‘Cuter in real life’: South Korea names its twin panda ‘treasures’

Since their birth 97 days ago, the zoo has posted videos documenting the pandas’ growth on its YouTube channel that have garnered millions of views.

South Korea got its first up-close look at its new pair of baby giant pandas Thursday at a name-revealing ceremony that doubled as an early celebration of the 100 days since their birth.

The female cubs — named Rui Bao, or “wise treasure”, and Hui Bao, “shining treasure” — were born at the Everland theme park near the capital Seoul on July 7, and have since been showered with an outpouring of excitement and affection.

ALSO READ: South Korea welcomes birth of first giant panda twins

Some half a million panda lovers helped choose their names via online voting, the zoo said, with a handful of lucky fans invited to Thursday’s ceremony.

Lee Da-young, a 20-year-old university student in attendance, said it was her third visit to the zoo in two months to see the pandas.

“I’ve always liked pandas, so I came to Everland last week and also a month ago,” Lee told AFP. “But I’m honoured to have come again on such a great opportunity.

“They are even cuter in real life than they appear on screen,” she said.

WATCH: Panda gives birth to baby twins in France

Since their birth 97 days ago, the zoo has posted videos documenting the pandas’ growth on its YouTube channel that have garnered millions of views.

“I feel healed whenever I watch their videos,” said 31-year-old office worker Jung Hyun-ye, who regularly watches the twice-weekly clips.

“I think I’m healed by their harmless expressions and relaxed manner,” she added.

The cubs, which have just begun teething and crawling, are very healthy, zookeeper Kang Chul-won told reporters.

ALSO READ: Tears as Malaysia-born panda cubs head to China

“We’ve never raised twins before, so we were very nervous, but I was happy seeing them grow up and I think the people watching them via social media were also happy,” he said.

They will likely be revealed to the public early next year, the zoo said in a statement.

Ai Bao and Le Bao, the twins’ parents, arrived in South Korea in 2016 as a state gift from Chinese President Xi Jinping.

In July 2020, the pair gave birth to a daughter, Fu Bao, the first giant panda born in South Korea via natural breeding.

China has long deployed “panda diplomacy”, gifting the animals to various countries, often to further its foreign policy aims.

ALSO READ: Washington says goodbye to pandas amid bitter US-China backdrop

Beijing only loans pandas to foreign zoos, which must usually return any offspring within a few years of their birth to join the country’s breeding programme.

For more news your way

Download The Citizen App for IOS and Android


Note: This article have been indexed to our site. We do not claim legitimacy, ownership or copyright of any of the content above. To see the article at original source Click Here

Related Posts
Visa-waiver agreement signed with China thumbnail

Visa-waiver agreement signed with China

Both foreign ministers predict significant rise in tourism PUBLISHED : 28 Jan 2024 at 14:35 Chinese Foreign Affairs Minister Wang Yi, left, and Foreign Minister Parnpree Bahiddha-Nukara shake hands after signing the mutual visa-free agreement, in the Narathip Room at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Bangkok on Sunday. (Photo: Varuth Hirunyatheb) Thai and China
Read More
Taliban Unlawfully Killed 13 Ethnic Hazaras, Says Rights Group thumbnail

Taliban Unlawfully Killed 13 Ethnic Hazaras, Says Rights Group

The Taliban had promised an "inclusive" government that represents Afghanistan's complex ethnic makeup, but there is no Hazara member in the Cabinet. (File photo/Reuters)Hazaras make up around 9% of Afghanistan population and are often targeted because they are Shiite Muslims in a Sunni-majority country.Associated Press CAIROLast Updated:October 05, 2021, 12:32 ISTFOLLOW US ON:Taliban forces unlawfully…
Read More
Covid: Kes jangkitan sporadik di Sabah terus meningkat thumbnail

Covid: Kes jangkitan sporadik di Sabah terus meningkat

KOTA KINABALU: Kes jangkitan sporadik COVID-19 di Sabah terus meningkat kepada 71.18 peratus daripada keseluruhan 2,717 kes positif baharu yang dicatatkan hari ini, kata Menteri Kerajaan Tempatan dan Perumahan negeri Datuk Masidi Manjun. Jurucakap COVID-19 Sabah itu berkata peratusan kes bergejala melalui jangkitan sporadik adalah yang tertinggi pernah direkodkan di negeri tersebut setakat ini. “Sebanyak…
Read More
*** BILDplus content *** For 650 apartments thumbnail

*** BILDplus content *** For 650 apartments

Die alten Verlags- und Druckereigebäude an Mainzer Landstr., Hellerhofstr. und Frankenallee werden abgerissen.Wie das Neubau-Quartier „Hellerhöfe“ auf dem 2,4 Hektar großen Gelände aussehen und was es bieten soll, erfahren Sie mit BILDplus!
Read More
Index Of News
Total
0
Share