With its black-white coat, the adorable fluffy animal is one of the most precious animals in the world. It is native to China, proudly called China’s national treasure. As the most well-know celebrity of China, it appears in the logo of the World Wildlife Fund for Nature (WWF), preeminently endorses the Olympics and many other international games held in China as a mascot, shows up as a versatile actor on the big screen, such as Kong Fu Panda.
Pandas are cute and cuddly with cool eye patches and dopey gestures. Any animative movements of the giant panda will draw wide attention and generate happiness. There are many reasons why people love them and the important one is that they are rare and endangered. The name of Panda now refers to the giant panda but also referred to the lesser panda at the very beginning.
The Giant Pandas’ mating season is only 2-4 days during March to May. If missed, they will wait till the next year. One female panda will usually breed only one baby, and it is not easy for wild pandas to have twins anyway. The lowered fertility generated the research on captive breeding. The China Conservation and Research Centre for the Giant Panda was established in 1983, jointly by Wolong National Reserve and WWF whose inspired from a panda named Chi Chi who was transferred from the Beijing Zoo to the London Zoo in 1958.
The giant panda now only lives in a few mountain ranges in central western and south western China, mainly in Sichuan Province, and also available in Shaanxi and Gansu provinces. It is classified to be an endangered species by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. According to the official report based on 1999-2000 census, there are in total 1,590 giant pandas living in the wild in their natural habitats. The number was pessimistically estimated as 1,000 several years ago.
The giant panda is China's national treasure and was regarded as the symbol of valiancy and peace. Its diplomatic career is sparkling. In Japanese history records, the court of the Tang Dynasty (618 - 907) sent two bears and seventy pieces of fur as national gift to Japan. The two bears were testified to be giant pandas. American President Nixon's visit to China in1972 brought huge fame to the giant panda.
