Eyes open, 13 times heavier: Korea's infant panda marks 50 days

Just 50 days after making her quiet debut at Everland theme park, a newborn female giant panda is undergoing a dramatic change, offering a vivid portrait of early development as she reaches key growth benchmarks.

Born on June 3 at a delicate 171 grams, the unnamed cub — the fourth female giant panda naturally bred in Korea following the celebrated births of Fu Bao in 2020 and twins Rui Bao and Hui Bao in 2023 — has transformed into a robust 2.3-kilogram infant.

The 13-fold weight gain reflects both the formidable maternal instincts of her mother, Ai Bao, and the meticulous round-the-clock monitoring of a specialized care team.

During a routine health assessment, Thursday, veterinary staff confirmed that the cub’s physical development is progressing ahead of schedule.

Her fuzzy, translucent newborn coat has steadily given way to the plush, iconic black-and-white patterning characteristic of her species.

More significantly, the infant has opened both eyes, gained the cervical strength required to lift her head independently and begun attempting her first tentative scoots across the ...