Phidim, October 3

Singhlila National Park in India has lifted ban on tourists coming to visit the park to see the endangered red panda this year.

The national park banned tourists from visiting the park from June to October, the breeding season for red panda, every year. The park lifted the ban to promote tourism in the area.

The lifting of the ban has elated locals and tourism entrepreneurs.

Hotels on the Nepali side are occupied with tourists.  Hotel entrepreneur Tilak Gurung of Maijogmai-2 said the number of tourists visiting the area had increased remarkably. “Tourist arrivals have increased of late,” Gurung said.

Many  tourists visit destinations such as Manebhanjyang,  Chitre, Tumling, Jaubari, Gairibash, Kalpokhari, Sandakpur through  India.

The park also banned trekking from Ilam’s Tumling to Panchthar’s Phalot in the border area.

A local Kumar Gurung of Jamuna said tourists coming in droves to see red panda this year.

India has constructed a trekking route from Pashupatinagar’s Manebhanjyang to Kanchanjhangha Base Camp in the border area. Hundreds of tourists from Nepal and third countries trek along the route.

Red Panda Conservation Programme is under way through red panda network for the protection of endangered animals in high hilly and mountain areas of Panchthar, Ilam and Taplejung.