Chalk this up to I-would-give-anything-to-see-this-in-person-but-I’m-almost-four-years-too-late.
(Not to mention chalking this up to but-it-was-in-Paris-and-I-wouldn’t-have-been-there-anyway.)

This was in installation of 1,600 papier mache pandas in the centre of Paris by the WWF (from October 2008).
Each panda represented one of 1,600 pandas remaining in the wild and was meant to increase the public’s awareness of their endangered status.

Now I have to ask…
1.) seriously, could this be more wonderful?
2.) but most pressing, how on earth did I not know about this?
3.) what did they do with the 1,600 papier mache pandas after the exhibit closed?
4.) may I have one? Please?
5.) if not, may I at least hug one? Please?
6.) Please?
7.) Pretty please?

(source for all three photos here.)

 On that note, Happy, Happy Earth Day.
And many happy returns.