Giant pandas, they're not just cuddly creatures but important subjects of conservation. With China leading the way, they've been breeding pandas since 1953, with Chengdu Zoo being the first, followed by Beijing Zoo in 1963.
 

Since then, there's been a massive 'panda-monium'. As of now, 53 zoos and nature reserves, both within China and around the world, participate in the panda breeding program.

Creating nature reserves for pandas started in 1963, with Sichuan province in China housing four of them. Fast-forward to 2017, there are a whopping 67 reserves! It's like a massive ‘panda-playground’.

Beijing Zoo didn't just stop at a fancy panda house and a breeding program, they went a step further. They combined this breeding program with the preservation of the pandas' native habitat. This cool strategy, known as the “mixed approach”, is a combo of in situ (on-site conservation) and ex situ conservation (off-site conservation). It’s like throwing a party at home and then taking it to a different location, ensuring everyone's safety and fun!