Giant panda bears

PRECIOUS FEW: The giant panda is one of the world's most endangered species and is found only in China. An estimated 1,600 wild pandas live in nature reserves in Sichuan, Gansu and Shaanxi provinces, and 217 are kept in captivity.

IN TRAINING: Hua Mei, the giant panda cub at the San Diego Zoo, chews on a piece of bamboo during her weekly veterinary exam.

CHEEKY: Giant Panda Lun Lun looks around at her new Giant Panda habitat as Yang Yang sleeps in a small cave in Atlanta.

MISCHIEF-MAKER: Mei Sheng, a four-month old baby giant panda explores the enclosure he shares with his mother Bai Yun (not shown) at the San Diego Zoo.

DID YOU CATCH THE GAME LAST NIGHT? Two giant pandas eat bamboo at the China Giant Panda Protection and Research Centre in Wolong.

DRINKING BUDDIES: Four giant pandas drink water at a pool at the China Giant Panda Protection and Research Centre in Wolong.

WRESTLEMANIA: Giant pandas play while another sits looking at them at the China Giant Panda Protection and Research Centre in Wolong.

KISSES AND CUDDLES: Tai Shan, the giant panda cub at the Smithsonian's National Zoo, ventures outside for the first time under the close supervision of its mother, Mei Xiang.

WHEELY GOOD FUN: A giant panda cub rests on an old tyre at Wolong Giant Panda Research Centre in China's southeastern province of Sichuan.

I THINK I'M STUCK, MUM: Su Lin, a four-month-old giant panda, climbs over a log in the enclosure she shares with her mother Bai Yun at the San Diego Zoo.

SO ARE WE GOING OUT TONIGHT? Giant panda couple at the China Giant Panda Research Centre in Wolong.

ROLY-POLY: Seven-month old giant panda cub Tai Shan plays in the snow with his mother Mei Xiang at the Smithsonian National Zoo in Washington.

RAINY DAY: Giant panda cub Tai Shan sits in a tree during the opening of the Giant Panda Habitat and Asia Trail at the National Zoo in Washington.

FUR-BALLS: Panda cubs play at the China Wolong Giant Panda Research Centre.

HIDE AND SEEK: Giant pandas play on a tree at the Wolong Giant Panda Research Center in China's Sichuan province.

YIPEEEEEEE: A panda cub tries out the slide at the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding in Chengdu.

TICKLE TIME: One-month-old cub of giant panda Yang Yang rests in the zoo in Vienna.

SHHH! A pair of 100-day old panda twins are seen at the Chengdu Giant Panda Breeding Centre.

BEAR HUGS: Pandas Tuan Tuan and Yuan Yuan, whose names together mean 'reunion' in Chinese, sit together inside their enclosure at the Taipei City Zoo.

AN APPLE A DAY: Panda cubs eat apples at the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding in Chengdu, Sichuan province.

NEW BABY: Seven-year-old panda Lin Hui is seen with her newborn at Chiang Mai Zoo, north of Bangkok ON June 2, 2009.

TREE-HUGGER: A giant panda sleeps in a tree in Beijing Zoo.

PLAYTIME: Giant pandas play in the Olympic Games Panda House at Beijing Zoo.

HELLO LITTLE ONE: A veterinarian holds Lin Ping, a 76 day-old panda cub, at Chiang Mai Zoo.

WEE WONDER: A veterinarian holds Lin Ping, a 76 day-old panda cub, at Chiang Mai Zoo.

BIRTHDAY BOYS: Giant pandas Le Le and Ying Ying eat their 'birthday cake' made from ice and fruits at Hong Kong Ocean Park.

CHOW: Pandas get stuck into a snack of bamboo.

CUTE N CUDDLY: Young giant pandas are seen in their enclosure at Beijing Zoo.