No animal, with the possible exceptions of the dolphin and the whale, has won more hearts and minds for the cause of wildlife conservation than the giant panda.
Known to the Chinese as da xiong mao (great bear-cat), the giant panda, with its black eye-patches, white face, roly-poly body, pigeon-toed waddle and compulsive 16-hours-a-day bamboo-chewing habit is the epitome of cuddliness and vulnerability.
Which, we might add, doesn't stop the giant panda occasionally skipping the vegetarian diet, dispensing with the cute stuff and whacking the bejesus out of, say, a bird's nest.