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They’re very cute and look like you could cuddle up with them for a warm hug. You might even have a stuffed animal that looks like one. We’re talking about the Giant Pandas, but what we’re going to talk about might not make you so happy.

Currently, there are fewer that 1,000 Giant Pandas left in the wild. This is due to many factors. One is that young pandas are often preyed upon by leopards. However, this is not the reason that there are so few Giant Pandas in the wild. The main reason for their small numbers is that the land they live on is being destroyed by humans.

Giant Pandas find their homes in China. But, because of the demand for land and natural resources by the heavily populated China, the forests that the Giant Pandas live in are no longer a suitable habitat for them. Forests have been cut down to raise cattle, sheep and goats to feed the people of China. And, to make matters worse, because their fur is so beautiful, poachers often kill them to sell their coats.

It appears to be a very grim situation, but strides are being made to help these creatures from becoming extinct. In 1984, Giant Pandas were listed as an endangered species under the Endangered Species Act. Also, the Chinese government will give a life sentence in jail to anyone who is convicted for killing a Giant Panda for its fur. Additionally, the Chinese government has also set aside 11 nature preserves for the Giant Pandas to live.

Recently, China announced that they plan to release 2 or 3 Giant Pandas from captivity into the wild each year starting in 2005. There are 100 pandas in captivity that are raised to be healthy adults. The reason they are in captivity is to keep them from becoming extinct. The government hopes to add to the wild population by releasing more into the wild. It’s never good news when an animal becomes endangered, but the more people are aware of the situations, the more action can be taken to change it.