It is estimated there are somwhere between 700 and 1,000 giant pandas remaining in the wild.

The greatest threat to their survival is habitat loss. To meet the growing demands of a growing population, large areas of China’s forest have been cleared for agriculture, firewood, and timber.

Though Pandas once roamed throughout much of southern and eastern China, their current range is pretty much restricted to western China and on the eastern edge of the Tibetan plateau. Pandas have been forced to find refuge in mountain regions of these areas as this is where they can still find adequate supplies of bamboo for food.

And even though they are very well protected in China, giant pandas are still sometimes killed for their pelts. However doing some can come at a very high price. Individuals who are convicted of poaching or smuggling giant panda skins can be sent to prison for life.