KATHMANDU, NOVEMBER 3
A new survey has confirmed the presence of additional endangered red pandas in the Dhawalagiri Rural Municipality, Myagdi.
According to the Nepal Biodiversity Conservation Society (NBCS), camera traps installed in different locations captured red pandas.
"The cameras were placed after spotting red panda droppings during a month-long field study. Our findings suggest that between six and twenty-five red pandas inhabit this region," said Pawan Rai, Programme Officer at NBCS.
Earlier, locals had captured photos and videos of red pandas in Dhorpatan Hunting Reserve (Ashoj 2080) and Dahapatal Community Forest, Muna (Mangsir 2081).
Red panda droppings were first recorded in Mareni in 2073 BS by researchers from the Red Panda Network and Himalayan Conservation Forum.
The recent study was supported by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) and the Hariyo Ban Programme.
Researcher Larisa Gautam noted that the growing red panda population could help promote local tourism and create income opportunities for nearby communities.
