South Koreans’ love for ‘national panda’ Fu Bao belies less than cuddly ties with China

YONGIN, SOUTH KOREA - MARCH 03: Giant panda Fu Bao rests at Everland amusement park on March 03, 2024 in Yongin, South Korea. Fu Bao, a female giant panda born in Everland amusement park and turning four years old this year, will be transferred to the China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda in Sichuan Province in early April under an international agreement. Chung Sung-Jun/Pool via REUTERS

Fu Bao, a female giant panda born in Everland amusement park, will be transferred to the China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda in Sichuan Province under an international agreement.

PHOTO: REUTERS

Wendy Teo

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SEOUL - Spring showers mixed with tears on April 3 as some 6,000 South Koreans sent off three-year-old giant panda Fu Bao as she went on a journey back to her home country China.

Loud sobs could be heard as a covered truck painted with a photo of Fu Bao

and bright yellow rapeseed flowers took the beloved bear down the winding paths of Everland theme park in Yongin city in Gyeonggi province, about an hour away from Seoul.

South Koreans’ love for ‘national panda’ Fu Bao belies less than cuddly ties with China

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