🐼12.12 Panda Base SE: My Competition Script Translated to English

Hello everyone! I am Zhou Hetong, and I have been a science communication volunteer at the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding for two years.

I initially chose to volunteer at the panda base because I was captivated by the adorable appearance of giant pandas, and I wanted more people to learn about the biodiversity of Sichuan. I hoped that through my efforts, more people would understand that pandas are not only cute but also crucial for ecological conservation, which could help raise awareness about environmental protection.

However, I gradually realized that my contribution to the panda base and panda conservation was somewhat limited. My role mainly involved conveying professional knowledge to visitors in a lively and easily understandable way—such as comparing how chewing gum for a long time can make your jaw muscles larger, similar to how pandas’ jaw muscles develop due to their bamboo diet. Over time, I came to understand that, compared to the contribution I made to the base, visitors, and animal conservation, the personal gains from this work were even more valuable. I have gained far more than I have given. Today, I will share the story of how I entered the panda base through pandas as a medium, and how this "magic door" helped me shift perspectives and experience a more diverse world filled with various cultures.

The first stop through this "magic door" is the starting point of my story—"home." In my work in science communication, pandas have become the link between me and "home," giving me a sense of belonging and identity. Pandas and I share many similarities: we are both native to Sichuan, we love to sleep in, we seek cool places in summer, we both enjoy eating bamboo shoots, and we both have a mother who both wants us to become independent and takes care of us. Through pandas, I have reconciled with my own shortcomings. Our laziness and preference for shady places have their reasons—perhaps it’s even a self-protection mechanism.

The panda base is not only the home of the pandas but also a big family for the volunteers. Here, I’ve met many friends from different backgrounds, which allowed me to gain an early understanding of various professions as a high school student. Some of my friends are students like me, while others are landscape designers studying how to plant beautiful flowers at corners to satisfy customers. Despite our different professions and experiences, at the base, we all work together to spread science knowledge and promote the idea of harmonious coexistence between humans and nature. This sense of mission has made the word "home" even more profound.

The panda base not only connects me with my hometown and helps me make new friends, but it has also become the key to the world, offering me opportunities to communicate with foreign visitors and learn about diverse cultures. At the base, many foreign tourists ask me questions about pandas, and I can see that they, like me, love these animals. I recall some moments from when I explained things to foreign visitors. While answering their questions, I also learned about their views on animals and the regulations of their zoos. I witnessed the international influence of our base. They often praise our enrichment facilities and careful designs, such as the expanded No. 14 animal house, bird-friendly glass designs, fruit hanging from trees, and ice blocks laid out during the hot summer. These are all the results of our efforts. The panda base is not only famous in Chengdu and China; its reputation has spread worldwide.

The final stop of the "magic door" is no longer limited to the human perspective, but instead takes us into the animal world. Through observing pandas—whether at the base or in documentaries—I have come to understand the complete ecological chain, from bamboo to pandas, and to scavengers like vultures cleaning up panda carcasses. I have also become acquainted with many of the pandas' "neighbors": red pandas, snow leopards, black bears, blood pheasants, and the red-billed blue magpies that like to pick at panda fur. The diversity of animals in the panda habitat is rich, and though they may not be as famous as pandas, they face the same threats from human activities because they share the same ecosystem.

Once abstract concepts like biodiversity and food chains were made concrete, I clearly understood how these animals’ survival is interdependent—they share the mountains and depend on each other. But in these ecosystems, humans seem to be outside of it all, disconnected from the plants and animals. In fact, humans, like other creatures, also rely on natural resources and biodiversity to survive. For example, we cannot live without water, and water purification depends on aquatic plants. Every species is a treasure of nature and an indispensable part of the ecosystem. Protecting them is protecting ourselves. This is not only a responsibility to nature but also a promise to the future survival of humanity.

This has been my experience and reflection as a science communication volunteer. I hope that by sharing this, I can inspire more people to observe and understand our planet from diverse perspectives and work together to achieve harmonious coexistence between humans and nature.