The Many Faces of China

With the jet lag cleared from my head, I was able to spend a little time to sort through my collection of pictures that I had accumulated during my trip to China. Being the project manager for PDXWildlife, I get the pleasure of welcoming interns into China (I love my job).

One of the many joys while traveling in China. Home to the friendliest people on earth.

I make a habit of becoming the annoying father-figure/tourist to all of the “newbies” when they first get to Chengdu and exit out of the arrivals gate. Most of our new interns just spent 30 hours to get to that point, but it still made for a few good photo opportunities. Daniel and Angelica (our Fall hires who you will read about very soon) managed to arrive on the same day, so we hit the ground running and high-tailed to our apartment in Ya’an. After spending several days integrating them into the Chinese daily life, the bulk of their work begins immediately.

: Colors everywhere

: One of my favorites

: Can you identify me?

: Leaving on a jet plane. Can you identify the airport?

: Full spread Chinese dinner

: Caught in the act making mapo tofu.

: Angelica and her contagious smile

: Lauran and her favorite “Love Puff” Yi Bao

: Thankfully the culm contains very little mercury in comparison to the leaves

: Another favorite

: My friend Haba

: I love the faces on these guys

Besides our photogenic interns, the other faithful subjects- pandas, also gave me some once in a lifetime shots. From June to August, the panda base is always buzzing with newborns and attentive mothers. Given that a portion of our research is to monitor the behavior of cubs with their mothers, I managed to take several photos. It became overwhelming trying to keep track of all the births that took place during my quick, three week trip.

: Zhen Zhen and her newborn

: Lin Bing and one of her twins

: Zhen Zhen looking pregnant

: Wang Jia looking cool as ever

: Min Min looking sad

: I think is Ying Hua

: I think this is Jun Zhu. He always looked trapped.

Let me know if you enjoyed the photos and leave a comment, we enjoy the feedback. If you are interested in learning more about our internship opportunities, be sure to click HERE.

7 Comments

Frances Aronson on August 27, 2015 at 10:16 pm

Nate–love the pictures–especially of Zhen Zhen. It has been so hard to get news of her since she went to China, and now that she has cubbies, I really hope we can get pictures of her with them. Are they swapping cubs with her or is she raising one and the other being hand-raised? Thanks!

Frances

Nathan on August 27, 2015 at 10:24 pm

Hi Frances,

I have been unable to receive any updates on Zhen Zhen or her cubs, but I would venture to guess that they are swapping cubs given that this is what is typically done. I will ask Angelica and Daniel (our in country interns) to see if they can find out any more information.

This year has been very prolific for births at Bifengxia. Even with two PDX Wildlife workers at the base it’s difficult to keep track.

Thanks for reading and the question.
- Nathan on August 28, 2015 at 7:51 am
  
  Hi Again Frances,
  
  I received a reply from our team in China- Both of Zhen Zhen’s cubs are female and weigh about the same, 454 grams. However, the older one is slightly bigger. They are swapping them out every 10 days.
  
  Hope this helps.
  - Frances Aronson on August 28, 2015 at 4:37 pm
    
    Thanks, Nathan! Now if we can just get a Zhennie cam going…
- Frances Aronson on August 28, 2015 at 7:55 am
  
  Thanks, Nathan–we definitely rely on your in-country folks for information about the SDZ bears at BFX, since they (BFX) don’t have photographers and videographers like they do at some of the other bases. I’m so thrilled that Zhen Zhen finally had a successful pregnancy and I hope we can somehow keep watch as the cubbies grow up and see her being a mom. Thanks for any information!

Diana Sutton on August 28, 2015 at 12:19 am

Loved all the photos. And seeing Zhen Zhen with a cub!

Anonymous on August 28, 2015 at 6:28 pm

Thanks wonderful pandas photos, Nathan!!!

Frances Aronson on August 27, 2015 at 10:16 pm

Nate–love the pictures–especially of Zhen Zhen. It has been so hard to get news of her since she went to China, and now that she has cubbies, I really hope we can get pictures of her with them. Are they swapping cubs with her or is she raising one and the other being hand-raised? Thanks!

Frances
- Nathan on August 27, 2015 at 10:24 pm
  
  Hi Frances,
  
  I have been unable to receive any updates on Zhen Zhen or her cubs, but I would venture to guess that they are swapping cubs given that this is what is typically done. I will ask Angelica and Daniel (our in country interns) to see if they can find out any more information.
  
  This year has been very prolific for births at Bifengxia. Even with two PDX Wildlife workers at the base it’s difficult to keep track.
  
  Thanks for reading and the question.
  - Nathan on August 28, 2015 at 7:51 am
    
    Hi Again Frances,
    
    I received a reply from our team in China- Both of Zhen Zhen’s cubs are female and weigh about the same, 454 grams. However, the older one is slightly bigger. They are swapping them out every 10 days.
    
    Hope this helps.
    - Frances Aronson on August 28, 2015 at 4:37 pm
      
      Thanks, Nathan! Now if we can just get a Zhennie cam going…
  - Frances Aronson on August 28, 2015 at 7:55 am
    
    Thanks, Nathan–we definitely rely on your in-country folks for information about the SDZ bears at BFX, since they (BFX) don’t have photographers and videographers like they do at some of the other bases. I’m so thrilled that Zhen Zhen finally had a successful pregnancy and I hope we can somehow keep watch as the cubbies grow up and see her being a mom. Thanks for any information!
Diana Sutton on August 28, 2015 at 12:19 am

Loved all the photos. And seeing Zhen Zhen with a cub!
Anonymous on August 28, 2015 at 6:28 pm

Thanks wonderful pandas photos, Nathan!!!