For most of the 20th century, the giant panda seemed like a conservation lost cause, slow to reproduce and dependent on a single food source. Then China built a network of 67 panda reserves, now joined by the Giant Panda National Park. In 2016, the IUCN moved the panda from Endangered to Vulnerable.
An Unlikely Symbol
For most of the 20th century, the giant panda was a symbol of everything wrong with conservation, cute enough to attract donations, but seemingly impossible to save.
The Turnaround
In 2016, the IUCN upgraded the giant panda's status from Endangered to Vulnerable. The turnaround was driven by China's massive investment in bamboo forest restoration, a network of 67 panda nature reserves, now joined by the Giant Panda National Park, together covering 2.58 million hectares, and strict anti-poaching laws.
>> "From about 1,860 in China's 2014 survey, the wild population has grown to around 1,900."
Scientists caution that climate change could push suitable panda habitat to higher elevations, and the work is far from over.
_Sources: Swaisgood, Wang and Wei, "Panda Downlisted but not Out of the Woods", Conservation Letters, 2018. WWF-UK, "Giant panda" species page. Xinhua, report from the Global Panda Partners 2024 conference, Chengdu, 26 November 2024._