If the closest you’ve ever gotten to a panda is through your television or computer screens, you’ll be excited to know that they are much cuter than animated films depict them to be.

Observing them through the lenses of wildlife photographers and videographers is fascinating.

Still, it’s even more breathtaking for zookeepers as they witness precious moments like birth and the panda’s first encounter with its mom and dad.

It’s not ideal for wildlife to be kept behind glass doors away from their natural habitats.

However, it is sometimes necessary, especially when the threat of extinction looms over them.

A low reproduction rate and the loss of their habitat are the biggest threats to pandas’ existence.

In the 1980s, experts warned of the dangers of extinction for these adorable creatures.

Humans had to jump in and help in the safest possible ways.

Reproduction isn’t as easy for pandas as it is for other animals. The chance for a panda to reproduce is limited to a mere 36 hours a year.

This short window for fertility is surrounded by complications, too, such as a male panda’s inexperience in courting and mounting and difficulty detecting pregnancy due to stomach, bladder, and layers of fat.

Reproduction for pandas is a tricky process that requires effort and patience.

They often need artificial insemination to help increase their population.

Female pandas also produce progesterone, the pregnancy hormone, whether they are pregnant or not.

Moreover, the embryo is not immediately positioned in the uterine lining after conception.

That’s why the birth of this baby panda brought so much joy.

Captured on video, a baby panda was lying on the ground, crying.

Its mother immediately knew what to do. The mommy panda gently picked up her little one to breastfeed.

With what looked like a smile on its face, the mommy panda held her baby close.

It was the sweetest meet and greet. When the little panda was done drinking milk, the zoo tended to the nurturing mother, feeding it and ensuring it was in proper physical condition.

Baby Yan Zai is the first ever panda to be born in Taiwan.

The sweet moment between the baby and its mother immediately went viral, garnering over 12 million views on YouTube.

Viewers were quick to point out how quickly the mommy panda’s maternal nature kicked in, even observing how exhausted the mother seemed after breastfeeding – something all mothers know all too well.

It was a miracle that filled everyone’s hearts with joy.

Thanks to kind humans and their efforts and the courage of these sweet bears, things are looking up somehow for the pandas!

It may require a lot for scientists to sustain their efforts in preventing panda extinction, but with everyone’s help, it’s not an impossible goal.

Here’s hoping these innocent creatures thrive in the environment they deserve and produce more offspring throughout their lifetime.

Watch this heartwarming moment as the baby panda meets its mommy for the first time in the video below!

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Source: YouTube – G4ViralVideos, National Geographic, Taipei Zoo