The giant panda is no longer listed as an endangered species
The giant panda has downgraded from 'endangered' to 'vulnerable', according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature.
The IUCN officially changed the pandas status on the Red List of Endangered Species. It had been categorized as 'endangered' since 1990.
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The IUCN reported the giant panda population rose 17% from 2004 to 2014, thanks to an increase in available habitat in China.
The 1988, Wildlife Protection Law was enacted to ban poaching and provide the highest protected status to the panda.
Since 1992, the creation of a panda reserve system has created 67 reserves in China that protect 67% of the population.
Giant pandas found a home at zoos around the world, thanks to the partnerships between China and conservation organizations.
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In August, Washington D.C.'s National Zoo celebrated Tian Tian's 19th birthday. Tian Tian was originally born in China and his half-sister Bai Yun lives at the San Diego Zoo.
At Zoo Atlanta Lun Lun, also originally from China, gave birth to her second set of twins in September.
The Chinese government's forest protection efforts are working, but climate change remains a threat to the pandas bamboo habitat.
The conservation of pandas is still very important, there are only 1,864 left in the wild.
Click through the gallery to see adorable giant panda triplets:
