Status, Habitat Preference and Distribution of Red Panda in Ilam District, East Nepal

©Tulsi Subedi

The Red Panda, Ailurus fulgens is a small arboreal mammal, endemic to the temperate forests of the Himalayas, ranging from Nepal in the west to China in the east.  It also inhabits northern India, Bhutan and northern Myanmar. It is classified as endangered on the IUCN Red List (IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, 2012) and included in CITES Appendix I.

Protecting the Red Panda is important for both the preservation of Nepal's natural heritage and the global biodiversity because it is a monotypic and indicator species with specialized food habits.

Himalayan Nature has conducted Red Panda project in Jogmai, Jamuna and Mabu of Ilam district in the eastern Nepal. The project aimed to assess species distribution, abundance and threats to Red Panda, through the camera traps, scat, vegetation survey and questionnaires survey.  In addition to that, we have conducted several awareness camps to mitigate ongoing anthropogenic threats.