NCS
—
Ever since her 2020 delivery, Fu Bao has been one in all South Korea’s largest celebrities, with followers eagerly following each milestone of her life at Everland Resort’s Panda World, a theme park in Yongin metropolis.
But the country’s most well-known and beloved big panda is ready to bid South Korea a remaining farewell in April, with preparations now underway for her journey to her new house in China.
During the final week of Fu Bao’s public viewing earlier this month, guests reportedly endured wait occasions of 5-6 hours simply to catch a glimpse of the celebrity bear for a mere 5 minutes, as the park restricted viewing occasions to handle the inflow of holiday makers, in accordance to park officers.
On Fu Bao’s final day of public viewing on March 3, she acquired farewell items, together with a panda household doll crafted from bamboo, a bouquet of flowers and heart-shaped items of bread from her devoted keepers at Everland.
Fu Bao fandom
Born to dad and mom Ai Bao and Le Bao in July 2020 as a part of China’s “panda diplomacy” program, Fu Bao is South Korea’s first naturally-bred panda.
In the times following her delivery, Everland’s social media channels provided followers a gradual eating regimen of Fu Bao movies, with its YouTube channel pulling in additional than 1.2 million subscribers and, as of February, surpassing 500 million cumulative views, in accordance to the park.
A two-hour video chronicling Fu Bao’s journey from delivery to childhood added to the Everland YouTube channel eight months in the past has garnered 1.6 million views.
The most up-to-date movies on the channel are actually full of heat and heartfelt messages from viewers, together with the beloved cub’s self-proclaimed “online aunties.”
“Fu Bao, you’re a happy treasure that came to us like a miracle during the difficult Covid pandemic,” reads one Youtube remark.
“Your auntie’s been so happy to have known you and you made me smile so much. You’re a clever one so I’m so sure you’ll do well in a new environment!”
Another commented that they “can’t believe how time passes so quickly” and that “we have to let Fu Bao go. I’m so sad to let her go … I support our Fu and love you. Every moment knowing you has been a great joy with laughter. Thank you.”
Thanks to Fu Bao’s widespread recognition, her devoted zookeeper has additionally discovered himself within the highlight, turning into a little bit of a social media star himself.
Often referred to as her grandpa, Kang Chul-won provided his personal farewell message for Fu Bao, noting that the Korean folks’s particular love for her all started with social media movies shared in the course of the Covid pandemic when the zoo was closed.
“She brought help and happiness to a society in many ways that was having a difficult time due to the coronavirus,” Kang stated in a video posted to YouTube.
During remarks to the press earlier this month, he stated folks visited the social media websites every single day so it felt like he was “raising her together with them.”
“Of course there are aspects of her cuteness and playfulness, but they cared so much for her and they shared the same emotions of raising a cub together during such difficult times,” Kang stated.
Though one might argue it’s unimaginable to determine a single social media second that catapulted Fu Bao to stardom, there are a few standout movies which have been significantly common with viewers.
In one video, Fu Bao clings tightly to Kang’s leg, unwilling to let go, as he spins gently across the room. After many makes an attempt to uncoil her robust arms, he lastly separates himself from her.
The different brief video reveals Fu Bao clinging to Kang’s arm whereas enjoyable on a wood bench. As the zookeeper gently pushes her arm so he can take his cellphone out of his pocket, the panda hyperlinks her arms tightly round his left arm.
After he motions to present one thing on the cellphone to her, she rolls onto her again.
In an announcement from Everland, the corporate says Fu Bao shall be transferred to the China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda in Sichuan Province in early April.
Everland stated that it’s going to hold her in a separate area at Everland Panda World for a month to put together her to alter to her new surroundings earlier than her abroad switch, which shall be carried out in accordance with worldwide rules.
According to the settlement between Samsung C&T, the father or mother firm of Everland, and the China Wildlife Conservation Association, mature pandas should be returned to China earlier than they flip 4 years previous.
Once Fu Bao departs for China, there shall be 4 big pandas left at Everland – Fu Bao’s mom Ai Bao, father Le Bao, and their twin babies Rui Bao and Hui Bao, who had been born final July.