These 15 Adorable Photos of Pandas Will Make You Want to Visit the Zoo Immediately

Giant pandas are native to China, but fewer than 2,000 live in their natural habitats. They are listed as “vulnerable” on the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s Red List due to illegal hunting, a slow breeding rate and habitat loss. Zoos and breeding centers around the world, including the Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute, are working to preserve the species and help regrow the panda population.

Pandas rely on a diet of between 70 to 100 pounds of bamboo a day as an adult. When they’re not foraging for food in their mountainous habitat, they are resting and sleeping. Males can grow to be around 250 pounds and females roughly 220 pounds as adults, and they can live for up to 30 years when in human care.

Check out these photos of pandas, most of which are cared for by zookeepers, biologists and conservationists. Jess Daninhirsch is a reporting intern focusing on museums for Smithsonian magazine.