"You Are a Good Panda"... Fubao Smiles and Poses with Grandpa Halbuji 'Click'

Living Indoors While Consuming Over 8 Tons of Bamboo

As the first domestic giant panda cub, Fubao, prepares for repatriation to China early next month, her indoor life in the quarantine room has been revealed once again.

The appearance of giant panda Fubao staying in the quarantine room ahead of repatriation to China has been revealed. Next to Fubao, who seems to be smiling, is zookeeper Song Young-gwan giving a thumbs-up.
[Image source=Everland Jutopia Cafe capture]

On the 20th, Song Young-gwan, the caretaker affectionately nicknamed "Fubao's Little Grandpa" and "Songbao" by panda fans in Korea, posted a message titled "Fubao's Preparation for Her Trip to China (Day 17 of Rest)" at the Everland Zootopia Cafe, sharing details of Fubao's indoor life. Song said, "Today is the spring equinox. As a wild animal, Fubao is feeling the change of seasons," adding, "Although she is currently focused on her temporary indoor life, she instinctively recognizes from her memories that she is in the midst of spring." He continued, "Accordingly, Fubao is admirably and confidently preparing for the tasks she will need to master as an adult."

The appearance of giant panda Pubao staying in the quarantine room ahead of repatriation to China has been revealed. Pubao eating a mantou (steamed bun). [Image source=Everland Zootopia Cafe capture]

Song expressed mixed feelings, saying, "I hope the time with Fubao could pass slowly, yet I also wish for a wider world for her to enjoy to come quickly," and added, "But I know which feelings are truly for Fubao's happiness." He then said, "To Ttunbbang (Fubao), who is naturally, panda-like, and uniquely herself, welcoming spring, I want to say this today: 'You are truly a wonderful panda.'"

Song also shared photos showing Fubao with her eyes closed, holding and smelling a wotou (nutritious bread), gazing at her own picture hanging on the wall, and smiling brightly at the camera alongside her grandpa.

The appearance of giant panda Pubao staying in the quarantine room ahead of extradition to China has been revealed. Pubao gazing at his own photo hanging on the wall.
[Image source=Everland Jutopia Cafe capture]

Fubao was born on July 20, 2020, as the cub of giant pandas Lubao and Aibao, who were sent by Chinese President Xi Jinping in March 2016 as a symbol of friendship with Korea. She is the first panda born through natural breeding in Korea. However, under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), pandas born overseas must be returned to China before turning four years old for mating purposes. To prepare for this, Fubao has been under special private care in the quarantine room at Everland Panda World for a month and will return to China on April 3 by chartered flight.

Meanwhile, following the panda abuse controversy that arose on the 17th at the Qinling Giant Panda Research Center in Shanxi Province, China, Fubao's "grandpa," caretaker Kang Cheol-won, reassured fans through the Seoul Shinmun, saying, "The caretakers I met at the Sichuan Giant Panda Conservation Research Center were all good people," and added, "Chinese caretakers have great affection for pandas and manage them well, so there is no need to worry about Fubao's return to China."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.