Beloved panda Fu Bao to have a final farewell on April 3

Social Affairs

Published: 27 Mar. 2024, 16:32 Updated: 27 Mar. 2024, 18:31

Beloved panda Fu Bao to have a final farewell on April 3

Fu Bao, the first giant panda born in Korea, is set to leave Korea and depart for China on April 3. [SAMSUNG C&T]

Panda lovers will get one last chance to say farewell to beloved panda star Fu Bao.

Everland, the amusement park in Yongin, Gyeonggi, announced Wednesday that a farewell event will be held for about 20 minutes, starting at 10:40 a.m. on April 3, the day she departs for China.

Visitors will be able to show their support and love for Fu Bao's new beginning as the vehicle carrying the panda passes through the crowd.

However, visitors will be unable to meet Fu Bao as she will be secured in the vehicle, according to the amusement park.

The vehicle will start from Panda World and go to the Rose Garden within the park.

Zookeepers will give a farewell speech at the Rose Garden.

The first giant panda born in Korea is scheduled to move to China on April 3, following China's mandate that all giant pandas, regardless of birthplace, must be returned to the country upon reaching sexual maturity at the age of four.

A farewell event for Fu Bao will be held on her departure on April 3. [SAMSUNG C&T]

Zookeeper Kang Cheol-won will accompany Fu Bao on her flight and journey to China.

The public was last able to see Fu Bao on March 3. Since then, the beloved panda has been going through a physical checkup and other preparations for her journey.

Fu Bao was the first giant panda to be born in Korea. She was born in 2020 to Le Bao and Ai Bao, pandas that the Chinese government leased to Korea in 2016.

Fu Bao has twin siblings, Rui Bao and Hui Bao, who were born at Everland in July 2023.

Visitors will be able to show their support and love for Fu Bao's new beginning as the vehicle carrying the panda passes through the crowd. [SAMSUNG C&T]

BY KIM JI-YE [kim.jiye@joongang.co.kr]