Future PAMbassadors for Change

By Punch Pep Correspondent Elizabeth FischerCan you guess what this image represents? Take a minute - go back to your days as a child or your last visit to the zoo – close your eyes and visualize what this image represents – now open your eyes – do you have an answer? Do you give up? Either way, another hint is that this is a neighborhood cousin (of the furry kind) that was recently featured in the news - 1st for good news and then, unfortunately, for sad news...still don't know... does this help?It is the Panda – and the Panda may just be the future face of conservation. For now it is the face most find adorable and the face for Giant Panda Conservation. Did you know the Giant Panda is one of the most endangered species in the World? Did you know most live in captivity? Only 1600 live in the wild.Pambassadors

I knew the Panda was endangered but I didn’t know the severity of the situation and my passion is conservation and sustainability.  The time has come to take an accounting, to look around, to read between the lines and to realize we need programs focused on conservation & sustainability.  We need to take active steps to protect our environment, its creatures and inhabitants (the cuddly and not so cuddly) and us.  It is about mutual respect, understanding, knowledge, and a belief akin to knowing change can happen and change will breed better results for all.  We no longer have time to ignore what is obvious with myriad excuses and reasons for waiting until later.  It is no longer something that may happen in 100 years it is devastating results that will happen in our lifetime and in some cases in as little as ten years.  Our world offers us an array of gifts and beauty and now is the time to put in place plans that ensure generations to come will be able to enjoy the same gifts and not just read about “a time when.”

Executive Director WildAid Peter Knights

Geneticist with Chengdu Panda Base - Fujun Shen

Ashley Robertson - 2010 US Pambassador

Last Tuesday, I met a group that have put their money where their mouth is and are working towards preservation.  I was fortunate enough to meet remarkable individuals, not only those wearing the panda suits, but the Executive Director of WildAid – Peter Knights, Geneticist with Chengdu Panda Base, Fujun Shen and the 2010 US Pamabassador Ashley Robertson (look for part 3 of my article – Q&A), in addition to those behind the scenes – the nameless but equally important – because without them Tuesday would not have happened.

Pambassador Press Release Party

Tuesday was all about Giant Panda Conservation and successes.  It captured the excitement of the finalists and the heads of the various programs.  The energy was intoxicating; the message imperative; and the hope & optimism enthralling.  Change was in the air not only because it was a beautiful fall day but because those at the Omni Shoreham illustrated what happens when people come together with a common purpose.  In our case – conservation.  Yet the message was bigger – it included conservation for the Panda – providing, securing and protecting a place (places) for the Panda to live and thrive in the wild – not just captivity; plus – having the Panda be the icon/the face for conservation World Wide and species wide.  Having the Panda and Pambassadors share information about living a life in balance with the natural world while promoting habitat preservation and protection through experience; establishing a global initiative focusing on harmonizing the needs of humans with the needs of wild life and mother earth; moving away from destruction.

For more, please read part 2 and 3 that will focus in more detail on the Organizations, its leaders and the Pambassadors including the competition.  Also visit: www.facebook.com/ChengduPambassador (Global Pambassador Program).  For more information on the various components of this wonderful program see below:

Pambassador Finalists

The Chengdu Pambassador program is a global initiative organized by the Chengdu Panda Base to find ambassadors for their beloved bears and raise awareness about giant pandas throughout the world.  The Panda Base aims to share panda knowledge with the world and share their successful experience with other endangered animal protection researchers.

The 2012 Chengdu Pambassador program builds on the success of the 2010 Pambassador program, in which 6 finalists were chosen from more than 60,000 global conservation activists who applied online for the opportunity to become a panda care-taker at the Panda Base in Chengdu for one month.  This year, the winners will serve as a “Chengdu Pambassador” for one year and will have the opportunity to participate in a “Global Panda Conservation Tour” in 2013.  Pambassador finalists will take a unique journey into the natural habitat of wild pandas and participate in current panda release programs, designed to re-introduce captive bears into the wild.

To become a finalist, applicants competed in a 3 week “PandaQuest” competition on Facebook.  From that 24 semifinalists were chosen to compete in a series of activities and challenges in Washington, D.C. on October 16 and 17.  The challenges included an Amazing Race in Woodley Park, the Panda Hugs Competition at the National Mall and in Georgetown and the North American Winners announcement (look for part 2 of my article – the Competition).  Four finalists were announced and the final four will travel to the Chengdu Panda Base and go “Into the Wild” with Chengdu pandas, competing for 3 global spots.  The North American Finalists will compete against finalists from Edinburgh, Singapore & Mainland China.

After the finals in Chengdu, 3 global Pambassadors will be selected as the representatives to participate in the 2013 Global Panda Conservation Tour.  The tour will run five months and visit 11 countries.

The Pambassador program is being carried out by the Chengdu Panda Base and WildAid.

The Chengdu Panda Base is a non-­‐profit organization engaged in wildlife research, captive breeding and conservation education.  The Chengdu Panda Base was founded in 1987 when six weak giant pandas were rescued from the wild and rehabilitated to full strength. Today, the Chengdu Panda Base is home to 108 healthy bears – the world’s largest captive population of pandas.

WildAid China (photo by WildAid)

WildAid is an international non-­‐government and non-­‐profit organization headquartered in San Francisco, with programs in the United States, China, India, Ecuador, Canada, UK and Indonesia.  WildAid is committed to the protection of wildlife and their habitats.  Based on WildAid’s extensive experience, public awareness programs are an extremely effective way to communicate the importance of wildlife protection.   The message: “If more people are aware and care then we can work together to make the world a better place for all living things.”