The first twin pandas born in Korea were shown to the public on Thursday for the first time at amusement park Everland in Yongin, Gyeonggi Province. The twin females have been named Rui Bao, which means wise treasure, and Hui Bao or shining treasure.
They are the cubs of Ai Bao and Le Bao, a giant panda couple to be given to Korea by China, who already gave birth to Fu Bao, the first panda ever to be born here.
The twins weighed 180 g and 140 g at birth but have already grown to more than 5 kg 100 days later. They were almost hairless at birth but are now covered in the characteristic black and white fur, looking adorable in their basket.
Their names were selected from suggestions from around 700,000 people. It is an international custom to give pandas names around 100 days after, as newborns are often fragile and die. Their sister Fu Bao was born in July 2020 but named in November.
The twins are being raised indoors at present and will be sent outdoors when they are able to walk. Everland zoo director Jung Dong-hee, said, "We may them into the public enclosure early next year after a period of adjustment once they're able to follow their mother."
