Giant panda Fu Bao is seen at its enclosure in the Shenshuping giant panda base of Wolong National Nature Reserve in southwest China's Sichuan Province, June 12, 2024. Photo: Xinhua

China Giant Panda Conservation and Research Center announced on Tuesday that the giant panda Fu Bao at the Shenshuping Base of the Wolong Giant Panda Reserve is currently under close observation, and plans are underway to move the panda back to the inner enclosure for a comprehensive examination after abnormal behavior was observed on Tuesday morning. And updates on Fu Bao's condition will be provided promptly.

Recently, Fu Bao, the giant panda who became massively popular worldwide, was observed trembling and twitching while eating bamboo shoots, sparking concern among netizens and calls for a thorough medical checkup. The hashtag "Fu Bao Trembling" quickly became one of the top trending topics on Chinese social media platform Sina Weibo.

According to the WeChat account of the China Giant Panda Conservation and Research Center, Fu Bao was born on July 20, 2020, as the first cub of Chinese pandas Yuan Xin and Hua Ni in South Korea. Fu Bao is also the first giant panda born in South Korea, returned to China in April 2024. 

Fu Bao's adorable demeanor has captured the hearts of people in both China and South Korea, playing a positive role in fostering friendship between the two nations. During its time in South Korea, it attracted 5.5 million visitors, and videos of Fu Bao uploaded by Everland theme park in Yongin, South Korea, garnered a total of 500 million views on social media platforms, the article said.

Updates: The China Giant Panda Conservation and Research Center announced around 6:00 pm on Tuesday that, following a preliminary examination by keepers and veterinarians, there were no abnormalities in the appearance or condition of the giant panda Fu Bao. The panda appears in good spirits and his appetite is normal. Going forward, veterinarians will conduct further tests and continue to monitor Fu Bao's condition.