Red Panda Network is excited to announce the completion of a national red panda survey in Nepal.
The existing status of red pandas, Ailurus fulgens, is not well-known at this time. Studies in the past did not provide essential baseline data on the red pandas' distribution, the number of red pandas in each area, habitat quality, as well as deforestation and climate change in their region. In addition, previous studies were confined to the district and VDC (Village Development Committees) levels. This study is unique because it will evaluate the status of red pandas throughout their entire range in Nepal.

Our national red panda survey was very extensive with a number of very important goals. The first goal was to identify past trends and the present status and distribution of red pandas in Nepal. In 1997, scientist PB Yonzon estimated the total population of red pandas in Nepal to be around 314 individuals, whereas scientist Sharada Jnawali's study in 2012 indicated the population to be somewhere between 237 and 1061 individuals. These studies were inconclusive because they were primarily based on habitat suitability analysis. Red Panda Network's study will provide reliable results through the use of reports, land use maps of the survey areas, as well as detailed information on red pandas using state of the art GPS technology, and GIS (Geographic Information Systems) software.


The survey was conducted in June and July, 2016 and many of our findings are in the analysis phase. Forty field biologists participated in this project who traversed along 1,147km of transects, collected 625 red panda fecal samples and identified and catalogued 72 species of bamboo. During the survey we discovered, for the first time, the presence of red pandas in Lamjung, Bhojpur and Dolpa districts!
Danielle Lippe
Writing and Communications Volunteer
Red Panda Network
Comments(6)
Le panda roux est en danger! – My Blog says:
November 20, 2018 at 7:03 am[…] par monitoring. Une mission qui progresse vite : en 2016, l’association a publié son dernier rapport sur les populations de pandas roux au Népal, apportant de nombreux éclairages sur le nombre d’individus, leur aire exacte de répartition et […]
Red Panda Hide Seized in Jajarkot – Red Panda Network says:
January 16, 2019 at 1:03 pm[…] A survey conducted by Red Panda Network (RPN) in 2016 showed the western districts’ Jajarkot, Jumla, Kalikot, Dolpa, Mugu, Rukum and Rolpa consisted of potential red panda habitat. Forests in Kuse and Barekot rural municipality in Jajarkot have been identified as core red panda habitat, critical to the species’ viability. […]
Kickoff of RPN’s Community-based Conservation Workshop in Rolpa, a Future Hub for Ecotourism – Red Panda Network says:
March 15, 2019 at 8:18 am[…] in the Rolpa district (along with a study on parasitic infections) was confirmed by RPN in 2013. A national baseline survey conducted by RPN in 2016 estimated that nearly 53 percent of the country’s total red panda habitat is located in Western […]
Red Panda Nepal Information For Tourist - Nepal Travel says:
November 25, 2019 at 11:47 pm[…] red panda is one of the immensely noticed around the globe. The morphology of the red panda mimics that of […]
Le panda roux, une espèce en danger à l'état sauvage says:
April 23, 2020 at 9:43 am[…] par monitoring. Une mission qui progresse vite : en 2016, l’association a publié son dernier rapport sur les populations de pandas roux au Népal, apportant de nombreux éclairages sur le nombre d’individus, leur aire exacte de répartition et […]
RPN Urges China to Upgrade Red Panda Conservation Status | Red Panda Network says:
July 22, 2020 at 3:39 pm[…] change. In 2016, RPN provided technical and financial support to the Nepali government for the first national survey of red pandas, and as a result Nepal approved a National Red Panda Conservation Action Plan in […]