Image of the Day: No More Pandas? Too Much to Bear
A parade of pandas, or people in panda costumes, descended upon London’s Trafalgar Square in honor of Panda Awareness Week (PAW).
The Chengdu Panda Base in China, the most important breeding and research facility for pandas in the world, led the efforts for the week of festivities in what is hoped to be an annual event to raise awareness about the endangered mammal. The number of pandas that paraded in Trafalgar square, 108, is equivalent to the number at the Chengdu Panda Base.
The giant panda has long been a symbol of conservation everywhere and has met with many conservation successes. However, according to the World Wildlife Fund, climate change could pose a new threat for this charismatic species as pests and diseases increasingly prey upon the panda’s most important food source – bamboo.
Credit: Matt Crossick/PA
