Akorn Philanthropy
Akorn believes passionately that travel should both respect the natural environment and benefit the indigenous peoples whose lands we visit. Akorn ensures that we support a carefully chosen project in the destinations where we operate.
Learn more about Akorn Philanthropy.
The Chengdu Research Base Of Giant Panda Breeding
Located just 20 minutes outside of Chengdu, the capital of China’s Sichuan province, the Chengdu Base of the Giant Panda Breeding Centre has been at the forefront of captive breeding projects designed to ensure the survival of both endangered species of panda – the Giant Panda and the Lesser or Red Panda both species being native to China (but highly endangered). Founded in the mid 1980s the centre has grown steadily both in land area and in the population of pandas on site. Today more than 80 Giant Pandas and some 50 Lesser Pandas are in residence at the research facility. Both species are carefully studied and observed in order to provide scientists with needed information on the mating, breeding and gestation of both types of pandas. The centre features age and species habitat sites, and also a nursery and breeding research centre. The centre receives funding from both government and private (including both domestic and international) contributions. Plans call for a further expansion of the existing suburban centre as well as a new forest reserve zone in neighbouring Dujiangyan for the further habituation of Giant Pandas into a semi-wild state.
Visit the Research Base and Hug a Panda with Akorn
Akorn makes an annual donation of US$25 per person (whether the booking was a group or FIT arrangement) to the Research Centre and all visits to Chengdu will include the Chengdu Research Centre. The visit will include special arrangements that enhance the quality of the experience. Akorn guests are designated “Panda Keepers for a Day” and are taken to the holding area for the juvenile pandas – they are given special uniforms and then taken to the pen where they feed the pandas, clean the pen, and set up the fresh bamboo which the young pandas feed on. These visits also include a specialist accompanying the group or FIT traveller (thereby providing more in depth and informative commentary) and the chance to “hug” a panda. For further information on including such a visit in an China itinerary, contact Akorn China and Hong Kong.
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