Discovering Twin Cubs at the Chengdu Panda Base
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in collaboration with the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, have launched a social media campaign to name two baby panda twins, which have been donated as Pambassadors for UNDP in China. Worldwide these are UNDP’s first animal ambassadors.
The launch, held at the Chengdu Panda Base, was announced during the global event ‘discovering twin cubs’, which aims to promote awareness of the hard work behind rearing giant pandas.
Co-hosted by UNDP China and the Chengdu Panda Base, the event showcased the breeding center’s efforts in conservation and commitment to the UN’s new sustainable development goals (SDGs), adopted last month in New York. These 17 new goals are a blueprint for our future and set global development priorities for the next generation.
During his keynote speech, Patrick Haverman, UNDP deputy country director noted how the pandas symbolize the plight of the world’s vanishing wildlife and many of the issues the pandas signify are interlinked with the SDGs. In particular, worldwide climate action, protection of life on land and renewable energy.
“Clean energy will mitigate climate change, and help protect all life on land – humans, animals, the forest and the earth itself. The Pandas highlight the importance of promoting the sustainable management of forests and halting deforestations. Urgent action must be taken to reduce the loss of natural habitats and biodiversity and we need a world where sustainable energy for everyone means heat, light and power- without destroying our planet.”
The UN’s new 2030 agenda closely aligns with China’s focus on sustainable development, with President Xi Jinping emphasizing that green development is crucial to the success of China’s future agenda. UNDP looks forward to collaborating with China to help realize the new agenda’s vision for a greener, more sustainable world.
Today also marks the United Nations 70th anniversary. It is a special day to reflect and look back on the UN’s achievements but also reflect upon the challenges that face our future. Strong partnerships are crucial to achieving a peaceful, prosperous and sustainable society for everyone and UNDP have commended the Chengdu Panda Base for its support to the UN and the environmentally friendly initiatives it operates. The base runs on clean energy, uses energy efficient LED lighting and electronic buses to transport visitors around the base.
The event also highlighted the great achievements obtained by the Panda base in protecting the wildlife and biodiversity of the giant pandas home and their successes in promoting a conservation culture among the public.
“We hope this entertaining and educational campaign on conservation can help promote knowledge on the protection of endangered species like pandas. We need to enhance public awareness to facilitate the conservation of biodiversity and ecological environment,” said Dr. Zhang Zhihe, Director of the Chengdu Panda Base, in his remarks for the event.
Furthermore, the Panda Base debuted 6 pairs of Panda twins, born in 2015 for the first time. These twins are the result of a highly successful breeding programme, which has seen 100% survival rate among new infants in recent years.
In total, 15 giant panda cubs have been born at the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding in 2015.
