Giant Panda Bears are hungry like babies: Caught on video in Chengdu, China

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A must to see when visiting Chengdu, China are the Panda Bears. You find pictures of them anywhere, but seeing with your own eyes is an eyeopening exprience. Attending the UNWTO General Assembly I had a chance to listen to Stephen Kaufer, CEO of trip advisor. Stephen attended the General Assembly in Chengdu, China and was in a panel moderated by CNN Richard Quest.

Since this was the last day attending the general assembly, having been busy with the events, I missed the chance to go on a tour offered by the Chinese host.

Therefore I contacted the hotel desk and a one-day tour with a driver but without a guide was about $480.00. When researching on the internet I found Viator and called them in the United States. This company was able to get me on a private tour the next day to not only see the Pandas but also included to visit theย Leshan Giant Buddha statue including a ride on the bullet train and a boat tour. for about $300.00. Viator is owned and operated by Tripadvisor

The rate included a private guide – and she turned out to be great.
I loved her story about renting Panda babies to American Zoos and when they return, Pandas only understand English, so the caretakers in Chengdu have to talk to them in English.

Did you know Pandas brought back to Chengdu ย from the United States didn’t like Chinese food items in their diet, so they had provided Western food instead.

Many of these stories were told when we started our walk at the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding. The Center had been created and imitated the natural habitat ofย giant pandasย in order that they might have the best possible environment for rearing and breeding.

The giant pandas are not only a Chinese national treasure but are also beloved by people the world over. They are found only in Sichuan, Shaanxi and Gansu provinces. In total there are fewer than 2,000, of which 70% are distributed within the territory of Sichuan Province. Therefore, when visitors from home and abroad come to Chengdu, Sichuan, one of their main objectives will be to see this lovely animal for themselves.

Here is what I saw in a video:

The baseย cares also for other rare and endangered wild animals withย an area of 560 mus (92 acres), 96% of which is verdure. Giant pandas, lesser pandas, black-necked cranes, white storks as well as over 20 species of rare animals are fed and bred there. Verdant bamboo, bright flowers, fresh air, a natural hill scene and a beautiful artificial view are merged ingeniously at the base.

The necessary facilities have been completed and include a fodder room, sleeping quarters and a medical station. Additionally, there is a museum together with research laboratories and a training center.

A great number of plants and as many as ten thousand clumps of bamboos and bushes have been cultivated to provide for the animals’ diet and habitat. Theย base is planned to be expanded by another 3,000 mus (500 acres) of land on which to simulate a natural environment inย order to prepare the giant pandas bred for release into the wild.

The Giant Panda Museum was opened in 1993 to further scientific education and to improve public awareness of the protection of both wild creatures and their environment. This is the world’s only thematic museum for rare and endangered animal species. The three main exhibitions are in the Giant Panda Hall, the Butterfly Hall and the Vertebrate Hall. The exhibits include all kinds of precious pictures, more than 800 materials and show more than 2140 different samples gathered in Sichuan. These include examples of animals, birds, amphibians, reptiles and insects as well as fossils and models. The resources held in store at the museum include up to ten thousand samples as well as a library of thousands of books and documents. This excellent and comprehensive museum provides a wonderful venue for all who are interested in seeing something of the propagation and protection of the region’s natural bio-diversity.

About the author

Avatar of Juergen T Steinmetz

Juergen T Steinmetz

Juergen Thomas Steinmetz has continuously worked in the travel and tourism industry since he was a teenager in Germany (1977).
He founded eTurboNews in 1999 as the first online newsletter for the global travel tourism industry.

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