Photo by amivitale | A giant panda tests out its newly acquired walking skills at Sichuan's Bifengxia Panda Base, managed by the China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda. Baby pandas need about three months to grow strong enough to take a few steps. By breeding and releasing pandas, augmenting existing populations, and protecting habitat, the base is on its way to saving China's most famous ambassador—and in the process putting the wild back into an icon. My book, Panda Love, features my long-term work for Nat Geo on these adorable ambassadors. See more on my feed amivitale. #china #pandas #panda #empathyiseverything