The Sad Reality Behind 'Fu Bao', South Korea's Beloved Giant Panda

There's a word that was searched for the most by Koreans throughout 2023. It's 'Fubao,' a panda.

Fubao is a panda born at a theme park in Korea. Its adorable appearance and behavior gained immense popularity through YouTube. In Korea, books featuring Fubao's story were published, and TV programs focusing on the Fubao family were also aired. Many people visited the theme park where Fubao resides to see it in person before it returns to China in the spring of 2024. The theme park's visitor numbers reportedly increased by about 20% year-on-year, giving us a glimpse into just how popular Fubao is.

This adorable panda, Fubao, belongs to the Giant Panda species. However, the Giant Panda is listed as a vulnerable (VU) species on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species. There are reportedly only about 1,800 Giant Pandas in the world. Fortunately, since the early 2000s, the Giant Panda population has been steadily increasing. However, given that it remains a listed endangered species, consistent attention and care are essential.

One reason for the Giant Panda's endangered status is the decline in its food source. Giant Pandas primarily feed on bamboo, but human expansion into their habitat has led to extensive bamboo deforestation, significantly reducing the available food for pandas. Another reason for their endangered status is a decline in reproductive capacity. Like humans, Giant Pandas can only give birth to one cub at a time. Their gestation period is relatively long at 5 months, and cubs require mother's milk for 18 months after birth.

Experts say that a more serious issue than food scarcity and decreased reproductive capacity is the reduction in their habitat. Giant Pandas primarily inhabit Yunnan, Sichuan, and Qinghai provinces in China. These areas, which were once covered in lush forests, have undergone significant development, resulting in a drastic reduction in habitat area, as seen in the image above.

Since Giant Pandas are currently found only in China, the Chinese government is making various efforts to prevent their extinction.

To protect not only Giant Pandas but also all wildlife, the Chinese government enacted the Wildlife Protection Law, which prohibits poaching and illegal wildlife trade. There is also a Nature Conservation Law aimed at protecting forests, rivers, and lakes where Giant Pandas reside. In 2009, the ‘Bamboo Forest Protection Law’ was enacted to prevent the illegal possession and logging of bamboo, the Giant Panda's primary food source. Bamboo forest restoration projects are also underway.

The Chinese government is also conducting various studies on the ecology and reproduction of Giant Pandas, given their low reproductive capacity. They are working on developing artificial insemination techniques and expanding breeding support facilities. They are also collaborating with the international community to advance breeding technologies.

The World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) logo features a panda. It's said that the logo was inspired by 'Chi Chi,' a Giant Panda that arrived at London Zoo in 1961, when WWF was founded. The reason for choosing the panda as the WWF logo is that, among endangered animals, it was easily loved by people around the world. There was also a practical reason – the black and white panda colors made it economical to print.

The Giant Panda, as the WWF logo, has become a symbol of endangered species conservation efforts. We hope that the interest in Fubao will also translate into increased awareness and concern for endangered species.