![S Korean fans bid farewell to internet-famous panda Fu Bao](https://www.americanmarconiwirelessnews.com/media/shared/articles/63/d6/52/S-Korean-fans-bid-farewell-to-inter-771617.jpg)
-
Volcano erupts in Iceland, sixth since December
-
Paris Paralympics to showcase best of disability sport
-
Bosnia volleyball team sets sights on Paralympic glory
-
Mbappe ready for Bernabeu bow as Ancelotti seeks Madrid balance
-
Australia tackles poor Great Barrier Reef water quality
-
Indian PM Modi to advocate 'peace' on historic Ukraine visit
-
NATO airbase in Germany raises security level over 'potential threat'
-
US Fed chair expected to signal support for rate cuts
-
Venezuela top court confirms Maduro's disputed reelection
-
Once 'canceled,' The Chicks take center stage at Democratic Convention
-
Harris vows to be 'president for all Americans' in convention climax
-
Influencers get VIP treatment at US Democratic National Convention
-
French prosecutors request trial in Depardieu rape probe
-
Influencer Andrew Tate placed under house arrest in Romania in new probe
-
Canada government steps in to end crippling freight rail shutdown
-
Harris poised for joyful star turn at Democratic convention
-
'I love him': Flag-waving Russians rally for pro-Putin pop star
-
Venezuela apex court confirms Maduro's disputed reelection
-
Chelsea give Maresca first win in Conference League
-
Fearing Trump, LGBTQ Americans out in force for vote
-
Apple to let iPhone users in Europe delete its App Store
-
Tebogo tops 200m, Wanyonyi on fire in mixed night for Olympic champs
-
Israel in Gaza talks in Egypt as fighting rages
-
Combining climate measures key to slashing emissions: study
-
Harris to formally accept Democratic nomination
-
England's Hull out in front after first round of Women's British Open
-
Ingebrigtsen claims revenge on Hocker in Lausanne 1500m
-
World's second largest diamond found in Botswana
-
US Open draw raises prospect of Sinner-Alcaraz rematch
-
Smith edges England ahead in first Test against Sri Lanka
-
Venezuela high court confirms Maduro's reelection after fraud claims
-
'Crazy love': Afghans overjoyed to watch star cricketers on home turf
-
Putin accuses Ukraine of trying to attack Kursk nuclear plant
-
Nestle CEO Schneider to step down after eight years at helm
-
Pakistan top court amends religious freedom ruling after protests
-
Stocks sputter ahead of Fed chief's speech
-
Nepal lifts ban on video-sharing platform TikTok
-
Bangladesh revokes diplomatic passport of ex-PM Hasina
-
O'Connor romps to Vuelta win, takes significant lead
-
Indonesia scraps plan to change election rules after protests
-
Brook steadies England after Asitha Fernando strikes for Sri Lanka
-
Hamilton backs Grand Prix in Africa amid Rwanda talks
-
Truce hopes fade as Gaza rocked by Israeli bombardment, battles
-
Mpox vaccine maker says 'better prepared' than in 2022
-
Dyche fears Everton could have just 14 first-team players for Spurs trip
-
Canada rail freight shut down threatens to disrupt economy
-
Harris to take star turn at Democratic convention
-
US existing home sales rise in July, ending downward trend
-
Unbeaten Verstappen eyes 'very close' Dutch Grand Prix
-
Protests as rebuilt tower opens at German church with Nazi links
![S Korean fans bid farewell to internet-famous panda Fu Bao](https://www.americanmarconiwirelessnews.com/media/shared/articles/63/d6/52/S-Korean-fans-bid-farewell-to-inter-771617.jpg)
S Korean fans bid farewell to internet-famous panda Fu Bao
Thousands of well-wishers gathered Wednesday to bid farewell to the first giant panda born in South Korea, Fu Bao, who left for China in a high-tech non-vibrating vehicle typically used for transporting semi-conductors.
Beijing has long used "panda diplomacy" as a form of soft power, and Fu Bao's parents -- Ai Bao and Le Bao -- were gifted to South Korea in 2016 by Chinese President Xi Jinping.
Fu Bao -- which means "treasure that gives happiness" -- was born in 2020 and is a celebrity in South Korea, with her videos on the zoo's YouTube channel attracting around 500 million views.
The Everland amusement park, where Fu Bao lived, says approximately 5.5 million people -- around one-tenth of the entire South Korean population -- have visited the park to see her.
Thanks to her popularity, the number of visitors to Everland's Panda World doubled last year to 2.15 million, compared to 1.07 million in 2020 before Fu Bao's arrival, the theme park said.
Fu Bao welcomed her younger twin sisters last year, named Rui Bao and Hui Bao, whose births also triggered an outpouring of excitement online in South Korea.
Beijing only loans pandas to foreign zoos, which must usually return any offspring within a few years of their birth to join the country's breeding programme.
Under an agreement between Seoul and Beijing, Fu Bao's parents can stay in South Korea until 2031, but her twin sisters, like Fu Bao herself, must return to China before they turn four years old.
"Fu Bao left Everland at around 11 am," the zoo said in a statement, adding the panda will leave for China via the Incheon International Airport on a chartered plane.
Before leaving Everland, the panda bid farewell to some 6,000 South Korean fans at a brief ceremony.
She was moved on a special non-vibrating vehicle typically used for semiconductor transportation, the facility added.
Zookeeper Kang Cheol-won, who is famous in the South for his bonding with Everland's pandas and is widely referred to as their "grandpa", read out a letter at the ceremony, the park said.
Kang is accompanying the panda on the journey to China until Fu Bao arrives at the country's Shenshuping Panda Base in Sichuan Province, Everland said.
"You will be forever (my) baby panda, even after 10 or 100 years. Thank you for coming to grandpa. I love you Fu Bao," Kang said in his letter, referring to himself as her grandpa.
P.Santos--AMWN