China’s new ‘giant panda college’ to welcome first students in autumn
- The 50 undergraduates will study wildlife protection and conservation at first-of-its-kind panda institute in Sichuan province
![The total number of wild giant pandas in China has increased from about 1,100 in the 1980s to nearly 1,900 today. Photo: Handout via Xinhua](https://cdn.i-scmp.com/sites/default/files/styles/1020x680/public/d8/images/canvas/2024/07/11/419ab9b4-613e-4dab-81f2-0258cf74131f_b3a30e62.jpg?itok=v2fOMTJA&v=1720692025)
The “giant panda college” is affiliated with China West Normal University in Sichuan, the southwestern province known for its panda reserves and habitats. The institute was established in September by the provincial forestry and grassland administration.
A total of 50 undergraduate students will study wildlife and nature reserve management at the Giant Panda Institute, which is expected to promote the “academic, professional and systematic development of giant panda conservation”, according to the CCTV report on Wednesday.
The students will gain hands-on experience at the institute and take part in work related to giant panda conservation, breeding and disease prevention in national nature reserves.
They are expected to become professionals in wildlife protection and research after four to seven years of study.
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