The Giant Panda, one of the most iconic animals on the planet is finally not an endangered species. Thanks to all the conservation planning the animal is officially not an endangered species.
The announcement come by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF ) that the animal has been downgraded from "Endangered" to "Vulnerable", after a 17 percent increase in its population over the past 10 years.
“For over fifty years, the giant panda has been the globe’s most beloved conservation icon as well as the symbol of WWF. Knowing that the panda is now a step further from extinction is an exciting moment for everyone committed to conserving the world’s wildlife and their habitats,” said Marco Lambertini, WWF Director General.
Seen as an incredible change of fate, the Giant Panda was facing existential threat, as late as in 2009 experts were predicting it could become extinct within three generations. But thanks to fierce conservation efforts there are now 67 panda reserves in China, which protect nearly two-thirds of the global population.
“The recovery of the panda shows that when science, political will and engagement of local communities come together, we can save wildlife and also improve biodiversity,” added Lambertini.
However, the WWF was of the view that despite success Giant Panda remains vulnerable owing to the fact theat they still number in hundreds and loss of habitat. “Everyone should celebrate this achievement but pandas remain scattered and vulnerable, and much of their habitat is threatened by poorly-planned infrastructure projects – and remember: there are still only 1,864 left in the wild,” added Lambertini.
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