Locals have seen as much as three Red Pandas in the Lukla Buffer Zone Community Forest, which lies under Chaurikharka Buffer Zone Community area (CBZCA). According to Nimdorjee Sherpa, president of the CBZCA, it is rare to find Red Panda in jungles near human settlement. [break]
Many locals and tourists are thronging the jungle for red panda sightings.
The rare animal, which is found in the altitude between 22,00-4,800 meters is found only in five South Asian countries -- Nepal, India, China, Bhutan and Burma. According to experts there are around 400 red pandas in Nepal.
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