The giant panda, commonly a symbol for conservation, is no longer considered an endangered species, according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature IUCN. A nationwide census in found 1, giant pandas in the wild in China, excluding cubs — an increase from 1, in , according to the IUCN. Including cubs, the current population count is approaching 2,, the organization said. The report credits forest protection and reforestation measures in China for increasing the available habitat for the species. The giant panda was once widespread throughout southern China, and is revered in the country's culture. The IUCN's first assessment of the species in listed the giant panda as "very rare but believed to be stable or increasing.

Why Giant Pandas Are Still at Risk



Giant Panda No Longer an Endangered Species | Time
T he giant panda is no longer considered an endangered species, the World Wildlife Fund announced on Sunday. The WWF has worked for decades to save giant pandas by developing reserves and working with local communities to establish sustainable livelihoods and minimize their impact on forests, the organization said. There are now 67 panda reserves, which protect nearly two-thirds of all wild pandas. Pandas, however, still remain under threat.


Why Are The Giant Pandas Become Endangered?
The giant panda is almost synonymous with conservation. The World Wildlife Fund for Nature is the world's largest conservation organization and their logo has incorporated an image of the panda since its inception. Unfortunately, for many years the threat to this species was so grave that they were considered endangered, increasing the possibility of extinction. The reasons for this vary from difficulties breeding in captivity to illegal trafficking. The response from the Chinese government has been to take action and slow the decline of this species.



China has tried hard to protect its lovely giant pandas. Most panda conservation work has involved protecting their habitat , making laws to punish hunters and smugglers, and captive breeding. On September 5th, , the IUCN announced that giant pandas had been removed from the endangered list. Now their new designation is "vulnerable". According to the World Wildlife Fund's research, in wild panda numbers were 1,