Only 1000 Giant Pandas are believed to survive in the wilds of China, 80% of them in the Sichuan province where the Research and Breeding Centre was set up in a northern suburb of Chengdu.
From the original six pandas rescued in 1987, nearly 100 have been successfully bred, thus increasing the population without affecting those in the wild.
Giant Pandas, Visiting the Research Base and Breeding Centre in Chengdu
Not surprisingly, the centre is a popular attraction for foreign and domestic visitors, including children on school outings. Best time to visit is early morning to avoid tour groups and enjoy waking up time when the pandas are all set for breakfast.
The ground covers over 100 hectares, landscaped to resemble the bears’ natural habitat, lake and hills with 400 species of trees and some 10 000 clumps of bamboo and bushes.
Visitors are free to wander along the trails, or board the land train, and gaze at pandas eating, dozing or playing in large enclosures. If you’re lucky, you may get within feet of a bear, usually far too busy to take any notice of you. There’s bamboo to munch, trees to climb and mates and cubs to socialize with.
If you want to see the newly-born however, and maybe have a cuddle, that will cost you an extra €100 but it’s all in a good cause. The Chengdu Giant Panda Base is a non-profit organization and all funds are reinvested into the project.
Red Pandas and Other Attractions
Giant pandas are not alone in Chengdu. You will almost certainly spot a few red pandas, often in pairs, sleeping in the trees, eating, lapping up water or just wandering around. Other rare breeds include black-necked cranes, white storks and golden monkeys who live alongside song birds, egrets, peacocks and swans.
Allow enough time to see the museum and its three halls, devoted to Giant Panda, Butterfly and Invertebrate, enjoy the Panda Story Cinema, pop into the Panda Hospital and the Panda Kitchen where you can see how panda bread is made.
You will find refreshments on site and small shops selling all manner of panda memorabilia, cuddly toys, pens, key rings, mats, soft panda-shaped backpacks and more. All contributions go towards research and breeding but anyone really keen to save the panda can join a number of schemes, be it donations, sponsorship, adoption or internship for a day or longer.
The Giant Panda Centre, the Larger Picture
In Chengdu, the aim is twofold, conservation and education. Conservation involves studying the behaviour and specific needs of pandas and encouraging breeding, naturally or if that fails, by artificial insemination. Increasing numbers is the key to survival and the time may come when some bears born in captivity could be released in the wild.
Education means raising awareness about the pandas’ plight, not only in the Chengdu Centre but also worldwide by working with various partners and donating pandas abroad for others to enjoy.
The Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding is a success story, the true pride of Chengdu and China.
Solange Hando - I am a travel writer, editor and photographer, contributing to a range of publications in the UK and worldwide.
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