Meet the 1,600 paper mache pandas at Central Embassy in Bangkok
"1600 Pandas+" is the follow-up to “1600 Pandas", a collaboration that began in 2008 between WWF-France and artist Paulo Grangeon, who handcrafted 1600 paper mache panda sculptures. The sculptures, made from recycled materials, represented the number of existing giant pandas in the wild at that time.
The new tour, "1600 Pandas+" refers not only to the nearly 17% increase in the population of wild giant pandas to over 1800 in the past decade, according to a survey conducted by the Chinese government in early 2015, but also to increased public awareness of ongoing wild giant panda conservation and an always symbolic reminder of the importance of sustainability in our natural environment. Specially designed paper mache “Mom and cub” pandas have been created to commemorate this occasion, as we celebrate a growing wild giant panda population and continue to support China’s efforts to tackle the threats and challenges faced by this fragile species.
Following the original “1600 Pandas" tour through France, the Netherlands, Italy, Switzerland, Germany, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Malaysia, South Korea and nearly 100 exhibitions around the world, this year's "1600 Pandas+" tour featuring “Mom and cub” pandas will make its debut in Thailand in 2016. This unique and breathtaking exhibition will be showcased at national landmarks and outdoor spaces throughout the country, in an effort to raise awareness of both the success and the challenges faced by the wild giant panda, while emphasizing the importance of creating a world where humans live in harmony with nature.
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