Unitypanda

The baby panda factory: Inside the extraordinary breeding centre where China is mass-producing infant pandas

Jonnet Middleton — Sun, 01 Aug 2010 18:02:55 +0000

The project is considered so sensitive that only a handful of Westerners — all veterinary specialists — have been permitted inside the sound-proofed, softlylit nursery at the giant Panda Breeding And Research Centre in Chengdu, Western China.

But Marven was made an exception this week after he was appointed as Chengdu’s ‘Panda Ambassador’ — an honour previously awarded to just one man: China’s favourite actor, Jackie Chan.

And only the Daily Mail was there to capture a moment that the 49-year-old presenter described as ‘the most memorable of my career’.

Nigel Marven becomes Panda Ambassador

Jonnet Middleton — Sun, 01 Aug 2010 17:56:40 +0000

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Chengdu Panda Breeding and Research Center

Jonnet Middleton — Sun, 25 Jul 2010 16:55:40 +0000

Located just 10km (6miles) away from downtown Chengdu, the Chengdu Panda Breeding Research Center has been created and imitated the pandas’ natural habitat in order that they might have the best possible environment for rearing and breeding. The Center cares also for other rare and endangered wild animals. The Research Center covers 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 throughout the year. Verdant bamboo, bright flowers, fresh air, a natural hill scene and a beautiful artificial view are merged ingeniously at the base.

The necessary facilities for giant pandas have been completed and include a fodder room, sleeping quarters and a medical station. Additionally there is a Giant Panda 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 giant pandas’ diet and habitat. The center is planning to expand by another 3000 mus (500 acres) of land on which to simulate a natural environment order to prepare the giant pandas bred at the center 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.

Message from Ambassador Liu Xiaoming

Jonnet Middleton — Sun, 25 Jul 2010 16:16:22 +0000

Ambassador Liu Xiaoming

Chinese Embassy Cultural Office

Jonnet Middleton — Sun, 25 Jul 2010 16:13:32 +0000

Ø Address: 11 West Heath Road, Hampstead, London, NW3 7UX

Ø Nearest Tube: Hampstead (Northern Line)

Ø Telephone No: (00)44-20-74318830

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Back to school for orphans of Sichuan Makeshift classes set up to help survivors as national mourning period starts

Jonnet Middleton — Sun, 25 Jul 2010 15:48:01 +0000

Children who survived the earthquake attend lessons in a temporary school at the Mianyang stadium in Sichuan province. Photograph: Dan Chung

Sichuan adoption policies

Jonnet Middleton — Sun, 25 Jul 2010 15:44:58 +0000

A total of 1,019 children became orphans after the 8.0-magnitude earthquake struck Sichuan Province on May 12. According to Chen, local welfare institutions, adolescent protection centers and hospitals have been taking charge of these children.

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Newest Social Welfare Institute, Chengdu

Jonnet Middleton — Sun, 25 Jul 2010 15:21:07 +0000

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Sichuan Province Cheng Du City Children’s Welfare Institute

Jonnet Middleton — Sun, 25 Jul 2010 15:16:57 +0000

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Sichuan orphanages

Jonnet Middleton — Sun, 25 Jul 2010 15:05:11 +0000

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