Endangered Red Panda Spotted in Three Local Levels of Kalikot
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Manma (Kalikot), June 17: The endangered red panda has been spotted in three local levels of Kalikot district in Karnali Province, raising hopes for the conservation of the rare species in the region.
The tree-dwelling mammal has been observed in Tilagupha Municipality, Mahawai Rural Municipality and Shubhakalika Rural Municipality, according to representatives of government and non-government organizations involved in biodiversity conservation.
District Coordinator of the Human Rights Environment Development Centre (HuRENDEC), Dilip Kumar Shahi, said the red panda was discovered during biodiversity monitoring in the protected forests of Rudubanchu in Tilagupha Municipality-10.
“Following the discovery, HuRENDEC Nepal has encouraged local communities to protect bamboo forests, which serve as a vital habitat for red pandas,” Shahi said, adding that conservation efforts have been intensified in the area.
Mayor of Tilagupha Municipality, Mahendra Bahadur Shahi, said local residents of the Rudubanchu area have been actively engaged in forest conservation, particularly in protecting the habitat of endangered wildlife. He stressed that public awareness plays a crucial role in conserving such species.
Similarly, Chairperson of Shubhakalika Rural Municipality, Govinda Prasad Acharya, said the red panda has also been found in the Haudi area of the local level.
Red pandas primarily feed on bamboo leaves and shoots and are typically found at elevations ranging from 2,200 to 4,000 metres above sea level.
Conservationists, however, warn that the species continues to face threats from forest fires, habitat encroachment, and attacks by domestic dogs. They have called for stronger conservation measures to ensure the long-term survival of the endangered animal.
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