NEW YORK/TORONTO, June 22, 2016 – The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and Toronto Zoo have launched a global competition with a once-in-a-lifetime prize: the opportunity to name two rare baby pandas in China.

The two cubs were born at the Chengdu Panda Base, just as the world adopted the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), a bold new agenda aimed at eradicating poverty and tackling the world’s most pressing challenges by 2030. They have been appointed UNDP’s first “animal ambassadors” to help raise awareness of the SDGs.

“These pandas symbolize the plight of the world’s diminishing wildlife in the face of climate change and the loss of natural habitats. Both biodiversity and healthy ecosystems are essential for improving and sustaining human wellbeing,” said UNDP Administrator Helen Clark.

“Addressing the loss of biodiversity is one of the Sustainable Development Goals. By getting involved in the fun of naming the pandas, the public are also getting involved in the serious work of realizing the goals. We hope the pandas will help inspire people to become aware of these goals, engage with them, and help to implement them in their own country,” Helen Clark said.

“Toronto Zoo is very pleased to be supporting this exciting opportunity for the public to name these two beautiful panda cubs in China who are ambassadors for a species in great need of attention and help. Every animal at the Toronto Zoo acts as an ambassador for its counterpart in the wild, and we strive to create a connection with the public to highlight the problems facing species in the wild. The Toronto Zoo strongly believes we all have a shared responsibility to care for the wildlife on this planet, and the Toronto Zoo works hard to be a leader in efforts to save animals and habitats that need help. Toronto Zoo is proud to be part of the global giant panda conservation breeding program and acknowledges our many partners including Canadian Embassy in China, Chengdu Panda Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, Chongqing Zoo, State Forestry Administration of the People's Republic of China and the Chinese Association of Zoological Gardens. We invite people to also come and visit our own panda cubs born here at the Toronto Zoo on October 13, 2015, Jia Panpan and Jia Yueyue," said John Tracogna, Chief Executive Officer, Toronto Zoo.

The public can nominate names by visiting pandas.undp.org. The winning names will be announced in Chengdu on July 23.

Entrants can also win a trip to see the pandas by picking their favorite of the 17 SDGs and uploading a creative video explaining the Goal, and why it matters. Full details on how to enter, as well as the competition’s terms and conditions, are listed on the site.

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Contact Information:

Adam Cathro, UNDP, +1 212 906 5326, adam.cathro@undp.org

Katie Gray, Supervisor of Public Relations and Events, Toronto Zoo, 416-392-5941, kgray@torontozoo.ca

Amanda Chambers, Public Relations and Events Associate, Toronto Zoo, 416-392-5974, achambers@torontozoo.ca

UNDP partners with people at all levels of society to help build nations that can withstand crisis, and drive and sustain the kind of growth that improves the quality of life for everyone. On the ground in nearly 170 countries and territories, we offer global perspective and local insight to help empower lives and build resilient nations. www.undp.org.

The Toronto Zoo is Canada’s premier zoo and a national leader in saving wildlife to ensure the rich diversity of nature for future generations. More than a tourist attraction, the Toronto Zoo boasts a number of leading programs for helping wildlife and their natural habitats – from species reintroduction to reproductive research. A world-class educational centre for people of all ages, the Toronto Zoo is open every day except December 25 and attracts approximately 1.3 million visitors each year.

Toronto Zoo is accredited by CAZA (Canada's Accredited Zoos and Aquariums) and AZA (Association of Zoos and Aquariums). Look for these logos whenever you visit a Canadian zoo as your assurance that you are supporting a facility dedicated to providing excellent care for animals, a great experience for you, and a better future for all living things. For more information, visit caza.ca and aza.org