The name Red Panda came from Nepalese word Nigalya ponya or Habre which mean Bamboo Eater.

It is also known as the

Lesser Panda or Red Cat Beer or Shining Cat. The Red Panda is one of the endangered species of animal. The fame and popularity
of the Red Panda has grown from its unique appearance and from the fact that the press in several countries has devoted much attention to the fate
of pandas in various Zoos in the world. The Red Panda is mainly found in temperate forests in the Himalayas (2,200m-4,800m) altitude
inhabiting areas of moderate temperature (10c-250c). Especially, The Red Panda ranges from in the foothills of Nepal, in the west to China in
the east or southern china (Sichuan and Yunnan). It also found in the northern Inda, southern Tibet, Bhutan and in the northern mountains of
Myanmar. It prefers mountains mixed deciduous and conifer forests, especially with old trees and dense understory of Bamboo. It is an excellent
climber and forages largely in trees. It is specialized as a bamboo feeder with strange, curved and sharp semi-retractile claws, standing in word for
grasping of narrow trees branches leaves and fruit. It also used to eat berries, fruits, mushrooms, roots, acorns, lichen and grasses too.
Occasionally it eats rides, fish, eggs, small rodents and insects. The Red Panda is one of the endangered animals of the world. It is classified as
vulnerable in the IUCNs red list (2009.01) and is included in CITIES appendix. The numbers of Red Pandas are decreasing day to day. Because
of deforestation, illegal hunting and lack of awareness. So that, accurate population figures in the wild are difficult to find, with estimates
ranging from 11,000 to 20,000 worldwide. It is rare and continues to decline. However IUCN and government had classified it endangered and
vulnerable animal even they are unable to pay proper attention towards it.Red Panda Himalayan Adventure Pvt.Ltd. is one of the trekking, tours
and travels company. However its main concern is to preserve, promote and develop Red Panda as well as tourism. We decided to conduct
awareness programme for Red Panda as well as tourism. We think that, trekking, tours and travels are the best way to conduct awareness
programme all over the world to save it from being verge of extension.
The reclusive red panda (Ailurus fulgens) is just as significant and enigmatic a species as its much better known namesake, the giant panda.
Known as habre in the Nepali language, oparakpa in Tamang and kundo in Rai, the red panda has been sighted in Nepal at altitudes of between
2,200 and 4,800 meters. Kamal Thapa, Senior Research Officer at WWF Nepal, explains the significance of the red panda, Although the red
panda is classified as a carnivore, it has adapted to an almost completely herbivorous diet. In order to survive, the red panda relies on young
tender bamboo shoots and leaves; a viable red panda population, therefore, is an indicator of a healthy forest. This almost total dependence on
bamboo for sustenance is a major reason for the decline in red panda population numbers, with rapid deforestation and habitat fragmentation
posing severe threats to its favorite food source. Dr. Shant Raj Jnawali, Biodiversity Coordinator for the Hariyo Ban Program at WWF Nepal
elaborates, The IUCN lists the red panda as an endangered species on its Red List of Threatened Species; it is also one of the focal species of
the Hariyo Ban Program. Estimates put the red panda population at less than 10,000 mature individuals worldwide. This is likely to decline
even more in the coming years. As red panda populations tend to live in isolated pockets, the risk of inbreeding and local extinction is high.
Although the species is not generally targeted by poachers, red pandas often fall prey to traps laid for other animals. Similarly, herding practices
often unintentionally disturb or destroy parts of the red pandas habitat. As part of efforts to protect this rare species, the Hariyo Ban Program is
supporting the establishment of a community-based red panda monitoring system in Langtang National Park and Buffer Zone. Aimed at building
the capacity of local communities to detect and document red panda populations, the initiative was begun in the villages of Polangpati, Dhwache
and Ghyangphedi. According to Kamal Thapa, who supervised the training in Langtang, Local people have a considerable amount of
conservation knowledge this need to be tapped to complement existing scientific knowledge. Making use of local knowledge in this way will
help communities to really get involved in conservation efforts. A group of 11 people comprising members of the Community-based AntiPoaching Operations Unit, and herders and staff from the Langtang National Park and Buffer Zone Support Project participated in the red panda
conservation training. Suryakunda Buffer Zone Users Committee was responsible for the overall management of the event, while WWF Nepal
and staff from the Langtang support project provided technical supervision. Participants learned to use GPS and to identify signs of red panda
populations. They also received a range of equipment to support them in their monitoring efforts including camping gear, compasses, GPS
devices, and measuring tapes. The newly trained monitoring team then set up a series of 12 transects at elevations ranging from 2600 to 3800
meters above sea level; altitude differences of 200m separated each transect. The heartening outcome of this monitoring exercise was the sighting
of five red pandas and the recording of their GPS coordinates. Following this, the second level red panda monitoring was begun from 22 July,
2013 in the sub-alpine forests of Syafru and Ghyangfedi VDCs. The team members have established 14 transects between 2800 to 4000 meters
above sea level. Now that the Government of Nepals WWF-supported Red Panda Conservation Action Plan has been endorsed, the first
requirement, according to Thapa is, extensive research to determine the population and habitat of the red pandas. The replication of
community-based initiatives such as the one in Langtang is also crucial. Once local people understand the need for conservation and acquire
the skills needed to make it happen, conservation efforts for species such as the red panda become dramatically more effective, states Gautam
Poudyal, Field Project Officer at the Langtang National Park and Buffer Zone Support Project, WWF Nepal. Dr. Jnawali agrees with him,
concluding that threats to the red panda and other such species can be only be reduced if local communities are the owners and guardians of
local conservation efforts. Poaching and habitat loss have left only 10,000 wild adult red pandas remaining in the world.