Outing #20: Nice Panda Suit
Wolong National Nature Reserve, Sichuan Province, China
EXPLORE
The Adventure Whales are learning the “bear necessities” of Fantastic Forests this week. The first stop was the Wolong National Nature Reserve in the mountains of Central China. The nature reserve is home to many threatened and endangered species, the most famous of which is the giant panda. But, giant pandas are not the only animal stars--check out the red pandas, golden snub-nosed monkeys, and many others while you’re there too.
To join us, start by looking at the satellite view of the reserve to get a sense for the mountainous terrain and it's location in China.
Then, watch these short National Geographic videos explaining how panda center staff prepare animals to live in the wild. (Sneak peak: it involves working in giant panda suits.)
If you want to learn more, join a PBS virtual field trip to the forests of China's stunning Sichuan and Yunnan provinces.
DISCUSS
What do you think a young panda would need to learn before it could survive in the wild?
Would you want to be a panda keeper? Why or why not?
The climate and forests at the Wolong Reserve look similar to our forests in the Pacific Northwest. Do you think that we should plant bamboo and introduce pandas in the US? Why or why not?
DO
Challenge a friend to a trivia duel on Kahoot! with the Adventure Whales’ original Fantastic Forests: Bamboo Adventure quiz.
Make your own panda reserve with the National Geographic on-line Giant Pandas: Into the Wild game.
Create your own adorable panda origami with Zoo Atlanta.
SHARE
Image credit: Created by Eli Kellett using PicsArt
