Red panda spotted in Kalikot: A red panda

Manma (Kalikot), June 17

The endangered tree-living animal, red panda, has been spotted in three local levels of Kalikot district, Karnali Province. Tilgupha Municipality, Mahawai Rural Municipality and Shubha Kalika Rural Municipality noticed the red panda, according to representatives of government and non-government organisations.

District coordinator of the Human Rights Environment Development Centre (HuRENDEC), Dilip Kumar Shahi, informed that the endangered animals were discovered while monitoring the biodiversity at the protected forest of Rudubanchu in Tilgupha Municipality-10.

“In view of the discovery of the red panda, HuRENDEC Nepal has encouraged the locals not to destroy bamboo forests,” he said, adding that the conservation efforts are being launched effectively there. Mayor of Tilgupha Municipality, Mahendra Bahadur Shahi, said the locals of the Rurubancha area were working for the conservation of the forest, especially the habitat of the endangered animals.

Public awareness counts much for the conservation of such wild animals, he added. Chair of Shuvakalika Rural Municipality, Govinda Prasad Acharya, said the tree-living animal was also found in the Haudi area at the local level. Red pandas chiefly live on bamboo leaves and shoots. Its habitat lies in the areas located from 2,200 metres to 4,000 metres above sea level. The conservationists, however, warn that the red panda would be threatened if the forest fire, human encroachment and canine attacks are unchecked.