New job promises good pay, free car, pandas

Chinese Net users are going wild over what they're calling the most interesting job in the country: earning 200,000 yuan (32,115) a year while caring for giant pandas.

A breeding base in Ya'an, Southwest China's Sichuan Province is looking for a live-in caretaker for the bears, while offering extras such as use of a car and free room and board.

The China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda, together with the Sohu Club and Ford China, announced the job opening on Saturday for what netizens are calling a "panda master."

In addition to caring for the bears, applicants will also take part in scientific research and help train pandas to return to the wild, according to Heng Yi, head of media relations at the center.

Heng said the job was created in hopes to draw more attention to the protection of giant pandas at home.

According to a Xinhua News Agency report, around 80 percent of those engaged in volunteer work protecting pandas are foreigners.

Heng explained that the Ya'an breeding base is also looking for eight "panda observers" to visit with the bears.

Applicant qualifications for the job were not specified.

Some Net users expressed concern about who would be held responsible in case the panda became sick or died.