It's a common myth that pandas are an "evolutionary dead end." I mean, the argument makes sense at first glance.
They're notoriously lazy, eat an incredibly limited diet, and are kind of terrible at breeding — at least in captivity.
It turns out that they do pretty well in the wild and conservation efforts are beginning to prove it.
But it's going to take a long time before the species has bounced back enough to no longer need human help and the only way we can learn how to help the wild population is by studying the pandas in captivity.
And the results are the most adorable thing ever!
The Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding is a research center and tourist park in the Chenghua District of Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China.
They needed a safe place to recover and live, so the Base was built. It has become a leader in the breeding and conservation of the species, having bred more than 150 giant pandas.
A larger breeding population means there is more genetic diversity and healthier offspring.
The Base is a non-profit research facility that also includes educational tours to promote conservation.
They start in a nursery with round-the-clock care and eventually get to live out in the Base's natural reserve space.
When that happens, the pandas are moved to other wildlife reserves to live their lives and a new batch of cubs moves in.
They help with zoo breeding programs and teach other conservation groups what they have learned about giving the species the best hope for survival.
So next time someone tries to argue that the giant panda is clearly not worth saving, school them on the fact that the wild population is growing again and it's all thanks to the research done by places like this.
And then show them all the cutest pics.
