Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, China VR 360

The natural habitat of the giant panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) is limited to a few mountain ranges in central China. For many years, the species was considered “endangered” and by 1976 only about 1,000 individuals remained in the wild due to poaching and deforestation. When Chinese authorities realized the seriousness of the problem, they took many measures, including the creation of more than 60 protected parks. Thanks to these efforts, the panda population had risen to 1,864 by 2016, and more than two-thirds of them live in protected areas. In total, including zoos, there are about 2,060 giant pandas in the world. Despite their still limited numbers, they are no longer endangered and have been reclassified as a vulnerable species. Many research and breeding centers have made significant contributions to protect these animals. The AirPano team visited one such center in Chengdu. According to ancient records, pandas have been living in the local forests for over 4,000 years.