Over the weekend, some fantastic news came out of the wildlife world: the giant panda, considered endangered since the mid 80’s, is no longer subject to the highest of risks. In fact, the panda has been re-classified as ‘vulnerable’, with numbers increasing by 17% since 2004 – a far cry from the <1000 pandas remaining almost 40 years ago. This is a huge step forward for the animal kingdom, and we can thank social consciousness for this increase in numbers: namely, the Chinese government have played a huge part in keeping this species safe. By making solid efforts towards reforestation and forest protection/anti-poaching schemes, the government have allowed the populations of panda to grow. The cherry on top of this sweet story is the news that, for the second time since 2013, Atlanta Zoo’s own Lun Lun (a 19 year old panda) has given birth to twins.
But we’re not out of the woods just yet. China’s governments warn that we should not rest easy in this knowledge, noting that the status of these pandas means little if we cease trying to help the species thrive. In addition to this, climate change is (as always) a major threat to the world’s animals, and that within the next 80 years, it is estimated that over 35% of the panda’s bamboo habitat may be eliminated.
And it doesn’t stop there. While the pandas are having their moment to shine, tragically the eastern gorilla has now been classified as critically endangered. This is primarily due to illegal hunting (resulting in a population decline of over 70% in the past 20 years), as well as habitat destruction. To see the increase in panda populations may be inspiring, but we absolutely must ensure that all other animals receive the same level of compassion and care. You can help by taking part in one of our many projects, which are designed to educate our volunteers about the hardships all species face, and to enable each of us to work towards reforestation, sustainable habitats, and protection of all animals across the globe.
