Do you want a double treat in the Chengdu Panda Volunteer program?
Panda cake making and food preparation are fun!
If you are eager to volunteer in the panda care base, indulge yourself in the art of panda cake making. This unique activity not only brings you closer to these cute creatures but educates you about their nutritional requirements.
Let’s explore how this program is a double treat for tourists.
Why Volunteer with Pandas in Chengdu?
Besides being an iconic species, Pandas are also vulnerable. Chengdu’s panda base was formed to protect the alarming reduction in their numbers. By participating in the volunteering program, you can play a pivotal part in the conservation and rehabilitation of Pandas. The program is designed to offer hands-on experience with daily tasks like cleaning enclosures, feeding pandas, and making their beloved panda cakes.
So, what unique things to experience as a volunteer?
- Enjoying the playfulness of the panda cubs
You will find the panda cubs in the base keep themselves entertained by dangling from the play structure's monkey bars, tumbling down the enclosure's hill, slipping down the slides, and giddily falling over each other while wrestling. The rest of the base also houses other endangered species like the red panda, leopards, indigenous mammals, birds, and plants.
- Offering treats to pandas
Pandas are bears. Touching a panda was a widespread practice decades ago, and while it was not detrimental to the pandas, it was also ineffective and dangerous to the volunteers, so the reserves banned it. Instead of that, volunteers can offer treats to pandas, which is a far safer alternative. The adult pandas are escorted into their indoor enclosures for snack time, where they dutifully wait for their snack plate. Under the supervision of the staff, the volunteers can take turns presenting various veggies to the panda, which would grasp the vegetable in its mouth, then sit back and contentedly munch on the snack with its free hand.
Panda cake – what is it?
Giant pandas spend the majority of their day eating bamboo, absorbing up to 38 kg per day. You will assist the panda caretakers in preparing various varieties of bamboo for their meals. Panda cake is a nutritious and essential part of a panda’s diet. It provides supplemental nutrients to ensure the panda’s health and vitality. The cakes are high in fiber, proteins, and vitamins, tailored to meet the dietary needs of the pandas. It also provides the pandas with the energy they require for their joyful activities
Making panda cake is more than just a fun activity. It’s a crucial step in the pandas' diet plan, ensuring they get all the nutrients they need to thrive in captivity and, eventually, in the wild.
Before getting started, you will receive a brief lesson on what pandas eat, why they need additional nutrients, and how panda cakes contribute to their overall health. This session offers an insight into panda nutrition and helps you understand why your participation in cake making is vital.
Why Panda cake-making is important?
Panda cake-making aims at enriching the pandas' diet and ensuring that they maintain a healthy balance of nutrients. In the wild, pandas face difficulties in finding sufficient food, especially given their dependence on bamboo. It lacks many essential nutrients. Panda cakes help fill this nutritional gap in captivity. They stay healthy and active.
Moreover, this cake-making helps keepers and researchers monitor the pandas' food intake more accurately. Each panda gets a designated amount of cake, which helps track their health progress over time.
Wrapping Up
One of the highlights of the Chengdu Panda Volunteer Program is the opportunity to learn how to make panda cakes. You can connect to the conservation efforts surrounding this endangered species. If you are ready to meet these cute animals, be prepared to try panda cake making. It will be an unforgettable experience for your China trip!