'I feel sorry for her': Concerns arise over Fu Bao's treatment upon arrival in China

Social Affairs

Published: 04 Apr. 2024, 13:18 Updated: 04 Apr. 2024, 18:04

'I feel sorry for her': Concerns arise over Fu Bao's treatment upon arrival in China

A man touches giant panda Fu Bao without gloves shortly after her arrival in China. [SCREEN CAPTURE]

China's management of giant panda Fu Bao drew criticism as she arrived at a Chinese airport on Wednesday.

An image of a man poking his bare finger through one of the breathing holes in Fu Bao’s cage was posted on the Chinese social media platform Weibo on Wednesday evening and quickly went viral.

The image was captured from live video of Fu Bao’s transportation process as she exited the plane.

Fu Bao left Everland, the amusement park in Yongin, Gyeonggi, on Wednesday morning to depart for China, following China's mandate that all giant pandas, regardless of birthplace, must return to the country upon reaching sexual maturity at the age of four.

The farewell event, during which her zookeepers gave speeches, attracted approximately 6,000 people.

The image of her arrival in China spread online, with netizens leaving comments such as “I feel sorry for her as she seems like a product on display,” and “What’s the reason for quarantining if somebody is going to touch her without wearing gloves?”

Giant panda Fu Bao is seen in a cage after arriving on a plane from Korea at a Chinese airport on Wednesday. [AP/YONHAP]

The China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda said that it was “a warm touch from the panda center’s veterinarian,” adding that it was a “mandatory checkup” and that “Fu Bao is safe.”

However, Chinese netizens raised suspicion about whether the man was a veterinarian as he wore an airport vest marked “logistics.”

Following such accusations, the center said that “the veterinary expert performed a necessary physical examination to check Fu Bao’s condition.”

"The vest was requested by the airport to ensure uniform working attire was worn while entering the airport working area," the center said.

The center also mentioned that the man had his hand “sanitized” before touching the panda.

A reporter captures images of Fu Bao with the camera's flashlight activated. [SCREEN CAPTURE]

A reporter who approached Fu Bao’s cage and took photos with the camera flashlight on also faced criticism.

“There are flash sounds, but why is nobody stopping the reporter?” a fan said, as pandas are known to have sensitive hearing.

A Chinese press reporter faced criticism for not wearing a mask while seeing the panda after he posted a photo of himself and Fu Bao, who was going through quarantine, on social media. The reporter later deleted his post.

Fans demanded punishment for the reporters, saying “What are they doing? They should treat her well if they brought her [to China]. Fu Bao is not cargo but a living animal and a national treasure.”

Chinese broadcaster CCTV reported Fu Bao’s arrival, saying, “Each task team will establish specialized emergency plans to ensure that Fu Bao can have a healthy and safe quarantine period.”

Fu Bao will undergo a quarantine procedure before being transferred to her new home.

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

A photo of Fu Bao entering her quarantine room at the Wolong National Nature Reserve in Sichuan, posted by the China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda on Chinese social media platform Weibo on Thursday. [SCREEN CAPTURE]

BY CHOI SEO-IN [kim.jiye@joongang.co.kr]