It Might Seem A Little Creepy At First, But This Is The Most Awesome Place In The World.
The giant panda is a rare and beloved animal that is on the endangered animals list. There are less than an estimated 2,000 individuals are alive in the wild and they only live on the six major mountain ranges in Sichuan, Shaanxi and Gansu provinces of China. Because these cherished animals are facing extinction, there are entire research centers dedicated to saving the species. The Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding is just one of those centers. Chengdu is the ancient home of the giant pandas, so it’s the perfect spot to study and help the animal. Working at a place like this would be so satisfying… and also adorable. These photos were taken from inside the center. To work here would be so many people’s dream job.
The breeding center was created by Director Zhang Hemin.
It’s goal is to help bolster the giant panda population.
They breed these adorable creatures in hopes of increasing the population.
They also do something fairly unique…
The researchers attempt to teach the young cubs how to live in the wild.
That way, they can release these animals into their natural homeland.
To do so, they wear these awesome panda suits when working with the animals.
Zhang Xiang became the first female panda to be released into the wild.
The Chengdu Panda Base is known for their preservation efforts, the breeding of giant pandas, conservation education, tourism education, and panda cultural events.
The giant panda population is threatened by continued habitat loss and by a very low birthrate, both in the wild and captivity.
So the researchers at the center do their very best to keep the population going strong.
The panda is a beloved animal in China and the world over.
We can see why.
(H/T The Guardian) A big factor in the decline of the giant panda population is human interaction. We are destroying and encroaching on their natural habitat. If you’d like to help save animals like the giant panda, donate to the World Wildlife Fund, an organization that “works in collaboration with existing conservation groups and to bring substantial financial support to the conservation movement on a worldwide scale.” These giant furry creatures are truly wonderful. Share this story and help protect them from extinction.
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