mfa thesis by yun lin
mfa thesis by yun lin
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01 foreword
introducing the panda
05 mission statement
saving the panda is only the beginning
09 preface
how did we get here?
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summary
where can we go from here?
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background
diagramming the current situation of wild giant pandas and their natural habitats Present Habitats of the Giant Panda Current Giant Panda Mountainous Distributions Qin Min Qionglai Liang Da Xiang Xiao Xiang
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reality
what we need to understand The In-situ Conservation The Ex-situ Conservation
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a practical option
the green corridors The Qin Mountains Green Corridor The Establishment of Sichuan Giant Panda Green Corridor The Shanxi Province Green Corridor
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solution
from theoretical solution to possible actions My Personal Inspiration The Process Journal
The Big Bamboo Foundation PandaLanda Game Introduction Game Description Features How to Play The Story Character Profiles Main Stage The Mini Game Game Extensions
autobiography
beyond black and white yun lin the big bamboo foundation  saving pandas in the wild
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We have already lost hundreds of species of animals to extinction. Once they are gone, they are gone for good.
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00 foreword yun lin
beyond black and white
introducing the panda For China, the giant panda is a national treasure. Numerous historical documents reference the giant panda; likewise, there are many names for the giant panda in ancient books. For example, “Pi,” “Mo,” and “Iron-eater.” Moreover, the literal descriptions are also varied. It is obvious that the giant panda has been a part of Chinese traditional culture for a long time. However, modern research on the giant panda was only initiated in 1869 when Armand Père David, a French priest, found the first giant panda in Muping town, Baoxing County, Sichuan Province. The world has been fascinated by the giant panda ever since — and it has emerged for China as a worldwide ambassador. When the World Wildlife Fund (wwf) was founded in 1961, the giant panda was chosen for its logo, and it became the universal symbol of the wildlife protection.
Although the panda is considered a symbol of the fight against extinction, the species itself is in jeopardy.
This is due to many strategies employed in traditional species restoration, such as breeding them in a protected, but artificial, environment. The human help has weakened the panda’s nature ability, making it difficult to even survive by themselves, ultimately degrading the species.
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foreword yun lin
本草纲目
Pen-tsao Kang-mu
Bencao Gangmu
02 Mo
beyond black and white
尚书 Shàng shū Book of Documents
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山海经 Shan Hai Jing Canon of Mountains and Seas
the big bamboo foundation  saving pandas in the wild
04 mission statement yun lin
beyond black and white
saving the panda is only the beginning The Big Bamboo Foundation is founded to protect pandas in the wild.
We aim to help build the giant panda’s green corridor in China, to promote a healthy, self-sustaining, genetically diverse panda population in the wild.
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Pandas are fussy eaters, and the elimination of large tracts of bamboo, their staple, is another serious threat.
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08 preface yun lin
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how did we get here? The giant panda was once prosperous in the Pleistocene period with a distribution that covered three large river basins of the Yangtze River, the Zhujiang River and the Yellow River. Their population also once spread to Southeast Asia, including, Laos, Burma, Thailand, and other places. Currently, they are found only in China.
In the face of natural calamities and man-made misfortunes, prospects for the giant panda are dire.
The giant panda’s habitat has been gradually reduced and fragmented. At present, their distribution is only in six mountain ranges, where the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau extends eastward. As a result, the giant panda has become the most treasured and valuable indigenous Chinese mammal.
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In 1946, the Chinese people realized that the survival of the giant panda was being critically threatened. During this time, the published newspaper Kakungpao reported that “The giant panda may become extinct” due to over-hunting. During the initial establishment period of the People’s Republic of China, the government has reinforced giant panda protection by issuing a number of legislative acts such as The Protection Methods for Rare Animals, The Circular Order for Active Protecting and Using Wild Animal Resources in Reasonably. The government spent large amounts of money on labor to establish giant panda nature reserves. The giant panda has become a poster child species — the significance of its conservation goes far beyond protection efforts. Theoretically, conservation should consist of both in-situ projects for the basis of conservation and ex-situ efforts
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for essential supplemental support. Both strategies are symbiotic; one cannot exist
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without the other. In this case, captive breeding plays an important part in ex-situ conservation strategies.
Panda in the Shanghai Zoo 2010
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“Each species is like a cog in a great machine. How many cogs can we lose before the machine stops?”
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—Scott Black, American Environmentalist
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14 summary yun lin
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where can we go from here? Even though scientists know how to help pandas reproduce by captive breeding and artificial insemination, these methods are costly and very labor intensive. The panda’s probable extinction cannot fundamentally be solved unless we ensure a sustainable habitat for them in the wild. Unfortunately, the concern for their survival has been undermined by internal arguments of how to address this vital issue in the scientific world. One position is relying on captive breeding and artificial insemination, while the other position is to protect the natural habitats. Although technology can help us create a database to preserve genetic variety in a good way, it is labor intensive and operates under high risks. The more important idea of getting them to thrive naturally has been severely limited.
I have discovered through hands-on research that there is a better way to protect the integrity of the species.
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16 summary yun lin
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From 1983 to 1996, as many as 183 pandas suffering from illness or malnutrition were found in the wild.
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18 background yun lin
beyond black and white
diagramming the current situation of wild giant pandas and their natural habitats Nowadays, the giant panda lives in a transitional zone from the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau to Sichuan Basin, including six isolated mountain ranges, named the Qin, Min, Qionglai, Liang, Da Xiang, and Xiao Xiang Mountains. Its range covers 45 administrative counties in China; 32 of them are in Sichuan, eight in Shanxi, and the rest are in Gansu. According to the Third National Giant Panda Survey, the combined habitats add up to more than 23,000 km 2 with a population of about 1,600 individuals. In the Qionglai and Liang Mountains, the giant panda occupies a large habitat with good landscape-connectivity, and it remains a relatively large population. However, the habitat in the Qin Mountains was fragmented into five parts due to deforestation, cultivation, road or railway construction, and so on. The most severe habitat fragmentation occurred in the Xiao Xiang Mountains. Three isolated panda populations remain there, and each has a very small population size. Without effective measures to conserve and manage the giant panda, extinction might be inevitable in the near future.
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As of 2004, there were estimated to be 1,600 pandas living in the wild, mainly in China.
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Present Habitats of the Giant Panda
China
Because of long term human activities, the giant panda no longer occupies large tracts of the habitat; the divided and fragmented mountain ranges are the giant panda’s last home. To protect and gradually restore damaged habitats is the only hope for the giant panda’s wild populations to thrive consistently. The Change of Giant Panda Distributions (km 2) Year
Total
Provinces
1950s
1970s
1980s
The Early 21st Century
7,414 16,611 13,653 11,607 2,015
2,425 13,300 10,475 4,000 965 350
1,135 6,128 3,455 2,490 2,015 616
3,529 9,603 6,101 2,204 810 802
51,300
31,515
13,824
23,049
The Characteristics of the Giant Panda Habitats in Six Mountain Ranges
Mountain Ranges
Air Temperature (⁰C) 20
13– 16
14– 15
10– 15
10–18
14– 17
17.2
15
23
10
Average Annual Precipitation (mm):
500
1000
1500
Elevation (km) 3.5
Habitats 1.4– 3.6
2 – 3.6
Giant pandas live in broadleaf and coniferous forests with a
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dense understory of bamboo, at elevations between 5,000 and
1.6– 3.4
10,000 feet. Torrential rains or 2– 3.2
dense mist throughout the year
2– 3.2 1.5– 3
characterizes these forests, often shrouded in heavy clouds.
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Gansu Shanxi
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Qin
Min
Sichuan
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Qionglai Xiao Xiang Liang
Da Xiang
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Geographic Distribution Giant pandas live in six mountain ranges in central China, in Sichuan, Shanxi, and Gansu Provinces. They once lived in lowland areas, but farming, forest clearing, and other development now restrict giant pandas to the mountains.
Present Habitats of the Giant Panda
China
Because of long-term human activities, the giant panda no longer occupies large tracts of the habitat; the divided and fragmented mountain ranges are the giant panda’s last home. To protect and gradually restore damaged habitats is the only hope for the giant panda’s wild populations to thrive consistently. The Change of Giant Panda Distributions (km 2) Year
Total
Provinces
1950s
1970s
1980s
The Early 21st Century
7,414 16,611 13,653 11,607 2,015
2,425 13,300 10,475 4,000 965 350
1,135 6,128 3,455 2,490 2,015 616
3,529 9,603 6,101 2,204 810 802
51,300
31,515
13,824
23,049
The Characteristics of the Giant Panda Habitats in Six Mountain Ranges
Mountain Ranges
Air Temperature (⁰C) 20
13– 16
14– 15
10– 15
10–18
14– 17
17.2
15
23
10
Average Annual Precipitation (mm):
500
1000
1500
Elevation (km) 3.5
Habitats 1.4– 3.6
2 – 3.6
Giant pandas live in broadleaf and coniferous forests with a
3
dense understory of bamboo, at elevations between 5,000 and
1.6– 3.4
10,000 feet. Torrential rains or 2– 3.2
dense mist throughout the year
2– 3.2 1.5– 3
characterizes these forests, often shrouded in heavy clouds.
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Since 1949, one third of the forest that covers Sichuan, where most pandas live, has been felled.
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Population Size of Wild Giant Pandas
Number of Counties Habitat Areas/km 2
( from the Third National Giant Panda Survey)
275
9 3,529.14
708
15 9,603.13
437
115
29
1,596
7 2,204.12
2 810.26
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Total  
9 6,101.22
3 802.04
(The giant panda average population density is 0.069/km 2)
45 23,049.91
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Current Giant Panda Mountainous Distributions Among the six mountain ranges, the highest density of the giant panda population remains in Qin Mountains, and the lowest
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is in Da Xiang Mountain Range.
Proportion of the Population in Six Mountain Ranges 27% 17%
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2% 2%
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17% 45%
At the end of 2005, more than 50 percent of the giant panda
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habitats are in protected areas. More nature reserves will be established in the future in order to manage the giant panda habitats effectively. Habitats 23,049.91 km 2
Nature Reserves 29,004 km 2
Population Size of Wild Giant Pandas
Number of Counties Habitat Areas/km 2
( from the Third National Giant Panda Survey)
275
9 3,529.14
708
15 9,603.13
437
115
29
1,596
7 2,204.12
2 810.26
32
Total  
9 6,101.22
3 802.04
(The giant panda average population density is 0.069/km 2)
45 23,049.91
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Deforestation, cultivation, road construction, settlement construction — human influences is everywhere. The giant pandas’ distribution was gradally reduced due to the long-term survival competition with humans.
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Qin The Qin Mountains lie in the central of China and considered the natural boundary between the north and south of China. According to the Third National Giant Panda Survey, there are 275 wild giant pandas living in the Qin Mountains habitat. Among all the habitats of the giant panda in China, the Qin Mountains are the northernmost ones. Their western margins were still connected to the northwest side of Min Mountains in the early 1950s. Due to the construction of Baoji-Chengdu Railway and long-term forestry enterprises in Taibai, Ningdong, Longcaoping and Chanqing, giant pandas in this mountain range have gradually retreated to the middle area and lost the connection with the ones in Min Mountains. Qin Mountains’ panda habitat has been split into five different degrees of isolation areas, Pingheliang Habitat, Tianhuashan-Jinjiliang Habitat, Xing-longling-Taibai Mountain Habitat, Qingmuchuan Habitat and Niuweihe Habitat. Xinglongling-Taibai Mountain Habitat is the biggest in the Min Mountains distribution, located at the junction region of Foping, Taibai and Yangxian County. With the implementation of the National Grain for Green Project, and the launch of the construction of Qin Mountains’ giant panda corridor projects, the giant panda habitats in the center of Qin Mountains-Tianhuashan-Jinji-liang Habitat, Xinglongling-Taibai Mountain Habitat, and Niuweihe Habitat are likely to be reconnected. However, the futures of Pingheliang Habitat and Qingmuchuan Habitat are extremely grim as they are isolated from other habitats and the total amount of giant pandas are few in number.
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Min The Min Mountains are winding on the borderline of Sichuan and Gansu Provinces from north toward south, which cover more than 500 kilometers; therefore, Min Mountains are known as “Min of thousands of miles.” According to the Third National Giant Panda Survey, there are 708 wild giant pandas in the Min Mountains habitat. The Min Mountains are a mountain system including Minshan, Motianling, Longmenshan and Jiudingshan with the most giant pandas in China. Habitat of Min Mountains’ covers both Gansu and Sichuan Provinces. Giant pandas in Gansu Province are mainly located at the South of the Gansu Area, north than Motianling, and the Wen County, which belongs to the Valley of Baishuihe River, and there are also sporadical distributions of pandas in Zhouqu, Tiebu and Wudu, and another three counties near to Wen County. Pandas in Wudu County actually belong to Western Qin Mountains. The existence of this habitat has effectively proved that giant pandas in Qin and Min Mountains were connected in the past. Giant pandas in Min Mountains of Sichuan Province are mainly situated at the south Min Mountains, within Beichuan, Qinchuan, and Pansong Counties; they are separated into several different local populations. The reason of this separation is chiefly road construction and deforestation. For instance, giant pandas in Qianfoshan, Jiudingshan, Baishuihe River, and Longxi-Hongkou Nature Reserve are isolated from Pingwu, Songpan, Beichuan, Qinchuan, and Baodinggou Nature Reserve in Mao County, Jiuzhai Valley in Jiuzhaigou County, Baihe and Wujiao Nature Reserve because of deforestation, residence expansion, and agricultural farmland expansion alongside Mao
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County-Beichuan Road. Deforestation and the construction of Ring Road for Tourism by the Forestry bureau of Jiuzhaigou led to giant pandas in Heihe and Dalu, two places of Jiuzhaigou County, isolated from giant pandas in Pingwu and Pansong. The biggest giant panda habitat of Min Mountains is located within Wen, Qinchuang, Pingwu, Songpan and Beichuan Counties. It is a habitat that hosts 90% of individual giant pandas, with a low fragmentation of ecological environment, and relatively complete landscape continuity. The habitat of Qianfoshan, Baishuihe lies southeast of the biggest one, and the habitat Diebu, Ruoergai lies in the northwest. These are relatively small, with
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Qionglai The Qionglai Mountains are located at the eastern end of Hengduan Mountains, in the transition zone of the Sichuan Basin and the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. According to the Third National Giant Panda Survey, there are 437 wild giant pandas in the Qionglai Mountains habitat. Qionglai Mountains are the second largest giant panda distribution; it was joined with Min Mountains in 1950s. Nevertheless, as a result of extensive deforestation by large forestry enterprises including Maoergai, Chuanxi, Heishui, and Xiaojin, the two biggest habitats of giant panda were eventually parted. It is the middle area of Qionglai Mountains where the distribution of pandas is dense, such as Wenchuancaopo, Wolong, Baoxingqiaoqi, Yanjing and Quanlaba. Although deforestation, bamboo harvesting, road construction, and lack of forest in top mountain areas have separated the habitats of pandas to a certain degree, generally speaking, giant panda habitats in Qionglai Mountains are connected together. At present, it is the construction of the Wolong-Balangshan-Xiaojin Road, Baoxing-Qiaoqi-Xiaojin Road, Tianquan-Luding Road, Tianquanlabahe Reserves to Kunzhou Coal Mine Road, and economic development alongside these roads that impacts the survival of giant panda habitats.
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Liang The southern part of the Liang Mountains reach to Jinshajiang River, and its north part terminates at the Daduhe River, according to the Third National Giant Panda Survey; there are 115 wild giant pandas in the Liang Mountains habitat. The Liang Mountains are the southernmost habitat of the giant panda, which includes Da Liang and Xi Liang Mountains. Giant pandas there mainly live in the intersection areas of Leibo, Mabian, Ebian, and Meigu Counties, and the middle or high mountain belts. There are also a few distributions of giant pandas in peripheral Counties such as Ganluo, Yuexi. The Panda Habitat in Liang Mountains is relatively concentrated; however, the standard of living in this Habitat has deteriorated due to deforestation, road construction, expansion of local residences, and expansion of agricultural farming. The number of giant pandas in some areas has been seriously dropped. For instance, the distribution density of the giant panda in the Baofengping Area, Mabian and Dafengding Nature Reserve were relatively high in the late 1980s and at the beginning of 1990s. The Ecological Observatory of the Giant Panda was founded during 1990-1994 by the Institute of Zoology, the Chinese Academy of Sciences, and the Sichuan Normal University, aimed at doing field ecology research (Wei Fuwen etc. 1995a, b; 1996a, b; 1997). However, due to large-scale cutting and deforestation, it was difficult to find giant pandas in this area in the year 2000, when the Third National Giant Panda Survey was carried out.
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Da Xiang The Da Xiang Mountains are located downstream of the Daduhe River and at the southwestern margin of the Sichuan Basin. In light of the Third National Giant Panda Survey, there are 29 wild giant pandas in the Da Xiang Mountains habitat. The mountain ranges lie to the north of Da Liang Mountains, which includes Emeishan and Wawushan. The giant panda’s distribution in the Da Xiang Mountains were still connected to the southern part of Qionglai Mountains at the beginning of 1950s; nevertheless, due to the construction of Sichuan-Tibet Road and Sichuan-Yunnan Road, and the valley development of downstream Daduhe River, giant panda habitats in Da Xiang, Xiao Xiang and Qionglai Mountains were completely isolated. Currently, giant pandas can only be encountered in remote mountain areas of the intersection between Hongya and Yingjing Counties. Since the last giant panda was caught in 1948, giant pandas in Emeishan have become extinct (Hu Jinzhu, 1985; Hu Jinzhu etc, 2001). Through the Jingjing River, the giant panda habitat in Da Xiang Mountains joins with the Baisha River, with good landscape connectivity, but it is seriously impacted by human presence (mine exploration, bamboo picking, tourism and deforestation), the population of the giant panda is less than 30; therefore they are unable to survive in wild environment for long periods.
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Xiao Xiang The Xiao Xiang Mountains are situated in the southwest direction of Da Xiangling, according to the Third National Giant Panda Survey; there are 32 wild giant pandas in the Xiao Xiang Mountains habitat. The mountain ranges lie in the west of Da Liang Mountains, which ends with the source of both Xihe River and Anninghe River. So far, the Xiao Xiang Mountains’s habitat is the most decentralized giant panda habitat which contains three grid populations: the Mianningyele panda population, Shimianliziping panda population, and a population of Shimiancaoke, Xinmin, along with other nearby places. The reason why the giant panda population of Shimianliziping and Mianningyele were isolated lies in the construction of 108 National Road while the isolation of Shimianliziping panda population and those in Caoke, Xinmin are the result of deforestation. Considering the fragmentation of giant panda habitats, pandas are few in number, and if no effective measures are taken, giant pandas in Xiao Xiang Mountain might in danger of extinction in the near future.
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“If we kill off the wild, then we are killing a part of our souls.” —Jane Goodall, United Nations Messengers of Peace
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beyond black and white
what we need to understand The In-situ Conservation In-situ conservation is the predominant form of the species protection. It is the process of protecting an endangered plant or animal species in its natural habitat. Compared to the ex-situ, it has a long history. In early times, conservationists set aside certain areas in nature to protect the biodiversity of aparticular species and its specific regions. Since then, the establishment of nature reserves has become the main method of in-situ conservation, and it has been followed up until now. In-situ conservation preserves the stability and continuity of the specific atmosphere mainly through its wildenvironment, protecting the biodiversity of endangered species or a particular region by control, or reducing external interference and ensuring their long-term survival in the nature. The giant panda has been considered a species of concern since 1946. After 1949, the Chinese government and people were actively participated in the in-situ conservation of giant pandas. A series of laws and regulations have been issued to conserve this, and other rare endangered species, (E.g. Bud orcas taxicolor, Ailurus fulgensm and Rhinopithecus spp.) including their habitats. The giant panda is classified as a Category I protected animal under the Wildlife Protection Law of China. At the same time, the Chinese government also promotes the importance and awareness of the conservation of wildlife, and has taken effective measures to decrease poaching and habitat degradation for the giant panda and other rare animals. Nature reserves are the basis of in-situ conservation for the giant panda. The first four giant pandas nature reserves were established in 1963, which are the Wolong, Wanglang, Baihe, and Labahe Nature Reserves. Initially, the protected areas of these four reserves equaled 918.97km 2. Nearly 40 years later, nature reserves for the giant panda have increased to over 56 in the range of giant pandas. It is estimated that over 70% of the wild giant panda habitats have been protected in these reserves and about 1,000 individuals live there.
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Gansu
Min Qin
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reality
Sichuan
Qionglai Xiao Xiang
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Habitats Natural Reserves Provinces
National Nature Reserves in Six Mountain Ranges Qin 1 Foping 2 Zhouzhi 3 Changqing
Min 4 Baozuo
1
5 Wanglang 6 Tangjiahe 7 Baishuijiang 8 Dongyanggou 9 Wujiao 10 Longxi-Hongkou 11 Jiuzhaigou Valley 12 Baishuihe
Qionglai 13 Caopo
2
14 Wolong 15 Fengyongzhai
Liang 16 Liziping
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17 Gonggashan
Da Xiang 18 Mabian Dafengding 19 Meigu Dafengding 3
Xiao Xiang 20 Wawushan
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6 10
7 11
8
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tive effect as an umbrella species. The Importance of Establishing
Moreover, with these are existing giant
Nature Reserves for the Giant Panda
panda distributions: Qin Mountains are known as a natural climate boundary
It is of great biological significance to establish natural reserves among wild
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giant panda distributional ranges:
animals from both south and north can
living and breeding place for existing
world’s greatest biodiversity. As a result,
giant pandas. In the current situation,
there is no doubt that if nature reserves
human behaviors are still the main
are founded in these places, they can
elements that impact the survival of
surely provide effective protection for
giant panda. There is no doubt that
the huge gene pool of these areas.
to build natural reserves is the most
keep human activities outside natural reserves or minimize as much as possible their influence inside. In addition, the creation of natural reality
Palearctic faunas and a great number of be found there; this is a place with the
giant pandas because it will help to
reserves between separate habitats will enhance the relation between different subpopulations within the heterogeneous population (or metapopulation), therefore promoting gene flow of all the while maintaining or upgrading their ability to adapt to
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a principal boundary of Oriental and
Firstly, it provides a relatively safe
direct and efficient way to protect
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between south and north China, and
environmental changes. Secondly, within the giant panda
Moreover, the giant panda is a kind of animal that prefers to inhabit mountainsand forests, and they live in forest regions on branches of Yangtze River origin. These forest regions are important for water conservation. Due to over cutting before the cutting prohibition, there was extremely ecological deterioration in some areas. Therefore, nature reserves in these areas will both benefit the existing water conservation forest of upstream Yangtze River and vegetation recovery, arresting further deterioration of the ecology and serving the substantive development of giant panda’s natural environments.
distribution ranges, there are also various rare and threatened species such as Rhinopithecus roxellanae, Budorcas Taxicolor, Ailurus fulgens, Lophophorus lhusii and Tragopan temminckii. The
The Benefits of the In-situ Conservation
establishment of panda nature reserves will not only protect giant pandas, but
In-situ conservation is the primary
also offer survival protection for them.
method to protect endangered species.
From this perspective, to build nature
Compared with ex-situ conservation, it
reserves can give full play to its protec
has three obvious advantages:
Firstly, in-situ conservation protects endangered species or their biodiversity through preserving habitats and reducing external interference; as a matter of fact, it preserves a specific natural ecosystem. These certain ecological benefits exerted from specific natural ecosystems are impossible to obtain through ex-situ population conservation. Secondly, it can make sure to keep the protected species’ innate abilities and biological characteristics as much as possible. Forcing the endangered species to live under an artificial environment could minimize the interference of nature disaster and random environmental issues. However, the conservation under this circumstance could cause problems in other ways. The expression of biological traits is the result of the interaction of genetic factors and environmental conditions. By the stable breeding of animals, the feeding behavior causes the animals’ dysplasia, and in reproductive behavior, many captive males do not have the ability to mate or have offspring. Thirdly, the cost of in-situ conservation is much lower. Compared to in-situ conservation, the ex-situ conservation requires more linked processes such as human intervention, feeding, breeding, rewilding, and reintroduction, and may also risk the spread of disease, etc. So the investment of this species’ protection is substantially higher. Nevertheless, it is not enough to just protect these species in-situ. That is to say, for some endangered species, both in-situ and ex-situ may be necessary.
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model, such as the Wolong Wuyipeng The Concerns of the Current Situation
population in the Qionglai Mountains, the Foping population in Qin Mountains,
Many wild animals cohabitate in reserves; however, many reserves are now fragmented into isolated populations due to deforestation, cultivation, poaching, habitat degradation, and so on. Even with the removal of the above factors, these small populations will perhaps go extinct due to intrinsic and extrinsic random disturbance. In general, random factors, which influence the future fate of small populations, are classified into four categories: demographic stochasticity, environmental variation, catastrophic variation and genetic stochasticity.
the Yele population in the Xiao Xiang Mountains and the Tangjiahe population in the Min Mountains. Preliminary results indicate that these small fragmented populations are not assured permanent existence due to inbreeding depression, environment, catastrophic and demographic stochasticity, although there is the potential for a population increase. The above results imply that only using the in-situ conservation could not assure the permanent presence of these fragmented giant panda population in the wild, effective ex-situ conservation is thus needed, which can be considered
Demographic stochasticity is the random
to be a supplementary measure of in-
fluctuation in the observed birth rate, death
situ conservation.
rate and sex ratios. Environmental variation is the fluctuation in the probabilities of birth and death that result from fluctuations in the environment. Catastrophic variation is the extreme of environmental variation. Genetic stochasticity usually includes genetic drift and inbreeding.
Under the combination of the above stochastic factors, a small population seems to be drawn into an “extinction vortex.” When the size below a certain population is likely to be drawn into an extinction vortex, it is usually called a “minimum viable population” (mvp). For different endangered species, there are different standards to determine their mvp. Some scholars have analyzed the population viability of wild giant pandas in different mountains through the Vortex
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Habitat protection is a priority if artificial breeding is to be reduced or eliminated.
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The Ex-situ Conservation The goal of ex-situ conservation is to rejuvenate wild population through reintroduction of captive individuals. Ex-situ conservation supplies the last barrier from extinction for species on the edge, especially for those who have lost their natural habitats in the wild. Furthermore, accumulated experience through the management and breeding of the captive populations can also provide guidelines for the conservation and management of wild populations.
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Great progress has been made in the captive reproduction of the giant panda in recent years. Advances in the reproduction of the captive panda populations provide us a promising future for the conservation of this endangered species. However, many problems still exist in the captive breeding of the giant panda, this needs to be confronted and resolved immediately, otherwise, a comprehensive solution can
reality
never be fundamentally prevented the giant pandas’ probable extinction.
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Dr. Heming Zhang, the man in charge of the world’s biggest giant panda breeding base, is optimistic about the artificial insemination experiment results. He considers that the technique is easier than cloning the endangered species. The State Council has allocated 2.4 million u.s. dollars for the artificial breeding project.
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Developing a technique for the hand The Deficits of
rearing of giant pandas will not be easy.
the Artificial Insemination Operation
For the first few days of its life, the cub will lie quietly only if it is gripped firmly
As of 1990, artificial insemination
by the mother. In China, some cubs that
had produced only three litters outside
have been hand-reared have survived
China. This is a surprisingly low rate
only a few hours, but others have lived
of success; theoretically, the technique
for up to 45 days.
is not difficult. In some species, the
This is not impossible, since there is
success of artificial insemination has
no single, insoluble problem stands in
been improved, but due to the female panda’s physiology, this is still not very successful. The main difficulties are associated with the improved technique lie elsewhere.
the way of successful captive breeding. However, there is a series of difficulties —a naturally low rate of reproduction, aggravated by problems with getting the animals to conceive, and an unusually
In captivity, without the presence of
high level of neonatal mortality. With
a male panda, female pandas do not go
the major improvements in breeding
into heat. Consequently, the timing of
successes, pandas could conceivably
the artificial insemination is still largely
reproduce through hand rearing, with
a matter of educated “guesswork.” A
improvements in artificial insemination
viable solution has yet to be found.
techniques and with the establishment of sperm banks to preserve genetic variety, this limited objective might well
The Realities of the Captive-breeding Program
be achievable. Nevertheless, there are many people who feel that if the only objective of a captive-breeding program is to secure the animal’s future in captiv-
In addition to the difficulty of getting giant pandas to conceive in captivity, the high level of infant mortality compounds the problems that stands in the way of captive breeding. In part, this can be attributed to the extreme helplessness of the young, although a primary cause of these figures is the inability of the mother to look after her newborn cubs. Only sixteen twin or triplet cubs of 58 born in captivity since 1986 have survived today. So far, all attempts at hand rearing have failed.
ity, then it is not a worthwhile exercise.
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is very significant. However, in view of The Ongoing Debate over
its own biological characteristics, such
the Test-tube Solution
as its rarity and uniqueness, the giant panda’s reintroduction should comply
Sincs the beginning of 1997, the laboratory has been equipped to attempt the world’s first test-tube panda fertilization. The only ingredients missing were female
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panda eggs. When a panda died in cap-
sources of captive individuals available. Reintroduction should be conducted under guidance from special expert groups. The expert groups involvement should be under the leader ship of State Forestry Administration
ovaries as quickly as possible. This was
A detailed, comprehensive and thorough action
the first successful in vitro fertilization
plan should be designed before reintroduction,
(ivf) of the panda, which is a notoriously
selection of reintroduction-sites, assessment of
sex-shy species. The test-tube panda
which should include a feasibility analysis, consequences, checkup of captive individuals, and monitoring after reintroduction.
ductive shortcomings are my challenges,
Many attempts at giant panda reintro-
as well as those of China and the rest of
ductions have been made in the past
the world.
twenty years. The first one occurred at
ivf proponents say that the panda population has declined to the point that new reality
Reintroduction should be based on sufficient
tivity, doctors removed a dead panda’s
may yet become a reality. These re-pro-
technologies must be found to ward off panda extinction. But although the reproductive rate of the wild pandas is low,
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with the following principles:
it’s sufficient to preserve the species if more is done to protect their habitat.
Wuyipeng, in the Wolong Nature Reserve. An adult female panda named Zhen Zhen was captured and then released in the field 5km away from her known home range. Radio tracking indicated that she returned back there ten days later. The second release site for this animal was 10km away from her home range; however, she returned there
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again 39 days later based on the radio The Struggle for Successful
tracking data. Several other attempts
Reintroduction and an Established
were conducted in Wolong, Tangjiahe,
Self-sustaining Population
the Fengtongzhai Nature Reserve, and in Shangfangshan National Forest Park.
In the past ten years, the emphasis has
In general, there are two ways to reintro-
shifted towards breeding to maintain the
duce captive individuals. One is called
captive stock, and in theory, should be
“hard reintroduction,” which means that
able to provide an eventual source of an-
no training is given to the individuals
imals to reintroduce into the wild. For the
before reintroduction. The other is called
ex-situ conservation of the giant panda,
“soft reintroduction.” This includes train-
reintroduction of captive individuals into
ing before the reintroduction, monitoring
the field will be the ultimate goal, and it
and perhaps rescuing after the reintro-
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duction, and so on. Since hard reintro-
Researchers dressed in panda costumes carry a
duction is often accompanied with in-
cage as they transfer giant panda Tao Tao to a new
creased mortality, it is obvious that soft
Conservation Center for the Giant Panda in Wolong
reintroduction should be used for giant panda reintroductions in the future. First, captive-bred pandas will be reared in a semi-natural environment. Then, after they have learned survival skills there, scientists will open the door to the wild. It will be the first time that the natural population has been increased by breeding: only captured pandas have been “reintroduced� until now.
living environment at the Hetaoping Research and National Nature Reserve, Sichuan Province, China, May 3, 2012.
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The main threat to the survival of the panda is the mankind’s destruction of its natural habitats. The panda communities, which have survived, are often cut off from each other, so that in-breeding is a major threat to genetic diversity.
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Other experts are not convinced. They claim that the reintroduction may or may not have a role, but there is still a long way to go.
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“The millions of dollars spent annually on an endangered species that is extraordinarily expensive to keep going might better spent conserving their endangered habitats.” —Chris Packham, Naturalist
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Gansu
a
b Shanxi
Sichuan
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Provinces
Habitats
Min
Mountain Ranges
Population
Corridor
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the green corridors For giant pandas, a corridor is a walkway built within the company of the giant panda protected areas to improve the capacity of the giant panda gene exchange. The giant panda green corridor would be a possible way of linking different clans of giant pandas to encourage better gene pools and broader breeding. This would develop a more sustainable system of natural habitats and reintegration into the forest of China. Currently, giant panda populations have been fragmented into 30 habitat patches. The disappearance of isolated small populations and studies on the genetic diversity of various populations has shown that small isolated panda populations are at a high risk of dying out completely. Habitat fragmentation has seriously impaired the ability of the giant panda to resist climate changes and other natural disasters, such as large-scale synchronous bamboo blooming. The Min Mountains have the largest population of pandas in China, numbering 708 individuals and accounting for 45% of the total (1600) in China. Geographic isolation means that giant pandas in the Min Mountains are divided into two populations (population a in the north and population b in the south). Population b, which had only 42 individuals in 1989, is severely threatened by high-density human populations and the loss of genetic diversity. However, we have identified an important corridor connecting the two populations. This explains the importance and the feasibility of reestablishing this corridor. Due to the special geographic locations of these two populations (two rivers block the migration of giant pandas between south and north), the corridor is the only passage for giant pandas in the region. Recent studies have also shown an increase of giant panda activity in the area of the corridor. However, vegetation in the corridor has been severely degraded. A Bamboo forest must be restored in this area to provide food for the pandas during migration. The effects of human activities must be reduced in order to maintain panda habitat. I believe that a restored corridor will be a great benefit to the survival of giant pandas in the Min Mountains; especially for population b. Successful re-establishment of a corridor will be a valuable model for corridor construction in the future.
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The Corridor, Defined The biodiversity conservation corridors are strategically located in regions that link key habitats for plants and animals, including protected areas. Rather than the narrow strip of land you might envision, a corridor is actually a broad landscape that encompasses a range of land uses, including agriculture, human settlements, and even industrial activities.
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The Qin Mountains Green Corridor China has established over 56 panda reserves, protecting more than half of the giant panda habitats. However, the effort of human intervention is the greatest
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threat to habitat fragmentation issues threatening the survival of giant pandas.
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The establishment of Qin Mountains’ giant panda green corridor will be the first region to enable a comprehensive network protection of the giant panda distribution among six mountain ranges.
Habitats Qin Mountains Existing Corridor Potential Future Sites
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The Establishment of Sichuan Giant Panda Green Corridor In 2007, Sichuan promoted the construction of the giant panda corridors. In Chengdu, forestry, landscaping, and other related departments will build a number of Giant Panda Nature Reserves, by setting them in Ya’an, Lushan county and Yingjing first. At Aba in Mao County, the Wenchuan Tudiling — the giant panda a-b population could connect with them to carry out habitat restoration and development of the corridor with the construction, focusing on the implementation of the protection of giant pandas and other rare and endangered species. With the further expansion of the giant panda population and habitat of the 159 townships in 33 counties in Sichuan, ten cities and prefectures giant panda distribution, Sichuan contains 37 Giant Panda Nature Reserves, the giant panda population extended to 1206 individuals, accounting for 76% of the country.
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The giant panda can adapt to their natural forest environment in a very good way, and they know when to conserve energy and when to show their force. They can calmly deal with situations such as harsh weather patterns, and are highly attuned to changing situations.
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The Shanxi Province Green Corridor Zhongxin Net, on April 16, Xian (Liu Mengfei). Shanxi Province is planning to build five giant panda corridors within sixteen giant panda nature reserves in Qin Mountains, so that giant pandas of different populations have been parted for road construction are able to “visit each other,” as well as joining the separated “ecological islands.”
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According to the Third National Giant Panda Survey, there are 273 wild giant pandas inhabit in the Shanxi Qin Mountains. Among them, now Hanzhong City has 159 giant pandas, which are regarded as First-Grade State Protection animal. Distribution density of giant panda in Hanzhong City has reached to 0.48 each km 2 which occupies the first place in the whole country. It is known that giant pandas in Shanxi Province are mainly distributed in sixteen nature reserves; they are cutting off due to natural
a practical option
environment and other elements. According to Yuan Wei, chief engineer of Animal Protection Station of Shanxi Provincial Forestry Department, although sixteen nature reserves are located in Qin Mountains, due to the obstruction of high mountains, rivers and roads, wild giant panda populations are separated; some habitats become “isolated island.” Among different populations, their amounts of giant pandas are inequality. In addition, there is a lack of communication. These lead to inbreeding within the population, and ultimately cause the both quantity and quality reductions
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of giant panda in long run. For this reason, Shanxi Provincial Forestry Department decides to construct five
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giant panda corridors in the following five years includes Erlangba of Taibai County and Longcaoping of Foping County. Moreover, create corridors of several kilometers in width between different nature reserves through strategies such as establishing passageway and restoring the vegetation. As a result, giant pandas in “isolated islands” are able to communicate with other populations after crossing these corridors. It is said that, Niuweihe of Taibai County and Tianhuashan of Ningshan County are typical examples of giant panda “isolated islands.” These two habitats cover approximately 400 km 2, with around ten giant pandas. Besides building corridors, Shanxi Provincial Forestry Department also plan to improve living conditions of these two habitats so as to create better environment for giant panda breeding and genetic exchange.
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“In the end, we conserve only what we love. We will love only what we understand. We will understand only what we are taught.” —Baba Dioum, Senegalese conservationist
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from theoretical solution to possible actions The industrial economy, which was developed by leaps and bounds during the twentieth century, has brought in highly developed prosperity and progress. However advancement is always a double-edged sword. After the rise of the industrial economy, due to human expansion, the world has faced many dilemmas such as heavily destroyed ecological environments and decreases in biodiversity. Some data indicates that many species on the earth become extinct each year, and that a quarter of mammalian species are endangered. Unfortunately, the giant panda is one of them.
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My Personal Inspiration As a lifelong animal lover, I intend to do something helpful and significant for our environment. Therefore, I started to develop solutions by designing the giant panda as a flagship model that can be beneficial to all endangered species in a powerful, visual way. During my very first period of development, I kept questioning myself as to whether there were practical methods that could truly solve this vital issue in the very near future, and I prioritized finding the value of how this design solution could take place worldwide to produce an even bigger impact. I am eager to bring forward a long-term solution by using my visual communication skills, a solution that would be dedicated to change the current living situation of the giant panda, but also could be used to solve other species’ survival concerns. I have researched and analyzed every possible opportunity under operation by some existing global organizations as well as using some theoretical solutions that provide by numbers of animal experts in order to structure a design method that is able to draw public attention and be more easily realized. The goal of these solutions is to increase public awareness by using educational programs. Based on that, we may be able to promote sustainable habitats by supporting the recovery of the species and rescuing its natural habitat. A special emphasis will be put on the development of an educational game app, a multi-media platform, and utilizing the collaboration of existing organizations to implement an interactive method in the future on a global scale.
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The Process Journal The MFA Thesis is an engaging project joining critical thinking, problem solving and innovation to the visual communication of invention of ideas. It is a process of
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research, experimentation and design.
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2010 Spring
Research in Shanghai, China
Modified Ideation
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Ten Panda Cubs on Exhibit for Shanghai World Expo
at Shanghai Wild Animal Park
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2010 Fall
Thesis Development in San Francisco
Launched Design Proposal
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2011 Summer Research in Sichuan, China Collected materials from panda habitats and major breeding bases.
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Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding
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Ya’an Bifengxia Base of China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda
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A captive-bred panda at Chengdu Research Base
of Giant Panda Breeding
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2011 Fall – 2012 Spring
Thesis Development in San Francisco
Design Progress
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The Big Bamboo Foundation
Saving pandas in the wild.
Helping to build the green corridor
Promoting a healthy, self-sustaining, genetically diverse panda population
This Foundation seeks to create a network of scientists, environmentalists, and creative sponsors who will cooperate with designers to solve the problem
solution
of extinction on a global and interactive level.
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PandaLanda Game PandaLanda is an innovative children’s game app created by the Big Bamboo Foundation, a non-profit panda protection organization that aims to preserve natural habitats of pandas in the wild. It consists of twelve mini games that teach children about issues surrounding the protection and preservation of pandas in the wild while also helping them improve basic skills in a variety of areas such as color and shape recognition,
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counting, and memory. All proceeds will go to the Big Bamboo Foundation to help build the giant panda’s green corridor in China, and to support their healthy, self-sustaining
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panda populations in the wild.
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Target Audience Ages: 6 – 8
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Child Art Depicting Panda
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Sketches
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Main Character
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Game Description
When you play PandaLanda, you’ll get to invite many wild animals to stay with the pandas and help them preserve their bamboo forest. Come play twelve fun mini games with Master Pamboo (a giant panda), Professor Sunny (an Ibis), Scientist Pan Pan (a red panda), Explorer Chop Chop (a leopard), and many more! With Master Pamboo’s guidance, it’s up to you to build a new bamboo forest for the pandas to call home. Players begin the game by selecting their own panda character and start with a small bamboo forest on a lone plot of land. From there, players can
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play all the mini games to explore other mountain ranges, build bridges between them and meet many other animal friends! Ages: 6 – 8
pandalanda
Features
Contains an educational story so you can learn why pandas need your help. Allows you to play the game as your favorite panda character and follow the guidance of Master Pamboo. Includes twelve mini games including Bug Zap, Baby Bamboo Forest, Fixing Tools, Picking and Planting, so you can learn how to preserve and protect pandas in the wild with fun puzzles, counting, colors, logic and memory games.
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Introduces you to other animal mentors like Professor Sunny (an Ibis), Scientist Pan Pan (a red panda), Explorer Chop Chop (a leopard), and Doctor Jin Jin (a golden monkey). The more you play, the more panda friends you’ll meet.
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Includes extra tasks to earn growing points that will speed up the growth of your bamboo forest and unlock special bonuses. Allows you to play offline. You can manage your village anytime without having to connect to the Internet. Available in English, Simplified Chinese and Traditional Chinese.
How to Play
1
Create a “paw print ID� by selecting
2
Meet Master Pamboo and learn the
3
Tap the arrow to activate each mini
your favorite panda character.
history of pandas in the wild.
game and earn growing points. The more points you earn, the faster you can reach the next mountain range.
4
Meet other animal mentors who will help you link all the isolated mountain ranges together. Once all the mountain ranges are linked, you have saved the pandas!
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The Story
A long, long time ago, all the animals were living under the control of the human empire in a city called Wolong.
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Pandas had to leave their home and do whatever people told them to do. All they did every day was eat, sleep and entertain people.
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One day, everything changed. The land shook and mountains crumbled. The city of Wolong was no longer there. The people left and the pandas had to take care of themselves.
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They decided to travel deep into the mountains to where their ancestors lived, a small wild land in Western China. They climbed over mountains and made their way through valleys.
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Finally, they arrived on free land. They
named this place “PandaLanda.”
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Character Profiles
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ht: 6.25 ft
wt: 230 lb
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Master Pamboo 15 years old (approximately 48 years old in human age) Pamboo is very courageous. He is endowed with a leadership personality, an even temperament, and good judgment in the face of danger. Before Wolong collapsed, Pamboo went through a Wild Animal Reintroduction Program with the help of kind-hearted humans. He was an experiment animal in the reintroduction test and he gained a lot of human-imparted knowledge from the experiments. When the collapse occurred during his “stray” test in the second round of experiments, he lost all contact with the humans he knew. Pamboo survived the Wolong collapse disaster with his prior knowledge and feral talents. He became a pioneer who discovered and developed PandaLanda. Because he experienced the disaster of Wolong, Pamboo worries that another horrible event may occur and drive pandas to extinction. He has always believed in building a green bamboo “bridge” that will unite all the pandas in a bigger family and give them the strength they need to adapt to their changing environment. To improve their chances of survival, Pamboo swiftly set up an Animal Environment Adaptation Program to assist his fellow pandas as well as many other animals in the wild. That’s why he is called “Master” by all the animals in the animal kingdom.
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Ibis Sunny 12 years old (approximately 36 years old in human age) Ibis Sunny is a little bit shy. She often retreats when she encounters difficulties but, in her heart, she is a very kind and gentle bird who is enthusiastic to help others. Like Pamboo, Sunny was also an experiment animal who went through the Wild Animal Reintroduction Program. Lucky for her, when she was caught up in Wolong’s collapse during her first round of experiments, Master Pamboo rescued her when she could not save herself. From then on, she became Pamboo’s first student in the Environmental Adaptation Program. After following Pamboo for a long time, Sunny is becoming braver and gaining
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courage to overcome difficulties. She is now a full professor in the Animal Environmental Adaptation Program in PandaLanda, teaching young animals the way to survive in the wild. At first, Sunny did not have a name because she was a stray. After the Wolong collapse, she and Pamboo met in the forest. He was so impressed by her gentle
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and warm-hearted personality that he named her “Sunny.”
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ht: 2.5 ft wt: 4 lb
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Main Stage
PandaLanda is a free land pandas discovered after the disaster in Wolong. It has six isolated mountains and you are now at the westernmost one, the Xiao Xiang Mountain. Nowadays, the Xiao Xiang Mountain regions are most affected areas in PandaLanda where the panda population is too small. This is because industry has cut down too many of the trees and bamboo plants. If we
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don’t do something soon, all pandas may one day disappear.
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Bug Zap
Mini Game 1
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Sample game boards from Bug Zap mini game.
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Baby Bamboo Forest
Mini Game 2
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Sample game boards from Baby Bamboo Forest mini game.
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Kudos!
You finished the first two mini games. The other ten mini games are coming soon. Stay tuned! Join our mailing list at pandalanda.com to stay up-to-date with all the latest
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news about PandaLanda.
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Game Extensions
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Game Book
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T-shirts and Pillow
Temporary Tattoos
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Poster
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Pins
Hat
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Autobiography I am a determined young woman who takes advantage of all the great opportunities presented to me. I appreciate and admire individuals with great ambition and strive to achieve success in everything they do. As a graphic designer, I am always possess the confidence to use my professional skills to help both the environment and people. From my point of view, graphic designer is a communicator who visually introduces the information to the public through clear presentation and has the responsibility to help the public by adopting these communication skills. I believe I cannot only create a better life for myself, but also for all the living creatures in this world. These are my goals as a graphic
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designer and a responsible citizen.
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mfa thesis written, designed and produced by Yun Lin hello@yunlingraphics.com school Academy of Art University San Francisco, USA instructors Phil Hamlett Michael Kilgore David Hake Carolina de Bartolo language consultant Romalyn Schmaltz photography Yun Lin Shugen Lin printing Plotnet bindery The Key Printing and Binding text stock Neenah Classic Crest typeface Aller for further information, visit us on the web www.bigbamboofoundation.org www.pandalanda.com parents and educators, for a variety of teaching tools, visit us at www.pandalanda.com/parents pandalanda is designed and art directed by Yun Lin story by Yun Lin and Sean Chang illustrated by Yun Lin and Stephen Tsai copyright Š2013 big bamboo foundation. all rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner without the written consent of Yun Lin. All respective work has been appropriately identified and credited. Any omissions will be corrected in subsequent editions.
Thank You Mentors and Instructors
To Phil Hamlett, my director and the one who inspired me to first start thinking about sustainability. To Michael Kilgore, who was able to read my brain, be my guide, and show me what a thesis really is in order to realize my future. To David Hake, whose balance of kind and professional critiques helped me to make my vision reality. To Carolina de Bartolo for her patience, kindness, and constant supervision. For Joy Ou, who as a family friend has given me unimaginable design support and information. Also, to Mary Scott, Laura Milton, Arvi Raquel-santos, Hunter Wimmer, Stan Zienka, and Thomas Mcnulty, all of whom were invaluable instructors and wonderful to bounce ideas off. Finally, to Romalyn Schmaltz, who has shepherded this project linguistically from its conception and offered me support when I hit a wall. Families
Mom, Dad, Uncle George, Aunt Vivian, Kino, and Niko for their undying spirit and for being my joy. Friends and Classmates
Special thanks to Stephen Tsai, Wei-Cheng Wu, Sean Chang, Vance Wang, Lide Tong, Xiaojue Feng, Liyun Dun, Jia shen, Janice Jiao, Alice Liu, Kate Chuang, Po Chun Chang, Yen Chun Yeh, Frannie Chu, Uni Jiao, Shawn Yang, Pauline Wu, Jasmine Friedl, Erin Canoy, Zainab Rupawalla, Melanie Torigoe, for their moral support.
 
Thank you! for saving us.