More than 17,000 people have entered an international contest to become a panda keeper in southwestern China, the organizers said on Friday.
"Project Panda," launched by WWF China last week, will give six panda ambassadors, or "Pambassadors," as they have been dubbed, a unique opportunity to study wild panda behavior at the Chengdu Panda Base in the province of Sichuan this October.
The keepers will witness the births of several baby pandas and feed wild pandas.
Under the contest conditions, they will be also required to keep an Internet blog about their experiences.
"You will perform as photographer, videographer, journalist, scientist, and researcher in the course of one of the best months of your life," www.pandahome.com, where people can apply for the role of the Pambassador, said.
Applications close on September 5, whereupon an international panel will select six winners from a shortlist of 12 finalists.
The contest is aimed to promote the conservation of China's hallowed national species.
According to official reports, there are currently just 1,600 pandas left in the wild, while some 300 others are held in captivity worldwide.
BEIJING, August 27 (RIA Novosti)
