PANCHTHAR, Dec 11: A survey is being carried out for the identification of red panda habitats in the hills of Panchthar district. Red Panda Network (RPN), an organization working for the conservation of the vulnerable species, as well as Deep Jyaoti Youth Club (DJYC), a local organization, are jointly conducting the survey. The survey is being held in a dozen forest areas in Chyapthung, Memed and Prangbung VDCs, which are considered to be the major habitats of these small arboreal mammals, which are also called lesser panda and red cat-bear, found only in the eastern Himalayas besides southwestern China. Wangchu Bhutiya, the coordinator of DJYC, informed that the team members would also hold interaction with the community forest users and other residents of the three VDCs on preservation of bio-diversity, importance of red panda in the eco-system, and the challenges for its conservation, among other issues. A technical team led by Dambar Bista, Conservation Coordinator at RPN, will, however, focus on the survey that includes mapping geographical situations, including food availability, and identification of the existing as well as possible constraints to the conservation effort. As per the data made pubic by RPN a few months ago, a swath of land, covering 605 square-kilometer area in Panchthar, Taplejung and Ilam districts in the eastern Himalayan region, has been projected as the favorable habitat for this demure species that feeds mainly on bamboo. The beautiful animal, which is slightly larger than cat in size, has been listed as “vulnerable” by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). It is estimated that around 200 red pandas are found in the hilly areas of Mechi zone. Despite all the efforts made by the government as well as non-governmental actors to protect red pandas over the years, their number is dwindling, mainly due to habitat loss and fragmentation, besides poaching. (Source : Republica)