The Planterra Foundation has launched Project China, a new voluntour that will assist in efforts to protect the fewer than 1,000 giant pandas left in the world.
Voluntourists at the Bifengxia Research Centre will work with trained conservationists in meeting the day to day needs of its resident bears, many of which were relocated from Wolong Center, previously the world’s largest panda conservation centre and badly damaged by the 2008 Wenchuan earthquake.
Project China is a new program in 2010, and one of 11 new programs Planeterra has added to its range of over 20 voluntours in Asia, Africa and Latin America.
Richard Edwards, Planeterra’s director, observes of Project China:
“This voluntour will give our travellers a chance to work in China at the largest panda reserve in the world, while also visiting many highlights of one of the most culturally rich nations in the world. It’s an unparalleled reward, knowing our volunteer work is helping preserve these animals for the future.”
The 14-day adventure begins in Shanghai and ends in Beijing, with visits to the Great Wall, the Song Dynasty capital of Luoyang famous for its fighting monks and home of kung fu, the terracotta warriors of Xi’an, the cuisine of Chengdu and the Bifengxia Panda Centre.
Volunteer duties include gathering bamboo and supplementary foods for the pandas and helping to keep the areas and enclosures clean.
Planeterra’s expanded voluntour offerings in 2010 include Project Argentina, Project Cuzco Kids, Project Ecuador Family, Project Ecuador Highlands, Project El Salvador, Project Galapagos, Project Peru Amazon, Project China, Project Nepal, Project Cambodia and Laos and Project South Africa.
Go to http://www.planeterra.org for more.