'Gangbao' zookeeper Gang Cheolwon visits China
Reunites with Pubao after 3 months of return
Known by nicknames such as 'Gangbao' and 'Halbuji,' Kang Cheol-won, the caretaker who was a strong support for Puba, the first naturally bred panda in Korea, reunited with Puba after three months.
On the 4th, videos of Kang arriving at the Xueshuiping Base were posted one after another on local social networking services (SNS) such as Weibo in China. The Xueshuiping Base is located in Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China, and is where Puba, born in Korea, has newly settled in China. Kang is scheduled to spend a touching reunion time with Puba from the 4th to the 5th.
In the videos, Kang is seen climbing the stairs of the Xueshuiping Base with a tense expression, eager to see Puba. Alongside Kang are Chinese caretakers responsible for Puba at the base and a filming crew. In another photo, behind Kang, who is smiling at the camera, Puba is seen entering a pond. Both appear to be enjoying a happy time together.
This reunion took place three months after Puba was returned to China. Netizens responded with comments such as "Puba must be happy to have Halbuji here," "A person who truly loves Puba," "Halbuji who kept his promise to Puba is really admirable," "An amazing person," "Such a person should be a caretaker," "Puba must feel very secure," and "It really seems like he thinks of Puba as his granddaughter."
Meanwhile, Puba was born on July 20, 2020, at Everland in Yongin to Lubao and Aibao, and was returned to China last April to find a mate. After about 70 days of quarantine and adaptation, Puba was made public starting in June. While playing in the enclosure open to the general public, Puba attracted attention by looking around in response when a Korean visitor greeted him.
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