By Rakhi Agarwal & Supriya Kantak
China’s 600-acre Panda Base is located about 20 km from Chengdu City, Sichuan Province. Its official name is the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding.‘Cute’ and ‘cuddly’ Pandas frolic here, in their lovingly simulated natural habitat. Let’s take you there:
Here, they swim, climb trees, munch on bamboo and roll in the dirt; just like they would in deep wilderness. Bamboo trees form a welcoming canopy overhead. Birds tweet in the bushes: your chance to spot some endangered species, and some well-loved ones. Think black-necked cranes, thrushes, cuckoos, and Kingfishers. Stop by to share a snack with friendly peacocks and pheasants strutting freely about.
Pandas are peace-loving and happy with their bamboo diet. But if provoked, their powerful jaw muscles and 150-kg weight can give you the shudders.
Pandas get their name from the Chinese words ‘Pan and Da’ meaning ‘fat and big.’ In anticipation of a big bear hug, we entered the protected area; a maze of winding paths with bamboo shoots forming an arch overhead. There are other trees, of course- primarily tall and big. Willows, Gingkos, Chinars, Yulans…the names aren’t all familiar, but the fresh air cools your face and warms your heart.
The 60-acre Panda Base also houses a charming lake, teeming with cranes, Mallard ducks, and well swans. But more than that it showcases nature’s genius at thinking up shapes and sizes and colour schemes!
So while gazing at the Aquarians swimming together in happy harmony how can you miss the beautifully mismatched yellow, red and orange set against the blue water? Once you have had your fill of the lake’s beauty, enjoy a scoop of ice cream. On your way out, you must stop at the souvenir shop; take a sneak, though you should know that the shops inside offer lower prices.
