monday.  
 
The 25-minute special video will tell the story of Fu Bao from the giant panda’s "point of view," including what zoo managers imagine Fu Bao would want to tell the zookeepers and fans.
 
In addition, Everland is reviewing whether to hold a farewell event to see Fu Bao off with fans on April 3 when she departs for China.
 
Zookeeper Kang Cheol-won feeds carrots to giant panda Fu Bao at Panda World in Everland in Yongin, Gyeonggi, on Sunday. [NEWS1]

Zookeeper Kang Cheol-won feeds carrots to giant panda Fu Bao at Panda World in Everland in Yongin, Gyeonggi, on Sunday. [NEWS1]

 
Fu Bao was born on July 20, 2020, at Everland to parents Le Bao and Ai Bao, pandas sent by Chinese President Xi Jinping in March 2016 as a symbol of friendship between Korea and China.
 
Only weighing 197 grams at birth, Fu Bao grew into a healthy giant panda weighing over 100 kilograms under the care of her mother Ai Bao and the loving zookeepers.
 
Fu Bao has two twin siblings, Rui Bao and Hui Bao, who were born at Everland in July 2023.
 

BY LIM JEONG-WON [[email protected]]
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