In 2005 WWF celebrated 25 years of our first giant panda programme – by this time we'd seen wild numbers grow to approximately 1,600 and created almost 60 giant panda reserves. Working with the Chinese government WWF has been able to ensure that there are more protected areas where the giant panda can find the food it needs and live in safety.

However, as a species the giant panda remains incredibly vulnerable to habitat loss and bamboo die back – the giant panda's main source of food. The conversion of forest to agricultural areas, medicinal herb collection, bamboo harvesting, road construction, hydropower development and mining are all eating into the panda's habitat. Leaving many giant pandas, who were once free to roam across China and into Myanmar and Vietnam, with a territory no more than 1.2km wide.

WWF is working with the Chinese government and local communities to reduce all these threats by methods such as increasing the number and size of protected areas, connecting priority habitats strengthening the management of these areas, reducing habitat fragmentation and helping local people to be less dependent on forest resources.

Your donation will benefit the pandas, their environment and the local community. Please give what you can today!

Thank you