On Thursday, 25 giant panda cubs gathered at two breeding bases in Sichuan Province, southwest China, to send Spring Festival greetings to global audiences.
All of the cubs were born in 2024—13 at the China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda and 12 at the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding.
At the Shenshuping giant panda base of the China Conservation and Research Center, 13 cubs explored the area, which was decorated with traditional Chinese treats like Tanghulu (candied fruits) and snake-shaped toys to celebrate the upcoming Chinese Year of the Snake.
Meanwhile, the Chengdu base hosted another 12 panda cubs, surrounded by lanterns and items representing intangible cultural heritage, such as paper cuttings.
This year’s Spring Festival, also known as the Chinese Lunar New Year, will take place on January 29.
The two organizations are part of the national giant panda conservation and research center, a world-class platform established in 2023 to promote giant panda research cooperation and exchange.
Over the years, these organizations have collaborated on panda protection and academic exchanges, making significant strides in research on panda population and habitat conservation.
They have also assembled expert panels to support the Giant Panda National Park, established in 2021, which spans parts of Sichuan, Shaanxi, and Gansu provinces.
Due to conservation efforts, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has downgraded the giant panda’s status from endangered to vulnerable.
Official data shows that China’s wild giant panda population has increased from around 1,100 in the 1980s to nearly 1,900, while the global captive population stands at 757.
China’s giant pandas, with their distinctive round faces, plump bodies, and signature markings, are cherished worldwide as symbols of culture and biodiversity.
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