The twin pandas at Everland's Panda World, Lui Bao and Hui Bao, celebrated their third birthday on July 7. Due to international agreements, this birthday is expected to be the last one the sisters will spend in Korea before returning to China before they turn four.
Everland, operated by Samsung C&T's resort division, announced that a special birthday party was held at the panda second house on the morning of July 7. The event was attended by panda keepers, including Kang Cheol-won and Song Young-kwan, along with over 30 fans who were invited after competing in a lottery with odds of 400 to 1.
The keepers prepared a large bamboo birthday cake for the twin sisters. Notably, Keeper Song crafted a wooden bench for the sisters to sit side by side, adding a personal touch to the celebration.
Lui Bao and Hui Bao were born on July 7, 2023, weighing 180 grams and 140 grams, respectively. They have since grown to weigh over 80 kilograms, thriving under care.
However, the time to see the grown twin sisters in Korea is now limited to about a year. An international agreement mandates that all giant pandas born worldwide must return to China before they reach breeding age at four years old. Their older sister, Fu Bao, also left for the Wolong Giant Panda Research Center in Sichuan, China, before turning four in April 2024.
An Everland representative stated, "We will closely monitor the health of Lui Bao and Hui Bao and coordinate with the Chinese side to ensure a safe move at the most appropriate time."
As the farewell approaches, Everland has been running the 'Lui & Hui's Journey Across Korea' project since June 19. Each month, a different region is selected to showcase local attractions, festivals, and specialties, creating limited-edition merchandise tied to the pandas' travel stories. Customers can visit these regions to collect stamps and enjoy the experience of traveling across the country.
The tour will begin in Jeolla Province and continue through Chungcheong Province, Jeju Island, Gyeongsang Province, Gangwon Province, and Seoul & Gyeonggi Province. Collecting all regional magnets will complete a puzzle of the national map. After stamping the final location in November, visitors to Everland will receive rewards such as a 'Lui & Hui Journey Commemorative Towel' and a completion certificate based on the number of stamps collected.
The stamp tour is attracting tourists across the country. The first stamp zone was set up in front of the Gochang Eupseong ticket office, and a photo zone was also installed at the Gochang Bokbunja and Watermelon Festival, which concluded on June 21, receiving a positive response.
Meanwhile, a new baby panda born on June 3 is bringing additional excitement to Everland. Weighing 171 grams at birth, the youngest panda has increased its weight more than sevenfold in just over a month, growing healthily under the attentive care of its mother, Ai Bao, keepers, and experts. The growth process is being shared on Everland's and Pupa TV's YouTube channels, and the baby is already forming a fanbase with nicknames like 'Po Bao' and 'Baby Bao.'
* This article has been translated by AI.
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