PDXWildlife has made enormous contributions towards the preservation and sustaining of endangered wildlife. My experience with them has been through their work with Giant Pandas, where their studies have been instrumental in new approaches towards breeding, treatment in captivity and approaches to wild release. Their intern program provides education and invaluable training for young scientists in pursuit of their own careers. They are a tiny organization with a very large impact and I am pleased to continue my association with and support of Meghan and her team.
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PDXWildlife is a small organization (two people--Meghan and Nate!) with a giant impact in the field of panda conservation. Their recent studies have led to rapid advances in successful panda reproduction, and among their current studies are those which will greatly enhance efforts to return more pandas to the wild--which is the ultimate goal of panda conservation programs. From studying the effects of environmental mercury to criteria for mate selection, their contributions cannot be underestimated. Additionally, their work with interns from all over the globe provides young scientists with valuable opportunities to expand their knowledge.
PDXWildlife is most worthy of inclusion in the Top-Rated List.
I've followed PDXWildlife over the last 6 years and I continue to be impressed by the quality of the research that they are conducting. They are a small non-profit run by a husband/wife team- Nathan and Meghan. The passion they exude is clearly evident after having a simple conversation about their work. As I regularly travel to Sichuan, Meghan has met with me and has shown me around the facilities and their research.
I donate to their program as I see the direct benefit in doing so. The money they bring in goes entirely to their panda studies and the value of this is evident in the publications that they produce. Let's hope the breeding facilities are smart enough to adopt their findings!
I had the pleasure of meeting Nathan while I was volunteering at the Bifengxia breeding center. He was leading a group of interns around the facility, training them on iPads and covering the details of their research. I was intently watching his group when he noticed me "hovering" and offered to explain to me what they were doing. We ended up talking for almost an hour, before I realized that I was neglecting my poop cleaning duties.
Even though he was extremely busy, I was really impressed by the fact that he stopped to answer all of my questions. I am glad that I had the opportunity to meet and speak to someone who's passion for his work was clearly evident in the way he presented himself in a positive and encouraging manner. Thank you Nathan.
Working for PDXWildlife has been the best experience of my entire life. I was a summer intern in 2016. During my time with PDXWildlife I learned a great deal of lasting scientific research skills in a fun and motivational way. Both Meghan and Nate are the most wonderful people who are deeply committed and passionate about Giant Panda conservation, this is what makes PDXWildlife such a great non-profit. They have excellent communication with everyone involved regardless of language barriers or distance. They have been supportive in every way possible, right from my first application email up to present day. PDXWildlife push the boundaries of what can be done under fundraising limitations. Every donation is valued and used to produce amazing results leading to positive and tangible changes in panda conservation. PDXWildlife deserves international recognition and support for their dedication and commitment. I would wholeheartedly recommend PDXWildlife to anyone looking to support a worthy cause.
PDXWildlife is an amazing program, run by passionate, innovative individuals who care greatly about panda conservation and its effects. I had the opportunity to intern with PDXWildlife for the summer of 2016 doing behavioral research, because of these experiences I have gained skills which enable me to perform high quality behavioral research data collection. Meghan and Nate are wonderful individuals who have dedicated their lives to the conservation of the world's most loved creature, the panda. Meghan and Nate are able to juggle the responsibilities of performing the research, getting new interns settled in Ya'an every three to four months, as well as keeping in great contact with the interns, once they've returned home to the states and the research is ongoing. They do all this while, maintaining a positive attitude, providing a professional experience and expressing willingness to help the interns with anything they need, including reference letters, re-vamping CV's, or life advice. Meghan and Nate give everything they have for PDXWildlife, and are more than deserving of recognition and donations. Words cannot describe their passion for pandas, and conservation, they are two of the most willing, intelligent, kind people I've ever had the opportunity to work with. Because of my amazing experience with PDXWildlife I hope to work with them again in the future, and see their nonprofit, gain the global recognition it deserves.
I interned with PDXWildlife last summer, Living in China while being able to work on the forefront of Giant panda research was literally the best experience of my life, I cannot recommend Meghan, Nate and PDXWildlife enough! I wish I could go back, apply!!
PDXWildlife not only conducts crucial research (notably their work with giant pandas that is transforming the approach to conservation breeding) but is actively involved in developing relationships abroad and giving promising young minds a chance to be involved in a career altering internship program. PDXWildlife is an exemplary non-profit that has gone about everything the right way and it shows from the dedicated following they have built, the reputation they have not only in United States but also abroad (particularly in China), and by the work they've done to educate and mentor the future of the scientific community.
As a founding board member, I have had the pleasure of working with PDXWildlife since 2011. From a small and ambitious beginning, they have grown into a efficient organization that produces innovative endangered species research. With publications in both Nature Communication and Environmental Toxicology & Chemistry, the ability to quickly produce high quality results certainly makes them a front runner in a fairly complex field. With what has been accomplished in the previous five years, I am both proud and excited to be part of an organization that prides itself on educating future scientists through internships, and connecting the general public to endangered species research.
Meghan and Nathan have devoted the past 5 years creating an invaluable internship program that trains budding scientists in endangered species research. Having lived abroad myself, I am very impressed with their ability to manage an international program that has produced high quality publications and continues to be a front runner in panda bear research. I only wish I could donate more.
Keep up the great work!
I have been following PDX Wildlife and their work and cutting edge research with endangered species. I was also present for Meghan Martin Wintle's dissertation on free mate choice and how it enhances conservation breeding in the endangered giant panda...Fascinating! This is posted on their website and well worth the read! Plus, who doesn't love pandas?
PDX Wildlife is doing important and ground breaking work in the area of large mammal research. Through their efforts the Pandas are now reproducing successfully in captivity. This has been so successful that Pandas from their base are now being released/reintroduced into the wild. Their staff has done similar projects with elephants that have been among a rare few to reproduce and successfully raise young in a captive environment.
We have followed their work and are fascinated and intrigued by their pictures and descriptions of their work. With the expanding nature of their work now including interns and 'working volunteers' they offer one of the most unique experiences on the planet for those of us who love nature and wildlife. Keep up the great work!!
PDXWildlife is one of the best of non-profit, they care so much of the wildlife, they did so many researchs of them to make people know more about and focuse on the endangered species, thank you for what they have done!
As a conservation program, PDXWildlife is doing amazing work for the giant panda species. As a program offering internships, they're providing incredible opportunities that are benefitting the individuals who are lucky enough to participate as much as the pandas they're researching.
The management at PDXWildlife are in tune with everything that happens under their program, and are always ready to provide their insight, knowledge, and time anywhere it's needed. PDXWildlife works closely with the tight-knit communities at their partnered conservation bases in China, and has worked hard to build and maintain those relationships. Interning here can give you rare, incredible experiences, and supporting this organization can change the lives of people and animals across the world!
PDXWildlife is investigating the breeding of giant pandas, which is far from being well understood, and other behavioral studies of giant pandas in collaboration with the Bifengxia Research Base in Sichuan, China. They are surrounding themselves, years after years, with groups of interns who all had excellent backgrounds in various fields of animal studies which is highly commendable as it gives their organization an even better understanding of all aspects of the behaviors of giant pandas. PDXWildlife, from their collaboration with the Bifengxia Research Base over many years, has established close relationships with the Chinese staff at the Base and earned their respect.
I have been in contact with the staff at PDXWildlife for many years and have followed their extremely valuable work with great interest. I find that their contribution to the understanding of giant pandas is original and of exceptional quality.
Danielle Lemaire
I visited the Bifengxia Panda Base on two separate days with PDX Interns helping me find my way around the base. Though I had been there before, there were many changes and the Interns were very friendly and helpful. They were extremely invested in the research that was being conducted at the New Breeding Center on the panda base. The research is invaluable in understanding captive giant panda breeding and despite the unpredictable nature of the process, the Interns remained patient and enthusiastic. It was clear to me that they were trained well and had gained the respect of the staff at the panda base. I feel very fortunate that PDX Wildlife exists and believe strongly in the important work they are doing with giant pandas.
Carefully thought out and well-planned conservation program, working with giant pandas in Sichuan, China.
The directors of the organization are incredibly friendly, knowledgeable, and informative -- always able to fit a question or two into their busy schedules. Management is superb!
If you'd like to go do some behavioral research on giant pandas in their original homeland, than there is no better internship to take. Excellent and highly-rewarding opportunity made possible by a fantastic organization.