Giant pandas are an iconic animal, with their recognisable black and white markings. In China they are considered a national treasure, and extensive conservation work has been done to bring the giant panda out of an endangered state. They live mostly in the bamboo forests of western China, where their main food source is widely available — giant pandas are crucial to the ecosystem, as they spread seeds which allow the growth of vegetation.
The giant panda is used as the logo for the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), who chose to have the distinctive animal front their charity when they were established in 1961. The panda became a universally recognised symbol that would overcome language barriers through the simple, yet distinctive look which has evolved over the past 50 years. Unlike other species of bear, pandas don’t hibernate. Instead, they move down the mountain where it’s warmer.