Myagdi, November 3
Additional endangered red pandas have been found in the Jaljala, Muna and Mareni areas of Ward No 2 and 3 of Dhawalagiri Rural Municipality. For this, three ‘cameras’ were installed in the area, and red pandas were found in two of them. “The cameras were set up after discovering red panda droppings during a month-long field study. Our study has confirmed that there are between six to twenty-five red pandas residing in that area,” said Pawan Rai, Programme Officer at the Nepal Biodiversity Conservation Society.
A team of researchers along with local residents conducted an on-site study to determine the presence of red pandas in Khibang, Mudi, Archey, Dar, Takam, Bagar, Simkosh, Italy Base Camp, Mareni, Lulang, Gurjakhani, and Gurja Deurali areas of Dhawalagiri.
The locals had released photos and videos showing the red panda at Gurjaghat of Dhorpatan Hunting Reserve in Ashoj 2080 and at Bancharedanda area of Dahapatal Community Forest area of Muna in Mangsir 2081. In 2073 BS, researchers from the Red Panda Network and the Himalayan Conservation Forum found red panda poo in Mareni, located in the Jaljala area.
The study was conducted with the financial support from the World Wildlife Fund and the Hariyoban Programme. Researcher Larisa Gautam said that income and employment opportunities could be promoted in the community by bringing tourists to see red pandas in this area.
