Rabat — The panda is on the road to recovery. For fifty years, it has been the world’s most beloved conservation icon. And decades of dedicated effort are now paying off.
Now, pandas have been downgraded to ‘vulnerable’ on the global list of species at risk of extinction after their population increased in a decade.
Giant pandas are considered a conservation success story. Populations declined between the 1970s and the late 1980s, due to habitat loss and poaching. But their numbers increased from an estimated 1,600 in 2004 to 1,860 in 2014.
In 2016, giant pandas were downlisted from Endangered to V following decades of conservation work, but they still remain at risk.
The decision is a recognition of the hard work of the Chinese government, local communities, nature reserve staff and The World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) over many years. But the panda’s long term future is not yet secure.
Their habitat is severely fragmented which is the biggest threat to their survival.
Panda’s Natural Habitat
The giant panda is known for its solitary lifestyle and spends most of its time eating. Pandas spend around 14 hours a day feeding, mainly on bamboo, which represents about 99% of their diet.
The remaining 1% includes eggs and small animals.
Giant pandas also play an important role in their environment. By spreading seeds through their droppings, they help plants grow and contribute to keeping their mountain forests healthy.
Panda habitats are home to a wide variety of species. They are also important for other threatened and endangered animals, including red pandas, and snow leopards.
Protecting pandas therefore also means protecting the forests they live in, as well as the many animals and communities that depend on these environments.
Protecting The Giant Panda
The WWF, one of the world’s largest international conservation organizations, has been working with the Chinese government to help protect giant pandas and their habitats.
As part of its conservation efforts, WWF has removed more than 15,000 meters of artificial fencing to reconnect panda populations through wildlife corridors, which are important for the animals’ survival.
The organization has also planted more than 50 hectares of bamboo forests in important panda habitats.
To reduce the impact of local communities on panda habitats, WWF has helped install fuel-efficient wood stoves and biogas systems in thousands of households in remote mountain areas. These efforts reduce the need for people to collect firewood while also making their homes warmer and safer.
