The Giant Panda Recovery

Giant pandas are black and white bears that live in the mountains of China. They are famous for eating bamboo. For many years, pandas were endangered because their forest homes were being cut down. Thanks to hard work by China and people around the world, pandas are doing much better today.

Protecting Panda Homes

China created more than 60 nature reserves to protect panda habitat. These reserves cover large areas of bamboo forest in the mountains. Corridors of forest connect the reserves so pandas can travel between them. Logging and farming are not allowed inside the reserves.

Pandas Bounce Back

In 2016, giant pandas were moved from endangered to vulnerable, meaning they are doing better. There are now more than 1,800 giant pandas in the wild. Zoos around the world have also helped by breeding pandas and teaching people about them. The giant panda shows that conservation can really work.

Fun Facts

• A giant panda can eat up to 80 pounds of bamboo in a single day!
• Baby pandas are tiny when they are born, weighing only about 4 ounces.
• Giant pandas have a special wrist bone that works like a thumb to help them grip bamboo.

Did You Know?

The giant panda is the symbol of the World Wildlife Fund and is one of the most recognized animals on Earth!