Cub grows from 171g to 670g in three weeks; black markings become distinct

Zookeeper Kang Cheol-won says growth rate faster than older sisters'

Everland released photos Wednesday of its baby giant panda, now three weeks old and the third giant panda born through natural breeding in South Korea. The cub has grown noticeably rounder, with the characteristic black markings around its eyes, ears, shoulders, arms and legs now clearly visible. Its weight has reached 670 grams — about four times its birth weight of 171 grams. [Provided by Everland]
Everland released photos Wednesday of its baby giant panda, now three weeks old and the third giant panda born through natural breeding in South Korea. The cub has grown noticeably rounder, with the characteristic black markings around its eyes, ears, shoulders, arms and legs now clearly visible. Its weight has reached 670 grams — about four times its birth weight of 171 grams. [Provided by Everland]

Everland, the theme park operated by Samsung C&T's resort division, released photos of its baby giant panda on Wednesday. The images show the cub at three weeks of age — the third giant panda born through natural breeding in South Korea.

Photographed on Tuesday at 21 days old, the baby panda has grown noticeably rounder, with the characteristic black markings of a giant panda now clearly visible around its eyes, ears, shoulders, arms and legs.

The cub was born at 10:53 a.m. on June 3 to mother Aibao and father Lebao, who live at Everland's Panda World. It is the fourth female giant panda born in South Korea, following Fubao in 2020 and twins Ruibao and Huibao in 2023.

At a health checkup conducted Tuesday to mark the cub's 21st day, the baby panda weighed in at 670 grams — nearly four times its birth weight of 171 grams, reflecting strong growth in just three weeks.

Both the cub and its mother are in good health. Everland zookeepers Kang Cheol-won and Song Yeong-gwan, along with veterinarians and a panda specialist dispatched from China's Panda Protection and Research Center, are providing round-the-clock care to support Aibao's postpartum recovery and assist with raising the cub.

"Thanks to Aibao's skilled breastfeeding and parenting — honed from raising Fubao, Ruibao and Huibao so well — this baby panda is growing faster than her older sisters did," Kang said.


gil@heraldcorp.com