PROJECT PANDA...THE STORY

Oh my....it’s hard to know where to begin!  What started to be a 2 day stopover in Chengdu at the advise of a cryogenic expert we know in Portland OR........turned into what will be a life long passion for me and my entire family.


In 2006, we were at a facility here in Oregon collecting frozen sperm on a famous dog

of ours and in conversation with the director there mentioned we were on our way to China.  He asked if we were going to the Chengdu Panda Breeding and Research base.  We didn’t even know about it and started asking questions. 


It turns out that ICSB and Prof.Platz who we were talking to markets Artificial Insemination equipment to the panda breeding centers all over the world.  Via that bizarre connection from our dogs to the pandas......a love affair begins! Who says artificial breeding can’t be romantic...lol!


With our  China holiday pretty much planned out already, we cut one leg of the trip short to squeeze in a 2 day stay in Chengdu to see the gorgeous pandas.  I had never seen one in person and could hardly wait to see 40 plus black and white beauties in one place! 


Before the trip I did a lot of research on pandas and learned the Panda Base had an ADOPTION PROGRAM........it wasn’t cheap I”ll tell ya but a full adoption price of 6000.00 at the time paid for one year of care , feeding and vet bills etc for one panda.


I had a brainstorm.........what if I put aside 25% of my jewelry design income          for as long as it took to be able to adopt a panda cub....it was a lofty goal and I wasn’t that confident I could do it at first.  I contacted the Panda Base and with the help and now friendship of Lichunlin, I was able to set the stage for the PROJECT PANDA saga!!


Upon arriving in Chengdu in 2006  we were greeted by Lichunlin and Helen , one of the English speaking private guides.  They took the day and personally walked us through the panda base and introduced us to the animals and keepers.  Before I left I was blessed to be able to stand with and touch one of the 18 month adult females they called “white foot”









I presented the panda base before leaving that day with a proposal of what I wanted to do to raise money for my adoption.  They were very excited as was I......but 6000.00...EEEK ....what had I gotten myself into????  We flew home the next day with my head reeling with ideas and the occasional pang of doubt..........which QUICKLY subsided the moment I started listing my PROJECT PANDA designs on EBAY and my WEBSITE!


Never have I seen such an outpouring of generosity of bids and letters......some of my customers actually kicked in extra in their jewelry win payments to help out however they could.  I was needless to say blown away by the support for PROJECT PANDA...I can’t THANK MY CUSTOMERS and friends enough for helping me realize my cub adoption dream












Now I take you forward to February 2008.......the money is in my savings account and I was sooooo ready to head back to China but had no one to be my travel partner. Being legally blind I cannot navigate busy airports and the streets of Asia by myself. Steve had his plate full at IBM and I almost gave up on my dream of handing the adoption money over in person to Lichunlin Well out of the blue, my best friend Diana, who I had asked to go with me months before (and she wasn’t able to go at the time) calls and says she is coming with me!! OMG ....ROAD TRIP!!!! We decided as long as we were spending the money to get to Asia, we might as well take 3 1/2 weeks to really see the sights. Diana had never been outside of the U.S. so we planned a fantastic itinerary of ecotourism days during our stay. Clicking on the images below will bring Tiger Temple , THE ELEPHANT NATURE FOUNDATION, and many other Thailand images http://elephantnaturepark.orgshapeimage_3_link_0

CLICK ANY PHOTO IN THE STORY BOARD or ORANGE TEXT TO VIEW THE CORRESPONDING PHOTO  ALBUMS and LINKS WHICH TELL THE WHOLE STORY!!

The most incredible experience (besides the pandas of course) was a bizarre set of events that

ended us at the Moon Bear Rescue in Chengdu.  We saw Bam Bam the Moonbear at the Tiger Temple in Thailand and were intrigued to see what the rescue was about.  The facility is run by ANIMALS ASIA who does incredible work on behalf of all animals but rescuing Moon Bears from the tortured lives they live in the bile farms is one of their primary objectives. 


Because of this visit I have become very dedicated to the endangered Moon Bears and the fight to give them pain free lives outside of the metal harnesses and cages they are tortured in for years for the sake of  now unnecessary “medicinal” use.





ADOPTION DAY ARRIVES!!


Click to see the entire day in

my photographic journal

In July 2007 we met many other endangered species  who Steve and I were able to have close encounters with on our 4 week Africa journey which just added fuel to the fire as far as my panda fund was concerned.  I wanted to help all the creatures I met in Africa but needed to stay focused for the time being.  Just to be able to touch a cheetah and lion cub and fill my eyes with the cornucopia of animals on the savanna  was certainly going to have to satisfy me for now......until I return to Africa some day of course!!!

To conclude this portion of the ongoing mission of PROJECT PANDA,

I have now opened a blog to help others help endangered species called


PANDARAZZI...THE BLOG



COME ON BY TO FIND OUT WHAT MY NEXT PROJECT IS GOING TO BE.

10% OR MORE OF MY INCOME FROM PROJECT PANDA JEWELRY DESIGNS WILL GO TOWARD A

PANDA OR OTHER ENDANGERED SPECIES CHARITY

The final 5 days of the trip was in Chengdu and our final destination was the Panda Base and the adoption ceremony!! I could hardly contain myself but we had lots to keep us busy.  Our private guide Mickal gave us the most incredible TOUR OF CHENGDU and treated us to so many different foods and great history lessons as well as Buddhism traditions. 

Join me at my blog at  http://pandarazzi.com