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

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 numbers1,800 in the wild, China has downgraded their classification.

A long-term conservation effort, including habitat expansion, has helped save the country's iconic animal.

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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 the2016International 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.

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.