BLACK & WHITE BEAR

The Giant Panda
Ailuropoda melanoleuca

1,900
Living in the wild (est. 2025)
808
Living in captivity
99%
Bamboo diet
up to 84 lbs
of bamboo eaten daily
A group is called an
EMBARRASSMENT
Seriously. That's the real term.
Panda eating bamboo
"The panda is possibly the most powerful conservation icon in the world."
- Sir David Attenborough
Newborn pink baby panda

A newborn panda weighs just 100 grams, about 1/900th the size of its mother. Pink, blind, and hairless, it will grow into one of Earth's most beloved creatures.

0 Pandas Sort:

IN MEMORY

🗺️

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INSIGHTS

Age Distribution

Gender Split

Ownership

Most pandas are owned by China via 10-year loan agreements (~$1M/year). Cubs born abroad must typically be returned to China within 2-4 years.

Facility Types

Click a slice to see facilities

Global Distribution

Flag size reflects panda population

Birth Timeline

Breeding program acceleration over 3 decades

Panda in tree

~1,900

giant pandas estimated in the wild (2025)

Up from fewer than 1,000 in the 1970s. One of conservation's greatest success stories.

CONSERVATION

From the brink of extinction to a symbol of hope

1961

WWF Founded with Panda Logo

The World Wildlife Fund adopts the giant panda as its iconic logo, making it a global symbol of conservation.

1963

First Panda Reserve

China establishes the Wolong National Nature Reserve, the first dedicated panda protection area in Sichuan province.

1984

Breeding Breakthroughs

Chinese researchers begin making progress in captive breeding programs, a crucial step for species recovery.

1992

National Conservation Project

China launches the National Conservation Project for the Giant Panda and its Habitat, protecting 1.4 million acres.

2004

Population Survey

The third national survey counts 1,596 wild pandas, evidence that conservation efforts are working.

2016

Downgraded to "Vulnerable"

The IUCN downgrades the giant panda from "Endangered" to "Vulnerable", a monumental conservation achievement.

2021

Giant Panda National Park

China officially establishes the Giant Panda National Park, connecting 67 existing reserves across 10,500 sq miles.

2025

~2,708 Pandas Worldwide

China's State Forestry Administration reports approximately 1,900 wild and 808 captive pandas, the highest numbers ever recorded.

VULNERABLE

No longer endangered, but not yet safe

In 2016, giant pandas were reclassified from Endangered to Vulnerable. China's Giant Panda National Park (est. 2021) protects 10,476 square miles of habitat, three times the size of Yellowstone. 67 reserves now protect 66% of all wild pandas. This is what happens when the world decides to care.

IUCN Red List: Giant Panda Assessment ↗

Wild Panda Population Over Time

HOW YOU CAN HELP

"Every bamboo forest we protect is a home we save. Every dollar donated is a step toward a future where pandas thrive, not just survive."

🌿

Donate to WWF

Support the World Wildlife Fund's Giant Panda program, protecting habitats and funding research.

🐼

Adopt a Panda

Symbolically adopt a giant panda through WWF. Your support funds conservation on the ground.

🏛️

Visit Ethical Zoos

Support accredited zoos that fund breeding programs. Your ticket helps keep pandas thriving in the wild.

📢

Spread the Word

Share this site. Talk about pandas. Awareness is the first step toward action. Every voice matters.

🎉 The Good News

In 2016, giant pandas were reclassified from Endangered to Vulnerable. China's Giant Panda National Park (est. 2021) protects 10,476 square miles of habitat, three times the size of Yellowstone. 67 reserves now protect 66% of all wild pandas. This is what happens when the world decides to care.

Panda portrait