Endangered Red Panda Spotted in Dhaulagiri Rural Municipality

A rare and endangered Red Panda has been sighted in the Bancharedanda forest of Muna, Dhaulagiri Rural Municipality-3, marking a significant discovery for conservation efforts in the region.

The Red Panda, listed as an endangered species by the government, is typically found at altitudes ranging from 2,000 to 4,800 meters. A team of officials from the Dhaulagiri Rural Municipality made the sighting at an altitude of 3,100 meters while returning from Muna Malika.

Tejindra Pun, a local government employee, captured photographs and videos of the elusive animal and shared them with forest authorities. The images and evidence were later made public, generating widespread interest.

Bishnu Prasad Adhikari, Chief of the Division Forest Office in Myagdi, confirmed the sighting, stating, “Based on the video, photographs, and droppings found at the site, it has been confirmed that the Dhaulagiri area is the Red Panda’s habitat.”

This is the first documented sighting of a Red Panda in the forests of the former Muna Village Development Committee. The finding underscores the ecological significance of the region.

Plans are underway to propose conservation initiatives to the Ministry of Forest and donor agencies to ensure the protection of the species. “We will prioritize preservation projects to secure the habitat of the Red Panda,” Adhikari added.

A prior search campaign conducted in 2073 BS by the Red Panda Network and Himali Conservation Forum, with support from the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) and Hariyo Ban Programme, had identified potential habitats in the Dhaulagiri region. However, direct observations of the species had not been documented until now.

Badri Baral, a researcher with the Red Panda Network, remarked, “Although we had evidence of their habitat in the Dhaulagiri region, this is the first time the Red Panda has been directly observed here.”

The discovery highlights the critical need for conservation efforts to protect the endangered species and its delicate ecosystem in the Himalayan region.