Who is Fubao's Top Groom Candidate? ... The 'Beggar Prince' from France

Low Possibility of Inbreeding Due to Non-Overlapping Bloodlines

On the 3rd, Yuanmeng was mentioned as the leading candidate groom for Giant Panda Fubao, who returned to China.

Giant panda 'Yuanmeng' [Photo source=Online community capture]

Yuanmeng is one of the twin pandas born in 2017 to Huanhuan and Yuanzi, pandas that China lent to France in 2012. Unfortunately, the twin brother died just two hours after birth. Yuanmeng grew up healthy and returned to China last July. Pandas born overseas must return to China before reaching the age of four, when they enter maturity, to aid in the breeding of this endangered species, but the return was delayed due to COVID-19. Brigitte Macron, who volunteered to be Yuanmeng’s godmother, personally saw Yuanmeng off at the airport on the day of departure. Since Yuanmeng and Fubao do not share bloodlines, the possibility of inbreeding is low, and their return timings are similar, making Yuanmeng a strong candidate mate.

Yuanmeng was nicknamed the "Little Prince" in France. However, due to his dark fur color, he was also called the "Beggar Prince." When he was young, his mother licked his fur the wrong way, exposing a scruffy, mischievous appearance. Kang Cheol-won, the caretaker known as "Fubao’s grandfather," said about Yuanmeng, "I’m a bit uncomfortable with the nickname 'Beggar Prince,' but since our Fubao is sometimes called the 'Scruffy Princess,' I don’t think it’s a big issue."

Fubao is currently adapting in China... also cautious of caretakers

Giant panda 'Fubao' [Photo by Joint Press Corps]

Fubao was born domestically on July 20, 2020, and returned to China on the 3rd, 1,354 days after birth. On the 5th, China’s state-run Xinhua News Agency released footage on its official Weibo channel showing that "Fubao is slowly adapting to a new life at the Shenshuping base in Sichuan Province." After entering the quarantine room, Fubao refused to eat an apple held in his mouth and left it on the floor. He also appeared to keep his distance and be cautious of Chinese caretakers wearing protective suits across the iron bars.

Local media explained, "Pandas can feel anxious when adapting to a new environment," but added, "Judging by the amount and color of Fubao’s feces cleaned by the Chinese caretakers, he appears to be in good health." They reported, "The timing for Fubao’s public viewing has not yet been decided," and "The adaptation period for pandas returning to China can range from as short as 1-2 months to as long as 7-8 months."