China News Service, Seoul, April 2, Title: Interview with Jiang Zheyuan, the giant panda keeper of Everland, South Korea: "'Fubao,' thank you for coming to me."
Author Liu Xu Jinlin
On April 3, "Fubao", the first giant panda born naturally in South Korea, will return to China. As a giant panda breeder at South Korea's Everland, Jiang Zheyuan, known as "Grandpa Panda" to Chinese netizens, will face parting with "Fubao". Previously, Jiang Zheyuan accepted an exclusive interview with China News Network and told his story with "Fubao" and giant pandas.
From "Panda Dad" to "Grandpa Panda"
In 1994, Jiang Zheyuan began raising giant pandas "Mingming (Chinese name: Chuanxing)" and "Lily" for the first time. However, due to the impact of South Korea's financial crisis, the two giant pandas had to be returned to China in advance in 1999. Jiang Zheyuan still has fresh memories of the scene when he sent them away. He recalled to a reporter from China News Service: "I was wearing a long coat alone and went to the airport to put the children on the plane. On the way back, I was very reluctant to leave. Thinking that they had failed to breed in South Korea and had to return to China early. , I feel very sorry."
Data map: Jiang Zheyuan shared his experience of raising giant pandas at the event. Photo by China News Service reporter Liu Xu
In 2016, China once again presented giant pandas to South Korea, and Jiang Zheyuan and giant pandas renewed their relationship. When Jiang Zheyuan went to Sichuan to select giant pandas "Ai Bao (Chinese name: Hua Ni)" and "Le Bao (Chinese name: Yuan Xin)", he met the female giant panda "Lily" that he had raised back then. Jiang Zhe never expected that "Lily" would still recognize him at a glance after not seeing him for 18 years. "The Chinese experts who participated in the seminar said that I was a veritable 'giant panda father.'" After the birth of the giant panda "Fubao", Jiang Zheyuan naturally became the "giant panda grandpa." Jiang Zheyuan said, "Because there is such a story behind this nickname, I like the title 'Grandpa Panda' very much."
"When hardship turns to joy"
Jiang Zheyuan once said: "It is my last dream as a breeder to breed giant pandas in the zoo." Breeding and raising giant pandas is an extremely difficult task. Giant pandas that like to live alone have a very limited estrus period within a year, and the best time for female giant pandas to get pregnant is usually only a few days. Since "Ai Bao" entered sexual maturity, China and South Korea have worked together to carry out giant panda breeding plans, but they have been repeatedly blocked. In 2019, Aibao, who had normally entered estrus every year before, did not enter estrus, which made Jiang Zheyuan feel even more stressed. Later in 2020, Chinese experts who were supposed to go to South Korea were unable to go to South Korea due to the epidemic. Breeders such as Jiang Zheyuan went to China's giant panda protection base in advance for training and study. After the successful mating of "Aibao" and "Lebao", China also overcame the difficulty of personnel traveling back and forth and sent an expert to observe the status changes of "Aibao" in real time.
In addition to taking care of the "maternal mother", Jiang Zheyuan is also extremely prepared to welcome "Fu Bao". He prepared two incubators, wraps and other "baby products". He also went to major pharmacies to find "raw buckwheat" and made a small pillow for "Fubao" that he could lie on while breastfeeding. Everything was ready. On the evening of July 20, 2020, Jiang Zheyuan finally expected the birth of "Fu Bao".
Data map: The simulated panda nursing environment displayed in Everland Panda World. Photo by China News Service reporter Liu Xu
However, joy is also temporary, and the birth of "Fu Bao" is precisely the beginning of difficulties. "Giant pandas' mating, conception, birth, and early upbringing are all very difficult. If anything goes wrong in all the processes," Jiang Zheyuan told reporters. "Because we are the only one in Korea (Everland) that has giant pandas, and giant pandas are rare animals. I will often worry about what to do if something goes wrong with this only baby."
Data map: Giant panda "Fubao" was born in South Korea. Photo courtesy of Samsung Everland
Jiang Zheyuan is not overly worried. Panda cubs are very weak. Within one month after birth, they cannot regulate their body temperature on their own and need to be held in their arms by the giant panda mother. It is often the case that the giant panda mother is unable to take care of her own babies. In addition, "Fu Bao" is also in various situations. He opened his eyes more than 20 days earlier than ordinary panda cubs. In order to prevent accidents, the breeders turned off all the lights in "Fubao"'s residence; at the same time, "Fubao", who was less than 200 grams when he was born, lost 20 grams in weight in just 5 days after he was born. In order to help "Fubao" "It has returned to normal weight, and the keepers also provide artificial breastfeeding for it every day..."
In this way, although the time with "Fubao" was very happy, Jiang Zheyuan never relieved the huge burden and was always worried about whether "Fubao" would have an accident. In the first three months after "Fubao" was born, Jiang Zheyuan stayed by his side 24 hours a day. However, he also told reporters, "Once this difficult process is overcome, it will be transformed into a huge sense of accomplishment. I enjoy the process of turning difficulty into joy."
Data map: An information board showing "Fu Bao"'s weight on that day in Everland Panda World. Photo by China News Service reporter Liu Xu
Under the careful care of his mother "Ai Bao" and the keepers, "Fu Bao", who was born weighing 197 grams, grew into a healthy giant panda weighing 100 kilograms. He grew from a toddler to a tree climbing expert. She is called the clever and happy "Princess Fu" by breeders and thousands of viewers.
On July 20, 2023, the giant panda "Fubao" living in South Korea celebrated his third birthday. Samsung Everland held a birthday party for "Fubao". The picture shows "Fubao" and its bamboo "cake". Photo by China News Service reporter Liu Xu
"Breeders must stand on the side of the animals"
Taking care of pandas is a physical job, not only carrying the bamboo they eat and cleaning, but also often holding the giant panda cubs "Rui Bao" and "Hui Bao" who were born last year. In order to better take care of giant pandas, Grandpa Jiang goes to exercise every day after get off work. Grandpa Jiang said, "Health is the capital of everything else. I regard exercise as something that needs to be done every day, just like eating."
Jiang Zheyuan started working as a zoo keeper in January 1988, and he would reach retirement age in five or six years. During this period, he raised cheetahs, chimpanzees, orangutans and many other animals. Jiang Zheyuan said: "I have been raising animals for more than 30 years and have seen many animals, but the giant panda is the animal that gives me the most sense of accomplishment during my time as a breeder."
Jiang Zheyuan said: "'Fubao' is not an ordinary giant panda to me. Although it is a wild animal, it is more like a family member to me." And Jiang Zheyuan's "real family" - two daughters who are in college , often complained that Jiang Zheyuan was familiar with the habits of giant pandas, but didn’t know much about them. Jiang Zheyuan can blurt out the specific birth time of "Fubao", but when his daughter asks him, "Dad, do you still remember my birth time?", he will hesitate and ask, "Is it the morning or afternoon of March 28?" Are you here?" Before "Fu Bao" was born, he stayed with her 24 hours a day, but when his eldest daughter was born, he rushed to the hospital after get off work. Jiang Zheyuan said guiltily, "To my daughters, I may be a father who doesn't care about them."
Data map: Jiang Zheyuan tells the story of raising giant panda "Fubao". Photo by China News Service reporter Liu Xu
Over the past 36 years, spending time with animals has “become very natural” to Jiang Zheyuan. When asked what is the most important thing as a breeder, Jiang Zheyuan replied: "I think it should be able to "communicate" with the giant panda. We need to be able to judge the status of the giant panda and what it wants. Just like at that time' When Aibo is in estrus, I can detect some things that only I can detect. When I judge that I have to do something for it based on this, there is only one thought in my mind, that is, the breeder must stand on the side of the animal. "
"'Fubao', thank you for coming to me."
According to the relevant protection agreement signed between China and South Korea, "Fubao" must return to China before reaching the age of 4. Over the years as an animal breeder, Jiang Zheyuan has experienced many moments of separation from animals. Although parting is always accompanied by sadness, over time, Jiang Zheyuan also learned to treasure this love and reluctance deep in his heart. "That's not to say that my feelings for them have faded. I still love them, but I've been practicing keeping those feelings to myself."
Regarding "Fubao" returning to China, Jiang Zheyuan said, "I personally don't have too much worry about 'Fubao' needing to live in China, because there are many breeders in China who are better than me. I believe that I (the breeder in China) ) friends, so I am sure that 'Fubao' will always be happy, and I hope that Chinese fans will love 'Fubao' a lot after he returns to China."
On March 3, 2024, people lined up to say goodbye to "Fubao" at Everland. Photo by China News Service reporter Liu Xu
In 2016, when Jiang Zheyuan went to Sichuan Province in China to select the giant pandas "Ai Bao" and "Le Bao" from China as a gift to South Korea, he saw the gorgeous rapeseed flowers. From then on, in order to reduce the "homesickness" of giant pandas in South Korea, my grandfather would plant a clump of golden rapeseed flowers in a corner of the breeding ground every spring.
March 3 this year was the last day “Fubao” met the public at Everland before returning to China. On the same day, Jiang Zheyuan gave "Fubao" a rapeseed bouquet with carrots as a farewell gift. According to reports, in order to allow "Fubao" to see the rape blossoms before returning to China, Jiang Zheyuan moved the planting time one month earlier than in previous years. He raises the heating temperature, adjusts the lighting, and manages the conditions for flowers to bloom.
On March 3, 2024, Jiang Zheyuan gave "Fubao" a rapeseed bouquet with carrots as a farewell gift. Photo by China News Service reporter Liu Xu
Jiang Zheyuan wrote in a letter to "Fubao" in December last year, "From the moment 'Fubao' was born, grandpa has been surrounded by happiness; I also hope that you will always be happy. Just like your name - 'Bring Like "Fubao", many people feel happy because of you. No matter where you are or who you are with, you will definitely receive warm love. "Fubao", thank you for coming to me, thank you, thank you , thank you. You must remember that no matter you are 10 years old or 20 years old, you are still grandpa’s baby panda. I love you."
April is the season when rapeseed flowers bloom. After returning to China, "Fubao" will be able to see the golden color all over the mountains and plains. Once upon a time, it was a hometown I had never met before. In the future, will "Fu Bao" remember that there was once a bunch of rapeseed flowers that bloomed in advance in anticipation of them? (over)
(Participating intern: Wang Yi, Ma Wanqing and Wan Jiaxin)