The zoo cannot send the critically endangered animal right away to its natural habitat because the panda is yet to fully recover from its illness. [break]
The panda was handed over to the zoo at Jawalakhel by the staff of district forest office at Churchure VDC-2 in Ramechhap district on March 9.
“When the panda was brought here, it was not in a position to move around as it was seriously ill. It is in a much better shape now. But the challenge now is that we cannot ensure suitable temperature for it,” said Dr Balkrishna Giri, veterinary doctor and the chief of wildlife rescue unit at the zoo. “We are working to build proper tree shed for the panda. Best temperature for red panda is 8 to 17 degree Celsius,” he added.
The Valley´s maximum temperature has already reached 27 degree Celsius, which is sure to rise in the coming days. In view of this, the zoo is arranging a separate corner for the panda that would be surrounded by trees and a roof that is cooler. “There are some other animals in the zoo which need special care during the summer. But the case of the panda is more sensitive,” he said.
The present red panda is the second of its kind in the zoo. Earlier, there was a female red panda which died in 1989. Giri clarified that the female did not die due to unfavorable temperature. “A panda´s life span is just 10 to 12 years. The panda had lived here for a few years and she succumbed to the heat,” Giri said.
According to Giri, once the Panda recovers, the zoo will hold meeting with the department of national parks to decide where to keep the panda. “The meeting will decide whether the panda stays here or would be sent to some other place,” Giri said.
Meanwhile, veterinary assistant at the zoo Radhakrishna Gharti said the panda which weighs 2.7 kilogram is eating more variety of foods nowadays and showing improvement in activities. “Earlier, we fed it only apples and eggs, now it eats variety of foods and leafs. We can see that it is feeling better,” Gharti said. “However, it is not yet ready to be put on display.”
Red panda, which is enlisted by IUCN as critically endangered species, is found in an altitude between 2,200 and 4,800 meters in five South Asian countries -- Nepal, India, China, Bhutan and Burma. World Wildlife Fund (WWF) reports that over 75 percent of potential red panda habitat still falls outside protected areas.
It is estimated there are 400 red pandas in Nepal spread across Langtang National Park, Annapurna Conservation Area, Sagarmatha National Park, Manaslu Conservation Area, Makalu Barun National Park and Kanchanjunga Conservation Area.
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