Photo by amivitale | Today is #NationalPandaDay! It’s hard to imagine, but giant pandas were once as mythical and elusive as Bigfoot. They have been around for millions of years, but became known to the Western world relatively recently. The first panda was captured alive only in 1936. Scientists are successfully saving China’s most famous ambassadors. Through breeding programs, the release of pandas into the wild to augment existing populations, and habitat protection, panda numbers are going up. Learn more about these fascinating creatures and the efforts to return captive animals to the wild in my Nat Geo story, “Pandas Get to Know Their Wild Side,” at the link in bio.