The Red Panda Network

Red pandas are the only species of its kind in the world, highlighting the importance of their preservation to the world’s natural heritage and global biodiversity. The objective of the Red Panda Network is to conduct non-invasive status surveys to gain valuable information about the population. In order to understand the effectiveness of an endangered species conservation program, it is essential to have an accurate baseline number of the species population. In the case of the red panda, this is absent. The foundations of these surveys are the "forest guardians," village stewards who are trained in survey and monitoring methodology.

Through these status surveys and baseline research, the Network has already identified unprotected red panda habitat with viable populations of 100 individuals or more. The “forest guardians” then, not only conduct awareness-building workshops on red pandas with local villages and schools, also serve as a basis for continuing the Red Panda Network’s baseline research and monitoring and the establishment of community-based protected areas. Using this methodology, they are in the process of establishing the first community-based protected area, the Panchthar-Ilam-Taplejung (PIT) Red Panda Protected Forest, in the Panchthar and Ilam districts of eastern Nepal.
www.redpandanetwork.org

Impact at The Greenville Zoo

The Greenville Zoo has been involved in the red panda Species Survival Plan (SSP) for the last 15 years. We have exhibited many different pairs of red pandas and have raised several cubs here at the zoo, some of which have even gone on to have cubs of their own. The Greenville Zoo is committed to the conservation of red pandas.