Search begins for iconic panda image to represent Chinese culture around world

"The two major challenges the panda population faces are the need to improve genetic diversity and to centralize their habitats. In the future, our goal is to do genetic management and habitat recovery to ensure that more pandas can go out internationally."

In 1982, to protect the species, China stopped giving giant pandas to other countries and instead developed international research cooperation. Pandas sent overseas are supposed to live there for at most 10 years. Their babies will be sent back to China at the age of three, according to the National Forestry and Grassland Administration.