"Poobah Beauty Mark? Looks Like a Scar"…Analysis by Korean Veterinarian

Pupae Revealed to the Public 70 Days After Arrival in China
Veterinarian: "More Unstable Appearance Compared to Korea"

Giant panda "Pubao," who was greatly loved and nicknamed "Pugongju," has made its first appearance in over two months since moving to China. A Korean veterinarian has analyzed that Pubao may be exhibiting physical abnormalities suspected to be caused by stress.

The giant panda 'Fubao,' returned to China last April, was revealed to the public on the 12th at the Sichuan Panda Base after about two months. At 9:39 a.m. local time, Fubao appeared in the outdoor enclosure of the Wolong China Giant Panda Center (臥龍中華大熊猫苑) Shenshuping Base (神樹坪基地) in Sichuan Province. [Image source=Yonhap News]

On the 12th, veterinarian Choi Taegyu appeared on YTN News and said about Pubao, "There were many concerns, but it seems to be in better condition than expected." He added, "However, it did appear somewhat unstable compared to when it was in Korea," explaining, "This is because it was moved to a new place, and the location where it was first revealed is unfamiliar to Pubao, so it showed signs of caution and fear."

Veterinarian Choi also responded to the question, "How long will it take for Pubao to adapt?" by saying, "It varies greatly depending on the species and individual," and added, "Pubao was born at Everland and had never left that place before." He continued, "Pubao's entire world was (Everland), and suddenly it was moved. In such cases, it can take a very long time, sometimes several months, to stabilize, but if it adapts quickly, it could stabilize within one or two months."

Regarding the recent hair loss around Pubao's neck, which has worried fans both domestically and internationally, he said, "There are limitations to what can be seen from the video, but to me, it looks more like the hair is broken rather than lost," and explained, "Due to repetitive stereotypic behaviors, continuous friction occurs on certain areas, causing the hair to break." About the flattened mark on Pubao's crown, which the Chinese side calls a "beauty spot," he said, "It looked close to a wound," and added, "It seems the skin tissue was damaged as a result of stereotypic behavior, and packaging this as a 'beauty spot' just because it is a female does not seem appropriate."

Furthermore, he said, "We need to give (Pubao) as much time as possible to adapt," and added, "Until it becomes familiar with the space, it is necessary to provide as many positive stimuli as possible and conduct adaptation training so that these positive stimuli can be associated with the new environment."

The giant panda 'Fubao,' returned to China last April, was revealed to the public on the 12th at the Sichuan Panda Base after about two months. At 9:39 a.m. local time, Fubao appeared in the outdoor enclosure of the Wolong Zhonghua Giant Panda Reserve (臥龍中華大熊猫苑) Shenshuping Base (神樹坪基地) in Sichuan Province. [Image source=Yonhap News]

Earlier, Pubao was revealed to the public for the first time in 70 days since being returned to China. Pubao walked out into the outdoor enclosure and greeted visitors while eating carrot and bamboo shoot cakes. At that time, about ten Korean reporters and dozens of Chinese reporters from China Central Television (CCTV) and others quietly broadcast Pubao’s appearance live, and Pubao leisurely strolled around the enclosure.

Other internet sites such as Baidu (百度) also broadcasted the event live across China under the title "Pubao's First Public Appearance." Chinese netizens showed interest by commenting on the Baidu broadcast video, saying things like "Pugongju is so cute" and "It really eats well."

Meanwhile, Pubao was born on July 20, 2020, between panda Lubao and Aibao, who were sent by Chinese President Xi Jinping in March 2016 as a symbol of Korea-China friendship promotion.