South Korea Says Goodbye To Fu Bao: Tearful Farewell To Beloved Giant Panda Bound For China

In South Korea, crowd of people, some weeping, gathered to bid farewell to a beloved giant panda before her departure to China on Wednesday at a rain-soaked amusement park.

Fu Bao, who has been a major attraction at the Everland theme park near Seoul since her birth in 2020 to pandas Ai Bao and Le Bao from China in 2016 on a 15-year lease programme, was the center of attention.

South Korea Says Goodbye To Fu Bao

Pandas are sent abroad by China as a sign of goodwill, with ownership retained over the animals and their cubs. Conservation efforts in the wild and in captivity have contributed to saving the species from extinction, increasing its population from fewer than 1,000 to more than 1,800, as reported by India Today.

fu bao is going back to china 😭 somebody check on yeonjun 😭 i am glad txt got to see fubao before she went back 😭pic.twitter.com/nicKtsealq

— Nikki (@125artkive) April 3, 2024

Despite the rain, many panda fans in South Korea attended a farewell ceremony at Everland park for Fu Bao, who was scheduled to be flown to China later in the day. As a truck carrying Fu Bao slowly moved to a plaza in the rain, visitors wearing raincoats or holding umbrellas waved flags, shouted their parting messages, and took photos with their mobile phones.

They played Jungwoos Smile Good Bye for Fu Baos send-off at Everland... ㅠㅠ awee sad, bye bye and be well Fu Bao 🥺pic.twitter.com/eOPBhEj2CL

— Dyva🌸 (@captainuwu) April 3, 2024

Some tears were shed and emotions ran high as attendees bid farewell to Fu Bao, who was adorned with a huge picture and the message "It was a miracle that we met you. Thank you, Fu Bao." Fu Bao was not shown to the public on Wednesday, with her last public appearance at the park being on March 3, as reported by India Today.

Giant panda Fu Bao set off its journey back to China on April 3. It is the first giant panda born through natural breeding in South Korea. #panda #fubao #SouthKorea #China #푸바오 pic.twitter.com/GMGIs5H0MP

— The Tide (@TideNewsZJ) April 3, 2024

During the ceremony, zookeeper Kang Cheol-won delivered a speech, expressing sentiments of gratitude and farewell to Fu Bao. "Dear all, Fu Bao is now leaving. Please remember Fu Bao for a long, long time, and please don't cry much!" he said. Fu Bao's mother, Ai Bao, gave birth last year to twin female cubs, marking a significant milestone as the first panda twins born in South Korea.