Protest truck demands 'respect' for Fu Bao at Chinese embassy

A protest truck sent by Fu Bao's fan club, "Fu Bao Gallery," is parked in front of China’s embassy in Seoul on Monday. [YONHAP]

Fu Bao's fan club, “Fu Bao Gallery,” demanded that Chinese authorities in charge of caring for Fu Bao, the first giant panda to be born in Korea, treat her properly following allegations that she is not receiving adequate care. The group sent a protest truck, displaying demands that the giant panda be “respected,” to China’s embassy in Seoul on Monday.

A photo of a person touching a giant panda alleged to be Fu Bao with their bare hands and giving the bear food was uploaded to Chinese social media last Friday. Chinese onlookers accused the China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda of allowing unauthorized guests to interact with Fu Bao, who is currently living in an enclosure that is not open to the public.

The center uploaded a video of Fu Bao in her enclosure on Saturday following the allegations, but onlookers were quick to spot bare patches on the panda's back and forehead. Some accused the center of fastening a leash to Fu Bao, as some fur around her neck appeared flattened.

The center said via social media on Saturday that the security camera footage showed “no outsiders taking photos of or touching Fu Bao in her cage.”

BY KIM JU-YEON [kim.juyeon2@joongang.co.kr]