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| Wanglang
Nature Reserve
North
of Chengdu, established in 1963 , is located in the Minshan Mountains in
some of China's most important panda habitat. Wanglang,
whose purpose
is to protect the giant panda and its habitat, and the
10 other nearby reserves in remote areas of northern Sichuan
are critical to the continued survival of the giant panda.
There
are estimated to be about 30 wild pandas living in Wanglang. At Wanglang you
have a unique opportunity to experience the lush forests, beautiful
mountains, and thick bamboo groves of the panda’s home. Additionally,
you can visit the colorful Baima people who have lived in the area just
outside the reserve for hundreds of years.
Because
there are no captive pandas at the reserve and because wild pandas live in
high mountain areas in thick foliage and avoid humans, you will
probably not see a panda at Wanglang, However, your trip to the panda's
home will be one you will talk about for years to come and your
visit to
Wanglang will help support conservation of the world's treasured
creatures, the giant panda.
There living about 35 giant
pandas.
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Lodge
The lodge is in a quiet
mountain valley at the Headquarters of Wanglang Reserve. The lodge can
accommodate 50 people (ten triple and ten double rooms). One triple and
one double room share a bathroom with toilet, sink, and shower.
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Information
Center
The Information Center at the Reserve entrance (Baozigou) has displays
highlighting Wanglang's history, ecology, geology, flora, and fauna; panda
ecology; the Baima culture, and the panda conservation program by WWF.
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Watching
it is rare to see pandas. Takin,
musk deer, blue sheep as well as other animals can be seen occasionally.
Birdwatching is excellent, especially during the spring and fall migration
seasons. To increase your chances of seeing and hearing the wildlife and
birds, be quiet and wear muted colors.
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Weather
The mountain weather is
changeable, and it can be much colder and rainier at Wanglang than at
lower elevations. Bring extra clothes for warmth and rain protection and
wear comfortable, waterproof walking shoes. Bring sunscreen for sunny
days. June, July, and August receive the most rain, however, it can rain
anytime. Snow is possible as early as September, but is most prevalent
from November through March.
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Wildlife,
Geography, Geology
Wanglang is in a mountainous
area ranging in elevation from 2,430 to 4,980 meters (7,533 to 15,438
feet). These mountains, which are in the transition zone between the
Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau and the Sichuan Basin, were formed by uplifting,
folding, and earthquake activity. Huge landslides beneath the towering
peaks attest to recent earthquake activity.
There are many species of trees, shrubs, grasses,
ferns, and other plants at Wanglang. Spruce, larch, fir, pine, cedar, and
birch are common trees. Parts of Wanglang were logged in the 1950's, and
the staff tells fascinating stories about the Reserve's efforts to reclaim
the logged areas. Old growth timber,
hundreds of years old, still grow in the higher elevations. Visitors
can walk through rhododendron forests and towering pines to high mountain
passes. A species list of plants in the Reserve is available at the
Wanglang Forest Lodge.
Wanglang
Reserve was established to protect the giant panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca).
By protecting pandas and their habitat, the reserve also protects other
wildlife that live in the area. The golden snub-nosed monkey (rhinopithecus
roxellarae), the takin (budorcas
taxicolor), and the leopard cat (panthera
pardus) are three threatened species that live in the forests and
meadows of Wanglang. Other mammals at Wanglang include bear, fox, various
wild cats, lynx, red panda, musk deer, blue sheep, and picas. A species
list of animals in the area is available at the Wanglang Forest Lodge.
Birds in Wanglang Many birds inhabit or migrate through
Wanglang. A bird list containing common and rare species is available at
the Wanglang Forest Lodge.
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How
to Protects
the Giant Panda in Wanglang
1,
Patrolling the Reserve for poachers and sick or injured pandas.
2, Protecting the forests as a key habitat area.
3, Educating visitors about panda protection and
environmental issues.
4,Supporting panda research.
5,Providing a corridor for panda migration between adjacent panda
habitats.
6,Educating local residents about the value of conserving pandas.
7,Supporting economic development of local communities to minimize
their need to use panda habitat for to provide for their livelihood
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What
You do to Protect Pandas
1, Know and follow the
regulations of the Reserve.
2,Don't purchase or eat any kind of wild meat.
3,Make a donation to panda conservation at Wanglang Nature Reserve
4,Purchase souvenirs at the Reserve, a portion of which supports panda
conservation programs at Wanglang.
5,Join an environmental organization to protect wildlife.
6,Tell a friend about Wanglang and panda protection.
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