- Title: CHINA: Hundreds of panda sculptures on display at Hong Kong airport
- Date: 9th June 2014
- Summary: HONG KONG, CHINA (JUNE 9, 2014) (REUTERS) WWF REPRESENTATIVES, GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS AND FRENCH ARTIST PAULO GRANGEON HOLDING PANDA SCULPTURES IN FRONT OF CURTAIN PANDA SCULPTURE HOLDING HONG KONG FLAG WWF REPRESENTATIVES, GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS AND FRENCH ARTIST GRANGEON STANDING IN FRONT OF CURTAIN UNVEILING PANDAS PANDAS HOLDING HONG KONG FLAGS GRANGEON STANDING AMONGST PANDAS PANDA SCULPTURE (SOUNDBITE) (English) FRENCH ARTIST, PAULO GRANGEON, SAYING: "I am very near WWF. And this is a logo. And I make only this with them, you cannot find in the shops. It's no toys. Every panda is hand-make, is a little different, and no pollution to do it. And I am happy. I could speak hours about it, you know." VARIOUS OF DRAGON AIR HOSTESS TAKING PICTURES OF PANDAS FROM BALCONY VARIOUS OF PANDAS WWF HONG KONG CEO ADAM KOO STANDING AGAINST BACKGROUND OF PANDAS FEET WALKING PAST PANDAS (SOUNDBITE) (English) WWF HONG KONG CEO, ADAM KOO, SAYING: "So you have to educate the people living with them, the pandas, that, do not be scared of them or if they intrude in on their property or whatever, don't shoot them, you know, that kind of work. And also, also, one other area is that we do work in trying to protect deforestation and illegal logging in China so that it improves their habitat, yes." ONLOOKERS TAKING PICTURES OF PANDAS EXHIBIT WWF REPRESENTATIVES, GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS AND FRENCH ARTIST PAULO GRANGEON STANDING AMONGST PANDAS PANDAS WITH ONLOOKERS IN BACKGROUND
- Embargoed: 24th June 2014 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: China
- Country: China
- Topics: Quirky,Light / Amusing / Unusual / Quirky
- Reuters ID: LVA974OYF1K14TL5VQAAKB7F819Y
- Story Text: Hundreds of pandas arrived at Hong Kong International Airport on Monday (June 9), as part of a WWF-sponsored tour aimed to promote conservation.
The 1600 pandas, made out of recycled paper mache, are the brainchild of French Artist Paulo Grangeon, who started the project in 2008.
"I am very near WWF. And this is a logo. And I make only this with them, you cannot find in the shops. It's no toys. Every panda is hand-make, is a little different, and no pollution to do it. And I am happy. I could speak hours about it, you know," Grangeon told Reuters.
The panda sculptures will be put up for adoption at the end of the exhibition, with the proceeds going to WWF, who will use it for conservation initiatives.
The French artist has held similar exhibitions in several cities around the globe, with new panda sculptures made by hand in Thailand for every new location.
The number 1600 represents the number of pandas left in the wild in 2008, but WWF CEO Adam Koo thinks that the next survey will see numbers of wild pandas up, a development he attributes to the WWF work in education and habitat conservation efforts.
"So you have to educate the people living with them, the pandas, that, do not be scared of them or if they intrude in on their property or whatever, don't shoot them, you know, that kind of work. And also, also, one other area is that we do work in trying to protect deforestation and illegal logging in China so that it improves their habitat, yes," Koo said.
The 1600 pandas will appear at 10 different Hong Kong landmarks until June 21st, after which they will be adopted out for between USD 200 to 450. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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