Everland Zoo Welcomes Birth of Giant Panda Cub

JAKARTA - The family of the only giant panda in South Korea at Everland has experienced an addition to its members.

The only zoo in the country that houses giant pandas, it last month announced that female panda Ai Bao gave birth to a healthy baby girl on June 3, marking the third successful birth of a giant panda in Korea.

The newborn joins her siblings - Fu Bao, born in 2020, and twin brothers Rui Bao and Hui Bao, born in 2023 - making Ai Bao and her partner Le Bao parents of four daughters.

This birth has an additional meaning because 2026 marks the 10th anniversary of Everland Panda World and a decade of joint panda conservation research between South Korea and China.

According to Everland, which is operated by Samsung C&T's resort division, Ai Bao, who is 12 years old, gave birth about two hours after labor began.

The panda cub was born at around 10:53 a.m. weighing 171 grams.

The weight is considered healthy compared to the birth weight of his siblings. Fu Bao was born weighing 197 grams, while Rui Bao and Hui Bao weighed 180 grams and 140 grams respectively.

Everland stated that the mother and child were in good health and were monitored at all times by zoo staff and veterinarians.

"This birth is another important achievement in the Korean-Chinese panda conservation partnership that has been going on for the past decade. We will further strengthen the expertise and role of zoos in protecting endangered species and expanding conservation research," said Jung Dong-hee, director of Everland Zoo, quoted from The Korea Times (5/7).

The name of the panda cub will be chosen through a public naming contest after he is about 100 days old.

For now, the newborn panda cub will remain in a private enclosure with Ai Bao while experts closely monitor its development, including its ability to walk on its own and build up its immunity.

Everland said it would decide on a public debut date after assessing its adaptation to the environment.

Until then, fans can follow the progress of the panda cubs through Everland's official social media channels, including YouTube accounts and online fan communities.

Previously, Fu Bao and the twins were introduced to visitors after they were more than 5 months old.

Breeding giant pandas is very difficult, because female pandas are only fertile once a year and mating lasts only one to three days.

Everland said its zoo staff relied on experience gained from previous successful births and scientifically analyzed the hormonal changes in the panda pair through blood and urine tests.

Based on the data, they identified the optimal marriage period and managed to achieve a natural marriage in February.

"I am very happy and grateful to welcome another new life after Fu Bao, Rui Bao, and Hui Bao. We will do our best to take care of the panda family so that they can continue to bring comfort and happiness to many people," said Kang Cheol-won, a veteran zookeeper known to Korean fans as "Grandpa Panda."

Since opening in 2016, Everland Panda World has attracted around 18 million visitors, making it the only panda-themed attraction in South Korea.