Record red panda sightings in Eastern Nepal

A group of eight ecotrippers arrived in Nepal to see red pandas in their native habitat. They saw eight during the most successful ecotrip in RPN history. It was late November when participants of Red Panda Network (RPN)’s 2018 Eco Zoo Trip arrived in the Himalayan hills of Eastern Nepal.

RPN celebrates 100 Forest Guardians by planting forests for red pandas!

On Thursday, April 18th, Krishna Basnet, and Nar Bahadur Basnet walked into the woods on their first day as Forest Guardians (FGs). Within their quiet footsteps was a well-deserved celebration: after many years and much hard work RPN's Forest Guardian program had grown to 100 members strong! This journey began

Red panda attacked by dogs, rescued by locals

Locals from a rural village in Ilam rescued a red panda that was being chased by stray dogs. The red panda was later released back into its habitat. RPN Forest Guardian led the effort. Maijogmai Rural Municipality-3 is located in the Himalayan foothills of Eastern Nepal. It is one of six rural

Rolpa: A Future Hub for Ecotourism and Red Panda Conservation

Red Panda Network (RPN) is well into its second year of expanding programs into Western Nepal and the local response has been encouraging as people begin to see the livelihood benefits of conservation. ​The mountain forests of Western Nepal are particularly important as they constitute more than half of the

No Panda Pets!

Some at-risk species suffer from a lack of public attention and awareness. In the case of the red panda, too much misguided attention may be doing them harm by encouraging the black market trade of red panda pets. Recently, reports have surfaced of wild red pandas in cages, presumably captured

Man arrested in Rukum district for possession of red panda hides

Last week, a police team from Western Rukum Police Administration arrested Bikash BK, a twenty-one-year-old from Banfikot municipality. Three red panda hides were confiscated from BK. According to Deputy Superintendent of Police, Sumit Khadka, a few days before the seizure, the police received information about some people trying to smuggle

Phinju Sherpa: From livestock herder to red panda tracker

He was there in the beginning and he is there now to see the forests protected, communities involved and more wild red pandas than ever before. At the young age of 13, Phinju Sherpa had to make a difficult choice; stay at home on his traditional family farm, or pursue

Red Panda Hide Seized in Jajarkot

Authorities have arrested three people for smuggling a red panda hide in Nalgad municipality in Jajarkot, one of the most remote and mountainous districts in Nepal. Acting on a tip,  Jajarkot police arrested Ganesh Sunar, 25, and Yubaraj B.K., 24, for possession of a red panda skin. About 5 months

First Red Pandas Photographed in Western Nepal!

Forest Guardian, Kamal Nepali, photographs first red pandas since RPN's expansion to Western Nepal. On the morning of November 22, 2018, RPN Forest Guardian, Kamal Nepali, and his wife, were walking in Sankadaha Community Forest of Jajarkot district, Western Nepal. A cold breeze was blowing as sunlight pierced through the