Chinese authorities will unveil the giant panda 'Pubao' to the public on the 12th.
The China Giant Panda Protection and Research Center announced on the 9th via its official social media that "after about two months of quarantine, inspection, and transitional adaptation, Pubao will officially meet the public on the 12th at the Panda Center (Chengdu, Sichuan Province) Wolong Xueshenping Base."
The center stated, "To ensure the safety of Pubao's public appearance, the Wolong Xueshenping Base will be closed from noon to 5 p.m. on the 11th and from 9 a.m. to noon on the 12th. Afterward, visits will resume as normal," urging visitors to adjust their outing and viewing schedules accordingly.
The giant panda 'Fubao' living in Panda World at Everland, Yongin-si, Gyeonggi Province [Photo by Samsung C&T Corporation]
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. Having lived at Everland in Yongin and affectionately nicknamed 'Yongin Pussi,' 'Princess Pu,' and 'Putuntun,' Pubao returned to China on April 3, 1354 days after birth.
However, recently, Korean and Chinese netizens have raised allegations of 'abuse,' claiming that Pubao is being mistreated in China. In response, Chinese authorities have issued direct rebuttals and released videos of Pubao consecutively in an effort to quell the controversy.
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