The first giant panda to have been born on French soil, Yuan Meng, received an emotional goodbye as it departed from the country’s ZooParc de Beauval, or Beauval Zoo, on Tuesday (July 25) morning. The male panda will take the long-haul flight back from the French capital city of Paris to Chengdu, the capital of the Chinese province of Sichuan.&nbsp;

<h2>An emotional send-off</h2>

Yuan Meng, whose name means “dream come true” in Mandarin, was born in August 2017, in the Beauval Zoo, Loire region of central France. “Everything went well. He said goodbye to his parents and his sisters, with tears in the eyes of his keepers,” said Rodolphe Delord, CEO of ZooParc de Beauval.&nbsp;

He added, “He can now continue to live his good life. It’s inevitably a moment of emotion, but all our animals born here are forced to leave one day. We’re used to that.”&nbsp;

Ahead of his departure, hundreds of people lined up outside the zoo as Yuan Meng, the six-year-old panda, had his final breakfast of bamboo stalks, in the presence of Lu Shaye, Chinese Ambassador to France and Delord.&nbsp;The truck slowly drove by hundreds of people, waving flags, gathered to bid farewell. 
&nbsp;

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🐼 🇫🇷 Bon voyage <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/YuanMeng?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#YuanMeng</a> 🚛 
Le premier <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/panda?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#panda</a> né sur le sol français vient de partir du <a href="https://twitter.com/zoobeauval?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@zoobeauval</a> direction l’aéroport de Roissy-Charles-de-Gaulle d’où il s’envolera aux alentours de 17h pour <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Chengdu?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Chengdu</a>. <a href="https://t.co/QYVgSCHpvu">https://t.co/QYVgSCHpvu</a> <a href="https://t.co/CxZOuZFXDM">pic.twitter.com/CxZOuZFXDM</a>
— www.panda.fr (@pandas_fr) <a href="https://twitter.com/pandas_fr/status/1683742704218390531?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 25, 2023</a></blockquote>
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“It’s still sad, we got attached to the pandas. But we know he’ll be better off there, for the good of the species,” said Caroline Bernard, who was there with her nine-year-old daughter Lilou, as per AFP.&nbsp;

“I cried, I am sad he is leaving. But I am trying to tell myself that he will be better off there. It’s for his own good,” said Lilou with tears in her eyes.&nbsp;

<h2>About his journey</h2>

According to the zoo’s website, Yuan Meng left from there around 9:00 am (local time) and will be driven to Paris’ Charles de Gaulle airport, with a police escort. Subsequently, the giant panda will take a special flight by China Airlines scheduled for 5:00 pm (local time) and land in Chengdu after 12 hours.&nbsp;

Caretaker Delphine Pouvreau and veterinarian Antoine Leclerc will accompany Yuan Meng to feed him bamboo and give him water during the flight. Zoo officials also said that they had been preparing the young panda for the long journey.&nbsp;

<h2>China’s panda diplomacy</h2>

Yuan Meng is the son of &nbsp;Yuan Zi and Huan Huan, the first pandas loaned to France by the Chinese authorities in 2012. China has long deployed so-called panda diplomacy with friends and even foes like the United States and Taiwan, in a supposed bid for furthering their foreign policy aims.&nbsp;

The Chinese ambassador to France, on Tuesday, said that France’s hosting of Yuan Meng strengthens relations between Beijing and Paris, as well as conservation efforts for the giant panda, which is classified as “vulnerable” by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).

<h2>Why is Yuan Meng leaving?</h2>

Once in Chengdu, the panda will be sent to a panda reproduction centre. In line with China’s policy where pandas are only loaned to foreign zoos who are expected to return any offspring within a few years of their birth to join the country’s breeding programme. 
 
According to the Swiss-based environmental group, World Wide Fund (WWF), there are around 1,860 giant pandas left in the wild, predominantly located in the Chinese mountains in bamboo forests. While there are some 600 in captivity in panda centres, zoos and wildlife parks across the world.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp; 
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The first giant panda to have been born on French soil, Yuan Meng, received an emotional goodbye as it departed from the country’s ZooParc de Beauval, or Beauval Zoo, on Tuesday (July 25) morning.

The first giant panda to have been born on French soil, Yuan Meng, received an emotional goodbye as it departed from the country’s ZooParc de Beauval, or Beauval Zoo, on Tuesday (July 25) morning. The male panda will take the long-haul flight back from the French capital city of Paris to Chengdu, the capital of the Chinese province of Sichuan. An emotional send-off Yuan Meng, whose name means “dream come true” in Mandarin, was born in August 2017, in the Beauval Zoo, Loire region of central France. “Everything went well. He said goodbye to his parents and his sisters, with tears in the eyes of his keepers,” said Rodolphe Delord, CEO of ZooParc de Beauval. He added, “He can now continue to live his good life. It’s inevitably a moment of emotion, but all our animals born here are forced to leave one day. We’re used to that.” Ahead of his departure, hundreds of people lined up outside the zoo as Yuan Meng, the six-year-old panda, had his final breakfast of bamboo stalks, in the presence of Lu Shaye, Chinese Ambassador to France and Delord. The truck slowly drove by hundreds of people, waving flags, gathered to bid farewell. 🐼 🇫🇷 Bon voyage #YuanMeng 🚛 Le premier #panda né sur le sol français vient de partir du @zoobeauval direction l’aéroport de Roissy-Charles-de-Gaulle d’où il s’envolera aux alentours de 17h pour #Chengdu. https://t.co/QYVgSCHpvu pic.twitter.com/CxZOuZFXDM — www.panda.fr (@pandas_fr) July 25, 2023 × “It’s still sad, we got attached to the pandas. But we know he’ll be better off there, for the good of the species,” said Caroline Bernard, who was there with her nine-year-old daughter Lilou, as per AFP. “I cried, I am sad he is leaving. But I am trying to tell myself that he will be better off there. It’s for his own good,” said Lilou with tears in her eyes. About his journey According to the zoo’s website, Yuan Meng left from there around 9:00 am (local time) and will be driven to Paris’ Charles de Gaulle airport, with a police escort. Subsequently, the giant panda will take a special flight by China Airlines scheduled for 5:00 pm (local time) and land in Chengdu after 12 hours. Caretaker Delphine Pouvreau and veterinarian Antoine Leclerc will accompany Yuan Meng to feed him bamboo and give him water during the flight. Zoo officials also said that they had been preparing the young panda for the long journey. China’s panda diplomacy Yuan Meng is the son of Yuan Zi and Huan Huan, the first pandas loaned to France by the Chinese authorities in 2012. China has long deployed so-called panda diplomacy with friends and even foes like the United States and Taiwan, in a supposed bid for furthering their foreign policy aims. The Chinese ambassador to France, on Tuesday, said that France’s hosting of Yuan Meng strengthens relations between Beijing and Paris, as well as conservation efforts for the giant panda, which is classified as “vulnerable” by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). Why is Yuan Meng leaving? Once in Chengdu, the panda will be sent to a panda reproduction centre. In line with China’s policy where pandas are only loaned to foreign zoos who are expected to return any offspring within a few years of their birth to join the country’s breeding programme. According to the Swiss-based environmental group, World Wide Fund (WWF), there are around 1,860 giant pandas left in the wild, predominantly located in the Chinese mountains in bamboo forests. While there are some 600 in captivity in panda centres, zoos and wildlife parks across the world. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

WATCH | Paris bids adieu to Yuan Meng as first France-born panda heads to China

China's sweetheart panda Ya Ya has once again become an internet sensation after the nation's media shared pictures of her arriving at her new home. On Sunday, the 23-year-old panda ended her quarantine and entered her new home in Beijing.

Ya Ya has returned home after spending 20 years in the United States. On China's Twitter alternate Weibo, a hashtag tracking the Panda's return as per a CNN report has quickly gained over 230 million views. On Monday, the hashtag topped the trending charts.

<h2>US-China and 'panda diplomacy'</h2>

Back in 2003, when US-China relations were experiencing a high point, Ya Ya the Panda was loaned to the Memphis Zoo under China's panda diplomacy endeavour. However, last month the Giant Panda's return journey was scheduled — a move that symbolises the deteriorating relations between the two superpowers.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/shanghais-giant-panda-ya-ya-is-back-home-after-20-years-in-us-586797">Shanghai's giant panda Ya Ya is back home, after 20 years in US</a>

As per CNN, US-China relations have fallen to their lowest point in a century. But it's not just that. Ya Ya's return came after months of heated discussions on Chinese social media about the alleged neglect the giant panda faced at the Memphis Zoo.

<h2>The alleged neglect Ya Ya faced in the USA</h2>

The discussions followed accusations levied by animal advocates in 2021. According to Panda Voices, "As a senior panda, she has endured several miscarriages and is malnourished and underweight. She suffers from skin mites. The lack of quality bamboo, nutritious treats, and enrichment has caused her serious stereotypical behaviour."

All charges of neglect were repeatedly denied by the Memphis Zoo.

Ya Ya and her partner Le Le spent years of their lives in Memphis Zoo. Since 2019, visitors and panda fans had raised concerns over the sickly appearance of the two pandas. In February 2023, just months before they were to be transported home to China, Le Le died. His death triggered an outpouring of anger at the US Zoo authorities who dismissed speculations that the pandas were sick or malnourished and instead repeatedly insisted that the hair loss was due to hormones and that they were just small framed but healthy.

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Let's check how Panda Ya Ya is faring one month after returning to China from Memphis Zoo in the US <a href="https://t.co/z7kIGPN3Hw">https://t.co/z7kIGPN3Hw</a> <a href="https://t.co/puOhfSS9RJ">pic.twitter.com/puOhfSS9RJ</a>
— Raam Beart 🥭 (@raam_beart) <a href="https://twitter.com/raam_beart/status/1663060507459477504?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 29, 2023</a></blockquote>
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Photos and videos posted of Ya Ya online have garnered heaps of praise for the panda's current caretakers. Many have taken to comparing her current pictures to those from a month back.&nbsp;One of the posts on Weibo noted that "It’s only been a month and the panda looks like a different one now."

<h2>Panda Ya Ya's welcome to China&nbsp;</h2>

Ya Ya was transported to Shanghai on April 4th. Her return was huge news and came with an "outpouring of nationalist sentiment online," reports CNN.&nbsp;

Since her arrival in China, the elderly panda has been in a month-long quarantine that ended on Sunday. She is in the care of Beijing Zoo, which in a statement posted online said her condition was "stable."

The zoo, as per its statement, has prepared a special feeding ground for panda Ya Ya.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/tears-flow-as-japan-send-xiang-xiang-the-giant-panda-home-to-china-564339">Tears flow as Japan sends Xiang Xiang the giant panda 'home' to China</a>

<h2>When can the public meet Ya Ya?</h2>

Due to her advanced age, the elderly panda would not be put on public display, said the Zoo, citing Ya Ya's need to adapt to the change in environment. However, the zoo will keep the public abreast with regular updates on its Weibo page.

(With inputs from agencies)

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China's sweetheart panda Ya Ya has once again become an internet sensation after the nation's media shared pictures of her arriving at her new home. On Sunday, the 23-year-old panda ended her quarantine and entered her new home in Beijing.

China's sweetheart panda Ya Ya has once again become an internet sensation after the nation's media shared pictures of her arriving at her new home. On Sunday, the 23-year-old panda ended her quarantine and entered her new home in Beijing. Ya Ya has returned home after spending 20 years in the United States. On China's Twitter alternate Weibo, a hashtag tracking the Panda's return as per a CNN report has quickly gained over 230 million views. On Monday, the hashtag topped the trending charts. US-China and 'panda diplomacy' Back in 2003, when US-China relations were experiencing a high point, Ya Ya the Panda was loaned to the Memphis Zoo under China's panda diplomacy endeavour. However, last month the Giant Panda's return journey was scheduled — a move that symbolises the deteriorating relations between the two superpowers. Also read | Shanghai's giant panda Ya Ya is back home, after 20 years in US As per CNN, US-China relations have fallen to their lowest point in a century. But it's not just that. Ya Ya's return came after months of heated discussions on Chinese social media about the alleged neglect the giant panda faced at the Memphis Zoo. The alleged neglect Ya Ya faced in the USA The discussions followed accusations levied by animal advocates in 2021. According to Panda Voices, "As a senior panda, she has endured several miscarriages and is malnourished and underweight. She suffers from skin mites. The lack of quality bamboo, nutritious treats, and enrichment has caused her serious stereotypical behaviour." All charges of neglect were repeatedly denied by the Memphis Zoo. Ya Ya and her partner Le Le spent years of their lives in Memphis Zoo. Since 2019, visitors and panda fans had raised concerns over the sickly appearance of the two pandas. In February 2023, just months before they were to be transported home to China, Le Le died. His death triggered an outpouring of anger at the US Zoo authorities who dismissed speculations that the pandas were sick or malnourished and instead repeatedly insisted that the hair loss was due to hormones and that they were just small framed but healthy. Let's check how Panda Ya Ya is faring one month after returning to China from Memphis Zoo in the US https://t.co/z7kIGPN3Hw pic.twitter.com/puOhfSS9RJ — Raam Beart 🥭 (@raam_beart) May 29, 2023 × Photos and videos posted of Ya Ya online have garnered heaps of praise for the panda's current caretakers. Many have taken to comparing her current pictures to those from a month back. One of the posts on Weibo noted that "It’s only been a month and the panda looks like a different one now." Panda Ya Ya's welcome to China Ya Ya was transported to Shanghai on April 4th. Her return was huge news and came with an "outpouring of nationalist sentiment online," reports CNN. Since her arrival in China, the elderly panda has been in a month-long quarantine that ended on Sunday. She is in the care of Beijing Zoo, which in a statement posted online said her condition was "stable." The zoo, as per its statement, has prepared a special feeding ground for panda Ya Ya. Also read | Tears flow as Japan sends Xiang Xiang the giant panda 'home' to China When can the public meet Ya Ya? Due to her advanced age, the elderly panda would not be put on public display, said the Zoo, citing Ya Ya's need to adapt to the change in environment. However, the zoo will keep the public abreast with regular updates on its Weibo page. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

'Rescued' from alleged neglect, panda 'Ya Ya' thrives in China after time at US zoo

Pandas, named Shuang Shuang, Chong Chong, Xi Xi and Qing Qing enjoy an irresistible meal of fresh bamboo shoots and carrots at Chongqing zoo in Southwest China's Chongqing city.

Pandas enjoy refreshments at Chongqing zoo

After 20 years away, giant&nbsp;panda Ya Ya returned home on Thursday to a warm welcome and an outpouring of affection from millions of her online and in-person fans.&nbsp;

Ya Ya landed at Shanghai Pudong International Airport in the afternoon following a 16-hour special FedEx aircraft from Memphis, Tennessee, in the United States.

Her Chinese fans expressed their desire to see Ya Ya in good health and living the rest of her life "at home."

Waving at Ya Ya's aircraft before it landed in Shanghai, local resident Cheng Bei told China Daily,&nbsp;"We all hope that either now or in the future, either at home or abroad, giant pandas can receive love and respect from the whole world. I hope that Ya Ya can recover soon and wish her a long life."

As of Thursday evening, the Sina Weibo hashtag "Ya Ya has landed in Shanghai" had received 430 million views.

Top comments included "After 20 years, our baby finally back" and "I was moved to tears by her return."

Ya Ya is extremely popular in China, but animal specialists say fans will have to wait to see the giant&nbsp;panda because she requires time to adjust to her new living environment.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/penguin-pioneer-wobbly-penguin-becomes-first-in-world-to-undergo-mri-scan-in-uk-586534">'Penguin pioneer': Wobbly penguin becomes first in world to undergo MRI scan in UK</a>

The panda&nbsp;reached an old age at the age of 23, the equal of nearly 80 human years.

According to the National Forestry and Grassland Administration, Ya Ya was born at the Beijing Zoo and transferred to the Memphis Zoo in Tennessee in 2003 for a joint research and conservation work.&nbsp;

Sun Quanhui, a scientist at World Animal Protection told China Daily that&nbsp;Ya Ya will have to adapt to a new living environment, which may take a while,&nbsp;as she had lived in a different country&nbsp;for 20 years.

"During the time (of adapting), tourists should minimize her disturbance and breeders need to provide her with nutritious food and a suitable living environment to help her get accustomed to the new environment as soon as possible," he said.

Under Chinese regulations, Ya Ya must be quarantined for 30 days to determine whether she has any unknown infections, he said.

Shanghai Zoo has set out a unique quarantine area for Ya Ya, complete with dwellings, sports areas, and food-processing rooms. A significant quantity of bamboo and other food has also been prepared. According to the National Forestry and Grassland Administration, throughout the quarantine period, a team of panda experts from Beijing Zoo would be on standby 24 hours a day.

After Ya Ya has completed her quarantine, she will be sent to the Beijing Zoo, where living quarters, medical services, and food supplies have been provided.

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After 20 years away, giant panda Ya Ya returned home on Thursday to a warm welcome and an outpouring of affection from millions of her online and in-person fans.

After 20 years away, giant panda Ya Ya returned home on Thursday to a warm welcome and an outpouring of affection from millions of her online and in-person fans. Ya Ya landed at Shanghai Pudong International Airport in the afternoon following a 16-hour special FedEx aircraft from Memphis, Tennessee, in the United States. Her Chinese fans expressed their desire to see Ya Ya in good health and living the rest of her life "at home." Waving at Ya Ya's aircraft before it landed in Shanghai, local resident Cheng Bei told China Daily, "We all hope that either now or in the future, either at home or abroad, giant pandas can receive love and respect from the whole world. I hope that Ya Ya can recover soon and wish her a long life." As of Thursday evening, the Sina Weibo hashtag "Ya Ya has landed in Shanghai" had received 430 million views. Top comments included "After 20 years, our baby finally back" and "I was moved to tears by her return." Ya Ya is extremely popular in China, but animal specialists say fans will have to wait to see the giant panda because she requires time to adjust to her new living environment. ALSO READ | 'Penguin pioneer': Wobbly penguin becomes first in world to undergo MRI scan in UK The panda reached an old age at the age of 23, the equal of nearly 80 human years. According to the National Forestry and Grassland Administration, Ya Ya was born at the Beijing Zoo and transferred to the Memphis Zoo in Tennessee in 2003 for a joint research and conservation work. Sun Quanhui, a scientist at World Animal Protection told China Daily that Ya Ya will have to adapt to a new living environment, which may take a while, as she had lived in a different country for 20 years. "During the time (of adapting), tourists should minimize her disturbance and breeders need to provide her with nutritious food and a suitable living environment to help her get accustomed to the new environment as soon as possible," he said. Under Chinese regulations, Ya Ya must be quarantined for 30 days to determine whether she has any unknown infections, he said. Shanghai Zoo has set out a unique quarantine area for Ya Ya, complete with dwellings, sports areas, and food-processing rooms. A significant quantity of bamboo and other food has also been prepared. According to the National Forestry and Grassland Administration, throughout the quarantine period, a team of panda experts from Beijing Zoo would be on standby 24 hours a day. After Ya Ya has completed her quarantine, she will be sent to the Beijing Zoo, where living quarters, medical services, and food supplies have been provided. WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Shanghai's giant panda Ya Ya is back home, after 20 years in US

Millions of Chinese people watched a farewell party for a 22-year-old female panda in a zoo. Memphis Zoo said goodbye to Ya Ya, a giant panda who would be sent home after 20 years.

Questions were raised about treatment of Ya Ya and her male mate Le Le. Their situation was closely moniored by Chinese people. Le Le died in February.

The zoo has in past faced allegations over the pandas from activists and has denied them saying it was false information.

According to the zoo, Ya Ya has chronic skin and fur conditions which "occasionally make her hair look thin and patchy".

The farewell party for Ya Ya was attended by 500 people in Tennessee city. The programme included Chinese cultural performances and farewell letters.

The programme was watched live online by many Chinese people.

"Safe travels Ya Ya. You will be missed by so many," read one comment on the zoo's Facebook page.

But other comments were critical of the panda's condition and criticised the zoo.

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Millions of Chinese people watched a farewell party for a 22-year-old female panda in a zoo. Memphis Zoo said goodbye to Ya Ya, a giant panda who would be sent home after 20 years.

Millions of Chinese people watched a farewell party for a 22-year-old female panda in a zoo. Memphis Zoo said goodbye to Ya Ya, a giant panda who would be sent home after 20 years. Questions were raised about treatment of Ya Ya and her male mate Le Le. Their situation was closely moniored by Chinese people. Le Le died in February. The zoo has in past faced allegations over the pandas from activists and has denied them saying it was false information. According to the zoo, Ya Ya has chronic skin and fur conditions which "occasionally make her hair look thin and patchy". The farewell party for Ya Ya was attended by 500 people in Tennessee city. The programme included Chinese cultural performances and farewell letters. The programme was watched live online by many Chinese people. "Safe travels Ya Ya. You will be missed by so many," read one comment on the zoo's Facebook page. But other comments were critical of the panda's condition and criticised the zoo. You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE ×

Millions of Chinese watch farewell party for panda soon to come home

A panda that China gifted to Taiwan 14 years ago as a symbol of goodwill died on Saturday, after suffering a spate of seizures. Watch the full video to know more

Giant Panda Tuan Tuan, gifted by China to Taiwan, dies

Tuan Tuan, one of the two giant pandas that China had gifted Taiwan, passed away on Saturday (November 19). The Taipei Zoo stated "brief illness" as the reason for the panda's death.&nbsp;Although the medical reports did not state any immediate word on the cause of death, prior reports indicated that the panda was thought to have a malignant brain tumour. 
 
After the detection of the tumour, two medical specialists were sent from China to Taiwan for assistance, AP reported.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/teeth-that-were-gathering-dust-for-40-years-lead-to-the-discovery-of-europes-last-panda-502628">Also read |&nbsp;Teeth that were 'gathering dust for 40 years', lead to the discovery of Europe's last Panda</a>

Taiwanese press sources stated that Tuan Tuan didn't respond and was put into an induced coma on Saturday following a string of seizures.

The ties between China and Taiwan broke in 1949 due to a civil war, but the year 2008, marked a turning point. The same year, Tuan Tuan and his mate were gifted to the Taiwanese zoo. Both were born in China in 2004 and succeeded in having a pair of cubs in Taiwan.&nbsp;

Watch |&nbsp;Giant Panda Tuan Tuan, gifted by China to Taiwan, dies

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As a gesture of goodwill, China sends pandas overseas, but it retains ownership of the animal and any offspring&nbsp;they may have.

However, since the pair's arrival, relations between the two countries deteriorated. China severed contact in 2016 when President Tsai Ing-wen, who supports independence, was re-elected in 2020.&nbsp;

Currently, the relations between Taiwan and China are very tense. With Taiwan standing stern to its independence entitlement, Beijing claims it to be a part of its territory. Many military drills were conducted by China after US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi paid a visit to the island nation in a show of solidarity.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/when-did-pandas-start-eating-bamboo-scientists-have-answer-493490">Also read |&nbsp;When did pandas start eating bamboo? Scientists have answer</a>

While the average life span of&nbsp;pandas is generally up to&nbsp;15 to 20 years, this panda lived for nearly 30 years with human assistance.&nbsp;

The super lazy and cute animals, which are endemic to southern China, are an unofficial national symbol. Currently, about 500 pandas are thought to be living in zoos or reserves, largely in Sichuan, while 1,800 are estimated to be living in the wild.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

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Tuan Tuan, one of the two giant pandas that China had gifted Taiwan, passed away on Saturday (November 19). The Taipei Zoo stated "brief illness" as the reason for the panda's death.

Tuan Tuan, one of the two giant pandas that China had gifted Taiwan, passed away on Saturday (November 19). The Taipei Zoo stated "brief illness" as the reason for the panda's death. Although the medical reports did not state any immediate word on the cause of death, prior reports indicated that the panda was thought to have a malignant brain tumour. After the detection of the tumour, two medical specialists were sent from China to Taiwan for assistance, AP reported. Also read | Teeth that were 'gathering dust for 40 years', lead to the discovery of Europe's last Panda Taiwanese press sources stated that Tuan Tuan didn't respond and was put into an induced coma on Saturday following a string of seizures. The ties between China and Taiwan broke in 1949 due to a civil war, but the year 2008, marked a turning point. The same year, Tuan Tuan and his mate were gifted to the Taiwanese zoo. Both were born in China in 2004 and succeeded in having a pair of cubs in Taiwan. Watch | Giant Panda Tuan Tuan, gifted by China to Taiwan, dies As a gesture of goodwill, China sends pandas overseas, but it retains ownership of the animal and any offspring they may have. However, since the pair's arrival, relations between the two countries deteriorated. China severed contact in 2016 when President Tsai Ing-wen, who supports independence, was re-elected in 2020. Currently, the relations between Taiwan and China are very tense. With Taiwan standing stern to its independence entitlement, Beijing claims it to be a part of its territory. Many military drills were conducted by China after US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi paid a visit to the island nation in a show of solidarity. Also read | When did pandas start eating bamboo? Scientists have answer While the average life span of pandas is generally up to 15 to 20 years, this panda lived for nearly 30 years with human assistance. The super lazy and cute animals, which are endemic to southern China, are an unofficial national symbol. Currently, about 500 pandas are thought to be living in zoos or reserves, largely in Sichuan, while 1,800 are estimated to be living in the wild. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE

‘Symbol of goodwill’: China’s gift to Taiwan, beloved panda Tuan Tuan dies

A pair of giant pandas sent as gifts from China to Qatar arrived in Al Khor on Wednesday ahead of next month's World Cup.

Pandas from China arrive in Qatar ahead of FIFA World Cup

Researchers have discovered a never-seen-before species of European Panda that according to estimates roamed the continent some six million years ago. The discovery of this species—likely the last panda of Europe—began with the finding of a pair of fossil teeth that had been lying in a storage facility undiscovered for 40 years.&nbsp;As per a Live Science report the fossil, which consists of an upper canine and an upper molar, was discovered in northwest Bulgaria in the late 1970s, but they were eventually left in storage at the Bulgarian National Museum of Natural History in Sofia.

Watch |&nbsp;WION Climate Tracker: Pandas are 99% vegetarian &amp; only feed on bamboos

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It's astonishing that this discovery remained undiscovered for forty years because it wasn't properly catalogued and was thus left untouched for forty long years. Recently, museum staff stumbled onto the peculiar-looking teeth and decided to investigate further.

An analysis of the teeth soon revealed that they were unlike any of the previously identified species of European pandas or the discovered fossils. The species which has been named Agriarctos Nikolovi had much larger teeth than the majority of European panda species. The giant pandas we know today have large teeth, and the newly discovered Agriarctos Nikolovi's teeth come close.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/when-did-pandas-start-eating-bamboo-scientists-have-answer-493490">When did pandas start eating bamboo? Scientists have answer</a>

In addition, the teeth are significantly more recent than other panda fossils found in Europe, some of which are over 10 million years old, indicating that A. Nikolovi was probably the final panda species to inhabit the continent.

However, despite the similarities the modern pandas are not a direct descendent of this species, but "is a close relative" says study co-author Nikolai Spassov, a palaeontologist at the Bulgarian National Museum of Natural History.

Also read |&nbsp;<a data-ctorig="https://www.wionews.com/trending/worlds-oldest-giant-male-panda-an-an-dies-at-35-499387" data-cturl="https://www.google.com/url?client=internal-element-cse&amp;cx=006054055338965708568:09spwrlibei&amp;q=https://www.wionews.com/trending/worlds-oldest-giant-male-panda-an-an-dies-at-35-499387&amp;sa=U&amp;ved=2ahUKEwiZ3ez13qX5AhXZklYBHX_GAGsQFnoECAEQAg&amp;usg=AOvVaw2YaUShyDRO2cpvlj7wDFfB" dir="ltr" href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/worlds-oldest-giant-male-panda-an-an-dies-at-35-499387" target="_blank">World's oldest giant male&nbsp;panda&nbsp;'An An' dies at 35</a>

"This discovery shows how little we still know about ancient nature," he remarked.

The authors of the study speculate that A. Nikolovi's habitat and diet may have been impacted by climate change, which may have ultimately led to its extinction.

(With inputs from agencies)

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Researchers have discovered a never-seen-before species of European Panda that according to estimates roamed the continent some six million years ago. The discovery of this species—likely the last panda of Europe—began with the finding of a pair of fossil teeth that had been lying in a storage facility undiscovered for 40 years.

Researchers have discovered a never-seen-before species of European Panda that according to estimates roamed the continent some six million years ago. The discovery of this species—likely the last panda of Europe—began with the finding of a pair of fossil teeth that had been lying in a storage facility undiscovered for 40 years. As per a Live Science report the fossil, which consists of an upper canine and an upper molar, was discovered in northwest Bulgaria in the late 1970s, but they were eventually left in storage at the Bulgarian National Museum of Natural History in Sofia. Watch | WION Climate Tracker: Pandas are 99% vegetarian & only feed on bamboos It's astonishing that this discovery remained undiscovered for forty years because it wasn't properly catalogued and was thus left untouched for forty long years. Recently, museum staff stumbled onto the peculiar-looking teeth and decided to investigate further. An analysis of the teeth soon revealed that they were unlike any of the previously identified species of European pandas or the discovered fossils. The species which has been named Agriarctos Nikolovi had much larger teeth than the majority of European panda species. The giant pandas we know today have large teeth, and the newly discovered Agriarctos Nikolovi's teeth come close. Also read | When did pandas start eating bamboo? Scientists have answer In addition, the teeth are significantly more recent than other panda fossils found in Europe, some of which are over 10 million years old, indicating that A. Nikolovi was probably the final panda species to inhabit the continent. However, despite the similarities the modern pandas are not a direct descendent of this species, but "is a close relative" says study co-author Nikolai Spassov, a palaeontologist at the Bulgarian National Museum of Natural History. Also read | World's oldest giant male panda 'An An' dies at 35 "This discovery shows how little we still know about ancient nature," he remarked. The authors of the study speculate that A. Nikolovi's habitat and diet may have been impacted by climate change, which may have ultimately led to its extinction. (With inputs from agencies) Watch WION LIVE HERE: You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Teeth that were 'gathering dust for 40 years', lead to the discovery of Europe's last Panda

A new study, which has been conducted by the Natural History Museum in Los Angeles,&nbsp;has found that pandas have been munching bamboo for six million years.

After the analysis of a new fossil, scientists found that the bear's ancestors also had a thumb-like 'sixth digit' to grip their favourite food.

This feature was also present in the ancestral panda genus Ailurarctos during the late Miocene period, according to the study.

The earliest evidence of the appendage is much more advance than the previous research documented evidence of the thumb-like structure to just 100,000 to 150,000 years ago.

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''Deep in the bamboo forest, giant pandas traded an omnivorous diet of meat and berries to quietly consuming bamboos, a plant plentiful in the subtropical forest but of low nutrient value,'' said palaeontologist Professor Xiaoming Wang, who examined the wrist bone of an individual from the ancestral panda genus Ailurarctos.

''Tightly holding bamboo stems in order to crush them into bite sizes is perhaps the most crucial adaptation to consuming a prodigious quantity of bamboo,'' he added.

Pandas, which live mainly in temperate forests high in the mountains of southwest China, must eat around 26 to 84 pounds of it every day.

According to World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), a newborn panda is about the size of a stick of butter, but females can grow up to about 200 pounds, while males can grow up to about 300 pounds as adults.

(With inputs from agencies)

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A new study, which has been conducted by the Natural History Museum in Los Angeles, has found that pandas have been munching bamboo for six million years. After the analysis of a new fossil, scientists found that the bear's ancestors also had a thumb-like 'sixth digit' to grip their favourite food.

A new study, which has been conducted by the Natural History Museum in Los Angeles, has found that pandas have been munching bamboo for six million years. After the analysis of a new fossil, scientists found that the bear's ancestors also had a thumb-like 'sixth digit' to grip their favourite food. This feature was also present in the ancestral panda genus Ailurarctos during the late Miocene period, according to the study. The earliest evidence of the appendage is much more advance than the previous research documented evidence of the thumb-like structure to just 100,000 to 150,000 years ago. × ''Deep in the bamboo forest, giant pandas traded an omnivorous diet of meat and berries to quietly consuming bamboos, a plant plentiful in the subtropical forest but of low nutrient value,'' said palaeontologist Professor Xiaoming Wang, who examined the wrist bone of an individual from the ancestral panda genus Ailurarctos. ''Tightly holding bamboo stems in order to crush them into bite sizes is perhaps the most crucial adaptation to consuming a prodigious quantity of bamboo,'' he added. Pandas, which live mainly in temperate forests high in the mountains of southwest China, must eat around 26 to 84 pounds of it every day. According to World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), a newborn panda is about the size of a stick of butter, but females can grow up to about 200 pounds, while males can grow up to about 300 pounds as adults. (With inputs from agencies) Watch WION's live TV here:

When did pandas start eating bamboo? Scientists have answer

Fifty years ago this month, Chairman Mao Zedong made President Richard Nixon a promise: He would send two giant pandas to the United States.

Mao made this proclamation in February 1972, when Nixon visited China to begin a historic rapprochement. The announcement stirred up what The New York Times described at the time as “polite warfare” among American zoos angling to host the pandas, and ushered in a half-century of so-called panda diplomacy between China and the United States.

But now, a member of Congress from Nixon’s party is questioning whether panda diplomacy needs to change, and is aiming to send a message to China while it hosts the Olympic Games.

Panda diplomacy, in its current form, works like this: China loans pandas to a zoo in the United States or another country, and the zoo pays an annual fee -&nbsp;usually $500,000 to $1 million each -&nbsp;to keep the pandas for at least a few years. The animals serve as goodwill ambassadors for China while, experts said, softening the country’s authoritarian image and drawing attention away from its record of human rights abuses.

“It’s soft power,” said Andrew Nathan, a political-science professor at Columbia University who specializes in Chinese politics and foreign policy.

“Pandas are very cute and lovable,” he said, “so it fits into that kind of friendship diplomacy image.”

But now, a bill in Congress is taking aim at this long-standing arrangement — specifically, the stipulation that panda cubs born abroad must be shipped to China within a few years.

“We do need to think outside of the box in terms of dealing with their aggression,” Rep. Nancy Mace, R-S.C., said in an interview, referring to the Chinese government.

The legislation faces a narrow path in the House, which is controlled by Democrats, and it was not clear how much of an effect it might have given that China arranges panda loans directly with zoos and not with the U.S. government.

Mace, who sponsored the bill, said she hoped it would send a message to China during the Winter Games in Beijing that “some of their aggression is not OK,” and that pandas should not be used as window dressing.

The bill cites China’s threats against Taiwan, its suppression of dissent in Hong Kong and its “crimes against humanity” against the Uyghurs, a Muslim ethnic minority, in the northwestern Xinjiang region. President Joe Biden has called the government’s actions in Xinjiang a genocide, as did the Trump administration, citing the use of internment camps and forced sterilization.

The Chinese Embassy responded to a request for comment by referring to a statement that the National Zoo &amp; Conservation Biology Institute, which is part of the Smithsonian Institution, gave to The Post and Courier of Charleston, South Carolina. “We have nothing but success with our giant panda program,” a zoo spokesperson said.

The National Zoo in Washington is one of three zoos in the United States that have pandas; the others are Zoo Atlanta and the Memphis Zoo. Representatives for the zoos declined to comment.

China updated its panda protocols in 1984 to stipulate that pandas would be offered on 10-year loans, not in perpetuity, as with Ling-Ling and Hsing-Hsing, the pandas China sent to the National Zoo in April 1972. (Nixon reciprocated by sending China a pair of musk oxen.)

When a panda cub is born in the United States, a zoo must pay China a one-time fee of $400,000. Most of the pandas are sent to China within a few years, although the age at which that happens varies by contract. Three pandas born in the United States remain in American zoos: Xiao Qi Ji, who was born at the National Zoo in 2020, and Ya Lun and Xi Lun, twins who were born at Zoo Atlanta in 2016.

In part because of the central role they play in US-China geopolitics, pandas have benefited from quality medical care and breeding and research efforts at facilities around the world. American zoos have, in turn, benefited from the increased foot traffic and revenue that pandas generate, helping to offset the cost of acquiring and keeping the animals.

In 2016, the giant panda was removed from the endangered list and upgraded to “vulnerable” status by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. As the panda’s survival outlook has improved, experts said, China’s approach to panda diplomacy has shifted, with the animals coming to serve as more of a shield for China’s human rights abuses and a tool to project soft power.

Susan Shirk, chair of the 21st Century China Center at the University of California, San Diego, said that if Mace’s bill passed, it could hurt a “mutually beneficial” collaboration among panda conservationists around the world.

“The raising of pandas should be done on the basis of science,” she said, “rather than using it as some kind of leverage.”

Dan Ashe, president and CEO of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, said his organization did not support Mace’s bill.

“This legislation would risk ending a long-standing program that has contributed to the conservation of wild pandas,” he said in a statement Feb. 7.

The San Diego Zoo had pandas from 1996 to 2019, when its contract with China ended. Donald Lindburg, the zoo’s former director of giant panda research, said the enduring appeal of the animals, for both the zoo and its visitors, was simple.

“They were very popular and many, many people came to see them,” he said. “They’re beautiful.”

Fifty years ago this month, Chairman Mao Zedong made President Richard Nixon a promise: He would send two giant pandas to the United States. Mao made this proclamation in February 1972, when Nixon visited China to begin a historic rapprochement.

Fifty years ago this month, Chairman Mao Zedong made President Richard Nixon a promise: He would send two giant pandas to the United States. Mao made this proclamation in February 1972, when Nixon visited China to begin a historic rapprochement. The announcement stirred up what The New York Times described at the time as “polite warfare” among American zoos angling to host the pandas, and ushered in a half-century of so-called panda diplomacy between China and the United States. But now, a member of Congress from Nixon’s party is questioning whether panda diplomacy needs to change, and is aiming to send a message to China while it hosts the Olympic Games. Panda diplomacy, in its current form, works like this: China loans pandas to a zoo in the United States or another country, and the zoo pays an annual fee - usually $500,000 to $1 million each - to keep the pandas for at least a few years. The animals serve as goodwill ambassadors for China while, experts said, softening the country’s authoritarian image and drawing attention away from its record of human rights abuses. “It’s soft power,” said Andrew Nathan, a political-science professor at Columbia University who specializes in Chinese politics and foreign policy. “Pandas are very cute and lovable,” he said, “so it fits into that kind of friendship diplomacy image.” But now, a bill in Congress is taking aim at this long-standing arrangement — specifically, the stipulation that panda cubs born abroad must be shipped to China within a few years. “We do need to think outside of the box in terms of dealing with their aggression,” Rep. Nancy Mace, R-S.C., said in an interview, referring to the Chinese government. The legislation faces a narrow path in the House, which is controlled by Democrats, and it was not clear how much of an effect it might have given that China arranges panda loans directly with zoos and not with the U.S. government. Mace, who sponsored the bill, said she hoped it would send a message to China during the Winter Games in Beijing that “some of their aggression is not OK,” and that pandas should not be used as window dressing. The bill cites China’s threats against Taiwan, its suppression of dissent in Hong Kong and its “crimes against humanity” against the Uyghurs, a Muslim ethnic minority, in the northwestern Xinjiang region. President Joe Biden has called the government’s actions in Xinjiang a genocide, as did the Trump administration, citing the use of internment camps and forced sterilization. The Chinese Embassy responded to a request for comment by referring to a statement that the National Zoo & Conservation Biology Institute, which is part of the Smithsonian Institution, gave to The Post and Courier of Charleston, South Carolina. “We have nothing but success with our giant panda program,” a zoo spokesperson said. The National Zoo in Washington is one of three zoos in the United States that have pandas; the others are Zoo Atlanta and the Memphis Zoo. Representatives for the zoos declined to comment. China updated its panda protocols in 1984 to stipulate that pandas would be offered on 10-year loans, not in perpetuity, as with Ling-Ling and Hsing-Hsing, the pandas China sent to the National Zoo in April 1972. (Nixon reciprocated by sending China a pair of musk oxen.) When a panda cub is born in the United States, a zoo must pay China a one-time fee of $400,000. Most of the pandas are sent to China within a few years, although the age at which that happens varies by contract. Three pandas born in the United States remain in American zoos: Xiao Qi Ji, who was born at the National Zoo in 2020, and Ya Lun and Xi Lun, twins who were born at Zoo Atlanta in 2016. In part because of the central role they play in US-China geopolitics, pandas have benefited from quality medical care and breeding and research efforts at facilities around the world. American zoos have, in turn, benefited from the increased foot traffic and revenue that pandas generate, helping to offset the cost of acquiring and keeping the animals. In 2016, the giant panda was removed from the endangered list and upgraded to “vulnerable” status by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. As the panda’s survival outlook has improved, experts said, China’s approach to panda diplomacy has shifted, with the animals coming to serve as more of a shield for China’s human rights abuses and a tool to project soft power. Susan Shirk, chair of the 21st Century China Center at the University of California, San Diego, said that if Mace’s bill passed, it could hurt a “mutually beneficial” collaboration among panda conservationists around the world. “The raising of pandas should be done on the basis of science,” she said, “rather than using it as some kind of leverage.” Dan Ashe, president and CEO of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, said his organization did not support Mace’s bill. “This legislation would risk ending a long-standing program that has contributed to the conservation of wild pandas,” he said in a statement Feb. 7. The San Diego Zoo had pandas from 1996 to 2019, when its contract with China ended. Donald Lindburg, the zoo’s former director of giant panda research, said the enduring appeal of the animals, for both the zoo and its visitors, was simple. “They were very popular and many, many people came to see them,” he said. “They’re beautiful.”

50 years later, some question value of US-China ‘panda diplomacy’

Pandas are perhaps one of the most adorable animals of the animal kingdom. The internet is full of videos of this cute, cuddly animal, and the world is obsessed. However, there is one mystery surrounding this mammal that has left researchers flabbergasted for decades. Even when all they eat is leaves and bamboo shoots, two things that have very little fat; how are these animals fat? Watch the video to have this question answered.

Why are all pandas fat? Here's the answer

French footballer and Paris Saint-Germain star Kylian Mbappe will be godfather of one of the panda twins born at the Beauval zoo at the beginning of August this year. Meanwhile, China's Zhang Jiaqi, gold medalist in 10-meter synchronised diving at the Tokyo Olympics, will be the godmother of the other baby panda.&nbsp;

Mbappe and Jiaqi will reveal the final Chinese names of the panda babies during an official ceremony scheduled for November 18. The panda babies are nicknamed Little Snow and Cotton Flower.&nbsp;

IN PICS |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/how-much-cristiano-ronaldo-earns-per-week-mind-boggling-salary-of-manchester-united-star-and-his-net-worth-421599">How much Cristiano Ronaldo earns per week? Mind-boggling salary of Manchester United star and his net worth</a>

"It's an honour for the zoo to have top athletes leaning over the pandas' cradle. And their involvement shines a light on the protection of threatened species protection and on the environment. The baby pandas are in good health, they weigh four kilos each, have opened their eyes and started to move" the zoo director Delphine Delord told AFP.&nbsp;

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Alors selon vous, qui est Petite Neige et qui est Fleur de Coton ? 👀🐼 Voici notre petite astuce pour différencier les jumelles <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/panda?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#panda</a> géant : Petite Neige a le bout de la truffe et le dessous de la gueule plus foncés que sa sœur Fleur de Coton ! <a href="https://t.co/2smg3qP1HZ">pic.twitter.com/2smg3qP1HZ</a>
— ZooParc de Beauval (@zoobeauval) <a href="https://twitter.com/zoobeauval/status/1450109610417868814?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 18, 2021</a></blockquote>
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2 immenses champions pour parrainer nos bébés panda géant : <a href="https://twitter.com/KMbappe?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@KMbappe</a> et Zhang Jiaqi !🤩🐼⚽💦 On y croit à peine tellement c’est fou !😊 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/zoobeauval?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#zoobeauval</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/panda?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#panda</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Mbappe?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Mbappe</a> <a href="https://t.co/GgvVFsuF6V">https://t.co/GgvVFsuF6V</a>
— ZooParc de Beauval (@zoobeauval) <a href="https://twitter.com/zoobeauval/status/1450735989748641796?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 20, 2021</a></blockquote>
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ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/a-stepping-stone-for-young-girls-says-india-football-star-bala-devi-ahead-of-afc-womens-asian-cup-2022-422360">'A stepping stone for young girls,' says India football star Bala Devi ahead of AFC Women's Asian Cup 2022</a>

"Through this official commitment to the two baby panda bears, these two great champions show their involvement in the protection of biodiversity. They are therefore committed to the animal kingdom by supporting our actions to protect and preserve endangered species," the official site of Beauval zoo wrote.&nbsp;

Only 2000 pandas remain alive in the wild although the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) removed them from the red list of endangered species in 2016. The cubs are the offspring of Yuan Zi and Huan Huan who were loaned to France by China a decade ago.&nbsp;

French footballer and Paris Saint-Germain star Kylian Mbappe will be godfather of one of the panda twins born at the Beauval zoo at the beginning of August this year.

French footballer and Paris Saint-Germain star Kylian Mbappe will be godfather of one of the panda twins born at the Beauval zoo at the beginning of August this year. Meanwhile, China's Zhang Jiaqi, gold medalist in 10-meter synchronised diving at the Tokyo Olympics, will be the godmother of the other baby panda. Mbappe and Jiaqi will reveal the final Chinese names of the panda babies during an official ceremony scheduled for November 18. The panda babies are nicknamed Little Snow and Cotton Flower. IN PICS | How much Cristiano Ronaldo earns per week? Mind-boggling salary of Manchester United star and his net worth "It's an honour for the zoo to have top athletes leaning over the pandas' cradle. And their involvement shines a light on the protection of threatened species protection and on the environment. The baby pandas are in good health, they weigh four kilos each, have opened their eyes and started to move" the zoo director Delphine Delord told AFP. Alors selon vous, qui est Petite Neige et qui est Fleur de Coton ? 👀🐼 Voici notre petite astuce pour différencier les jumelles #panda géant : Petite Neige a le bout de la truffe et le dessous de la gueule plus foncés que sa sœur Fleur de Coton ! pic.twitter.com/2smg3qP1HZ — ZooParc de Beauval (@zoobeauval) October 18, 2021 × 2 immenses champions pour parrainer nos bébés panda géant : @KMbappe et Zhang Jiaqi !🤩🐼⚽💦 On y croit à peine tellement c’est fou !😊 #zoobeauval #panda #Mbappe https://t.co/GgvVFsuF6V — ZooParc de Beauval (@zoobeauval) October 20, 2021 × ALSO READ | 'A stepping stone for young girls,' says India football star Bala Devi ahead of AFC Women's Asian Cup 2022 "Through this official commitment to the two baby panda bears, these two great champions show their involvement in the protection of biodiversity. They are therefore committed to the animal kingdom by supporting our actions to protect and preserve endangered species," the official site of Beauval zoo wrote. Only 2000 pandas remain alive in the wild although the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) removed them from the red list of endangered species in 2016. The cubs are the offspring of Yuan Zi and Huan Huan who were loaned to France by China a decade ago.

French footballer Kylian Mbappe will be godfather of one of the panda twins born at Beauval zoo

The Chinese government says giant pandas are no longer classified as endangered but are still listed as vulnerable due to habitat loss.

In light of the fact that panda now numbers&nbsp;1,800 in the wild, China has downgraded their classification.

A long-term conservation effort, including habitat expansion, has helped save the country's iconic animal.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/china-completes-first-ever-systematic-monitoring-of-wild-giant-pandas-303847">China completes first-ever systematic monitoring of wild giant pandas</a>

China uses Pandas as a diplomatic tool by lending them to other countries.

Cui Shuhong, chief of the Department of Nature and Ecology Conservation of the Ministry of Ecology and Environment, said at a news conference that the latest classification upgrade reflects the improved living conditions of these animals and China's efforts to keep their habitats intact.

Considered a national treasure in the country, this latest classification upgrade comes years after the&nbsp;2016&nbsp;International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) relabelling of the animal as vulnerable.

The decision, however, had been disputed at the time by Chinese officials, who said that it might lead people to the belief that conservation efforts could be cut back.

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The change to the endangered species list by China's environmental ministry is the first time the animal's status has been altered in their own system, which uses standards similar to those of the swiss-based international organisation IUCN.

Users of Chinese social media were delighted with this update, saying that it provides "proof" that conservation efforts pay off.

The conservationists deserve a pat on the back for their hard work, a user wrote on Weibo's microblogging platform.

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/video-of-baby-panda-clinging-to-zookeeper-goes-viral-359247/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

China's efforts to recreate and repopulate bamboo forests are largely responsible for the success, according to experts. Bamboo is the main component of their diet, and they are at risk of starving without it.

Additionally, captive breeding has been used by zoos to increase their populations.

The Chinese government says giant pandas are no longer classified as endangered but are still listed as vulnerable due to habitat loss. In light of the fact that panda now numbers 1,800 in the wild, China has downgraded their classification.

The Chinese government says giant pandas are no longer classified as endangered but are still listed as vulnerable due to habitat loss. In light of the fact that panda now numbers 1,800 in the wild, China has downgraded their classification. A long-term conservation effort, including habitat expansion, has helped save the country's iconic animal. Also read | China completes first-ever systematic monitoring of wild giant pandas China uses Pandas as a diplomatic tool by lending them to other countries. Cui Shuhong, chief of the Department of Nature and Ecology Conservation of the Ministry of Ecology and Environment, said at a news conference that the latest classification upgrade reflects the improved living conditions of these animals and China's efforts to keep their habitats intact. Considered a national treasure in the country, this latest classification upgrade comes years after the 2016 International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) relabelling of the animal as vulnerable. The decision, however, had been disputed at the time by Chinese officials, who said that it might lead people to the belief that conservation efforts could be cut back. Also read | In efforts to protect giant pandas, China neglected other species: Study The change to the endangered species list by China's environmental ministry is the first time the animal's status has been altered in their own system, which uses standards similar to those of the swiss-based international organisation IUCN. Users of Chinese social media were delighted with this update, saying that it provides "proof" that conservation efforts pay off. The conservationists deserve a pat on the back for their hard work, a user wrote on Weibo's microblogging platform. China's efforts to recreate and repopulate bamboo forests are largely responsible for the success, according to experts. Bamboo is the main component of their diet, and they are at risk of starving without it. Additionally, captive breeding has been used by zoos to increase their populations.

In China, pandas get a status upgrade from "Endangered" to "Vulnerable"

What to do while waiting for a panda to give birth? Tokyo locals say ‘eat more food’.

Ueno Zoo in Tokyo reopened its doors after staying closed for five months due to the deadly coronavirus. Within a few days of its reopening, the zoo authorities announced that a female panda, Shin Shin, was showing signs of pregnancy.

"Signs usually seen during a pregnancy are being seen now," Koike said. "It is still difficult to say clearly whether in fact a baby will be born... I am truly looking forward to being able to deliver good news to all of you."

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This news, when announced to the country by Tokyo’s Governor Yuriko Koike, resulted in the increase of the stock prices of the restaurants near the zoo.

Prices of stocks of Chinese restaurant china Totenko increased by as much as 30 per cent on Thursday and then ended with nearly 1,109 yen (10 per cent). Similarly, the French restaurant chain Seiyoken, saw an increase of 7.8 per cent on Thursday afternoon.

However, Koike has also warned that these announcements can sometimes also prove out to be false alarms. The locals are still taking this as a ray of hope in the pandemic days, which has led to several setbacks in the economy and has also resulted in the delay of the Olympic Games.

What to do while waiting for a panda to give birth? Tokyo locals say ‘eat more food’. Ueno Zoo in Tokyo reopened its doors after staying closed for five months due to the deadly coronavirus.

What to do while waiting for a panda to give birth? Tokyo locals say ‘eat more food’. Ueno Zoo in Tokyo reopened its doors after staying closed for five months due to the deadly coronavirus. Within a few days of its reopening, the zoo authorities announced that a female panda, Shin Shin, was showing signs of pregnancy. "Signs usually seen during a pregnancy are being seen now," Koike said. "It is still difficult to say clearly whether in fact a baby will be born... I am truly looking forward to being able to deliver good news to all of you." Also read | Is Tesla’s Elon Musk a master manipulator of markets? This news, when announced to the country by Tokyo’s Governor Yuriko Koike, resulted in the increase of the stock prices of the restaurants near the zoo. Prices of stocks of Chinese restaurant china Totenko increased by as much as 30 per cent on Thursday and then ended with nearly 1,109 yen (10 per cent). Similarly, the French restaurant chain Seiyoken, saw an increase of 7.8 per cent on Thursday afternoon. However, Koike has also warned that these announcements can sometimes also prove out to be false alarms. The locals are still taking this as a ray of hope in the pandemic days, which has led to several setbacks in the economy and has also resulted in the delay of the Olympic Games.

Tokyo: Panda pregnancy increases stock prices of nearby restaurants

A snowy weather in Moscow did not spoil a day for the Russian panda to have fun on Monday (February 15). Female panda Dindin seemed to be happy while she was rolling off the mountain and some tricks in the snow.

No such thing as a bad weather - panda enjoy snow in Moscow Zoo

A Chinese baby panda, born to a pair of adult pandas loaned to South Korea from China, celebrated her 100th day on Wednesday (November 4) and received a new name and blessings from the public.

Giant panda cub makes her debut at South Korea zoo

It's a proud day for the Berlin zoo panda family. Twins Pit and Paule have turned one! And like all birthday celebrations, it's all about the cake. One year on and the cubs have made excellent progress, they now weigh a combined total of 28 kilos, significantly up from their 200 g birth weight.

Berlin Panda twin cubs celebrate first birthday

Three giant panda cubs were born this week at the Qinling research center of giant panda breeding in northwest China's Shaanxi Province.

Research center in northwest China welcomes three newborn giant panda cubs

The world's oldest panda in captivity celebrated its 38th birthday in the zoo of Chongqing Municipality, southwest China, on Sunday.

World’s oldest panda in captivity celebrates 38th birthday

Taipei Zoo, in China's Taiwan province, kicked off a month-long event on Monday to solicit a name from the public for a newly-born giant panda cub by live and online activities.

Taipei Zoo solicits name for newly-born giant panda cub from public

A rare wild panda broke into the sight of staff members of the Giant Panda National Park in northwest China's Shaanxi Province a few days ago.

Wild giant panda spotted in field investigation in northwest China's Shaanxi

Double celebrations were held at the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding in southwest China's Sichuan Province on Thursday, with the 100-day anniversary of a special pair of twin panda cubs coinciding with the traditional Duanwu Festival, also known as the Dragon Boat Festival.

Double celebrations held for Duanwu Festival, twin panda cubs' 100-day anniversary

A chubby panda cub weighing 219 grams recently born in Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding is believed to be the heaviest panda cub born in the base.

China's panda breeding base welcomes its heaviest newborn cub

Three panda cubs, born during the outbreak of the coronavirus in China, have spent their first "Children's Day" at Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, rolling around in their crib, sleeping and eating.

Three panda cubs born during epidemic celebrate first "Children's Day"

The Calgary Zoo will send its two giant pandas back to China over a shortage in bamboo supply amid the coronavirus pandemic, the zoo's president announced on Tuesday (May 12).

Canadian zoo plans to return pandas to China over bamboo shortage

The Calgary Zoo in Canada has planned to send two giant pandas back to China due to a shortage of bamboo. A panda's diet consists almost entirely of fresh bamboo and the animals typically eat about 40 kilograms of it each day.

China has for years sent giant pandas abroad as a sign of friendship and cooperation between Beijing and other countries as part of a campaign known as "panda diplomacy."&nbsp;

To this end, the zoo usually flies in bamboo from China to feed the animals, but the coronavirus-induced lockdown had disrupted flights and caused delays in supplies.

The duo, named Er Shun and Da Mao, were supposed to stay in Canada until 2023 as part of a 10-year agreement with China, but the zoo decided to send them back early out of concern that delays could worsen if there's a second wave of coronavirus cases.

The zoo said it tried to find new bamboo suppliers to keep the pandas fed, but encountered several logistical issues. They also worry that these new supply lines could be disrupted at a moment's notice, leaving the pandas completely without food.

Er Shun and Da Mao arrived in Canada in 2014 and spent five years at the Toronto Zoo before moving to Calgary in March 2018 with cubs Jia Panpan and Jia Yueyue, the Calgary Zoo said. Those cubs have been moved to China as well, CNN media partner CBC reported.

The Calgary Zoo in Canada has planned to send two giant pandas back to China due to a shortage of bamboo. A panda's diet consists almost entirely of fresh bamboo and the animals typically eat about 40 kilograms of it each day.

The Calgary Zoo in Canada has planned to send two giant pandas back to China due to a shortage of bamboo. A panda's diet consists almost entirely of fresh bamboo and the animals typically eat about 40 kilograms of it each day. China has for years sent giant pandas abroad as a sign of friendship and cooperation between Beijing and other countries as part of a campaign known as "panda diplomacy." To this end, the zoo usually flies in bamboo from China to feed the animals, but the coronavirus-induced lockdown had disrupted flights and caused delays in supplies. The duo, named Er Shun and Da Mao, were supposed to stay in Canada until 2023 as part of a 10-year agreement with China, but the zoo decided to send them back early out of concern that delays could worsen if there's a second wave of coronavirus cases. The zoo said it tried to find new bamboo suppliers to keep the pandas fed, but encountered several logistical issues. They also worry that these new supply lines could be disrupted at a moment's notice, leaving the pandas completely without food. Er Shun and Da Mao arrived in Canada in 2014 and spent five years at the Toronto Zoo before moving to Calgary in March 2018 with cubs Jia Panpan and Jia Yueyue, the Calgary Zoo said. Those cubs have been moved to China as well, CNN media partner CBC reported.

Canada zoo is sending two pandas back to China because it can't get enough bamboo to feed them

It seems all these giant pandas needed was a little privacy.

Turns out: All giant pandas required to mate was social distancing, but from human beings!

After 10 years of attempting to make Ying Ying and Le Le at the Ocean Park in Hong Kong mate, they finally did it.&nbsp;

The zoo’s press statement claimed that this was achieved “through trial and learning”. However, it only took a few months of no human intervention for them to mate against ten years of “trial and learning”.

"The successful natural mating process today is extremely exciting for all of us, as the chance of pregnancy via natural mating is higher than by artificial insemination," Michael Boos, executive director for zoological operations and conservation, Ocean Park, said in a press statement.

The animals, which are usually on display for people to visit, have been living in isolation in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic, which forced the park to close over three months.

<h6 dir="ltr"><img alt="pp" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="dbf79b67-19dd-40b5-a05c-5062271e4c87" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20%2810%29_24.jpg" /> 
This photo taken on December 25, 2019 shows pandas playing as staff members cover the enclosure with snow at the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding in Chengdu in China's southwestern Sichuan province | AFP 
&nbsp;</h6>

The breeding among pandas usually takes place between March and May.

"Since late March, Ying Ying began spending more time playing in the water, while Le Le has been leaving scent-markings around his habitat and searching the area for Ying Ying's scent," the press release said, while asserting that these are coming pre-mating behavioural patterns.

No pregnancy has been reported as of now, but the pandas are now under observation.

"If successful, signs of pregnancy, including hormonal level fluctuations and behavioural changes may be observed as early as late June, though there is always a chance that Ying Ying could experience a pseudo-pregnancy," the release further said.

The species remains in the “vulnerable category”, one step away from becoming “endangered”. Only 1,800 giant pandas remain in their natural habitat.

The zoo intends to share updates as they come!

It seems all these giant pandas needed was a little privacy. Turns out: All giant pandas required to mate was social distancing, but from human beings! After 10 years of attempting to make Ying Ying and Le Le at the Ocean Park in Hong Kong mate, they finally did it.

It seems all these giant pandas needed was a little privacy. Turns out: All giant pandas required to mate was social distancing, but from human beings! After 10 years of attempting to make Ying Ying and Le Le at the Ocean Park in Hong Kong mate, they finally did it. The zoo’s press statement claimed that this was achieved “through trial and learning”. However, it only took a few months of no human intervention for them to mate against ten years of “trial and learning”. "The successful natural mating process today is extremely exciting for all of us, as the chance of pregnancy via natural mating is higher than by artificial insemination," Michael Boos, executive director for zoological operations and conservation, Ocean Park, said in a press statement. The animals, which are usually on display for people to visit, have been living in isolation in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic, which forced the park to close over three months. This photo taken on December 25, 2019 shows pandas playing as staff members cover the enclosure with snow at the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding in Chengdu in China's southwestern Sichuan province | AFP The breeding among pandas usually takes place between March and May. "Since late March, Ying Ying began spending more time playing in the water, while Le Le has been leaving scent-markings around his habitat and searching the area for Ying Ying's scent," the press release said, while asserting that these are coming pre-mating behavioural patterns. No pregnancy has been reported as of now, but the pandas are now under observation. "If successful, signs of pregnancy, including hormonal level fluctuations and behavioural changes may be observed as early as late June, though there is always a chance that Ying Ying could experience a pseudo-pregnancy," the release further said. The species remains in the “vulnerable category”, one step away from becoming “endangered”. Only 1,800 giant pandas remain in their natural habitat. The zoo intends to share updates as they come!

Ten years couldn't make these pandas in Hong Kong mate, but distance from people did!

Lumix's People's Choice Awards 2019 - Wildlife Photographer of the Year  People's Favourites

Berlin's five months old panda cubs were in a playful mood on Monday, a few days ahead of their first public outing where visitors get to see the cute bears.

Berlin's panda-cubs ready to meet the public

China Conservation and Research Center for Giant Pandas bred 32 giant panda cubs in 2019. Of the 32 cubs, two were born in Belgium, one in Shanghai, one in south China's Guangzhou City and the rest in southwest China's Sichuan Province where the Center is located.

China breeds 32 giant panda cubs in 2019

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