The giant panda has finally been removed from the Endangered List after twenty years of conservation efforts from government and community members.
The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) released the latest red list disclosing the deletion of China's national animal from the endangered category.
For the past two decades, the Chinese government and social groups have been implementing programs and regulations necessary for the conservation of the animal. Around 2,060 pandas are under careful management.
WWF Director General Marco Lambertini emphasized that "the recovery of the panda shows that when science, political will and engagement of local communities come together, we can save wildlife and improve biodiversity."
"For over fifty years, the giant panda has been the globe's most beloved conservation icon as well as the symbol of WWF. Knowing that the panda is now a step further from extinction is an exciting moment for everyone committed to conserving the world's wildlife and their habitats," he added.
However, the IUCN stated that climate change poses a threat to these animals because of its effect on bamboos that serve as their natural habitat. The institution advised the Chinese government to continue investing in programs that would not only protect the animal, but also their environment.
Meanwhile, according to the IUCN, illegal hunting has caused the population of Eastern Gorillas to significantly drop to 5,000 making the species endangered. The population has declined by 70 percent in a span for 20 years. Other Great Apes that are on the red list include the Bornean Orangutan, Sumatran Orangutan and Western Gorilla, the BBC reported.
The IUCN red list includes 82,954 plant and animal species - specifically 23,928 flora and faunae are mentioned under the endangered category.