Hi everyone!  My name is Nicole Gordon and I am excited to be a 2017 Giant Panda Intern for PDXWildlife in Gengda, China studying reintroduction training.  I graduated in May of 2016 with a Bachelor’s degree in biology from Bowling Green State University in Ohio. From a young age, I was interested in helping animals whether it be at the local humane society, rehabilitation center, or zoo.  My most recent endeavor was an Aviculture internship at the Maui Bird Conservation Center in Hawaii.  I helped take care of 5 different endangered Hawaiian bird species.  My favorite bird that I worked with there was the Alala or Hawaiian Crow.  The Alala are extinct in the wild and only located at the facility I interned at and a facility on the Big Island of Hawaii.  They are a smart species of bird that all have different personalities that I loved to observe.  I am very excited and privileged to take my conservation efforts to China to help with such an iconic and beloved mammal, the Giant Panda.  I hope this position will help teach me more about the research side of conservation and further my career.  I am also excited to immerse myself and learn all I can during my time about China’s fascinating culture and language!

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Nicki Gordon is currently working on the exciting start of the research being conducted with PDXWildlife on giant panda reintroductions. She will be living in the remote town of Gengda until late October, but gets the privilege of observing bears in semi-wild enclosures. Lets be sure to give her a big welcome.