Giant pandas, break out your best bamboo. You're no longer considered an endangered species. 。
The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) on Sunday moved the black-eared, white-faced bears from "endangered" to "vulnerable" on its Red List of Threatened Species. 。
But eastern gorillas, the world's largest living primate, have little reason to celebrate. 。
The ape species is now listed as "critically endangered," the last step before an animal is considered extinct, the IUCN said during its World Conservation Congress in Hawaii. 。
SEE ALSO:Greenland sharks could be the world's longest-living vertebrates
。The conservation union cited illegal hunting as it downgraded the eastern gorilla's status on its global list, which contains more than 80,000 species -- roughly one-third of which are threatened with extinction. 。
Grauer’s gorilla, the world’s largest gorilla subspecies.Credit: A.J.Plumptre/WCS 。Only an estimated 5,000 eastern gorillas remain in the forests of the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, southwestern Uganda and Rwanda, the IUCN said. That's a roughly 70-percent decline over the past two decades. 。
"To see the eastern gorilla — one of our closest cousins — slide toward extinction is truly distressing," Inger Andersen, IUCN director general, said in a statement. 。
Thanks for signing up! 。
"Conservation action does work and we have increasing evidence of it. It is our responsibility to enhance our efforts to turn the tide and protect the future of our planet," she added. 。
Case in point: the giant panda. 。
The IUCN said the giant panda population rose by 17 percent to 1,864 adults in the decade up to 2014. Adding cubs to the projection would mean roughly 2,060 giant pandas exist today, according to the conservation union. 。
The improvement follows decades of conservation work in China, including intensive efforts by the Chinese government to replant bamboo forests -- the bears' main source of food and shelter -- and launch captive breeding programs and partnerships with zoos. 。
Thanks to amazing conservation efforts the giant panda is no longer classified as endangered IUCN pic.twitter.com/KWVZWF9olC 。
Breaking news! 🐼
— WWF UK (wwf_uk) September 4, 2016 。
"Knowing that the panda is now a step further from extinction is an exciting moment for everyone committed to conserving the world's wildlife and their habitats," Marco Lambertini, director general of the World Wildlife Fund, whose logo is of a giant panda, said in a statement.。
"The recovery of the panda shows that when science, political will and engagement of local communities come together, we can save wildlife and also improve biodiversity," Lambertini said. 。Via Giphy 。Via Giphy。
Via Giphy 。
Despite their rising ranks, giant pandas still face mounting threats as human development and pollution encroach on their natural habitats. 。
"Everyone should celebrate this achievement, but pandas remain scattered and vulnerable," Lo Sze Ping, CEO of the World Wildlife Fund in China, said in a statement. 。"Much of their habitat is threatened by poorly-planned infrastructure projects, and remember: There are still only 1,864 left in the wild," he said.。(责任编辑：時尚)
Old lady swatting at a cat ends up in Photoshop battle
How to stay calm while playing phone tag with a recruiter
There is a cat hidden somewhere in this picture of logs
Stephen Hawking has a stark warning for what Brexit could mean for the human speciesKaty Perry talks 'Rise,' her next batch of songs, and how to survive TwitterSnapchat is about to explode in popularity, report says
Snapchat is about to have a couple of really good years.
。The company will see huge gains in the numb
...[详细]Pope Francis to young people: Don't be a video game
BRZEGI, Poland — Pope Francis challenged hundreds of thousands of young people who gathered in
...[详细]Female Olympians pose naked in tribute to the bodies that helped them
LONDON -- In 2016 -- for the first time ever -- Team GB will compete in the rugby sevens at the 2016
...[详细]Innocent woman gets trapped in her mother's sexts
Most of us have been victims of someone using a group chat incorrectly – but this mom takes th
...[详细]Snapchat is about to explode in popularity, report says
Snapchat is about to have a couple of really good years. 。The company will see huge gains in the numb
...[详细]New survey says no one cares about new iPhone
A new survey by Quartz reveals that if Apple doesn't dramatically alter the iPhone 7 from the iPhone
...[详细]This soccer club shut down homophobia with 1 resounding word
LONDON -- The one-word shutdown is our favourite type of shutdown, and Norwich City Football Club ju
...[详细]3 simple ways to avoid making big mistakes as a teen using social media
Social media may connect and empower a teenager, but it can also become a permanent record of a youn
...[详细]Richard Branson 'thought he was going to die' in bike accident
Virgin Group founder Richard Branson was recently injured in a serious bike accident while cycling o
...[详细]New survey says no one cares about new iPhone
A new survey by Quartz reveals that if Apple doesn't dramatically alter the iPhone 7 from the iPhone
...[详细]Major earthquake and multiple aftershocks rock central Italy
Stephen Hawking has a stark warning for what Brexit could mean for the human species
SEE ALSO:Greenland sharks could be the world's longest-living vertebrates
。