The Daily Beast - Panda Awareness Week - July 6, 2012

CHENGDU, China /CNW

This year marks the 25th anniversary of the Chengdu panda base, founded in 1987 when 6 giant pandas were rescued from the wild. Through a dedicated conservation plan, Chengdu now has the largest captive breeding panda population in the world, and aims to increase it from 108 to 150 pandas over the next 10 years.

This week's PAW activity will be taking place in London until 6th July, and sees the panda posse hosting a "panda party" in Covent Garden, taking over the London Underground and visiting the city's most famous landmarks. The 108 costumed pandas represent the 108 pandas currently at the Chengdu panda base, which plays a leading role in fostering continued growth of the giant panda population, and rescue and rehabilitation to return them back to their natural habitat.

AP Photo/PA, Matt Crossick

People dressed as pandas stand in London's Trafalgar Square to launch Panda Awareness Week, July 4, 2012.

 

VIDEO: Watch this hilarious video of pandas at the Chengdu Panda base learning how to play on a slide. Warning, extreme cute factor!  And we're sure you will watch this more than once!