Collaboration with Red Panda Network on red panda conservation

The red panda, considered the most beautiful animal in the world, is seriously endangered. In the last 20 years, it has declined by 50%, leaving only 2,500 specimens in its habitat in Nepal. Intensive livestock farming, poaching and climate change are some of the reasons why this species, unique on the planet, is listed as Endangered, according to the IUCN.

Since 2007, Red Panda Network has been working to protect the red panda and its home in Nepal, guaranteeing a sustainable future for the species and the local communities. At Zoo Aquarium Madrid we collaborate with this association to improve the situation of this incredible animal and guarantee its conservation. Keep reading and find out how you can contribute too!

“The need to save our forests and the wildlife that lives there is no longer deniable.”

RPN Forest Guardian, Bimala Moktan

Discover Red Panda Network

Red Panda Network is a leading global organisation in efforts to save red pandas and their habitat. Its work focuses on conserving the species through education and training of local communities, seeking to maintain viable red panda populations throughout their historic range. It began in 2007 in eastern Nepal by establishing the Red Panda Protected Forest in Panchthar-Ilam-Taplejung (PIT). Since then, they have expanded their programmes to cover 50% of the red panda's range throughout the country and have even started work in Bhutan.

The red panda is the only member of its own taxonomic family, making it a flagship species of biodiversity. The conservation of this species and its habitat benefits the region and is therefore valued and protected by all.

Some highlights of Red Panda Network's mission are:

10 red pandas

equipped with GPS collars for the first time in Nepal.

1,000,000 hectares

of forests protected by conservation programmes.

2,000 families

supported by sustainability programmes.

4,080 km

travelled every year to monitor the red panda.

Hábitat panda rojo. Imagen de Red Panda Network

The work of Red Panda Network

There are several areas in which Red Panda Network works on a daily basis to protect the red panda and promote the development of the country's communities.

Find out more about them:

Patagonia azul. Imagen cortesía de Rewilding Argentina.

Habitat restoration

Red Panda Network, in collaboration with organisations and agencies, plants trees and vegetation (including bamboo) to rebuild degraded and fragmented forests and regenerate food sources. It also aims to reduce the use of timber in livestock farming, the provision of drinking water for families (preventing them from invading red panda habitat for water), and the prevention and suppression of fires.

Gran Parque de Iberá, Argentina. Imagen cortesía de Rewilding Argentina.

Monitoring

It has developed the first red panda monitoring programme and the first national survey. It has created a programme of forest guardians, who patrol and report to biologists and field staff: sightings, tracks and feeding marks, natural threats, etc. Also, for the first time in Nepal, it has equipped ten red pandas with GPS collars. All to obtain data for scientifically based action.

Nutria gigante. Imagen cortesía de Rewilding Argentina.

Education and sustainability

Local communities are involved in red panda conservation. Red Panda Network has developed policies on sustainable agriculture, support for local crafts and involvement in ecotourism. It works with schools to integrate red panda education into the curriculum and organises International Red Panda Day (IRPD), a global day of celebration and education about the species.

Yaguareté. Jatobazinho Matias Rebak. Imagen cortesía de Rewilding Argentina.

Anti-poaching

They have established anti-poaching networks (comprising local communities and rangers) that patrol habitat, remove snares, educate local people about the importance of conservation and report poaching to the relevant agencies. They now have nine anti-poaching networks in the PIT corridor in eastern Nepal and three in western Nepal.

Help protect the red panda

Do you know how you can help to support the protection of the red panda? With a few simple gestures, you can contribute to the care of this impressive species:

Discover and share information about the situation of the red panda and the Red Panda Network project in your environment...
You can make a donation to Red Panda Network through their website and contribute to their conservation programmes, generate fundraising or buy through their online shop.
Come to Zoo Madrid to discover our red pandas. You will be able to observe and learn about this species and with your visit you will be contributing to the awareness of the situation of this species.