After more than a half-century spent on the endangered species list, the Chinese bear has been reclassified as vulnerable species with effective conservation efforts, the Chinese authorities announced Wednesday.
China’s state-run news agency Xinhua quoting conservation officials said ‘world’s rarest mammals’ are no longer an endangered species but vulnerable as tiring conservation efforts increase their population to 1800 in the wild.
Experts believe that the East Asian country achieved the target with decade’s long efforts to save the ‘iconic’ animal.
The number of wild giant #pandas in #China has reached more than 1,800 and their status is downgraded from "Endangered" to "Vulnerable". A new achievement in China's protection of biodiversity and ecological restoration. pic.twitter.com/jPnkkAXVYy
— Hua Chunying 华春莹 (@SpokespersonCHN) July 8, 2021
Speaking at a presser Director of the Department of Natural Ecological Protection revealed that the species is reclassified as vulnerable. The latest classification reflects their improved living conditions and China’s efforts in keeping their habitats integrated, he said in a presser.
It further added that large areas of natural ecosystems have been systematically and completely protected, besides the improvement in wildlife habitats that have been effectively improved over time. The officials reportedly established sprawling panda reserves across several mountain ranges in an effort to boost their survival.
Cui, the Chinese official, also intimidated that ‘If we downgrade conservation status, or relax our conservation work, the populations and habitats of giant pandas could still suffer irreversible loss and our achievements would be quickly lost.’
It is worth noting that the International Union for Conservation of Nature excluded the giant omnivores from the endangered list in 2016, but Chinese officials didn’t go with IUCN stats and continued efforts.
The officials further revealed that pandas are notoriously difficult to breed. Meanwhile, successful efforts to boost the panda population may have come at the expense of some carnivores. Zoos have also contributed to increasing numbers via captive breeding methods.
The population of several carnivorous has plunged sharply during recent years, potentially placing the larger ecosystem at risk, per reports.
Furthermore, the drop in Panda’s population comes in wake of the development and other infrastructure over the years that have disturbed their natural habitat – limiting their living space beside reduction in bamboo which is their primary diet.
China has used giant pandas to boost political friendships across the globe as it is considered this species as a national treasure.
