Off We Go!

Today I leave on my journey to China for a seven week long program studying the unique habitat of both the Giant Panda, the Red Panda and many other endemic species of plants and animals. It is an exciting adventure to be able to be a part of, for this is the first time Wildland Studies is conducting a field studies program in China.

The anticipation for this trip has built up quite a bit the past few days as I have been preparing my gear, packing up my backpack and try to cut down on weight. In China facebook, twitter and youtube are illegal, so this blog will be my best effort to communicate. However the regularity of internet access while traveling is still unknown and is likely quite minimal. I very much appreciate everybody who is taking the time to read about the work I am taking part in because conservation of our environment and global ecosystems are very important to me, as they should be to all, seeing as the quality and quantity of the worlds natural beauties are decreasing at an alarming rate. Everything we can do to help matters, big or small, and this is my small contribution to the earth.

Please feel free to comment on these posts, even it is just to say hi. When internet is available I will also be checking my email bmjacobs@ucdavis.edu. As some of my friends have already heard, I would like to make one request. Since I will be blogging and journaling as I travel through Asia this summer, I would love for you to jot down the memorable experiences, exciting events or even just interesting thoughts of your summer so that upon return to civilization we can share our stories together. No need for intense journal entries or novels, unless you feel the need, but just write down little reminders so that when I ask how your summer was, you can remember the beauty of it!

Panda fact of the post:

• Male Giant Pandas do a handstand against a tree and urinate in order to attract female Pandas. The taller the male, the higher his urine scent and thus the more attractive.