National Panda Day

Do you like scrolling through lighthearted videos of giant pandas wobbling around? These bamboo-munching creatures, with their distinctive black and white coats and playful demeanor, have captivated hearts for years. So much so that in 1961, the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) adopted the animal as its iconic logo. But did you know there's a day to celebrate them? National Panda Day, observed on March 16, helps to raise awareness about panda conservation and their fight for survival. The destruction of pandas' natural habitat meant that they became vulnerable; to curb the threat, the Chinese government built approximately 50 reserves. Fortunately, in 2016, the pandas were reclassified from an endangered to a vulnerable species. However, with fewer than 2,000 giant pandas remaining in the wild, the fight to protect them is far from over.
© Suzi Eszterhas/Minden Pictures