As Chengdu Week commences in the UK, panda awareness portal SaveaPanda.com launches, underlining the plight of the rarest member of the bear family, and raising awareness of panda  conservation efforts  which have seen the number of giant pandas living in captivity rise to 341 from no more than 100 two decades ago.

Fronting the campaign is John Craven OBE, endorsed as Sichuan Giant Panda Ambassador for his contribution towards panda conservation. John first visited the Sichuan Province in 1986, documenting projects between the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) and the Chinese government to help save the Giant Panda from extinction. Nearly 30 years later, John will spend two weeks in Chengdu in September 2014 during China's two week Panda Awareness period, furthering his knowledge of the Giant Panda and carrying out some key conservation work at the world renowned Bifengxia Panda Conservation Centre. Four groups of travellers from all corners of the UK are already set to follow John to the Chengdu & Bifengxia Panda Centres to carry out essential volunteering work.

Saveapanda.com will feature key facts and information on China's most treasured symbol and will also host a panda webcam, enabling panda lovers to observe these playful and enigmatic creatures from afar. The site will also feature full details on John Craven's unique conservation tour to Chengdu and Bifengxia Panda centres, information on volunteering with pandas and exclusive video footage. Visitors to the site will also have the opportunity to become a Panda Guardian, forming part of a unique community of panda lovers dedicated to raising awareness of their plight.  

According to the WWF, it is estimated that as few as 1600 pandas remain in the wild today. Threatened by large scale manmade development, bamboo harvesting and poaching, the threat to pandas is rife.   Despite this, the number of giant pandas living in captivity around the world has risen to 341 from no more than 100 two decades ago according to the Committee of Giant Panda Breeding Techniques, based in Chengdu. Systematically monitoring the behaviour, mating, foraging, and many more attributes of the Giant Panda, these facilities have enabled a deeper understanding of panda biology for stimulating the wild giant panda population, improving education resources and raising awareness on a global level.

Following the devastating earthquake that hit the Sichuan region in 2008, many of the injured pandas were transferred to Bifengxia Panda Centre from Wolong Panda centre, which suffered widespread damage. Home to around 80 pandas, Bifengxia is now one of the most important panda research centres in China.

To find out more visit www.saveapanda.com

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Editorial contact:

For more information, please contact Kate McWilliams or Jules Ugo at Lotus UK (kate@lotus-uk.co.uk / jules@lotus-uk.co.uk / 02079537470)