If you had a long week and can't find anything to celebrate about, I've got one for you! Get the champagne ready because the Giant panda is no longer endangered!

This beautiful and adorable creature has been reclassified as 'Vulnerable' on the list of species at risk of extinction. So it may not be in the clear yet, but this is definitely a huge step in the right direction.

The news was announced by the International Union for Conservation of Nature, one of the world's leading conservation groups, in a report on Sunday, September 4. Another well-known conservation group, the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), also posted a statement on the big news.

These groups are to thank for their incredible efforts toward conservation of endangered animals and toward preserving biodiversity all over the world. The WWF Director General Marco Lambertini said in the same statement, "The recovery of the panda shows that when science, political will and engagement of local communities come together, we can save wildlife and also improve biodiversity."

As I said before, the Giant panda isn't quite in the clear yet. According to an article by CNN, on Monday, China's government discounted the downgrade from 'Endangered' to 'Vulnerable,' saying it didn't view the status of their country's beloved symbol as any less serious.

In my opinion, China is right. The Giant panda still has a long way to go before it's safe from extinction, as do many other species. However, nothing can be solved overnight. No animal will miraculously not be at risk when it's been endangered for decades.

So this step should be celebrated. To save an animal from extinction, it must first go from being endangered to vulnerable, then from vulnerable to near threatened, then from there to least concern and eventually to where these species aren't being evaluated anymore because they are safe. (The initial report included this nifty chart below that shows the classifications of endangered species.)

So although China isn't popping champagne for the advancement toward saving Giant pandas, I think the rest of us should be, while keeping in mind that these beautiful animals still have a long road ahead of them.

Extra: to further celebrate pandas, here's a link to the Panda Cam at the Smithsonian National Zoo where you can watch the unbelievably cute baby and momma pandas.

Enjoy!