Volunteer with giant panda’s on this incredible project in China, and help to forge a future for these amazing animals.
This panda volunteer project is based within the beautiful Bifengxia mountain range and its long term aim is to educate people on why these magnificent animals need our help.
The centre began life in a different location, but after an earthquake destroyed the Hetaoping Panda Centre, a lot of its residents were moved to the new site at Bifengxia and things really began to take off! Since the move the panda population has more than doubled and as a result there are now 40 pandas in residence at the centre.
The staff at the centre need volunteers help as without them they would struggle to go about the daily activities such as feeding and cleaning. Caring for the pandas is an ongoing job, and as a volunteer you will be able to play a big part in the care of these bears.
Please note that this itinerary is subject to change so what follows is a rough guideline.
To secure a place on this project a deposit of £195 is required at the time of booking, with the remaining balance due any time up to 60 days prior to your start date.
The Bifengxia Panda Base is the largest centre for panda conservation in the whole of China, but the centre has had to overcome some major obstacles in its quest to learn more about these gentle giants.
Back in 2008 an earthquake decimated the Wolong National Nature Reserve where over 100 pandas were located, and as a result a large number of the bears were moved to the Bifengxia centre. Here the population of the pandas has more than doubled in that time, and as a result around 70% of pandas worldwide have originally come from this panda reserve.
The aims of the reserve are three fold. They are; to ensure that the rescued and captive panda population is well cared for, to protect the genetic variation of a species of animal which is notoriously difficult when it comes to breeding, and to facilitate sustainable development of the species in general.
As a volunteer on this project you will play a big part in assisting the dedicated panda carers as they go about their daily routines with the bears, and as a result will help the reserve to accomplish all of its aims!
The 19th of May is Endangered Species Day, and the need to help our planet's at-risk animals is greater than ever. Find out how you can make a difference by reading today's blog.
Today is National Panda Day - check out our infographic to gain more information on this amazing species, and to find out why they so desperately need our help. From fast facts about the species themselves, to their location and the threats they face, there is much to learn about pandas.
March 16th is National Panda Day 2017 so learn more about them here!
For the first two nights of this project (Sunday and Monday) you will be staying at the quaint Mrs Panda Hostel in Chengdu. Rooms are shared with a maximum of 6 people per room. As you can probably gather from the name, the hostel is Panda themed, and the staff at the hostel are very friendly and helpful. When you arrive at the centre you will be staying in the Ya’an Bifengxia Seninhuaya Hotel. At the hotel you will be staying in twin rooms which come with; 24-hour hot water, a squatting toilet and a television. You will also have access to a common room which is popular for movie nights! It may be possible to upgrade to a twin share room with a western toilet, both at the Panda Hostel and centre. These rooms are dependent on availability, please enquire for further information.
On the day of your arrival you will need to purchase your own food, but for your entire remaining stay at the project your meals are provided. The meals you will receive will be in the traditional Chinese style, comprising mainly of rice, noodles, vegetables and some meat. Some people may find the food a little spicy, so if this is the case please notify your project coordinator! The project can cater for vegans, vegetarians and those with allergies if informed in advance. Drinking water, coffee and Chinese tea will be provided throughout your stay, but if you wish to purchase soft drinks or alcoholic beverages you will have to do this at the bar at an additional small cost!
The work required during this project is not overly-exerting, but it is advised that all participants have a moderate level of fitness. No specific skills or experience are required, just commitment to the project and its aims. You must be prepared to work alongside other members of the team.
The vaccinations required will depend on your medical history. We recommend that you consult with your GP regarding your own immunisation needs. In conjunction with this, we would recommend that you check Fit for Travel’s website.
As this is a sanctuary, you are able to work with pandas all year round; however, there are different events during the year which make them more popular than others.
March to May is panda mating season, during this time pandas may be moved in order to do mating research. Volunteers that are here during this time may be able to help the keepers move the pandas or carry the cages. Unfortunately, due to strict regulation and security conditions from the panda base, volunteers are not allowed to take part in the actual mating research.
June to August is the high season for the panda base with volunteer numbers reaching the maximum number of around 30. This is a good opportunity for volunteers to make friends from all over the world and the weather is also very nice around this time of year. One other big potential bonus is that you may have the opportunity to see panda cubs. Volunteering during this time requires early booking as spaces do fill up fast.
November to February is the winter time in the panda base and it can get rather cold. It is not all bad news however as due to this we often have fewer volunteers which means you are able to spend more time with pandas.
You will need to arrive into Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport on the start date of your project (a Sunday) between 8am and 12pm and you will be transferred to the Mrs Panda Hostel to begin your adventure. Pick up is at the McDonalds café, and after this your volunteer coordinator will accompany you via an airport bus to the hostel. Chengdu can be reached via a number of larger international airports. If you arrive a day before you are free to make your way to the Mrs Panda Hostel, but please inform us of this before you depart.
If you would like help booking your flights, please visit our flights page and fill out the form. A member of our team will get back in touch as soon as possible with a suitable quote.
Most nationalities need a visa to enter China and the cost of an entry visa for a British Citizen is around £150. You will need to apply for this via your local Chinese embassy, and a visa normally takes around 4 working days to process. Please check your respective countries Chinese embassy website to see your requirements.
The currency in China is the Chinese Yan Renminbi. The exchange rate is around 1CNY = 0.1 GBP, 0.14 USD, 0.13 EUR. For up to date rates please click here.
If you have any questions about this project or would like help finding the perfect project for you then please feel free to give us a call or send us through your enquiry and we will be happy to help.
Nikita & team.
The thing I will remember is feeding the Giant Pandas. They were so gentle taking the food from you but you could see how powerful they were!
Michael Clements, 2017
T: +44(0) 208 885 4987
