Giant pandas are no longer an endangered species?!

The San Diego Zoo has plenty to offer those hoping to see some incredible wild animals, but the giant panda is by far one of the most coveted animals to see while visiting.

The good news is that the furry panda bears may no longer be an endangered species, according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature. The researchers behind this find say that there has been a 17-percent increase in their population in the decade between 1914 and 2014.

This is good news for the fluffy bear that has long been a favorite at the zoo, for more than just their cute looks. The panda bears who live at the San Diego Zoo, including Bai Yun, have been invaluable to researchers who have studied their cub growth, behavior, nutrition, reproductive life and much more. Bai Yun and her cubs under age three still live at the San Diego Zoo and contribute to many panda studies.

While the development and retraction from endangered status is a great start, it comes with a warning. The giant bears are considered “at risk” as there are still less than 2,000 of these lovable animals left.

In a statement from Lo Sze Ping, CEO of the World Wildlife Fund China said that:

“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.”

Do yourself a favor and check out the giant pandas at our local, world famous San Diego Zoo. You can learn more about the World Wildlife Fund here.

Source: DiscoverSD