"China Releases Photo Saying 'Fubao is Doing Well,' Suspicions of Everland Reuse"

PubaO Continues to 'Roll Around'
"Release Will Be Decided Based on PubaO's Adaptation Status"

The giant panda "Pubao," affectionately nicknamed "Pugongju" and "Yongin Pussi," left Korea on the 3rd and arrived in China. Chinese state media recently released photos showing Pubao's current condition. However, controversy has arisen as some claim that some of the released photos were actually taken while Pubao was still in Korea.

On the 5th, Xinhua News Agency posted on its official social media account on Weibo, stating, "Pubao has arrived at the Wolong Xueshuping Base in Sichuan Province and is slowly adapting to its new life over two days," along with several photos and one short video clip.

In the video, Pubao is seen descending a slope, placing its front paw down, and doing a forward roll. Xinhua News Agency captioned this with the Chinese phrase "slipping, slipping." Pubao is also shown holding a "cell phone-shaped toy" near its ear, which was reportedly handmade and gifted by Song Young-kwan, a former Everland zookeeper. Other images show Pubao smiling while eating bamboo shoots and climbing a tall structure.

Pufao revealed by Xinhua News Agency. [Image source=Xinhua News Agency Weibo]

However, Xinhua News Agency did not specify when the photos and videos were taken. This has led to claims that most of the photos released by Xinhua were actually taken while Pubao was still in Korea. The background in the photos is said to be the panda enclosure at Everland Panda World, not China.

Meanwhile, CCTV footage of Pubao released by the China National Park on the 5th also sparked controversy. The footage shows Pubao repeatedly rolling over. The recording time was around 10:24 a.m. on the 4th, the day after Pubao was returned. Fans are concerned that this behavior might be due to stress.

Netizens responded with comments such as "It seems to be stress caused by environmental changes," "An adjustment period is needed," and "It probably won't be easy to adapt from the start. We support you."

Puba. [Image source=Xinhua News Weibo]

Meanwhile, the Xueshuping Base stated that they plan to initially care for Pubao using Korean-style husbandry methods and then transition to the base's own husbandry methods. Zeng Yuan, a caretaker at the Xueshuping Base, explained, "Public viewing will be decided based on Pubao's adaptation status. Each panda's adjustment period varies, ranging from as short as one or two months to as long as seven to eight months or more."

Pubao was born on July 20, 2020, to Lubao and Aibao, pandas sent by Chinese President Xi Jinping in March 2016 as a symbol of Korea-China friendship. Pubao will turn four years old in about three months.