Description

The giant panda is one of the most endangered animals in the world with a current estimate of only 1600 alive today. This project gives you a great opportunity to have to observe and help these amazing creatures. Your assistance will go a long way to helping stop the giant panda becoming extinct while also having the opportunity to immerse yourself in Chinese culture.

Volunteer Role:

The centre is home not only to the Giant Panda but also to some other fascinating creatures including the Lesser Panda (Red Panda), the Golden Monkey, the Sika, the Takin and Crested Ibis. As a volunteer on this project you will be working alongside the keepers at the centre which will give you a unique insight to not only pandas but also the Chinese way of life. Some of the activities which you may be involved in are:

* Assisting the Panda Keepers in their daily duties and providing care and attention to the Pandas.
* Cleaning the enclosures of the animals.
* Preparing food and feeding the Pandas and other animals, this will include carrying Bamboo.
* General maintenance at the centre including fencing and planting.
* Helping staff at the centre develop their English skills.

You may also have the opportunity to visit a local school in Lou Guan Tai, to teach basic English and nursery rhymes to the school children. Helping the children and the staff at the centre with their English will greatly help not only communication but also increase the number of Chinese people that can get the panda conservation message across.

Highlights

The program is based in Lou Guan Tai town which is 70km away from Xi'an, in the Shaanxi Province.

The land that China occupies has been home to ancient civilizations dating back six millennia, making it one of the longest occupied areas in the world. They also have the longest continuous writing system and the Four Great Inventions of Ancient China - paper, the compass, gunpowder and printing.

China was ruled over by Dynasties until 1912, when the Qing dynasty became the last in a very long line. At this point China became a Republic and began to develop into the country that we would recognize today.In 1949, Mao Zedong came to power at the head the Chinese Communist Party and introduced policies such as the Great Leap Forward and the Cultural Revolution, which left the Education system and the economy in tatters. Mao, however, is still a figure of great reverence- just have a look at the queue coming out of his mausoleum in Tiananmen Square!

China's rapid development in the 1990s began after Mao's death and has made China the world's next super power. Although it is modernizing rapidly, many aspects of the ancient civilizations remain in the form of temples, the Great Wall, the Terracotta Warriors and much more. Age-old practices are much more alive amongst the rural farming communities, who have in general missed out on the development seen by the bigger cities. In that respect China is full of opposites- yin and yang you could say! Saying that though, you'll still find the traditional Chinese dragons prancing about all over the country when New Year rolls around!

Qualifications

Minimum 17 years, maximum decided on potential participants' health. Please be prepared that you may be working with volunteers of all ages.

Program Requirements:
You will require a doctor's note for you to participate in this project. You'll be spending lots of time in close proximity to these rare creatures so we need to ensure that you don't have any communicable diseases that you might pass on to them. Please send us a note from your doctor stating that you are fit and healthy to work with these beautiful animals. You will also need to take the original letter with you to the project.

Languages

• English

Cost in US$:

Varies every week. Please inquire for more details

Program Fees Include:

* Airport pick up and transfer to program after orientation.
* All accommodation during placement on a shared basis.
* All meals during placement.
* In-country orientation.
* Online Account with all your pre-departure information

Experience Required

no

Volunteer Types

• Animal Welfare
• Conservation
• Restoration
• Wildlife Surveying

Age Range

17 and above

This Program is open to

Worldwide Participants. This Program is also open to Couples and Individuals.

Typical Living Arrangements

• Apartment/Flat
• Guest House

Participants Travel

Independently or in Groups

Typically Participants Work

Independently or in Groups

Application Process Involves

• Online Application plus Application Assessment
• Other

Post Services Include

• Exit Debriefing Abroad