“The global population of captive giant pandas has now reached 757, with the population structure continuing to improve,” announced Guan Zhi’ou, Director of the National Forestry and Grassland Administration, at the 2024 Global Panda Partners Conference held in Chengdu, Sichuan, on November 26. He highlighted China’s advancements in panda habitat conservation, noting steady growth in wild populations.
China has established 67 giant panda nature reserves and officially launched the Giant Panda National Park in 2021. This park serves as the cornerstone of the panda habitat conservation system, expanding the protected area from 1.39 million hectares to 2.58 million hectares. Thanks to these efforts, 85% of wild panda populations now enjoy interconnected habitats, facilitating genetic exchange. The wild panda population has grown to approximately 1,900 individuals.

Technological advancements have bolstered captive breeding programs, overcoming challenges in panda reproduction and disease prevention. Genetic diversity within the captive population has increased, providing critical support for research, public education, and reintroduction into the wild. China has also collaborated with 26 organizations across 20 countries, successfully breeding 43 litters and 71 panda cubs.
Guan emphasized that China is accelerating efforts to build a harmonious coexistence between humans and nature, presenting new opportunities and momentum for panda conservation. Future plans include further developing the Giant Panda National Park by expanding ecological corridors, creating an integrated “sky, land, and water” monitoring system, and promoting scientific education and eco-tourism. Additionally, China aims to establish a world-class panda research and conservation center and foster global collaboration to advance panda conservation efforts.