Nepal

Illegal hunting is posing a growing threat to the conservation of endangered red pandas in West Myagdi. Consequently, these rare mammals are facing extinction from the forests of Gurja, Mudi and Lulang of Dhaulagiri Rural Municipality. 

The local people who go to look for bamboo stems in the forest are also hunting red pandas using homemade weapons. 

Five years ago, the Red Panda Network and the Himalayan Conservation Forum conducted a joint search operation with the help of the World Wildlife Fund and the Green Forest Program's financial support to conserve the animal population in the region.

However, the lack of conservation efforts for the past two years has led to the increase in poaching of these animals, noted Jasbir BK, a local.

Local people started protecting the animal in the region after the researchers of Red Panda Network started raising awareness programmes in community and schools for the protection of the rare mammals, BK added.

According to Jhak Prasad Chhantyal, Ward President of Dhaulagiri Rural Municipality-1, hunting of the endangered red panda has increased along with small barking deer, ghoral, deer and wild boar in the places bordering the game reserve of Dhorpatan. 

"The Red Panda Protection Committee has been conducting regular patrols, public awareness programmes, restricting people's movement in the areas around the habitat," Chhantyal said.  

Although five red pandas were found in the forest of west Myagdi in the preliminary research, there are estimated to be about 20 red pandas in the community and national forests under the rural municipality. 

The government has listed the red panda, which lives at an altitude of 2,000 to 4,800 metres above sea level, as an endangered species. Under the National Parks and Wildlife Protection Act, 2029, the red panda has been placed on the protected list.  

Chairman of Dhaulagiri Rural Municipality Prem Pun said they had been helping the local people control the smuggling of red pandas and other wild animals, which use bamboo stems and shoots as food. 

Saroj Shrestha, a researcher, said that besides Myagdi, there are red panda habitats in Nuwakot, Rasuwa, Dhading, Lamjung, Manang, Mustang, and Baglung, among other districts.