Fancy feeding baby pandas for the day! You have come to right place.
The staff at this panda volunteer program need your help, without volunteers they would struggle to complete the daily activities (such as feeding and cleaning) that are so crucial to the site running smoothly. Caring for these animals is an ongoing job, and as a panda volunteer, you will be able to play a vital role in the care for these playful pandas!
The Panda has become known as the symbol of China. With the animal roaming the mountains in the Chengdu area, there are real threats to its natural habitat. Panda bases have become essential in the protection and in many cases the reintroduction of these special animals back into the forests from which they once roamed.
The hard work of these three centers Dujiangyan Panda Base, The Chengdu Research Base, Wolong Panda Center, and Bifengxia Panda Base must be paying off. As recently the Panda’s status of being endangered has risen to vulnerable.
Here is what the panda bases aim to achieve:
“Providing help to the protection and breeding research of endangered and rare animals such as giant panda, promoting conservation of endangered and rare animals such as giant panda, and boosting the sustainable development of wild animals’ protection”
Pandas spend 14 hours per day eating! so it’s no surprise they can reach up to 110 kilograms.
Is the experience really working with Pandas?
The Panda population in China reside in central China, in a province called Chengdu. There are lots of tours available but most of them are just short stop offs at sanctuaries and not at all a volunteering experience. You need to make sure what you get before booking a panda experience.
Is there any sort of training given?
The Panda bases mentioned above provide participants with the support and training to be able to best contribute to the programs. Volunteers work under the supervision of the professional trainers. They not only make sure the pandas are safe, but also the visitors.
Keepers at the Panda base – China highlights
Are you ready for the reality of working on a program
The point of most of the programs is for the ultimate release into the wild. This means to best prepare the pandas there will be limited human contact. So if you dream of snuggling up to baby pandas all day long, you’ll be sadly mistaken. Putting pandas as risk of contracting diseases, is just too much of a risk.
Do not forget that Pandas are still bears. Knowing from a recent trip to Japan, this without doubt still means danger. Pandas can at times still act aggressively and even if interactions seem playful, this can still be harmful.
You’ll have to put a shift in
Work days can sometimes be 8 hours a day of solid working. You’ll be expected to do the cleaning, preparing the food, smashing the bamboo and also feeding. The work on these programs will be physical, so you’ll have to be in good shape for it. A medical certificate maybe required.
Feeding time for Wolong red pandas. Photo China highlights
The Program for Wolong Red Pandas
This program allows you to feed and interact with these cat-sized pandas. You’ll be up close and personal with the chance to take some amazing snaps. The red panda and it’s cousin the giant panda have big differences. Learn all about it here.
You’ll learn loads about panda conservation topics as you discuss important issues affecting pandas. The Wolong conservation and education center in Dujiangyan pays special attention to behavioral observations, which volunteers will experience firsthand.
Feeding Baby Pandas
The Wolong Baby Panda base runs the only all year round cub program. Giant and red panda cubs are in constant need panda milk and bamboo shoots, and with strict supervision from the staff, feeding baby pandas and taking pictures is allowed. This sanctuary is quieter than the others due to its location, the hiking trails through in large forested area, also makes it a great spot to see Pandas in their natural habitat.
Giant Panda Cub
Working with Giant Pandas
The Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda is home to over 50 of China’s iconic pandas. Most are of the familiar black and white variety, but the Base is also home to a number of the smaller, lesser-known red pandas.
You’ll view the animals eating and at play in a carefully maintained habitat that is as close to their natural environment as possible. You’ll also learn how scientists and ecologists are working to protect the few remaining wild pandas and expand the captive population. On that last note, over 100 bears have been born at the Base since 1987.
Giant Pandas Keeper Program At Bifengxia
The sanctuary is home to 20 Giant Pandas. The work involved when volunteering with giant pandas is similar in each program. On a typical day, you can expect to be doing tasks like:
- Cleaning and carrying fresh bamboo.
- Feeding the pandas – The bamboo is first smashed and fed by hand (through cages) to the pandas. Usually it’s one stick of carrot and one stick of bamboo each
- Cleaning inside and outside of the Panda enclosures
- Bathe the pandas – don’t forget under the armpits!
- Collecting Panda poo and sending it off for analysis.
- Observe the pandas in their natural environment and analyse their behaviour. You are basically David Attenborough for the day.
- Watching documentary movies about giant pandas
Tamsyn volunteered on the program last year and had this to say:
The Panda centers are located in an amazing environment, where green is the master! The volunteer experience was really beautiful and I’m proud have been able to help the center with my work and my money. All the enclosures resemble the Pandas natural habitat with even trees for them to climb. I learned so much about these beautiful animals. We even got to make their favorite soy cakes! I now want to visit the other panda centers in China on my NEXT visit
Requirements
Age restrictions to enjoy is 8-70 years old (for the one day courses), over 18 years old for the week long courses.
Here is the physical examination you’ll need to take.
Tips for volunteers to follow when on the program
Book at least one week in advance, as they get booked up fast
Behave appropriately – Panda’s live a solitary life so outside influences can affect them greatly.
- No abrupt movements when around the Pandas
- Do not feed them unnecessarily
- Follow the keeper’s instructions for how to interact with the pandas
Dress code – No shorts or slippery shoes. As well as that no strong smells from perfume or body odor for that matter! Pandas have a strong sense of smell!
Want more information?
Email: pandafoundation@panda.org.cn
