International
17 June 2026 2:13 AM• 4 hours ago• Lim_Rothanaksambath
China Announces Giant Panda Population Recovery: Nearly 1,900 Wild Pandas Now Roaming
PHNOM PENH, June 16, 2026 – There is heartwarming news from China: the giant panda, one of the world's most beloved and gentle creatures, is making a remarkable comeback. Official data confirms that the wild panda population has grown from about 1,100 in the 1980s to nearly 1,900 as of 2025, a testament to decades of dedicated care and conservation.
The Giant Panda National Park, established in October 2021, spans over 22,000 square kilometres and now provides a safe haven for approximately 72 percent of wild giant pandas. Since 2012, protected habitat areas have expanded from 1.39 million hectares to 2.58 million hectares, giving these gentle giants more room to roam, eat, and raise their young in peace.
Photo Credit: People's Daily, China
The park is also home to over 8,000 other rare species, including the golden snub-nosed monkey, snow leopard, and Chinese yew. Annual sightings of wild giant pandas in the park's Sichuan section have increased from 135 to 185, showing that these efforts are truly making a difference.
At the Global Panda Partners Conference 2025, former African Union Commission deputy chairperson Erastus Mwencha praised China's efforts as "one of the world's greatest conservation success stories," adding that the giant panda's story "teaches us that with care, persistence and cooperation, we can heal the planet we share."
Cambodians couldn't help but joy at this news. The giant panda, with its gentle face and playful spirit, has long been a symbol of peace and harmony. Many in the Kingdom, who share a deep love for nature and wildlife, are moved by this story.
Source: People's Daily, China
Reported by The Khmer Daily Network
The Giant Panda National Park, established in October 2021, spans over 22,000 square kilometres and now provides a safe haven for approximately 72 percent of wild giant pandas. Since 2012, protected habitat areas have expanded from 1.39 million hectares to 2.58 million hectares, giving these gentle giants more room to roam, eat, and raise their young in peace.
Photo Credit: People's Daily, ChinaThe park is also home to over 8,000 other rare species, including the golden snub-nosed monkey, snow leopard, and Chinese yew. Annual sightings of wild giant pandas in the park's Sichuan section have increased from 135 to 185, showing that these efforts are truly making a difference.
At the Global Panda Partners Conference 2025, former African Union Commission deputy chairperson Erastus Mwencha praised China's efforts as "one of the world's greatest conservation success stories," adding that the giant panda's story "teaches us that with care, persistence and cooperation, we can heal the planet we share."
Cambodians couldn't help but joy at this news. The giant panda, with its gentle face and playful spirit, has long been a symbol of peace and harmony. Many in the Kingdom, who share a deep love for nature and wildlife, are moved by this story.
Source: People's Daily, China
Reported by The Khmer Daily Network
