Pandas were in danger of extinction for a long time. But the good news is they are no longer classified as endangered! For many years, pandas were listed as endangered for numerous reasons. The first reason is habitat loss. Forests in China were being torn down and destroyed for farming, factory usage, and development. When the bamboo forests disappeared, they struggled to survive. Roads and towns split up panda habitats, making it super hard for them to find mates. By the 1980s, fewer than 1,000 pandas were living in the wild. 

The WWF or World Wide Fund for Nature has been working with the government since 1982 on initiatives to save the world’s most famous bears and their habitats. They started by protecting forest areas, replanting bamboo forests, and breeding programs in zoos. The hard work from WWF they have been considered Vulnerable in 2016. The Smithsonian National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute has made very significant strides towards securing a great future for Pandas. Ever since the first pair of Giant Pandas arrived in Washington, D.C. in 1972, scientists have partnered with colleagues on a vital research project to protect the Pandas. They study diseases that target pandas to better understand their health.

Even though Pandas are no longer classified as endangered, they still need all of our help to keep them living and well populated. A very important thing we have to watch out for is climate change. Climate change affects the growth of bamboo and prevents the creation of more habitats in China. Pandas rely on bamboo mostly for food; a decline in bamboo could reduce the number of Pandas. Human development also affects pandas due to the cutting down of trees and their habitats/homes. This is something we can control and work on to continue saving more pandas and keep them no longer classified as endangered.