Distribution of red panda and its conservation in Nepal

1. Manoj Paudel
Msc. Forestry
Faculty of forestry
AFU
(A term paper of wildlife and protected area management)
1
© Paudel,M (2021)
Distribution of red panda and its conservation issues in Nepal

2. Outlines of presentation
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1 INTRODUCTION
2 OBJECTIVES
3 METHODOLOGY
4 FINDINGS AND DISCUSSION
5 CONCLUSION

3. Taxonomy of Red Panda
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Carnivora
Family: Ailuridae
Scientific Name: Ailurus fulgens
Sub-species: A. f. fulgens & A. f. Styani
 Red panda is native to Bhutan, China, India, Myanmar and Nepal (Glatston et al., 2015).
 The red panda has a long frame like that of a cat and is coated in reddish-brown hair
accompanied by a thick bushy tail. They seem to resemble a racoon, but every other red
panda has distinct patterns like a zebra.
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1. INTRODUCTION

4.  The term panda comes from the Nepalese term poonya, which translates into the eater of
bamboos.
 The red panda in Nepali is referred to as habre and occasionally as bhalu biralo (bear-cat)
in most areas of Nepal. However, in the eastern part of Nepal, it is named kaala (dark) by
the ethnic community of Limbu people.
 The red panda's zoological name is Ailurus fulgens, and in English, it's named things like
a greater panda, lesser panda, and occasionally regular panda.
 The body of fully grown ranges between 50 and 64 cm and the tail stretches in length from
28 to 59 cm.
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5. 2. OBJECTIVES
The general objective of this paper is to find out Distribution of red panda and its conservation
issues in Nepal.
The specific objectives of this paper is to find out
• National status and distribution of red panda.
• Major conservation efforts and its achievements.
• Conservation threats.
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6. 3. METHODOLOGY
Data collection done from secondary information sources such as:
Surfing related website.
Previous assessment reports.
Published and unpublished research paper.
Informal discussions etc.
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7.  The national red panda survey 2016 documented the potential red panda habitat available across
23,977 Km2, out of which, almost 70% of the total habitat lies outside the PAs network (Bista et al.,
2016).
 This estimation is close to the finding of other studies: 22,400 Km2 (Kandel et al., 2015) and 20,150
Km2 (Thapa et al., 2018).
 These animals are recorded in places with temperature ranging from 10 to 25 degree C and having
pattern of average annual rainfall of 3500 mm (Lama, 2019).
 It subsists primarily on a diet of bamboo and other vegetation.
 The red panda has sparse distribution in temperate and sub-alpine forest zones of the Himalayan
ecosystem between 2000 m and 4800 m in Nepal (Baral & Shah 2008).
 Less than ten thousand Red Pandas left in the world, they are on the verge of extinction in the near
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4.FINDINGS & DISCUSSION
National status and distribution of red panda

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 Jnawali et al. (2012) estimated that the total potential red panda habitat available in Nepal distributed
across 36 districts. However, red panda habitation has been confirmed in only 25 districts so far.
 Despite of potential habitat available in Khaptad and Darchula, red panda presence is yet to be confirmed
which needs further corroboration (Bista et al., 2016).
 In Nepal, the red panda potential habitat is distributed across Kailash Sacred Landscape (KSL), Sacred
Himalayan Landscape (SHL), Chitwan- Annapurna Landscape (CHAL) and Kanchenjunga Landscape
(KL), but the species presence has been confirmed only from the last three landscapes
Fig. Range of red panda in Nepal source: (Red Panda Network, 2016)

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 Establishment of protected areas in mountain region of Nepal is contributing to red panda
conservation by appropriate conservation measures within those areas.
 Community based conservation initiatives have also been ensured through the buffer zone
program in MBNP, SNP, LNP, DHR and RNP. Red panda monitoring is being carried out in LNP.
 Some of the DFOs are also implementing red panda focused conservation programs outside the
PAs in small scale.
 The Government of Nepal (GoN) has also adopted landscape level approach for the conservation
of mountain ecosystem including the red panda and other associated sympatric species.
 Red Panda conservation action plan (2019-2023) is implemented holistically to address the needs
for long-term conservation priorities.
 10 red pandas have been equipped with GPS satellite in Panchthar-Illam-Taplejung corridor which
is red panda’s first collar study in Nepal (Red Panda Network, 2020).
Major conservation efforts and its achievements.

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 Landscape level approach also aims in fostering trans- boundary level cooperation.
 A population and habitat viability assessment and community-based red panda conservation
program was held in Nepal in 2010.
 The Karnali Bikash Hatemalo Sewa Samaj,Jumla in coordination with the Habre Network has
launched the Habre conservation drive at Sinja and Patarashi rural municipalities (Setopati, 2078).
 Red Panda network (RPN) has been a pioneer organization working for red panda conservation in
Nepal.
 Section 26 of the NPWC act, 1973 provisions the fine ranging from Rs. 500,000 to 1,000,000 and
imprisonment of 5 to 15 years or both for the offenders and illegal trade in red panda and its parts.
 Act has provision to give cash rewards of Rs. 25000 for aiding seizure of its parts or arrest such
criminals.

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Conservation threats
a. Poaching and Illegal Trade
 Consumption of red panda meat has been reported from central and western Nepal (Bista et al.,
2016).
 During the 9-year period from 2008 to 2016, 74 cases of trafficking red panda hides were
reported in Nepal.
 Police had apprehended 90 persons in possession of 85 red panda from 2014-2018 from capital.
 Poachers sell the hides of animal for 2 lakhs to 6 lakhs depending on their clients (The Himalayan
Times, 2021)
b. Habitat Loss and Degradation
 Augmented habitat loss, degradation, and fragmentation due to anthropogenic activities are the
main causes of decline in red panda populations and its habitat in Nepal (Acharya et al. 2018).

12.  Forest fires, the traditional transhumance system of livestock herding, firewood collection, bamboo
and non-timber forest products (NTFP) collection, and slash and burn cultivation are important
underlying causes for habitat loss and degradation in the Himalayan region (Williams et al. 2011,
Panthi et al., 2017, Acharya et al., 2018).
 Mass flowering and die-off of bamboo is also one of the major cause behind habitat loss and
degradation which could effects red panda from a particular habitat (Steffens 2004, Paudel 2009).
c. Pathogen and Zoonotic Diseases
 The mortality rate of the red panda is very high in the wild (~65%), (Yonzon & Hunter 1991)
which can be attributed to several explanations, including parasitic infection (Bista et al. 2017).
 Seven different species of gastrointestinal parasites have been reported in red panda (Bista et al.,
2017b).
 The canine distemper virus has been reported as one of the most infectious pathogens resulting
nearly 100% mortality rate in red panda (Bush & Roberts 1977, Glatston et al., 2015).
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13. d. Climate Change
 Due to red panda's narrow ecological niche, a habitat specialist in nature and feeding primarily upon
a single food source (bamboo), the risks due to climate change are greatly increased.
 Many bamboo species are vulnerable to climate change because of their unusual extended
reproduction intervals, ranging from 10 to 120 years (Janzen 1976), along with limited seed
dispersal ability (Tuanmu et al., 2013)
e. Small and Isolated Populations
 Small and isolated populations have a greater tendency towards extinction due to inbreeding
depression and natural catastrophes.
 Biological corridors connecting sub-populations are still inadequate and are not sufficiently
managed.
 Nepal may face inbreeding problems, due to very small isolated populations.
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14. f. Inadequate Awareness
 Although the red panda is on the protected list in Nepal, many people are unaware about its
protection and ecological role.
 Despite some awareness activities carried out in some areas, there is yet a very limited
awareness level amongst different stakeholders.
g. Infrastructure Development
 The construction of hotels, roads, and hydropower plants exert pressure on forest resources at
high altitude.
 Linear infrastructures e.g., road and electric transmission lines also result in habitat
fragmentation which is likely to have more impact in future.
 Choudhury (2001) had also revealed road construction as a culprit for habitat loss and
fragmentation
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15. h. Livestock Herding and pet animals
 Yonzon and Hunter (1991) found that most red panda deaths were connected to the presence of
cattle herders and dogs in the LNP area during the monsoon [birth] season.
 Four adult Red panda were killed by dogs in the KCA in 2011 (Bista & Paudel 2014).
 Yonzon & Hunter (1991) identified the presence of Chouri (Yak), their herders and dogs as
major detrimental factors to Red Pandas in LNP.
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16. 5. CONCLUSION
 Red Panda is an indicator species of areas with mature eastern Himalayan Broadleaf forest.
 Illegal hunting for their fur, meat and other body parts, pathogen and zoonotic diseases,
overgrazing, deforestation, and climate-induced disasters are some of the challenges in their
conservation.
 They are on the verge of extinction in the near future.
 Department of forest , department of national park and wildlife reserve, govt. of Nepal, national
and international organization etc. played vital role to conserve red panda in Nepal.
 Strict law enforcement , protection of habitat and public awareness should be vital for the
conservation of red panda.
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17. REFERENCES
 Acharya, K.P., Shrestha, S., Paudel, P. K., Sherpa, A. P., Jnawali, S. R., Acharya, S. & Bista, D. (2018). Pervasive human disturbance on habitats of
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