Two protection zones for giant pandas in Gansu province have been upgraded to State-level zones, the provincial forestry authority said over the weekend. Gansu is home to 132 giant pandas, according to a study conducted in 2015. It is one of three major habitats for the endangered animal in China.

Despite the rising number of giant pandas in the region, their survival is at risk due to habitat depletion, which limits their mobility and puts their fertility in jeopardy in the long run.