Global Search for UNDP Panda Envoys Launched in Chengdu

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) launched a global search for UNDP Panda Envoys and UNDP Panda Ambassadors on January 17, 2016 in Chengdu, China. The search was sponsored by the UNDP in cooperation with over 20 zoos from13 countries around the world. More than 50 attendees participated in the launch ceremony including UNDP officers, experts and guests from global conservation agencies.

Primarily internet based, the search will focus on the four facets of giant panda conservation, culture, art and tourism. The categories are titled, “Global Naming of UNDP Panda Ambassadors, Global Search for ‘UNDP Panda Envoys”,”Global Exhibition of Giant Panda Arts:Conservation Across National Boundaries and Global Collection of Giant Panda Song”, and ‘A Tour to Giant Panda Hometown”.

Starting on January 17, 2016, people around the world can participate in the official process for selecting names for Qing He’s twin cubs. The winner of the contest will be invited to Beijing to participate in the “Global Nanjing of UNDP Pambassadors and Global Exhibition of Giant Panda Arts: Conservation Across National Boundaries” closing ceremony “Global Search for UNDP Panda Envoys” was also launched on January 17. Visitors can tour the
20 designated zoos from 13 countries to search for giant pandas or activity billboards. Those visitors may upload a short selfie video to the official website to become eligible as candidates for UNDP Panda Envoy selection. On April 1, 2016,the 17 elected UIOI)P Panda Envoys will be invited to Chengdu to participate in a one-week tour of the giant pandas’ hometown as well as the “Global Exhibition of Giant Panda Arts: Conservation Across National Boundaries” in Beijing.

Giant Panda Express

Recently the Thailand National Tourism Administration and Bangok Municipal Government jointly announced at Thailand’s largest Central Embassy Mall that they would introduce a famous global exhibition called Tour of 1,600 Giant Pandas”. The Thailand government will support WWF with the 1,600 giant panda paper exhibition,which will be displayed at ten popular attractions from March 4 until April 10. It will be an interactive exhibit for tourists and all the revenue made from the exhibition will be donated to WIW Thailand Branch as conservation foundation for elephants, Bengal tigers and other wild animals.

In order to promote the development of the giant panda conservation program in China and to advance the education and scientific research of giant pandas in South Korea, an agreement was reached from the Sino-South Korea summit session in 2014. Two giant pandas were sent to South Korea from Sichuan in March and will be ready to meet visitors in April 2016.

On February 13, glint panda Hao Hao from China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda mated in Belgium PairiDaiza. This marked the first time a giant panda mated in 2016.

On February 6, 2016, nine panda cubs bore at the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding in 2015 received their official names. They are ling Ao, ling Yon, Meng Lan, Si Nian, Si Junjun, Xiao Ya, Xiao Chuan, Da Ni and Xiao
Ni. Their names were decided from the proposals of giant panda fans all over the world.

On February 4, 2016, giant panda Ke Lin’s cubs were given their official names, Olympia and Fu Wa. Experts selected their names from thousands of offers from the Global Naming event.

In February, 2016, the 5 Fenghuang-Jiuzhai Zhuoma Beauty Pageant Top 20 launched the Jiuzhai Zhuoma-A Tow for Giant Panda Conservation Interactive Charity Activity. The top 20 candidates visited the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding’s Dujiangyan Field Research Center for Giant Panda fora photography shoot. Its aim was to introduce more people to giant pandas and how they can be involved in giant panda conservation.

In December 2015, 120 delegates of National and Sichuan Provincial People’s Congress visited the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding’s Dujiangyan Field Research Center for Giant Pandas. Delegates hilly affirmed the basic construction of the Field Research Center and highly anticipated the bright h1ture of giant panda reintroduction.