
Panda Project
The plight of the Giant Panda has become an internationally recognized
symbol of the importance of conservation. The Chinese government
has set up a number of research projects, reserves and parks dedicated
to preserving the numbers of these very shy creatures. Our Panda
projects are based in one such reserve in Sichuan Province.
The reserve is dedicated to preserving the Giant Panda and has
a very successful breeding programme. Global Volunteer Projects
has been asked to provide volunteers to work as assistant Panda
keepers, help design the reserve's website and use your English
skills to help display information about the reserve's work to visitors
and similar breeding programmes around the world.
Assistant Panda keeper
After a period of basic training in safety and how to care for
the animals you will put under the supervision of the head keeper.
Your daily responsibilities will include helping to clean out the
Panda's bedding as well as doing general maintenance on the Pandas
living area. Perhaps your most important role will be to work with
the other keepers to help prepare the Panda's daily meals. Contrary
to popular belief the panda doesn't just eat Bamboo (although it
does eat a lot of it), its diet is supplemented with fruit, vegetable
and even specially formulated 'panda bread.
From time to time, you may also be required to help the resident
scientists collect data on behavioural patterns as well as assist
the reserve's vet provide any veterinary care that the Pandas might
need.
This is a great project for those who have always been interested
in working with Pandas and who are interested in how wildlife experts
are preserving their numbers through captive breeding programmes.
Web designer / designer
The reserve is also particularly keen to have people help design
its website. If you are interested in web design or have any useful
design skills, the reserve is particularly interested in having
people who can help translate the parks literature and help to design
a new English language website.
Literature interpreter
Although this may sound like you need to be able to understand
Chinese, the role of the interpreter is to produce information for
visitors to the park.
Your job will be to introduce the research work of the reserve
including the breeding, hand rearing, husbandry, etc of the Giant
Panda as well producing information on the habitats, behavior and
the personal story of each of the pandas for the visitors. You will
also tell the visitors about each of the buildings in the reserve
and talk about their function. Much of this work has already been
done, but has been translated directly from Chinese to English and
is often difficult to understand. Much of the role of the interpreter
will be to convert this information into a form of English which
is easier for the visitors to understand.
Part of your role will also be to help the research scientists
in the reserve share their results and increase cooperation with
other breeding programmes around the world. You will help translate
their work so that it is easier to understand, helping to disseminate
the great work and achievements at the reserve.
You can choose which activities you'd rather be involved with.
Of course most people will want to just work with the Pandas - which
is fine - but it really would be appreciated if you have the time
and the skills, to spend part of your time helping to building a
website or translating information for the visitors.
All costs shown above are for one month. Additional weeks can be
added for £395.
What's included?
Why are some dates cheaper than others? Our
pricing policy explained
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