The Giant Panda has been one of the most iconic, and well-known endangered wild animals in the past few years. However, the Giant Panda is now no longer endangered: they are now classed as 'vulnerable' to extinction. When a species is vulnerable to extinction, they are one step away from becoming endangered.
Despite the Giant Panda no longer being classed as endangered, they are still in a very precarious position. Today, there are less than 2,000 individual animals remaining in the wild - the WWF estimates that there are 1,864 Giant Pandas left in the wild today.
Giant Pandas, despite their low population, have been a wildlife conservation success story. They are one of the animals that proves wildlife conservation can be effective and save a species from the bring of extinction. In saying that though, these animals still face several threats, and are not out of the dark yet.
The Threats To The Giant Panda
The Giant Panda has no natural predators in the wild; the threats these animals face comes from humans. Pandas face a number of different threats from humans. One of the main threats to the Pandas existence; is a loss of habitat. The destruction of their forest home, is one of the main reasons why this animal is vulnerable to extinction.
Pandas live in a handful of forests in China. It is the destruction of these forests which has resulted in the Panda becoming vulnerable to extinction. Pandas rely on these forests for their survival; both for mating and for finding food. The food that Pandas rely on for their survival, bamboo, is found in the forests in China.
Habitat loss is not the only threat to the Pandas existence: they are also threatened by poaching. Pandas can be directly killed by poachers for their fur. Pandas are also killed accidentally by poachers, when the poachers are trying to kill other animals.
The Good News About Pandas
The good news about these animals, is that over 60% of the Panda population lives in protected reserves. There are 50 of these reserves in China today.
The Future For Pandas
Although most Pandas are living in protected reserves; 40% of their population is not in protected reserves. This 40% is vulnerable to habitat loss and poaching. To secure the future for Pandas, we need to protect more land for them - and, expand their habitat. That wold help grow the Pandas population to a healthier population.
To help protect these cute animals, adopt a Giant Panda with the WWF.