On your first day, you will be placed with a panda keeper, and will work with him for the duration of your placement. However, if you would like to work with a different keeper or set of animals that should be no problem - you only have to ask the local team. Below is a rough idea of what happens in a typical day at this placement.
7.00am – 7.30am Breakfast
8.00am – 9.00am Cleaning enclosures and helping keepers with odd jobs, such as sweeping leaves and cleaning sanctuary.
9.00am – 10.30am “Free time”. Depending on which keeper you have, you can use this time to explore the park, take photos, help with veterinary treatments or catch up on emails.
10.30am – 11.00am Feeding the pandas alongside keepers.
11.00am – 2.00pm Volunteers have free time and many use it to take classes at a local school, however this is not compulsory. During this time lunch is also taken.
2.00pm – 2.30pm Cleaning panda enclosures.
2.30pm – 4.30pm “Free time”. Again many volunteers use this time to take English classes either at a local school or with the panda keepers. However, if you would prefer just to relax you are also welcome to do this.
4.30pm – 5.00pm Feeding the pandas.
6.30pm – 7.30pm Dinner
NB - This is just one of many panda conservation placements IVHQ has in China and is used here as an example. It is not necessarily the one you will be working at.
