"PandaQuest" is a competition designed to find the next set of Pambassadors for the giant pandas of Chengdu, China. The Quest begins with an online submission. From the top 160 global applicants, our panel of judges will select 72 semi-finalists to receive an all expense-paid trip to our regional semi-finals. A total of 16 finalists will be selected from our pool of semi-finalists. All finalists will be flown to Chengdu, China, to compete in the "PandaQuest" finals.
The "PandaQuest" winners will be crowned as "Chengdu Pambassadors" by the Chengdu Panda Base. The Pambassadors will attend the groundbreaking ceremony for the new Panda Valley in Chengdu, design a project to promote the giant pandas as part of the Panda Rehabilitation Fund, and be provided the opportunity to work with WildAid, a wildlife protection organization.
Each Pambassador will receive a stipend of US$20,000 to help them carry out their plans for endangered animal protections over the following year.
The giant panda is one of the most loved and cherished animals in the
world. In 1990 the World Conservation Union classified giant pandas as
an endangered species. As the leading institute dedicated to breeding
and protecting pandas, the Chengdu Panda Base hopes that increasing
awareness of the situation and improving the natural habitat of giant
pandas will make it possible for pandas to successfully return to the
wild. Pambassadors will be those individuals tasked with both raising
global awareness and personally assisting in their reintroduction to
nature.
Click the picture to start your quest NOW!
FAQ
Q. What is a Pambassador?
The word combination of “panda” and “ambassador.” A Pambassador is an
individual with genuine passion and interest in the work of panda
protection, someone who is hard-working, intelligent, and has a strong
ability to share information about pandas with the world, a truly global
ambassador for panda conservation. Pambassadors are responsible global
citizens who seek to live in balance with the natural world and promote
the causes of endangered species and habitat conservation in their daily
lives.
Q. What is the Pambassador Program?
The 2012 Pambassador program is a global initiative co-sponsored by
the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, also known as Chengdu
Panda Base, and WildAid, an international environmental protection
organization. The aim of the program is to call for global attention to
the protection and conservation of giant pandas. The purpose of the
program is to recruit panda-lovers who are keen to protect the
environment, are influential, and have a strong sense of social
responsibility to serve as “Chengdu Pambassador” for one year. The
program will officially kick off with the launch of the “PandaQuest”
contest on September 10, 2012.
Q. What are the roles and responsibilities for a Pambassador?
One responsibility of the Pambassadors will participate in the
“Global Panda Conservation Tour” which will take place from March to
July 2013. The tour will set off from the hometown of pandas – Chengdu,
pass through Asia, Europe, the Americas, Australia and return back to
China. In each city Pambassadors will work with the zoo and engage with
the local community to continue promoting the conservation message.
The tour route will include travel to zoos with pandas in the
following countries and cities: Chiang Mai (Thailand), Tokyo (Japan),
Edinburgh (UK), Vienna (Austria), St-Aignan (France), Madrid (Spain),
Atlanta (US), Mexico City (Mexico), Adelaide (Australia), Hong Kong,
Macao, Taipei and Chengdu. Pambassadors will stay in each city for
approximately 2 weeks; the complete tour will take approximately 5-6
months. The exact dates and cities are subject to confirmation and may
change.
All travel and accommodation expenses will be covered by the sponsor, at the value of US$20,000 per person.
The Chengdu Pambassador winners will have additional responsibilities
for the year following their selection. For the full list of
responsibilities, please visit our terms and conditions in the
“PandaQuest” app on our Facebook page.
Q. Do I need to pay for the Pambassador contest?
There is no purchase required to enter the PandaQuest contest. If you
encounter any fraudulent posts asking for payments for your submission,
please report the scam to us through our Chengdu Pambassador Facebook
page by sending us a private message.
Applicants that make it through to the semifinals will be asked to
attend offline events in their assigned regions. The contest sponsors
will cover all expenses including the round-trip economy class air
tickets and accommodations.
Please note that if you are chosen to attend the regional semifinals,
your flight will be departing from the closest airport to your city of
residence. Participants must cover their own transportation to the
closest airport.
Q. Who is organizing this contest?
This contest is organized by the world’s largest giant panda breeding
research center, the Chengdu Panda Base. WildAid, a non-governmental
organization dedicated to the preservation of wildlife, is the
co-organizer for the contest.
Q. What are the eligibility requirements for the role of Pambassador?
You need to meet the below requirements to be an eligible candidate:
1) Applicants need to be at least the legal age in his/her country or state.
2) Applicants must be fluent in English and be proficient in reading and writing in English.
3)
Applicants must be in top physical and psychological health.
Short-listed applicants will be required to provide medical
documentation specified by the Chengdu Panda Base, including physical
and psychological examination results.
4) Applicants must love animals, and have a desire to help endangered species.
5) All applicants must not be regular users of any medical or chemical substances.
Q. What is the application process for the Pambassador contest?
There are three stages to complete before becoming a Pambassador. For
a more detailed description of each phase, please visit our Terms and
Conditions.
Q. I think there are applicants cheating! What will be done about this?
The sponsors of the competition will supervise all applications to
ensure authenticity. We invite participants to report potential cases of
cheating or scam to us via our Chengdu Pambassador Facebook page.
Should any of the reported violations be verified, the applicant will be
disqualified immediately.
Q. Why is it important to return giant pandas to the wild?
The wild panda population is estimated to be around 1,600 bears. The
wild panda population faces many difficulties as their habitat, survival
requirements, and innate characteristics continue to complicate their
survival. In order to strengthen and increase the wild panda population,
researchers from Chengdu Panda Base are engaged in a long-term
experiment to return pandas bred in captivity to the wild. Through their
research and rehabilitation efforts, the Panda Base seeks to increase
adaptability, genetic diversity, and long-term sustainability to improve
the potential for long-term natural population growth.
Click the picture above to give "Panda Hugs"
Help us select the next Chengdu Pambassadors by giving daily "Panda
Hugs." More hugs mean more chances to win. Hug them straight from here,
or click through to their profile to see more of their PandaQuest!
Photo Credit: Jeroen Jacobs, www.giantpandazoo.com
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