Fubao's 'Special Return'... Charter Flight and Special Vehicle Included

Charter Flight to China on the 3rd of Next Month... Special Vibration-Free Vehicle
'Panda Grandpa' Kang Cheol-won, the Zookeeper, Accompanies to China

Giant panda Pubao, who enjoyed syndrome-level popularity in Korea, will move to China on a charter flight on the 3rd of next month.

Giant panda 'Pubao'
Photo by Samsung C&T Resort Division
Image source: Yonhap News

On the 27th, Everland announced Pubao's transport plan and farewell schedule on its website and social media (SNS). On the 3rd of next month at 10:40 a.m., Pubao will be loaded onto a transport vehicle at Panda World and then moved to Incheon International Airport. The vehicle used for transporting Pubao is a special vibration-free vehicle used for semiconductor transport. After arriving at Incheon Airport, Pubao will board a charter flight provided by the Chinese side. 'Panda Grandpa' Kang Cheol-won, the caretaker, will board the charter flight with experts from the China Panda Conservation Research Center to assist with Pubao's transfer and then return to Korea.

To comfort fans saddened by the farewell with Pubao, Everland has arranged about 20 minutes of seeing-off time. The vehicle carrying Pubao will slowly move from Panda World to the Rose Garden. However, fans will not be able to meet Pubao directly inside the vehicle.

Zookeeper Song Young-kwan and Fubao
[Photo by Zootopia Cafe]

Pubao was born on July 20, 2020, as the cub of giant pandas 'Leobao' and 'Aibao,' which Chinese President Xi Jinping sent to Korea in March 2016 as a symbol of friendship. Pubao is the first panda born naturally 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. During his time at Everland, Pubao received much love and even sparked the 'Pubao syndrome.' The name 'Pubao,' meaning 'treasure that brings happiness,' was chosen through a vote involving over 50,000 participants.

Recently, Song Young-kwan, the caretaker who is busy preparing for Pubao's repatriation, shared an update: "Although Pubao has been focused on indoor life, he instinctively recognizes that he is at the center of spring based on his memories, and admirably and confidently prepares for the tasks he must skillfully perform as an adult."

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