Fu Bao receives a heartfelt send-off from Everland

Social Affairs

Published: 03 Apr. 2024, 12:05 Updated: 05 Apr. 2024, 17:11

Fu Bao receives a heartfelt send-off from Everland

People say goodbye to Fu Bao, secured in the truck, at the farewell event held at Everland on Wednesday morning. [JOINT PRESS CORPS]

Despite the rain, some 6,000 people still came to bid their final goodbyes to the panda, Fu Bao, during a farewell event on Wednesday before her return to China.

The farewell event for Korea's firstborn giant panda was held at 10:40 a.m. in Everland, the amusement park in Yongin, Gyeonggi.

The vehicle carrying the panda, wrapped with her images and a phrase saying "It's a miracle meeting you," started from Panda World, the home of Fu Bao, and headed toward the Rose Garden.

While the vehicle passed by, fans cheered for the panda.

"I received a lot of comfort by watching Fu Bao's videos," visitor Jang Ji-won said to the JoongAng Ilbo, an affiliate of the Korea JoongAng Daily, at the event. "I hope Fu Bao stays healthy and happy after going to China."

However, visitors were unable to see Fu Bao as she was secured in a specially purposed vehicle with a vibration-free system, which minimizes the movement felt inside.

At the Rose Garden, zookeepers gave a farewell speech.

“You will forever be our baby panda even after 10 years or 100 years have passed,” zookeeper Kang Cheol-won said while reading a letter to Fu Bao. “Thank you for coming to me. I love you, Fu Bao.”

Media reports on Tuesday stated that zookeeper Kang’s mother passed away a day before the event. Still, Kang will be accompanying Fu Bao on her flight and journey to China, according to media reports.

A person waves her Fu Bao flag during the farewell event held at Everland on Wednesday morning. [JOINT PRESS CORPS]

Zookeeper Song Young-gwan thanked Fu Bao's fans, saying, "Thank you for following along Fu Bao's happy and beautiful story for the past 1354 days," referring to the number of days since the panda's birth on July 20, 2020.

"Thanks to your love, Fu Bao grew up healthy and happy,” Song added.

After the speech, zookeeper Kang boarded a truck carrying Fu Bao.

China mandates that all giant pandas, regardless of birthplace, must be returned to the country upon reaching sexual maturity at the age of four. Therefore, Fu Bao’s departure was an expected event, which the park announced in January.

A vehicle carrying Fu Bao passes by the crowd, wrapped with her image and a phrase saying "It's a miracle meeting you." [JOINT PRESS CORPS]

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

The panda had training sessions to get used to a transparent transportation cage that her mother Ai Bao used when she came to Korea in 2016.

After landing in China, Fu Bao will be transferred to the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding in Sichuan.

Fu Bao was the first giant panda to be born in Korea. Her parents are Le Bao and Ai Bao.

Giant panda Fu Bao and Zookeeper Kang Cheol-won stand face-to-face with a glass between them on Aug. 21, 2023. [NEWS1]

Le Bao and Ai Bao were sent by the Chinese President Xi Jinping in March 2016 as a symbol of friendship between Korea and China.

The panda weighed 197 grams (6.9 ounces) at birth and grew into a healthy adult now weighing more than 100 kilograms.

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

Everland signed an agreement with Chinese broadcaster CCTV last year to get updates on Fu Bao's life in China to share with Korean panda lovers.

A crowd of people gather to see a vehicle carrying Fu Bao in a rainy farewell ceremony before the first giant panda born in Korea is transferred to the airport for China at Everland in Yongin, Gyeonggi, Wednesday. [AFP/YONHAP]

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