The Status of Nepal's Mammals: The National Red List Series - IUCN

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Sakhuwasabha West ) with a total population
ranging between 317 and 582 individuals. The
global population is estimated between 8,000
and 10,000 individuals.
National Distribution
The Red Panda is distributed from Ilam, Panchthar
and Taplejung districts in the east to Darchula
district in the west Nepal. A recent GIS based study
suggests a gradual decline in probability of
occurrence of Red Panda from east to west Nepal.
A similar study estimates 67% of Red Panda habitat
within the Sacred Himalayan Landscape area. Red
Pandas occur within the protected areas of
Annapurna Conservation Area, Dhorpatan
Hunting Reserve, Kanchenjunga Conservation Area,
Makalu-Barun National Park, Manaslu Conservation
Area, Rara National Park, Sagarmatha National
Park, Lantang National Park. Outside of protected
areas Red Pandas occur in the districts of Dolakha,
Ilam, Panchthar, Ramechhap, Sankhuwasabha,
Solukhumbu and Taplejung district.
Distribution outside Nepal
Bhutan, China, India, Myanmar.
Main Threats
• Habitat loss and degradation due to human
disturbances, cleaing for livestock grazing and
agriculture.
• Man-made forest fires.
• Poaching.
• Injury/death caused by local dogs.
• Inbreeding.
Conservation Measures in Place
Approximately 22.5% of potential Red Panda habitat
in Nepal is protected by a network of protected
areas. A number of organisations including Red
Panda Network (Nepal and US), WWF, NTNC, DNPWC
have been conducting scientific research and
community-based Red Panda conservation.
This includes a long-term monitoring and a
community-based conservation project in lower
Kanchenjunga Mountain Complex; development of
an action plan for Red Panda in Langtang National
Park; survey of the species in the Sacred Himalayan
Landscape; a GIS based nationwide assessment of
red panda distribution and a Red Panda Population
and Habitat Viability Assessment (PHVA) workshop
in 2010.
Conservation Recommendations
i) Identify and verify potential and key habitats of
Red Panda.
ii) Obtain accurate baseline data on the distribution
and population status of the species in identified
areas based on the six complexes and 11
subpopulations.
iii) Conduct scientific research on genetic diversity,
population structure and habitat and ecology of the
Red Panda in Nepal.
iv) Set up protection and management programmes
for key habitats through government and
community participation.
References
Roberts and Gittleman 1984, Yonzon 1989, Yonzon and Hunter 1991ab, Roberts 1992, Pradhan 1996, Yonzon
et al. 1997, Choudhury 2001, Pradhan et al. 2001ab, Shrestha and Ale 2001, Mahato 2003, Mahato 2004,
Mahato and Karki 2005, Sharma 2008, Wang et al. 2008a, RPN 2007-09, Sharma and Belant 2009, Mahato
2010ab, Red Panda Population and Habitat Viability Assessment (PHVA) Workshop 2010, Thapa 2010a.