According to Dr. Karan Bahadur Shah, coordinator of the work plan drafting committee, they have prepared a syllabus that teaches locals their responsibility in the protection and nurturing of red pandas. [break]
“The work plan is ready. Now we need to translate the English draft into Nepali and add a few more details about the vulnerability and importance of these animals,” said Shah, a professor associated with the Natural Science Museum of Tribhuwan University. Another wildlife expert, Dr Tej Khadka, is also involved in the preparation of the work plan.
The first section of the report will include all information about the animal and the second section will elucidate the role of locals in the conservation, informed Khadka.
Protection of red pandas was emphasized in the government´s novel initiative for conserving eight endangered animal species found in Nepal.
According to Shah, the report has been prepared in such a way that a thorough reading of it will inform the locals about the food and habitat of the animals and their preservation from poachers.
“There are many other reasons for the rapid depletion of these animals but these are the major ones,” said Shah.
According to a report of Red Panda Network Nepal, there are around 10,000 red pandas in India, Bhutan, Myanmar and China and their population in Nepal is put at between 300 to 400.
“We have divided the geographical habitat of the red panda into six areas and the implementation of the work plan will start simultaneously from Ilam, Panchthar and Taplejung districts,” said coordinator of the network, Dambar Bista.
“Our research shows that these animals are found in 28 districts across the nation and their existence in the other districts is also likely,” added Bista.
The demand for red panda hide is the highest in China. Caps made from the hide are worn by the bride and broom during weddings and dusters made out of their hair are also very popular among Chinese.
“We have found that it´s not just poaching but human activities involving deforestation and destruction of natural habitat and the plants they feed on are also responsible,” said Bista.
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