Red Panda leaves experts on wild goose chase

The endangered Red Panda found in the three Eastern Himalayan States of Sikkim, Arunachal and Northern West-Bengal seems to be eluding experts engaged in measures to ensure its existence.

States are finding it increasingly difficult in making population surveys as directed by the Centre. This information gap is turning out to be a significant hurdle for the conservation of the species.

With its “grass root conservation strategies”, Help Tourism, an NGO teaming up with local tribal communities across 14 villages in the three States, is aiding in measures to conserve this threatened species. The specie is listed under Schedule I of the Wildlife Protection Act and has been declared vulnerable in the 2008 International Union for Conservation of Nature’s (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species.

These “fiery orange” cat-like animals are found at altitudes between 4,900 feet and 13,000 ft, in the Eastern Himalayas. While other species of this family are carnivores, red pandas feed on mailing bamboo plants, growing in the high Himalayan reaches.

The wild population of Red Pandas is largely found in Neora Valley National Park and the Singalila National Park around Darjeeling in West-Bengal, Barshey Rhododendron Sanctuary at Sikkim besides the Eastern parts of Arunachal Pradesh.

One of the major challenges being faced in its conservation in the wild is the difficulty faced during its survey, according to BK Sharma, Chief Conservator of Forest (Wildlife) North Bengal. A detailed survey based on Population Habitat Viability Study has been proposed since the past one year, at the directives of the Centre.

“The areas inhabited by the animal are at high altitudes which are not easily accessible and the species is not easily sighted,” he pointed out. Compounding the problem further, most of the protected areas where these species are found share international borders. Barshey, for instance, has international borders with Nepal and Neora Valley in Darjeeling has common borders with Bhutan. Singalila too shares its border with Nepal.

“As a result, the animal is already in danger of becoming extinct in the wild. There has been a sharp decline in its population due to various factors including pet trade, hunting, trapping and trading, and disturbance, fragmentation and loss of habitat,” he added.

“The local communities living around the protected areas are the best solution to the problem”, felt Asit Biswas, founder of Help Tourism.

No one is better acquainted to the rugged, cold terrains than the local people. They provide valuable information related to sighting and tracing the indirect samples, thereby aiding in the survey of the elusive animal.

Human interventions are also making their way to the higher Himalayan altitudes, resulting in their habitat loss. Hence, the need of the hour is active monitoring of their habitat, which too is best done by them, Biswas felt.

As a part of its effort to get the local youths involved in conservation strategies, various training programmes have been conducted in various eco-tourism ventures and raising their awareness level on conservation.

“The terrains are rough and steep and are a boon for trekkers; hence an ideal way of linking conservation with tourism is to take up various initiatives as trekking where by local youths also earn money in the process. Further, these communities are also adding to the buffer forest zone around the protected areas, realising their livelihood can be sustained with the help of forest and wildlife.

dailypioneer