Mother Ai Bao’s birth process is captured.
On July 20, 2020, Fu Bao came out to the world.
A documentary featuring the panda ‘Fubao’, which is very popular in Korea, was produced in China. As the day for Fubao to return to China approaches, its popularity there is soaring day by day.
According to local media such as Sichuan News on the 27th (local time), ‘Guardian of the panda? A documentary titled ‘The Birth of Fubao’ was released through Sichuan Satellite TV, Sichuan IPTV, and YouTube. The 15-minute documentary was co-produced by Sichuan Radio and Television Station Documentary Center and Sichuan Satellite TV.
The media introduced Fubao as “loved by many people for its cuteness.” He then introduced, “This documentary allows the public to understand giant pandas from a new perspective.”
The documentary begins in March 2020, showing ‘Fu Bao’s mother’ Aibao at Everland in Korea. Zookeeper Kang Cheol-won and Song Young-gwan, nicknamed ‘Grandpa Fubao,’ said, “We had no experience with panda breeding in Korea,” and “It was difficult because it was our first time going through this process.”
On July 20, 2020, panda Fubao came into the world amid concerns and admiration.
In the video, zookeepers highlighted the difficulties of mating and pregnancy for giant pandas. Giant pandas have a fertile estrus period for only three days a year. It is the job of the zookeepers to help them mate at this time. The explanation is that Fubao was created through such a difficult process.
The documentary also included Ai Bao’s difficult childbirth process. Usually, Chinese panda experts are dispatched to each country to help with childbirth, but at that time, the coronavirus was at its peak. Only one expert was dispatched, and the remaining experts had to watch Ai Bao’s birth only through CCTV. The zookeeper who raised Ai Bao in China even shed tears over not being able to watch her become a mother.
Ai Bao fell to the floor, out of breath, and appeared to be suffering. Ai Bao gave her first daughter, Fu Bao, into the world just hours after going into labor.
Unlike human babies, pandas are born immature, so the role of the mother immediately after birth is said to be very important. At this time, if the mother does not hold and care for the cub properly, the cub may die from hypothermia and dehydration.
Ai Bao is trying to hold the baby Fu Bao in her arms right after giving birth. At this time, applause broke out among the officials.
Ai Bao, a ‘new mother’ with no experience of giving birth, even lost her baby. At this time, she said, zookeepers came in and briefly moved her cub to her incubator. When Ai Bao appeared to gradually calm down, she returned the cub to its mother. She came to Iba and gently put her baby in her mouth and then held her in her arms. The Korean and Chinese zookeepers, who were watching this with anxiety, burst into applause.
Zookeeper Kang expressed his overwhelming feelings, saying, “I was so proud of Ai Bao.” He said, “Fu Bao means ‘treasure that gives happiness,’” and “During the coronavirus pandemic, many people were having a hard time, but not only me, but many others gained happiness thanks to Fu Bao.”
Source: Donga
Mark Jones is a world traveler and journalist for News Rebeat. With a curious mind and a love of adventure, Mark brings a unique perspective to the latest global events and provides in-depth and thought-provoking coverage of the world at large.