China's captive giant panda population reaches 808

(ECNS) -- China’s National Forestry and Grassland Administration says the country’s captive giant panda population has reached 808, while the number of wild pandas has risen from about 1,100 in the 1980s to nearly 1,900, ensuring the species’ sustainable recovery.

According to the administration, China has strengthened research and technological capabilities to support panda conservation. It has formed a national alliance to coordinate scientific efforts and address key challenges such as habitat protection and genetic diversity, while expanding the use of AI, rewilding training, and integrated monitoring systems.

China has also advanced holistic conservation efforts. A total of 73 existing nature reserves have been merged into the Giant Panda National Park, and 13 isolated habitat patches have been reconnected, creating a unified and contiguous protected area across major panda distribution zones, the administration said.