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This is good news! Hopefully we'll see more progression on this!👏
In the 1980s, there were as few as 1,100 pandas in China. Today, there are over 1,800 giant pandas living in the wild. Chinese officials have considered their national treasure an endangered species for a long time, but this past week their classification was downgraded after decades of hard work. No longer will they be considered “endangered,” and their classification upgrade now sees them as “vulnerable.” The announcement was made by China’s environmental ministry, and it’s the first time the animal’s status has changed on its own endangered species list, which uses similar standards as the Swiss-based International Union for Conservation of Nature.
Internationally, the giant panda’s status was changed from “endangered” to “vulnerable” in 2016 by the IUCN, a decision that was challenged by the Chinese government at the time. They argued that changing the panda’s status would mislead people into believing that conservation efforts could be relaxed and that the fate of the panda would remain uncertain. Giant pandas are notoriously difficult to breed, with females only able to become pregnant for 24 to 72 hours each year.
The latest classification upgrade “reflects their improved living conditions and China’s efforts in keeping their habitats integrated,” said Cui Shuhong, head of the Ministry of Ecology and Environment Department of Nature and Ecology Conservation. Experts say that the country has managed to save its iconic animal through conservation efforts, which includes the creation of sprawling panda reserves across several mountain ranges. These large areas of natural ecosystems have been protected, improving wildlife habitats of not just pandas.
Although it’s a good time to be a giant panda now, the IUCN warned that climate change is predicted to eliminate more than 35% of their natural bamboo habitat in the next 80 years. Hopefully, their reclassification sheds light on the importance of long-term conservation efforts, and the ways in which they can be successful. The recovery of the panda shows that the intersection of science, political will, and engagement of local communities can save wildlife and improve biodiversity.