On September 5, the Sichuan Travel and Tourism Administration, the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, and the Hong Kong Pandapia International Limited Company jointly hosted the first global live videostream of a male/female set of giant panda twins as they grew up. YouTube,the world’s largest video website, Japan’s famous Niconico, China’s Youku, and Tudou all hosted the live show for network users.

On August 28, the joint Changning Bamboo Forest and Panda World Scientific Research Cooperation Agreement signing ceremony was held at the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding.

The 17th Symposium of` Animal Reproduction Branch of the Chinese Association of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine was held from August 23 to 25 in Fuzhou, Fujian province. Liu Yuliang, an associate research fellow from the Chengdu Research Base of` Giant Panda Breeding,

read his paper and introduced the identification technology and research results of mesenchymal

stem cells isolated.from giant panda bone marrow.The paper was published as a cover article in Stem Cells and Development in 2013.

The 34th International Society t`or Animal Genetics Conference was held in Xi’an on July 28. A team from the research center’s genetics department of the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding joined over 1,300 Chinese and overseas experts to attend the conference. This was the first global gathering held in China since the International Society for Animal Genetics was founded in 1954. The conference was also the largest and most widely covered international meeting in the field of animal genetics in China so far.

Chengdu giant panda Ya Xing gave birth to the first set of male/female twins in the year of the horse. The cubs were born on June 30 between 8:13am and 8:44am. To date Ya Xing has delivered 3 cubs in 2 litters, all surviving.

On June 23, an anniversary commemoration was held in the Chengdu Research Base of Giant

Panda Breeding to celebrate the first anniversary of giant pandas’ return from Japan to China. The Sichuan Travel and Tourism Administration sponsored the event in collaboration with the Chengdu Panda Base. Nearly 50 people attended the event, including Chinese citizens from all walks of life and several Japanese friendship groups such as the Japan Tokyo China Friendship Association, the Japan Broadcasting Corporation, the Japan China Photography Artist Association, and several others.

This June marked the official opening of the reintroduction training enclosure at the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding’s Dujiangyan Field Research Center for Giant Pandas. Careful interdepartmental coordination and effort went into the endeavor for years.

From June 17 to 19, the Children and Youth Science Center of China, the Chinese Science and Technology Museum, the Chinese Association of Natural Science Museums, and the China Association of Children’s Science Instructors jointly held the 2nd Scientific Education Project Exhibit and Evaluation of Science and Technology Site at the China Science and Technology Museum.First place was awarded to an educational program called the Conservation Education Volunteer Training and Summer Camp from the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding. This program was also selected to receive the Teachers Choice award, an honor bestowed after careful selection by a panel of educators.The International Internship Program of the Chengdu

Panda Base won a third place.

On the afternoon of June 5, a delegation of 9 people headed by Luba Ntambo, Vice Premier and

Defense Minister of the People’s Republic of Congo visited the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding. The group came at the invitation of State Councilor and Defense Minister Chang Wanquan and were accompanied by officers from the Chengdu Military Foreign Affairs Office.

On the evening of June 2, at 19:38, the televised program “Topics in Focus” aired a piece on Children’s Day at the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding and broadcast a feature documentary called “Kissing My Children”. June 1 is International Children’s Day and is widely celebrated throughout China with special events and free admission for children to many attractions.

On September 1912014, under a clear autumn sky with brisk air,an adoption ceremony took place at the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding. The Yingke Law Firm from Beijing & the Lyon Technology Co.J Ltd. from Shanghai adopted giant panda Ying Ying. Yingke Law Firm has always attached importance to giant pandas and committed to improving the environment and condition of panda conservation. To show their dedication to China’s national treasure, the two companies co-sponsored the adoption program. Best wishe/to Ying Ying and may she grow up with health and happiness.

Chrysler Group (China) Sales Limited Adopts Ku Ku&Wei Wei

On August 22, 2014, the Chrysler Group (China) Sales Limited adopted two giant pandas and named them Ku Ku & Wei Wei in Chinese after its model, the Dodge JCUV to assist in panda conservation.

Japanese Association for Study of Chinese Traditional Medicines Adopts Guan Yuan

On September 171 2014, an adoption renewal ceremony for the giant panda Guan Yuan took place at the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding. The Japanese Association for Study of Chinese Traditional Medicine adopted Guan Yuan from the year of2003 and decided to renew the agreement. 71le president of the association and 4Japanese nationals are avid panda fans who hope that through this ceremony giant panda conservation efforts will be promoted.

Dyson’s Thoughts on Giant Pandas

To create a healthier] cleaner environment for giant panda cubs and to ensure all laboratory and panda enclosures ue spotless, Dyson gifted 21 vacuum cleaners and 21 bladeless fans to the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding on July 24, 2014 Tan Hongming, the vice director of the Chengdu Panda Base, expressed his thanks to Dyson. He commented on the long term mission of protecting giant pandas and how the equipment would be used in every area of the Chengdu Panda Base. The machines would not only give pandas cooler and cleaner a conditions during the summer season, but would also make a more comfortable environment for researchers and panda keepers.

Ya’an Animal and Nature Film Festival

On October 18, 2014, China’s 7th Annual Ya’an Animal and Nature Film Festival took place in the city of Ya’an. The week-long festivities featured several documentary films, an eco-tourism and cultural forum, tours at the nearby Bifengxia Panda Base, bird watching tours and a photography competition. The purpose of the event was to create an exchange platform for documentaries with an animal and nature theme. Documentary films from over 10 countries and regions focused on environmental protection,were played throughout the week.

The festival showed nearly 30 screenings filmed both in China and abroad including 20 foreign animal and nature movies like “Wild Meat Tracking, Indian Buffalo in My Hometown”, “Shifting Undercurrents-Female Seaweed Collectors of the Gulf of Mannar”, The Tiger Death Chronicles” , and several other domestic movies on animals and nature.

The Ya’an Animal and Nature Film Festival was the first event arranged jointly by Ya’an and the China Film Archive’ since 2007, whose goal was to deliver a concept of eco-environment protection and harmony`between humans and.nature.

France’s Bears Stamp Launch

Every Year France’s postal service, La Poste, dedicates a block of stamps to endangered animals, and this year’s topic is bears.

A French comic book artist, Olivier Tallec,drew the four stamps. These stamps include the effigies of the polar bear, Andean spectacled bear,Kermode or “Spirit Bear”(a sub-species of the Nordz American black bear) and the giant panda.

The launch of these stamps was held at the Zooparc of Beauval where the two pandas Yuan Zi and Huan Huan have resided since January 2012. A date stamp with a panda was specially used

on this day.

Saint-Aignan the city of the zooparc and it’s namesake philatelic association, organized this launch. During the two day launch on March 21 and 22, 2014, a temporary post office was set up and several events took place in the zooparc. Crowds of stamp collectors and bears lovers specially came for these two days. I, Jerome Pouille, was invited by Andre Feller, the association’s president, and by Francoise Rodolphe and Delphine Delord, the zoo director. I was appointed a specific location for people to meet me and ask me questions about pandas and their conservation. It was an interesting educational event where children and adults leaned many things about the biology, lifestyle,behaviors, and threats against giant pandas. I organized a quick contest where those with the right answers were awarded stamps.

These two days provided an educational and interesting time for visitors to view the two pandas as it was during breeding season. The two pandas were highly active and vocal] and exhibited specific breeding behaviors such as territory marking. Yuan Zi and Huan Huan are too young to mate, but showed extreme interest in each other, which is a very good sign for the future.

Ju Xiao Births Triplets

On July 29, 2014, Ju Xiao gave birth to triplets at the Guangzhou Chimlong Safari Park. This marks the second set of triplets bore at the China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda and the fourth set of triplets born in captivity.

This past spring, Ju Xiao began showing signals of estrus. The conservation center sent staff members Wang Chengdong and Zhou Yingnlin to the Safari Park. Ju Xiao received two artificial insemination treatments with fresh samples collected from Lin Lin, a 14 year-old male, on March 26 and 27.

As early as July 4, Dong Chao, Ju Xiaols keeper,observed her displaying pre-delivery behaviors such as a decreased appetite and several days later joined by an increased nesting activities and anxiety. By mid July her actions clearly indicated an impending delivery. Research staff and keepers began observing her movements 24 bows a day until she gave birth to the first cub on July 29 at 1:10 am. The second cub arrived at 3:47am, and the third at 4:34am. Exhaustion set in and Ju Xiao was not able to care for all three newborn cubs alone. Staff members placed the three cubs in incubator to conduct physical examinations. The first cub weighed 90.5g, the second 83g,and the dlkd 124.4g.

The sudden appearance of triplets surprised everyone, but a sense of foreboding overshadowed

this celebratory time at the panda conservation center.The survival rate of giant panda triplets is very low and the first week is critical. The center sent another two staff members to assist with caring for the cubs. Long distance communication between the Conservation center and the Safari Park was carefully established to provide technological support. With excellent care by staff members, the panda mother and cubs remained stable and healthy Ju Xiao’s natural cub care was supplemented with assistance h:ore staff and the cubs were able to stay with the mother regularly. By early Octobey the cubs had grown to body weights of 230.6g, 245.3gJ and 333.4g respectively.

Ju Xiao was born in Wolong in 2002. She gave birth to a set of twins in 2010 and was then relocated to the Guangzhou Chimlong Safari Park in 2012.Under the excellent care and intact environment at Chindong Safari Park, Ju Xiao became a mother for the second time in her life.

Last year, a set of triplets was delivered  the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding by Jiao Zi, a 19-year-old female. Sadly only one cub. Survived from the litter, the other two were still -borns. Lan Jingchao, a panda specialist said, “The health situation of a panda mother determines the survival rate of her cubs. Compared with Ju Xiao,Jiao Zi was much weaker The survival of triplets can be influenced by many factors and should be further researched. We congratulate Ju Xiao’s success.”

Xue Xue’s Return to the Wild

The State Forestry Administration launched the wild release of the giant panda Xue Xue

at the Liziping National Nature Reserve in the city of Ya’an, Sichuan province on October 14,

2014. Jointly hosted by the State Forestry Administration and the people’s government of Sichuan province, numerous leaders were in attendance at the event. Chen Fengxue, deputy director of the State Forestry Administration, Zhao Xueqian,deputy secretary general of people’s government of Sichuan province, and Ye Zhuang, Ya’an party secretary were present.

This was the fourth captive giant panda released into the wild. Prior to Xue Xue, the other pandas were Xiang Xiang, Tao Tao, and Zhang Xiang. The female Xue Xue weighed 55.8kg and was born on August 15, 2012. Xue Xue’s growth and behavior were documented, and after two years of pre-release training, she was deemed able to be released into the wild. Experts unanimously agreed to this after observing her over a trial period that she had developed all of the necessary skins to survive to include independently Ending food and water, and to avoid predators to name a few.

The State Forestry Administration began the wild reintroduction program in 2003 to prevent a decline in the giant panda gene pool. Xiang Xiang was the first captive giant panda that underwent this novel training region and was released into the wild in April 2006. Much was learned from this experience and the second phase of captive giant panda reintroduction training program was initiated. Giant pandas Tao Tao and Zhang Xiang were separately released to the wild in October 2012 and November 2013. With careful monitoring,researchers observed that Tao Tao and Zhang Xiang adjusted well to the wild. The hope is that Xue Xue’s return will facilitate the rejuvenation of wild giant panda populations in the Xiaoxiangling Mountains.

Liziping National Nature Reserve was formally listed as a giant panda reintroduction training base by the State Forestry Administration during the event. According to the administration, another

giant panda named Xin Yuan will be released in the second half of November.

Frank Dickinson, a biology professor at West China Union University was placed in charge to make this request and wrote a letter asking for help from the huntsmen in the mountains. Shortly after,Mrs. Dickinson traveled to Dujiangyan city formerly known as Guan county and brought back a vivacious panda cub. The Dickinsons’ kept the cub at their Huaxiba home in Chengdu and named her Pandora.

On May 18, 1938, Dickinson’s colleague Ray Spooner decided to bring Pandora to the United States of America on his way back to Canada for a vacation. At the same time China was at war and the raging battles had left the country in ruins. Spooner quickly and carefully organized an extensive journey to import Pandora out of the country. The panda flew by plane from Chengdu to Chongqing, boarded a ship and traveled From Chongqing to Shanghai and then to Hong Kong.

From there she was transferred to another ship.

Unfortunately Pandora passed away in the United States on May 13, 1941. Prior to 1949,she held the record for the longest surviving panda living abroad.

Pandora’s story did not stop with her death,as her kin are now China’s national treasure and are the international symbol of China’s peace and friendship.

As Pandora’s legacy lives on through the international fascination and love for giant pandas, so does the legacy of Canadians that traveled to Chengdu 100 years ago and fell in love with the city. Their intertwined stories are a testament to two cultures living in harmony together.

When Ren’s team arrived, they found the panda was extremely weak. Immediately they provided the approximately 3-5 year-old female panda with a medical examination, and discovered she was highly emaciated, weighing only 43kg. Ticks covered her body, her nose was dry, and her eyes dull. After a dose of deworming medication, the panda excreted copious amounts of roundworms in very dry feces. The veterinarian thought the symptoms indicated gastroenteritis.

The news of a sick panda shocked everybody in this small county. The county’s government party committee paid close attention to this situation and held a meeting to discuss the treatment plan and the naming of the giant panda. The panda was found in an area called Taibai, meaning “pure

white” in Chinese and it was snowing the day she was discovered. The name “White Snow” was

deemed a perfect match for this panda and her beauty and gentleness transformed the name to

Bai Xue, meaning “Snow White” in Chinese.

After a year’s treatment by Shaanxi Louguantai Rare Animal Protection Center in Zhouzhi county, Bai Xue became more beautiful and her weight increased to a healthy 95kg. On September16, 1994, Bai Xue was borrowed by Shangfang Mountain Forest Park, Suzhou city Jiangsu province for a short time to celebrate their anniversary.

Bai Xue’s 81 Days Flight in Suzhou city

At that time Bai Xue resided her new home in Suzhou. Unfortunately due to a lack of experience,the new house’s fence was not properly constructed for a giant panda, making it very easy to escape.Just two days alter the park was opened to the public, Bai Xue scared by the immense crowds of visitors, escaped and ran into the forested hills behind the park.

Tourists were utterly shocked by Bai Xue’s behavior and the veterinarians had to tell them to calm down as many became overexcited and attempted to chase the runaway panda. The veterinarians also stated that the panda was harmless and they should give her some space, while directing the park staff to place her Favorite milk,bananas, and apples on the trail to entice her back.Following the veterinarian’s advice, park staff laid hundreds of meters of a food trail for Bai Xue to foIlow they called her name, but it was all in vain. The next day the local police used a search and rescue dog to help find Bai Xue, but this option also failed.

News headlines of”Bai Xue Has Disappeared!”quickly became the talk of the town. The runaway panda incident caught the attention of the State Forestry Administration and the government of Suzhou city. They organized a search and rescue team of thousands of people, led by a deputy major and a secretary-general of the local government. Every ten meters there was a team member. Inch by inch they searched the surrounding areas For the whole day but there was still no sign of Bai Xue.

The leader of Shaanxi Rare Animal Protection Center rushed to Suzhou.

Suzhou appeared to be the perfect hiding place fora runaway panda. The location Bai Xue bid, Shangfang Mountain, was covered with arrow bamboo that had been planted 10 years previously

It was an ideal hiding spot for a panda. Shangfang Mountain is surrounded by roads, and is only

about 100 meters high, whereas the suburbs are 461,263 acres.IF the national treasure disappeared it would be a priceless loss, and a massive search and rescue was undertaken. After the first search by a team of a thousand members had Failed there was false speculation that the panda had been caught by someone and was illegally transported away by boat. The government organized a thousand policemen from the districts around Suzhou and checked all the boats at the local Tai Lake, but still could not find Bai Xue. The Nanjing Police Dog Research Center sent f.our police seard1 and rescue dogs to help find Bai Xue, one of which had won an international competition. J1te search and rescue team members worked together with dogs, combing the lush Shangfang Mountain which was covered with bamboo, bushes, and woody vines. If the police dogs did not follow the way team members cleared for them, the woody vines would hurt them. After one week, two police dogs had been badly injured on their forelegs by the vines. It appeared that Bai Xue had melted into the forest.

In the month after Bai Xue ran away] the Suzhou TV station broadcast a search notice for the panda, and offered a 10,000 yuan reward for anyone nntl2 proper information as to her whereabouts. The government asked the local populace to join and help the search within a 10km radius around the region.

A few days later Xo Zhenwu, the assistant manager of the Shaanxi Wild Animal Protection Station, joined in the search. He invited Yong Yan’ge, an engineer for Foping Nature Reserve,to join him, as Yong Yan’ge had rich experience tracking wild giant pandas. The two experts concluded that wherever Bai Xue was hiding, she likely preferred to stay near a water source so search teams should focus on those areas. Two days later, on October 24, 38 days after Bai Xue ran away a worker of Shangfang Mountain rivet factory found week-old giant panda feces, which when examined showed Bai Xue was in a healthy condition. This break-though news was extremely inspiring and the search team closely monitored the location. In the dark of the night] they heard the sound of Bai Xue eating bamboo. Although she could be heard, it was still very difficult to find her.

At 6 o’clock the next morning] the Shangfang Mountain Forest Park organized a team of a hundred workers. Together these men searched along the spot where the sound was heard, and excitedly discovered traces of Bai Xue’s feeding activities and finally narrowed down the search area.

Bai Xue’s biding spot was more complex and well concealed than anyone expected. The hiding spot was covered by slash pines and bamboo, and from its location it took only 5 minutes to reach the top of the hill. On its left there was a target range,and on the right was a construction site. This location was the noisiest and nearest to human activity than any other location searched.

Yet in this tiny spot, clever Bai Xue remained hidden for at least one month. In the beginning of

that winter, Bai Xue broke though the blockade and ran out of the bamboo forest.

On December 51 a starving panda showed up in a held 3km away from the Shangfang Mountain

Forest Park. Bai Xue was caught by a crowd of rural laborers, one of whom was bitten in the arm

when they had tied the panda with ropes to hold her. The search and rescue team got the information and brought a cage there. At that time Bai Xue had been on the run for 81 days.

The lost and found panda received a complete veterinary inspection, which revealed she was in a very good condition minus a slight cold, and a loss of 10kg in weight.

After 4 days of recovery Bai Xue was back at the original place of all of this drama, the Suzhou Shangfang Mountain Forest Park, and was able to meet with the public in the city.

 4 Years in Wolong

3 months later, Bai Xue was sent to Wolong China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda (CCRCGP).

Bai Xue gave birth to 5 cubs with 3 litters in Wolong, and is considered a hero amongst the panda mothers. Her cub Lin Lin was bore in 1997,hums Qing Qing and Xiu Xiu in 1999, and another set of twins, Zhu Zhu and Chuang Chuang were bore in 2000. The back to back births in 1999 and 2000 gave Bai Xue star status at the center. Although she was referred to and treated as a superstar, she still longed to live in her natural habitat.

On May 7, 2001, in the midst of the mating season, Bai Xue seized the opportunity and ran away again. This time she took the advantage of the panda keeper’s cleaning enclosures, broke though 3 iron doors, climbed over a bounding wall and disappeared into the forest again.

The keeper that took care of Bai Xue was confused, for that he knew he had closed the doors tightly. How could she have opened the door and run away? This question still remains unanswered.

After Bai Xue’s second dramatic escape, multiple attempts were made to recapture her, but none were successful. There were several sightings of her in the hills around the breeding center. For 4 years Bai Xue never looked back at the pampered lifestyle she led in Wolong.

4 years later, the legend continued.

One evening, someone saw a panda that meandered into the CCRCGP offices, walked along the bridge, and headed straight to the enclosures and past the door. The panda left two piles of feces to scent mark the location and then walked away. Speculation about the feces being that of Bai Xue circulated through the staff and she was seen on several other occasions wandering around the center. At last the base veterinarian found the panda by the riverbank and was able to capture it. A distinctive crescent-shaped spot between her eyes and the microchip under her skin proved that she was indeed Bai Xue, the runaway panda. After a physical examination, it was determined that the panda had given birth to her cubs during her time in the wild.

This time when Bai Xue was captured, she was asking for help, as she was in extreme pain from a

large infected cut in her gums from a sharp bone. After a simple operation, Bai Xue was healed and fully recovered, but was not re-released back into the wild.

In 2006, in her second year back at the CCRCGq she gave birth to a cub named Si Xue (means “thinking about Bai Xue”), Ning Ning in 2008, and Jin Jin in 2009. Bai Xue’s legend continues amongst panda mothers.

Bai Xue, the legendary runaway panda, is now elderly and lives in the Dujiangyan Giant Panda

Disease Control Center. We wish the happily retired escape artist a healthy and long life there.

A: In 1869, French Catholic Father Armand David discovered giant pandas in Baoxing county Sichuan province. The following year the moniker “Black and White Bear” was officially renamed as a species,”Giant Panda”. The first version of the translation of “Giant Panda” is “Da Mao Xiong” with a shortened form of “Mao Xiong”. Historically Chinese would read scripts from right to left, and as a result pandas were gradually called “Xiong Mao” in Chinese.Presently only in Taiwan are pandas called “Mao Xiong” instead of its more popular Chinese name”Xiong NIao”. Hu Jinchu

Q:Does giant panda eat a lot? How large is an average panda’s appetite?

A: Approximately 99% of a giant panda’s diet is bamboo. They eat enormous amounts of it, approximately 40kg of bamboo shoots, 17-20kg of bamboo stems, or 10-14kg of bamboo leaves in a 24-hour period. They have rapid digestive processes, excreting the shoots as quickly as 5 bows after consumption.It takes 10 to 14 hours for the stems and leaves to be fully digested. Hu Jinchu

Q:Is giant panda fur waterproof? Does it have a lot of natural oils?

A: Giant pandas have thick and rough fur covering the entire body. Although it is not quite waterproof the fur prevents the water h:ore quickly seeping into the skin. Meanwhile, this thick and rough fur is also rich in natural oils, which protects the skin and whole body and acts as a thermal barrier, defending against cold and moisture.Wu Kongjyu

Our Experts

Hu Jinchu

Professor and director of Institution of Rare and Precious Animals and Plants, China West Normal University. He is also a world-renowned giant panda expert and has been enjoying the special allowance of the State Council since the year of 1991.

Wu Kongjyu

Senior livestock engineer and supervisor of Animal Management Department of the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding.

Focus: Nutrition,dietary monitoring,and breeding of giant pandas and red pandas.

Lan Jingchao

Senior veterinarian and vice director of the Animal Disease Prevention and Control Department of Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding.

Q: Does the sub-adult giant panda live completely independently after leaving its mother? Will it live with its father?Does a male adult giant panda know exactly who his child is?

A: Giant pandas are solitary animals, which means that the sub-adult giant panda will live independently after leaving its mother. After breeding, male pandas return to their territories and have no role in cub rearing. They do not know their offspring and the sub-adults do not live with their fathers at any time. Wu Kongjyu

Q:When are panda cubs weaned?

A: Before more modem techniques were developed and when researchers were only interested in breeding for quantity giant panda cubs usually were weaned at six months of age. After that point they were fed with formula in order to guarantee that the panda mothers were able to breed in the following year. Unfortunately the practice of early weaning curbed cub’s behavioral development and contributed to highly diminished immunity in the cub population resulting from a shortened exposure time to antigens found only breast milk. Vast improvements have been made in the area of giant panda conservation and breeding, and now cubs at the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding are not weaned until two years of age, mimicking the actual situation in the wild. Lan Jingchao

Overseas pandas and other captive wildlife or animals are trained in positive reinforcement, which increases the bond between the panda, its keeper,and the veterinarians. Ten years ago, the Chengdu Panda Base sent a group of panda keepers to Visit Hong Kong Ocean Park for a workshop. After the tour, based on practical situations at the Chengdu Panda Base, they gradually figured out a series of working skills to build mutual trust with pandas and teach them to be more sensible and cooperative while working. Learning from animal behavior experts provided the basis for keepers to initiate positive reinforcement training.

Qi Zhen and QiYuan are two of the first group of pandas to be trained using the new techniques. Qi Zhen is very clever and has a good memory. She is the top student among her classmates. Currently all pandas receive positive reinforcement training when they are young.

Prior to the training, pandas had to be placed under anesthesia to conduct routine blood draws

and other common veterinary procedures. As soon as they saw the veterinarians approaching, the pandas became instantly stressed and fearful, running away as quickly as possible.

After the training, when veterinarians require blood to be drawn, anesthesia is not required, and

the pandas willingly cooperate with the veterinarians by stretching out their limbs for their blood to be drawn or blood pressure to be taken.

The basic tools of training are a target suck,a whistle and as a reward for the panda, a plate of

chopped apple.

First the staff passes the target suck through the bars to the panda. Similar to clicker training in dogs and cats positive reinforcement is utilized through a whistle for commands, and a reward for the correct action. Keepers utilize a Stick to show the pandas the right movements. The panda learns various actions, and for every correct action their reward is a small bit of their favorite snack, a little piece of apple.The key point to this training method is to reward every progress the panda makes. If he or she follows commands the reward is given at that time. Over time and repetitive training, the panda learns how to willingly spread their aims for health checks when asked.

Pandas Feel the pain of injections, just like humans.They are taught through the process of habituation and are conditioned to not fear needles. Pandas are first touched with a syringe without the needle attached, and over time and repetition they learn to no longer react with fear or aggression.Eventually when it is time for a health check or blood draw ,they are genuinely excited and perform the movements they have been trained to do in anticipation of the apple reward.Thus, Physical examinations are no longer a stressful event.

Being a mother of any species is difficult and a lot of hard work. Panda mothers nursing cubs around the clock have less time to spend on eating and sleeping,leading to an extended postpartum period that can delay future breeding.

In the process of discovering the secrets of giant panda breeding, researchers at the Chengdu Panda Base once used a now discontinued method that involved formula feeding when the cubs reached six months of age. 711is allowed the mothers to breed again more quickly, thus increasing the numbers of the endangered species. Typically in the wild, a panda cub stays with its mother for one and a half to two years. Any baby weaned at six months can be healthy in immunity and nutrition under modem science and technology but its survival skills and mental development could be potentially diminished. Besides the caring and love given by panda keepers, some panda nurses are selected from former panda mothers and play both the role of mother and teacher.

Those panda nurses are selected from two kinds of pandas: one is a mother that lacks nursing experience, and the other is a mother highly experienced in cub nursing. For the former, it is a great opportunity for her to practice and pin experiences so that she can be a skilled mother in the future.Whereas the latter’s experiences provides them with the patience and skill-sets to handle and teach the cubs.

This fall, 13 year-old Qing He is the panda nurse for Sunshine Nursery House. Along with her own cub, she assists Jiao Zi and Xing Rong with caring for their two cubs.She teaches the three cubs how to peel the bamboo shoots,eat the bamboo leaves, different social actions and behaviors while affirming positive results through humming vocalizations. She constantly observes the cubs, and if a cub climbs too high up on a tree, she will retrieve it, even if this happens on a consistent basis. Doing such an excellent job in this role, Qing He provides the other two panda mothers with some much-needed postpartum recovery time.

On March 24 of this year, the First Lady of the United States Michelle Obama visited the Chengdu Panda Base and was welcomed by six panda cubs bore last year and Ya Ya, the well-known 21 year-old grandmother. Ya Ya has birthed 13 cubs in 9 different litters and is remarkably patient while teaching new cubs survival skills. As a result she is affectionately termed leader of Children”.

To let the panda mothers fulfill the role of nurses for other panda mothers is an important aspect of the work at the Chengdu Panda Base.

The head keeper of the Moonlight Nursery is Deng 7110, who has worked as a panda keeper for 13 years at the Chengdu Panda Base. Deng is 34 years old, but looks much younger. He is very familiar with the current generation of pandas,and has regularly worked with them over the years. When discussing pandas, he states that the Chengdu Panda Base’s ex-situ conservation efforts have resulted in successful life spans for the first and second generation of captive pandas.

Throughout his 13 Years of work he has gained immense practical and international working experience, traveling to both Spain and the United States of America aiding panda mothers with

newborn cubs.

Both head keepers at the Sunshine and Moonlight Nursery Houses say that a good panda keeper must learn not only the pandas’ behaviors and physical condition, but also their different personalities. For example, Jiao Zi likes to smack her lips after finishing her meal and sleep relaxed,spread eagle with her limbs stretched out. Below are several examples of pandas that require special observation by their keepers.

Both Ya Xing and Ya Shuang were born sickly. At two years old, they were started on herbal pill supplements for a whole year in an attempt to address digestive problems. As a result,both animals have a strong aversion to pills.

Qi Fu’s head was pinched in the birth canal,causing brain damage and resulting in developmental delays. Tremendous patience is necessary when teaching her new movements and procedures.

From a set of triplets born last year, Sa Er is the only survivor. She has a large overbite and is very nimble. Her favorite pastime is to climb to the highest treetop to play.

Ha Lan is considered by many to be a “Panda Hero” as he has helped produce great breeding results, and is quite a gentlemen when interacting with the females. Even when a female becomes aggressive, he still maintains a positive mood and avoids fighting with her.

As a panda keeper, the most important job is to assist panda mothers with newborn cubs, especially in the first month after giving birth.There is a lot of hard work, and can be wrought with conflict with inexperienced panda mothers.

When Mei Mei gave birth to Qi Zhen, she balked at the sound of her newborn crying. In a panic, she grabbed the cub, and threw her across the enclosure as she climbed up the bars attempting to escape. This resulted in the newborn being injured with a long cut to the chest and rapid blood loss. Fortunately the keepers and veterinarians were able to save the cub by quickly sewing 7 stitches to close the wound. The cub’s name, Qi Zhen meaning “seven stitches” in Chinese, was chosen to mark the dramatic events surrounding her arrival.

Mei Mei gradually learned how to be a good mother and was eventually befitted with the term “Hero Mother”. She lived in Japan For 8 years,giving birth to 9 cubs in 5 litters, 7 of which survived. It is typical in the wild for a panda mother to abandon one twin so is to provide the healthiest one with the best chance of survival. Unlike most pandas Mei Mei did not abandon her twins but held both tightly in her arms and alternately nursed them. Her two cubs thus grew normally and healthily. Mei Mei created a new world record of a panda mother feeding panda twins simultaneously without human help, and she assisted with great contributions through building the largest overseas captive panda population. In 2011, Wakayama County awarded Mei Mei a noble title of Lord.

For those panda mothers that do not know instinctively what to do, it is the keeper’s job to teach them step by step how to be a good mother.

Qi Fu is a good example. Initially Qi Fu did not hold her newborn properly prompting ceaseless crying. But with the keeper patiently guiding her outside the bars, Qi Fu attempted many different postures to hold the baby correctly, and eventually she learned how to make the cub comfortable. Every panda female has four nipples, but depending on her posture, her body weight may hide these nipples, making it difficult for the cub to find them and nurse. The keeper prevented this from happening, and guided Qi Fu through the bars saying, “Qi Fu, Sit up straight. Yes, just like that, and sit Lip a little bit more…”. Ideally panda cubs will nurse on all four teats during a nursing session, thus allowing for optimal nourishment as well as stimulates milk production.

The first 30 days after a birth are a critical time For bod1 newborn cub and the panda mother, and keepers are required to observe panda mothers 24 hours a day. Crucial moments occur during feeding and sleeping, as unconsciously a panda mother may smother her newborn, which

lends to very dangerous situations. Keepers must maintain close and careful observation.

At the Sunshine Nursery House, there echo calls of “Come back, Cheng Gong! Come back,Qing He!”

Along with the calls and whistles, as well dinner basins are knocked together to convince the pandas to come back to their dens. When the pandas hear these familiar sounds, they all inn excitedly toward their individual enclosures regardless of what they were previously doing, be that sunbathing on a tree, or cubs playing in the yard. Panda mothers typically enter their dens and position themselves in comfortable postures to feast on the bamboo shoots lying around them.Their munching and swallowing sounds resonate across the entire Sunshine Nursery House.

Each age range desires and requires different foods. Panda mothers prefer bunches of fresh bamboo shoots for their decadent dinner, cubs enjoy basins of sweet formula, and newborns nurse on their mothers to grow strong and healthy.

On June 30, 2014, petite mother Ya Xing gave birth to twins named Xing Yu and Xing Yuan. After

being called back, Ya Xing has a tendency to sniff thoroughly throughout her freshly cleaned indoor enclosure. Very shortly afterwards keeper Tang brings Xing Yu in her arms Rom the nursing room to her mother to nurse. Xing Yu weighs approximately 4.9kg and looks like a ball of fluff. Tang passes Xing Yu through the bars to her mother, gently reminding Ya Xing to hold her well.

Once little Xing Yu is cradled against her mother’s chest, she begins to root around for the teats to nurse. Both mother and cub make humming-like vocalizations during nursing when they are extremely comfortable. After having more than 10 minutes of.her mother Ya Xing’s milk, Xing Yu is sleepy.Then Tang takes Xing Yu away from the arms of Ya Xing.

In the nursing room, Tang weighs Xing Yu on an electronic scale. The number finally reads 5.1kg. It means that Xing Yu has just consumed 200g breast milk. When put amongst her little fiends born this year, her large size makes her stand out.

One-year-old He Xing is still nursing and weighs more than 30kg. He is aggressive when it comes to nursing and jumps onto his mother Cheng Gong’s chest, and suckles. His mother is incredibly patient and shows her affection trough grooming during this special bonding moment.

At the Sunshine Nursery House, row upon row of small enclosures by green plants form an oval shape. The enclosures offer a variety of options for the cubs: a grassy area, streams to play and drink, large trees to climb, and enrichment like hanging tires, swings and platforms.

Through the rows of glass windows in the Sunshine Nursery House, visitors can watch the unfolding scene in the nursing room. The newborn cubs in the incubators and the infants sleeping on the little beds are all seen clearly trough the glass. This is the most popular location at the Chengdu Panda Base, and everyday visitors queue to view the pandas Rom glass window viewing location.

Every morning at 8 o’clock at the Sunshine Nursery House, the one-year-old cubs run out of their enclosures into the morning sunlight, whilst their mothers refuse to leave their indoor enclosures until they have eaten their breakfast The mothers will not come out until they are fully fed.

The Sunshine Nursery House was built in 2000, and is 1km away from the Moonlight Nursery House which was built in 2012. It is located at the central part of the Chengdu Panda Base, connected by paths with sub-adult and other giant panda enclosures. The Moonlight Nursery House shyly hides amidst a low green island, joined via a steel cable bridge to the main path. These two nursery houses are the most attractive places in d1e Chengdu Panda Base for visitors.

On December 10, the Provincial Forestry Department sent 6 team members that were from the 4^th National Giant Panda Census to survey in Laojunshan National Nature Reserve. They collected a substantial amount of giant panda scat, food traces, fur, and paw prints after a one-week survey. They also came across several indentations in the flora indicating that animals had rested there. An infrared camera captured both pictures and video of a single giant panda on November 12, 2013.

The 4th Giant Panda Census team thought that giant pandas might have migrated from a neighboring panda reserve.

The reason for the appearance of giant pandas in Laojunshan National Nature Reserve at this point is two-fold. First, there are suitable habitats and forested areas for them in this region. Secondly, the long-term efforts by the Laojunshan National Nature Reserve Management Bureau to strengthen protection, management, and preventing human interference improved the living environment. Global positioning systems (GPS), DNA testing, and other scientific measures will continue to be used in monitoring panda activities.

After a three-week competition in Chengdu from October 27 to November 17, 2012,I placed first in the contest and earned the title Chengdu Pambassador alongside Chen Yinrong from China and Melissa Katz from the United States. It was the end of an extraordinary contest in China, but the beginning of new goals for 2013 and for the promotion of giant panda conservation.

From November 2012 until April 2013, I carefully prepared for my return to China. I hoped to make the most of this incredible experience. With a lot of ideas in mind and excitement, I decided to arrive in China one month before our official Pambassador duties began.

I left my home in Toulouse, France on April 26, marking the beginning of five months on tour away from my native land. I began in Beijing where I arrived on April 27. It seemed out of the question to devote so many months to pandas without first visiting the Beijing Zoo. This institution is historically a key place for captive breeding of giant pandas. This facility was the second location in China to exhibit pandas in captivity, after the Chengdu Zoo. The initial start for captive breeding was on September 9, 1963 in Beijing when Li Li gave birth to Ming Ming, the first panda cub born in captivity.

From the beginning of May to the end of July, I spent most of my time at the Chengdu panda base working with the keepers, experts, veterinarians, educators, and visitors. During the first month I helped in the Giant Panda Cub Enclosure with Tan Jintao, a keeper who oversaw the care of eight pandas. His charges were Ya Zai, an adult female, and Mao Mao, a surrogate mother who raised three pairs of twins born in 2011. My daily responsibilities included collecting and weighing feces, removing uneaten bamboo, cleaning enclosures, feeding the animals with fresh bamboo, apples and panda cakes, preparing enrichment objects, and     observing veterinary checkups. It was an incredible opportunity to be an assistant panda keeper, and I learned many things alongside Tan. In May I spent three days in Chongqing where I visited the Chongqing Zoo. This zoo cooperates with the   Chengdu panda base and has played an integral role in panda breeding since I960.

In June, Yinrong and Melissa joined me in Chengdu. In addition to the regular keeper duties each morning, we met with experts to talk about breeding, genetics, diseases, behavior, wild populations, the role of conservation education, and the panda foundation. Thanks to the time and efforts of Hou Rong, Sarah Bexell, Xu Ping, James Ayala, Lan Jingchao, Shen Fujun, and of course Zhang Zhihe, we gained a better understanding of the role played by the Chengdu panda base in giant panda breeding, scientific research, and public education.

While in China I also traveled throughout the country to visit other zoos and institutions that participate in panda conservation efforts. These sites included the Fuzhou Panda World, the Shanghai Zoo, the Shanghai Wild Animal Park, the Bifengxia Panda Base of the China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda (CCRCGP)，and the Louguantai Panda Base of the Shaanxi Wild Animal Rescue Center (SWARC). After three months in China and gaining more knowledge about the species, its biology, captive breeding programs, and how to spread the message of conservation education, I left China. On July 26, Melissa and I began a Panda Global Conservation Tour in 12 countries plus Hong Kong and Macau.

We began in Japan where we met the staff of the Tokyo Ueno Zoo, the Kobe Oji Zoo, and Adventure World of Shirahama, the three institutions housing giant pandas in Japan. With the leaders and keepers at each place we discussed the situation of the pandas and their facilities, about efforts to breed the species, and more importantly, how to educate visitors. It was wonderful to see all the information for the public and all the volunteers explaining facts about the biology and the ecology of each animal.

The second stop was Thailand at the Chiang-mai Zoo. Our first day here, we observed how Lin Ping’s keeper carefully trained her in anticipation for her return to China. We also learned that the next day was Chuang Chuang’s birthday; he is a male panda living at the zoo. The staff invited us to come back the day after to celebrate his birthday and we enjoyed decorating Chuang Chuang’s enclosure with balloons, ice bamboo, and fruitcake. It was a memorable event to be welcomed by the panda team who were pleased to share their facility with us.

Our next stop was Macau, in Coloane Island,     to meet Kai Kai and Xin Xin who lived in a special pavilion built in 2010 in the Seac Pai Van Park. In the same park, an entire building was renewed and is now the Macau Giant Panda Information Centre.

The fourth stop was in Taiwan at Taipei Zoo where Sheney Lee, from the conservation education department gave us some details about the     panda cub born on July 6, 2013.

Yinrong joined us at our fifth destination,  Australia. The Adelaide Zoo received two pandas, the female Fu Ni and the male Wang Wang, in November 2009. Simone Davey, the panda keeper, offered us an incredible behind-the-scenes tour. As we were in the Southern Hemisphere, it was prime breeding season. Wang  Wang was very active, and        it was interesting to exchange over the modalities of the reversed  breeding season compared to the Northern Hemisphere.

The last two stops in Asia were in Hong Kong Ocean Park and Singapore’s River Safari. In these two places, media events were organized by   Xinhua. These occasions gave us the opportunity to interact with visitors, answer questions, and promote the conservation of the giant panda and  its habitat. We had the chance to discuss conservation of threatened species overall.

After the tour of Asia, we departed for the Americas to visit Canada, USA, and Mexico. We began at Canada’s Toronto Zoo where Li Mingxi, from the Chengdu panda base, led us to the panda area. This zoo received its panda pair on March , 25, 2013. Er Shun, the female, is from Chongqing, and Da Mao, the male, is from Chengdu. Upon entering the panda area, visitors begin at the Panda Orientation Centre, a building entirely devoted to public education where volunteers provide visitors with further information and knowledge based on the exhibition.

Two other media events were organized in the United States of America, one in Atlanta and the second one in Washington DC. The visitors at Zoo Atlanta and the citizens of Washington      DC were invited to participate in a Q&A session     where they could ask us all their questions about     pandas. A photography exhibition was held in the National Mall near the White House to encourage discussion and promotion of giant panda conservation. This was also the opportunity for me to meet Rebecca Snyder, curator of mammals at Zoo Atlanta. She studied Lun Lun and Yang Yang at the Chengdu panda base before their arrival in Atlanta, Georgia’s capital. We had been in contact with one another over the years and it was an honor to meet her in person. She offered us the chance to see the younger twin cub born last July 15.

At last we flew to Mexico City to see Xin Xin and Shuang Shuang, 23 and 26 years old respectively. These two pandas were descendants of pandas offered by China to Mexico and they hold a special place in the hearts of the Mexican people.

We finished our worldwide tour in Europe. Maria Delclaux Real de Asua, veterinarian and curator of mammals, welcomed us to Madrid Zoo on September 13 and was very proud to give us some updates about the third cub of Hua Zuiba, born on August 30. Chen Xin, a keeper from Chengdu, was in Madrid to help the local keepers care for the newborn panda.

The twelfth stop was in Scotland where a media event was held at Edinburgh Zoo. We had a very interesting discussion with several students and members of the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland. We spoke about the most common threats for the wild pandas and their habitat and engaged with the audience about conservation efforts and the future of this species in China. We made a quick stop at Schonbrunn Zoo in Vienna, Austria. Eveline Dungl, a zoologist, researcher, and graduate student, led us around after we listened to a thesis on the visual abilities of giant pandas. We all watched Yang Yang and her third cub who was 36 days old the day of our visit via webcam. I had previously met Eveline in 2008 and we maintained contact since my first trip to Vienna.

We completed our global conservation tour in France, my home country. Since the arrival of Huan Huan and Yuan Zi at Beauval Zoo in Saint-Aignan, I have had positive contact with the management of the zoo and they organized a giant welcome for us to celebrate the last step of our travels. Everyone in the zoo’s leadership, Frangoise Delord, chairwoman, Rodolphe Delord, director, Delphine Delord, director of the communication and education, and Delphine Pouvreau, panda keeper, was there to attend the event. We received a scarf of honor, a certificate of honor, and we cut a ribbon according to French tradition. Several members of local and Chinese media attended the afternoon’s proceedings. I was proud to be at home, celebrating the achievements of this wonderful tour at the Beauval Zoo.

From May to September, I met myriad people who strive each day for pandas； to care for them, improve their captive conditions, study their breeding, advance knowledge, educate people, spread information, and facilitate cooperation across borders. It was an extraordinary opportunity to share and learn alongside each one of these passionate and devoted people from around the world all striving for one cause: the black and white iconic animal of China. I want to congratulate all of them for the importance of their work, their kindness, and for the time they devoted to us. Everywhere we visited, we were welcomed with open arms and it was enriching to explore so many cultures gathered in support of panda conservation.

During those five full months I enjoyed each day as a Pambassador. Learning more, participating in each activity, and combining my personal experiences with conservation education deepened the experience for me. Explanations about         threats to giant pandas and their habitats, as well as    the promotion of panda conservation added to our pooled knowledge and contributed more to the        continued protection of our ecosystems and planet. I completed my experience by chronicling all my activities and visits on my website, www.pandas.fr. This allowed people around the world to understand our   tour and discover all the places with pandas and the issues involved in their conservation.

Finally, I discovered a culture with so many facets that three months can give me only the wish to explore more: the Chinese culture. A special thanks goes to Dr. Zhang Zhihe who always paid attention to our project and to our assistants who become friends and without whom my experience would not have been the same：Liu Fei, Qu Jing, Miao Yuheng, Liu Yijun, and Tang Yafei. My last words of thanks are for Melissa and Yinrong, my co-Pambassadors, with whom I loved sharing this unique experience.