Fact Friday: Camp Panda: helping cubs return to the wild by Catherine Thimmesh

Image: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

Fact Friday features Camp Panda: helping cubs return to the wild by Catherine Thimmesh. Just try and resist this Sibert Honor-winning book! One look at that cover should be enough. If not, then the engaging text and many crisp, clear full-color photos throughout should seal the deal!

An estimated 23,000 pandas roamed the wilds of China at one time. In the last 40 years, their population has been decimated by habitat loss, poaching and human overpopulation. Find out how scientists are attempting to help this endangered species. This includes wearing a panda suit and mask covered in panda urine and feces to mask the human smell. Scientists want the pandas to fear human contact. Baby pandas are not born with the instinct to survive. These skills are taught. The work is expensive and fascinating. Back matter includes source notes.

Camp Panda belongs in every collection.