WHAT IS RED PANDA?

 

There are only two different panda species in the world , the Giant Pandas and the Red Pandas. Red Pandas are the state animal of sikkim. They are shy , solitary and arboreal animals and considered an indicator species for ecological change.

India is home to both the (sub) species;

• Himalayan red panda (Ailurus fulgens)
• Chinese red panda (Ailurus styani)
• Siang river in Arunachal pradesh splits the two phylogenetic species.
• It is found in the forest of India , Nepal, Bhutan and the northern mountains of Myanmar and  southern China.
• The number of Red Pandas has been declining in the wild, even in the Singalila, and Neora Valley National Parks, the two protected areas where the endangered mammal is found in the wild in West Bengal.
• Singalila  National Park is located at the Singalila Ridge in the Darjeeling district.
• It is the highest altitude Park in the state of West Bengal.
• It was initially a wildlife sanctuary and made into a National Park in 1992.
• Other national park of West Bengal are;

1. Jalda Para National Park
2. Neora Valley National Park
3. Sundarbans National Park
4. Gorumara National Park
5. Buxa National Park and Tiger Reserve.

India's Conservation Efforts

• WWF - India works with local communities to reduce their dependence on fuelwood by introducing them to innovative techniques to meet their energy demands.
• In Sikkim , more than 200 individuals have been trained in manufacturing bio- briquettes
• Garnering local support: Local communities are involved in alternate livelihood activities that draw benefits for them , while also supporting conservation initiatives.
• In Arunachal Pradesh , community - based tourism enables the locals to earn additional income from the tourists coming to see red pandas.
• Mitigating threats to red panda populations: Working with local Communities to reduce forest dependence and involving them in conservation measures addresses the threat of habitat degradation and fragmentation . WWF -India has also collaborated with the sikkim Anti -Rabies  and Animal Health (SARAH) and launched a programme to sterilize feral dogs in order to control their growing population around critical wildlife areas.