Meet the Giant Panda
The giant panda – found mainly in the bamboo-dense areas of central China – has a vulnerable population due to loss of habitat. Agriculture, ranching, logging, trapping, and human settlement dramatically threatens their habitat. EnviroKidz is proud to partner with Pandas International to support the preservation and propagation of this Chinese national treasure. Read on to learn more about the giant panda and what novel solutions Pandas International has devised to restore their population and keep them munching on bamboo indefinitely!
DID YOU KNOW?
- During China’s Han dynasty (206 BC to 24 AD), giant pandas were thought to have mystical powers, and frolicked in the gardens of emperors.
- Since then, panda populations have dwindled: there are now only an estimated 1,864 living pandas in the wild and 600 in captivity.
- Pandas have evolved special features to help them eat their favorite food, bamboo: strong jaws, large molars, and a “thumb” (actually a modified wrist bone) that helps them hold the bamboo while they eat!
- Pandas have a very good sense of smell – even at night, they can find the best bamboo stalks by scent.
- Unlike other bears, these animals are slow-moving. They prefer to walk than run and have a clumsy gait.
- Pandas do not hibernate because their bamboo diet will not allow them to build up enough fat reserves for the winter, meaning they are constantly on the hunt for food.
Su Shan the panda on the search for bamboo. Photo courtesy of Pandas International.
PANDAS INTERNATIONAL
Pandas International officially closed its operations in May 2025 after 25 incredible years of groundbreaking work in giant panda conservation and education. With the retirement of their director, Suzanne Braden, the organization’s board made the difficult decision to dissolve the non-profit. As a result, their website is no longer live.
While we deeply honor the legacy of Pandas International and the remarkable impact they made, we’re excited to share that Nature’s Path has transitioned to new conservation projects to continue supporting endangered and vulnerable species and their habitats.
OUR SUPPORT
We are now proud to support The Nature Conservancy’s Plant a Billion Trees program in China. Thanks to your support, we contributed to this initiative in 2025 to help restore vital forests in China—critical habitats for vulnerable species like the Giant Panda. These reforestation efforts do more than protect biodiversity: they safeguard clean water, improve farmland for millions of people, and help regulate our planet’s climate. The program also creates sustainable jobs for local communities, empowering them to protect and nurture these ecosystems for generations to come.
Thanks to your support, we donate to environmental and animal conservation partners that help save vulnerable animals like Giant Pandas and their habitats. By supporting the Plant a Billion Trees program in China, we continue to create meaningful environmental impact and stay true to the spirit of our original conservation mission.
HOW CAN YOU SAVE THE PANDAS?
Want to make an impact too? You can plant a tree in China and other countries through The Nature Conservancy’s website HERE
Cao Cao nestles with her cub. Photo courtesy of Pandas International. Note: Prior to partnering with Pandas International, EnviroKidz supported Defenders of Wildlife and their wildlife programs, from 2011 to 2018. Every time you buy one of Nature’s Path’s EnviroKidz products, a portion of the sales are donated to support endangered species, habitat conservation, and environmental education for kids worldwide. To date, we have raised over $4 million to help our partnering organizations with their educational and protection efforts!