Our main reason for going to Chengdu was to see the Giant Pandas (the Giant Panda is after all, our favourite animal). Chengdu is home to two Panda centres - Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding and the Ya'an Bifengxia Panda Reserve Centre. The Chengdu Research Base of the Giant Panda Breeding is the one that is visited the most by tourists, as it is closer to the city of Chengdu.
The Chengdu Research Base of the Giant Panda Breeding centre was founded in 1987 with six Giant Pandas rescued from the wild. The centre has been successful with its breeding program and is today home to over 80 Pandas. The centre is set out over 250 acres of land and it is like a beautiful park. There are rolling hills, bamboo woods and a sparkling lake, but most importantly the centre offers a natural environment for the Pandas. At the base there are also over 400 kinds of trees and may species of bamboo. The bamboo that is grown on the grounds is not enough to feed all the Pandas (adult Pandas can eat up to 20 kgs of bamboo, stems and leaves a day!), so bamboo is often brought in from the surrounding areas of Chengdu. The centre also has a Panda hospital, a kitchen, two nurseries and a museum on site. We learned that the kitchen prepares amongst other things, Panda bread, a special bread made from corn, rice, wheat and oats for the Pandas (also fit for human consumption, as there were samples for visitors to try).
Pandas are by nature solitary animals, so this serves as a peaceful sanctuary for them. That is, when there are not scores of Chinese tourists around, talking loudly and ignoring the signs to be quiet.
We hired a taxi and it took us about forty minutes to get there. We had read that it is best to go early in the morning, as this is the time when the Pandas are fed and when they are the most active. We were happy that we got there early, because we got to see them feeding and out in the open (later on when the weather got hot, the Pandas were taken indoors - Pandas prefer cool/cold weather to hot weather).
We had a wonderful time at this centre and we are so glad we went.
Geographic Indicator
At one time Pandas were found all over China. Today it is a different story as the map below indicates. This map show the whole of China (green area) and the red parts indicate where Panda are found in the wild today (the remote mountainous areas of the Sichuan, Gansu and Shanxi provinces). Pandas are endangered and it is estimated that there are only around 2000 Pandas left in the world. Their numbers have been on the decline due to changes of their natural surroundings, habitat destruction and human economic activities. This is the sad reality, but fortunately there are initiatives underway to conserve this species, even if it means breeding and raising them in captivity. Giant Pandas who live in captivity can live up to the age of 22 years.
New-born Pandas
Cubs are typically born between August and October, so there were unfortunately no new-borns when we visited the centre. The photos below are courtesy of the centre's education department. We were amazed to learn that when Pandas are born, they weigh only between 50 and 100 grams (1/1000 the weight of the mother) !
Baby Pandas
When we arrived in the early morning, the baby Pandas were still asleep. There were about six of them at the one nursery and most of them were sleeping and hanging-out in the trees. A few hours later they were awake, lively and very playful . It was such a joy and pleasure to watch them interact and play with each other. These baby Pandas were about 9 months old and they were so adorable.
Timing is everything !
Taking photos of baby Pandas when they are awake and playing can be challenging, as they are on the move all the time. This was one of those moments where we were at the right place, at the perfect time to capture this priceless sight - one of the baby Pandas sitting on a plastic pony! One moment he was leaning against the pony, the next he was sitting on the pony and seconds later he was off. We all had a good chuckle.
Photo Opportunity
For an expensive fee/donation, visitors can have their photo taken with one of the baby Pandas. We both decided this was an opportunity of a lifetime and decided to do it, especially since the money goes towards maintaining the centre. However, before we were allowed to touch and hold the Panda, we had to put on protective gowns and plastic gloves (more for the Panda's protection). We got to hold a male Panda named Zhen Hao, who was nine months old (what a beautiful animal). It was an amazing experience! Unlike holding a Koala Bear (in Brisbane) which was quiet scary at first, holding the Panda bear was delightful from start to finish. This little fella was quite content to just sit and chew on bamboo while we had our photos taken with him. We were both smitten with this little guy (he was so cute, adorable and cuddly) and I think if it was possible, we would have taken him home with us!
Sub-adult Pandas
Giant Pandas between the ages of 1 1/2 to 4 years old are called sub-adult Pandas. When we arrived in the morning, we found this group of four sub-adults enjoying their breakfast. They were content to sit in a group with their backs to us, munching on bamboo. When the bucket containing the food was empty, they became restless and one even stood up and started chewing on the bucket. These four were about two years old and were just as adorable as the babies.
Adult Pandas
The adult Pandas were housed separately and many were content to just sit and eat. Some of them looked like giant stuffed furry toys, so cute !
Red Pandas
The Red Pandas are also an endangered species and they too are part of the conservation program at the centre. These Red Pandas are found in the temperate forests of the Himalayan foothills, from western Nepal to northern Burma and in the mountains of southwestern China. While the numbers are unclear, some estimates put the remaining population at 4000. The Red Pandas mostly eat bamboo, but they have also been known to eat grass, roots, berries and sometimes small insects, young birds and small rodents. In captivity, Red Pandas can live up to the age of 17 years.
