Fu Bao meets the public in Sichuan

Celebrity giant panda Fu Bao made her official public debut on June 12 at the Shenshuping Giant Panda Base at the Wolong National Nature Reserve, Sichuan Province, two months after her return to China from South Korea.

At 9:00 a.m., Fu Bao walked leisurely out of her enclosure and looked around curiously under the gaze of her fans and the media. After sniffing around, marking the yard and exploring her outdoor enclosure, she spotted the food carefully arranged by the keepers and began to feast.

To answer the calls of the many panda fans who wanted to see Fu Bao, the Shenshuping base and media outlets livestreamed the event, giving more people the chance to meet her online.

For those who wanted to see her in flesh, the Wolong Shenshuping base implemented a strict plan to ensure both the order of the park and ensure the safety of the giant panda. Visitors were allowed to enter the viewing area in batches, with each visit limited to five-minute intervals.

Xu Xiang, a keeper at the Wolong Shenshuping Base, said that since her arrival in China, Fu Bao has adapted well to her new environment and food.

In response to concerns about Fu Bao's fertility prospects, Wei Rongping, deputy director of the Giant Panda Conservation and Research Center, said that Fu Bao had not yet reached maturity and would not take part in the breeding program for some time.

According to research, female giant pandas generally reach maturity at 5 to 6 years of age. It is not yet possible to determine when or with which partner Fu Bao will be paired in a future breeding program, but the center will continue to provide Fu Bao with a nutritious diet, comfortable living conditions and a physical training program to keep her in peak health.

Now four years old, Fu Bao was the first panda born in South Korea and quickly became an online sensation not only in South Korea but around the world. After returning to Sichuan, the home of pandas, Fu Bao continues to be the sweetheart of her fans, and a symbol of success for the China-South Korea giant panda breeding program.