SEOUL (KOREA) – The first panda to be born in South Korea was brought before a group of lucky children and reporters on Wednesday. It was given a name – Fu Bao, which meant lucky treasure.
Fu Bao, born three months ago, appeared healthy and happy. The children were wearing panda T-shirts and masks, at her home at the Everland theme park.
“We love you Fu Bao,” the children shouted.
Fu Bao’s parents, seven-year-old female Ai Bao and eight-year-old male Le Bao, arrived in 2016 from Sichuan province in China, as part of China’s “panda diplomacy”.
Everland said Fu Bao weighed 197 grams (0.43 lb) and was 16.5 cm (6.5 inches) long at birth but has grown fast and now weighs 5.8 kg (12.8 lb) and measures 58.5 cm (23 inches).
The zoo said in a statement, “She’s growing rapidly and started cutting teeth and sitting up on her own ahead of her 100th day.”
Some 50,000 people took part in a poll to choose Fu Bao’s name.
The zoo said she would be making her first public appearance in coming weeks, when she can walk and eat bamboo. She is expected to return to China in three or four years.