Shu Bao to make public debut at Everland's Panda World on Friday

Shu Bao, South Korea's fourth baby panda, will make her public debut on Friday. Visitors will be able to see all five of Everland's pandas together through Dec. 11, before twin pandas Rui Bao and Hui Bao begin quarantine procedures in November ahead of their transfer to China.

Everland, the theme park operated by Samsung C&T's resort division, announced Tuesday that Shu Bao — a female panda born through natural breeding in June — will begin greeting visitors at Panda World on Friday. She is the fourth panda born in South Korea, following Fu Bao and the twins Rui Bao and Hui Bao.

Shu Bao weighed just 171 grams at birth and has since grown to more than 9 kilograms. She began taking her first steps around 120 days after birth and has been undergoing habitat adaptation training. Everland said it will gradually expand visiting hours and the number of visitors allowed, in line with her progress.

"Shu Bao still relies on her mother Ai Bao, but she is also starting to explore her surroundings on her own, slowly expanding her world," said Kang Cheol-won, a zookeeper at Everland. "We hope everyone will cheer her on as she toddles around, plays with her mother Ai Bao and practices climbing trees — she is full of mischief."

The name Shu Bao, meaning "a treasure as bright as the light of dawn," was chosen through a public vote that drew 220,000 entries, with the name receiving 42 percent of the vote.

"Many people have shown warm support and interest as Shu Bao was born, received her name and prepared to meet our visitors," said Jung Dong-hee, director of Everland Zoo. "We will do our best to help her grow up healthy and bring bright, warm joy to many people, just as her name suggests."

Meanwhile, the twins Rui Bao and Hui Bao will begin quarantine procedures on Nov. 13 ahead of their transfer to China, with their final day on public display at Everland confirmed as Dec. 11. From Friday through Dec. 11, visitors will be able to see the entire panda family of five — father Le Bao, mother Ai Bao, elder twin sisters Rui Bao and Hui Bao, and the youngest, Shu Bao — all in one place.