Everland's celebrity panda twins may return to China as early as winter as they near breeding age

Everland's celebrity panda twins Rui Bao and Hui Bao may return to China as early as this winter as they near breeding age.

“Rui Bao and Hui Bao will soon turn three years old, and by early next year, I think that they may undergo hormonal changes related to reproductive behavior,” Kang Cheol-won, an Everland zookeeper well-known for caring for the pandas, said in a video uploaded to Everland's YouTube channel on Monday.

“Fu Bao had a difficult time during that period, so we're thinking about preparing [to send the twins] as early as this winter so that [they] can go through [the hormonal changes] a little more comfortably.” Fu Bao is the twins' older sister.

The exact date of the twins' return has not been finalized.

Rui Bao and Hui Bao were born on July 7, 2023 — the first twin pandas born in Korea. They are the children of pandas Ai Bao and Le Bao, who arrived in Korea in 2016 as part of a joint panda research project between Seoul and Beijing. 

The twins reside in an enclosure in Everland. 

Under international agreements, giant pandas born outside of China must return to the country before reaching breeding age, or four years old, to find mates.

Fu Bao, born on July 20, 2020, was transferred to the Wolong panda base in China's Sichuan province on April 3, 2024, about three months before turning four years old.

While the twins may be leaving soon, fans of the panda family could receive good news in the near future.

“Ai Bao has entered a period requiring close observation and stable care. From May 26, she will stay in an indoor enclosure and receive intensive care from zookeepers and veterinarians,” Everland wrote on its website on May 15, causing speculation that Ai Bao may be experiencing her third pregnancy.

Panda pregnancies are difficult and rare, as female pandas are fertile only once a year, typically for just one to three days in the spring. After a successful mating, pandas are usually pregnant for about four months before giving birth. During that time, they experience notable behavioral changes, including sleeping more and eating less.

This article was originally written in Korean and translated by a bilingual reporter with the help of generative AI tools. It was then edited by a native English-speaking editor. All AI-assisted translations are reviewed and refined by our newsroom.

BY KIM EUN-BIN [[email protected]]