Wolong Panda Project
Wolong Nature Preserve
Covering an area of approximately 1200 square miles, the Wolong Nature
Preserve is located around 90 miles (140km) west of Chengdu in South Central China.
Travel from Chengdu goes through the rather famous tourist city of Dujiangyan
boasting an ancient irrigation system dating back 2200 years. This project began
212BC and is still used today to direct the flow of waters from the Min River
into the fertile fields around Chengdu. Beyond the Preserve, to the west, are
snow capped mountains, glaciers, secluded monasteries, the Himalayas, and Tibet.
The trip to the Preserve is arduous and impressive, rising in altitudes
exceeding 3,000 feet and exceeding 15,000 feet near Tibet. The road is being
reconstructed and travels along a newly formed lake, due to a new damn that
blocks the mountainous streams of the Min River. Travel time by bus from
Chengdu takes from 4 to 11 hours, depending upon accidents, mudslides, and
snow storms in the winter. The scenery is spectacular with rivers, waterfalls, and bamboo forests.
The Wolong Panda Institute occupies a few acres in the Preserve and has
developed an international reputation for reproductive research and
a successful breeding program for the Giant Panda.
From 1974 to 1989 half of the region's forest resources - habitat for the Great Panda -
were depleted. This depletion provided justification and incentive for the
government to formally back the creation of the Wolong Panda Preserve in the 80s.
The government now supports 40% of the Preserve’s
budget and openly punishes, in some cases by death, the capture or killing of any Panda.
The balance of the Institute’s budget is supported by the World Wildlife Fund and numerous
smaller organizations, as well as individuals, who have a fondness for these animals.
Other organizations, such as National Geographic Society, have recently reported on significant activities
at the Institute:
http://www7.nationalgeographic.com/ngm/0607/feature1/
As a side note, the Fort Lauderdale-based EDSU organization has recently
signed a contract with the China-United Nations Environment Fund to build an ecotourism visitor's center at Wolong.
The setting is idyllic: mild days, cool nights, cloud forests,
and the poetically sinuous Arrow Bamboo, the primary food for the Great Panda: the Wolong Nature Preserve is also home
to a few wild Great Pandas, some re-introduced by the Institute, as well as the Red Panda,
Temminck’s tragopan, golden monkeys, and purportedly, the nearly extinct Snow Leopard.
Wolong Panda Institute Project
Wild Spots Foundation and Dr. Barry Barker, Chair of the Environmental Science/Studies Program at
Nova Southeastern University (Ft. Lauderdale, FL), in cooperation with the famous Wolong Panda
Institute in the Sichuan Province of China, offer an impressive opportunity to spend 8 days in China
with 4days/3nights at the Wolong Panda Institute to photograph and/or volunteer at the institute.
Participants have three options: to spend the entire time photographing Pandas, to spend the
entire time volunteering - helping to feed and maintain the Pandas, or to split the time and
do both. (For those interested in a more serious commitment to volunteer or intern:
arranged to spend up to 10 days at the Institute working. There is a $300 registration fee required from each volunteer.)
The Wolong Panda Institute is the world leader in
Panda reproductive research, release programs, and maintaining a healthy population of Giant Pandas.
Classroom teachers are invited to photograph and/or become volunteers, college
students can elect the experience and become interns, even
middle and high school aged students (must be accompanied by at least one adult parent) can participate.
For photographers of all skill levels, this is a once-in-a-lifetime chance to get
incredible photographs of the Great Panda, document its feeding habits,
record its daily set of activities, as well as the infra structure that supports these animals.
For teachers and students, it is an occasion to contribute time and
energy in
maintaining a healthy population of Pandas, as well as learning about
the biology, ecology, and behavior of these incredible animals.
For wildlife enthusiasts and eco-travelers from 18-81, this is an opportunity to come face to face with an
endangered species, naturally limited to the bamboo forest ecosystem in China.
THE WOLONG JOURNEY
Contact
Barry Barker
Summary
Accommodations:
Qintai Hotel or the newly opened Flower Hotel in Chengdu(3 star) and
Wolong Hotel (4 star)(clean, safe, hot water) Food: all food is included except for meals on the last day
Transportation: all transportation except for "free day" is included, as well as airport transfers
Dangers and warnings... please read 10 reasons not to travel letter!
Details
Groups will be headed by experienced Panda Volunteers.
Day 1: Meet at LAX and depart for a flight to Chengdu
Day 2: Arrive in Chengdu, met by CSTS representatives and taken to a hotel for rest.
Day 3: Early morning departure to Wolong Panda Institute
A 4-6 hour drive with incredible mountains, bamboo forests, and people - The Quang ethnic minority people.
Upon arrival we will have an orientation meeting, an introduction and tour
of the facilities - review a list of rules and regulations for the volunteers, as well as uniform check-out for the volunteers.
Days 4-5 Volunteer and/or photograph
Each day from 7:30AM-11:30AM and 2:30PM-5PM
Day 6: Return to Chengdu
To view the ancient Chinese sites, other Panda operations, and a local zoo
Day 7: Early morning departure to the Chengdu Panda Reproductive Center
Photograph the Red Panda, then we will go to the Chengdu Zoo to see the endangered Golden Monkey
Day 8: Free day
Explore Chengdu, Buddhist temples, ancient sites, markets, and shopping
Day 9: Early morning departure
To airport & back to LAX. For those continuing to the east coast, arrive back home around 11PM same day.
