Conservation Issues & WWF-India's Interventions
Conservation issues
Red pandas are declining over much of their range due to habitat loss and fragmentation. Forests are being cleared for timber extraction, agricultural development and livestock grazing across its habitat. This has resulted in the loss of nesting trees and the bamboo under storey on which the species feed. The red panda is also hunted for its pelt, which is used to make traditional hats and clothing in China. Moreover, they are also caught in the wild and kept as pets in certain parts of India and Nepal. Disturbance in some red panda habitats in the form of tourism is also a threat in some areas.
Red Panda
WWF-India interventions
WWF-India is currently working to enumerate the status and distribution of red panda in the Khangchendzonga Landscape-involving the states of Sikkim and northern West Bengal. In process is the field data collection on distribution and status of red panda from and Arunachal Pradesh to identify its potential habitat in the region and enumerate the threats and pressures it faces. Further activities will be to mitigate the threats to the species and its habitat involving different stakeholders such as the government and the local people.