Today Is March 16

National Panda Day draws attention to one of the world’s unique bears on March 16 every year.

By J. Patrick Fischer - Wikipedia Commons

At the last count in 2015, there were about 1,864 individuals pandas alive in the wild, according to China’s fourth decadal survey.

China retains ownership of all the giant pandas around the world, which are selectively loaned to other countries. The fee for a pair is usually $1 million a year, with funds going toward conservation efforts in China.

Since 2010 pandas born in captivity in China have been looked after by researchers in panda suits to prepare the animals for life in the wild.