Red pandas ‘sighted’ in Khotang forests

KHOTANG, JUL 08 -

Much to the satisfaction of conservationists, people in four VDCs in northern Khotang say they have spotted critically endangered red pandas in community forests.

The villagers claim that the number of red pandas in their areas is on the rise. According to them, pandas have been sighted at various community forests in Phedi, Chiuridanda, Nirmalidanda and Patheka VDCs.  “These animals somehow resemble dogs and have a red body and white mouth. They are found in malingo—a bamboo species—forests,” said Gyan Kumar Rai, chairman of the Phungalung Community Forest, Phedi.

Locals are delighted that the animal they’ve seen is red panda. They came to know that the animal was an endangered species after seeing pictures in textbooks.

Krishna Bahadur Khatri of Chiuridanda said that villagers who go to the forest to collect fodder and firewood come across pandas frequently. He claimed that there are a number of red pandas in the local forests. However, in the lack of a scientific counting, their exact number remains unknown.

The elated locals have joined hands for the conservation of the animal. They have been organising awareness programmes in villages for the purpose.

Source: http://www.ekantipur.com/2012/07/08/national/red-pandas-sighted-in-khotang-forests/356783/