![](https://www.udayavani.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/army-14-415x234.jpg)
With tears, a crowd of South Koreans bids farewell to beloved panda before her departure to China
PTI, Apr 3, 2024, 9:55 AM IST
![](https://www.udayavani.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/With-tears-a-crowd-of-South-Koreans-bids-farewell-to-beloved-panda-before-her-departure-to-China-620x414.jpg)
Image credit: PTI
A crowd of people, some weeping, gathered at a rain-soaked amusement park in South Korea to bid farewell to a beloved giant panda before her departure to China on Wednesday.
Fu Bao has been a major attraction at the Everland theme park near Seoul since she was born there in 2020 to pandas Ai Bao and Le Bao, who came from China in 2016 on a 15-year lease program.
China sends pandas abroad as a sign of goodwill but maintains ownership over the animals and their cubs. Decades of conservation efforts in the wild and study in captivity saved the species from extinction, increasing its population from fewer than 1,000 at one time to more than 1,800 in the wild and in captivity.
On Wednesday, many panda fans in South Korea braved rain to attend a farewell ceremony at the Everland park for Fu Bao, who was to be flown to China later in the day.
As a truck carrying Fu Bao slowly moved to a plaza in the rain, many visitors wearing raincoats or holding umbrellas waved flags, shouted their parting messages and took photos with their mobile phones. Some loudly cried or wiped away tears.
The truck was decorated with a huge picture of Fu Bao and the message “It was a miracle that we met you. Thank you, Fu Bao.” But she wasn’t shown to the public on Wednesday. The park last showed her to the public on March 3.
“You are our baby panda forever even if 10 years pass or 100 years pass,” zookeeper Kang Cheol-won said in a speech during the ceremony. “Dear all, Fu Bao is now leaving. Please, remember Fu Bao for a long, long time … and please don’t cry much!” Fu Bao’s mother, Ai Bao, gave birth last year to female twin cubs, the first panda twins born in South Korea.
Udayavani is now on Telegram. Click here to join our channel and stay updated with the latest news.
Top News
![](https://www.udayavani.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/IndianClicks_GVega_Udayavani_300x250_12032021_1_1.gif)
Related Articles More
![](https://www.udayavani.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/amarnath-3-150x87.jpg)
Over 1,700 pilgrims leave Jammu base camp for Amarnath
![](https://www.udayavani.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/army-14-150x85.jpg)
3 Army personnel injured in exchange of fire in J K’s Kupwara
![](https://www.udayavani.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/dead-bo-3-150x83.jpg)
Unable to handle son’s drug addiction, couples commits suicide in Kerala
![](https://www.udayavani.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/iphonr-1-150x113.jpg)
Apple slashes iPhone price by up to Rs 6,000 after govt proposes import duty cut
![](https://www.udayavani.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Modi-28-150x83.jpg)
Olympics 2024: Every athlete is India’s pride, says PM Modi
MUST WATCH
Latest Additions
![](https://www.udayavani.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/amarnath-3-150x87.jpg)
Over 1,700 pilgrims leave Jammu base camp for Amarnath
![](https://www.udayavani.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/army-14-150x85.jpg)
3 Army personnel injured in exchange of fire in J K’s Kupwara
![](https://www.udayavani.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/dead-bo-3-150x83.jpg)
Unable to handle son’s drug addiction, couples commits suicide in Kerala
![](https://www.udayavani.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/ramna-150x86.jpg)
Tirthahalli: Youth Killed after tree falls on him while riding bike
![](https://www.udayavani.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/india-ol-reuters-150x84.jpg)
Here’s India’s complete schedule for Day 1 at the Olympics
Thanks for visiting Udayavani
You seem to have an Ad Blocker on.
To continue reading, please turn it off or whitelist Udayavani.