May 16, Rolpa – A rare red panda has been spotted in Rolpa. The elusive red panda, also known as the “rato habre,” was found in the Jailbang forest within the Jaljala area. The red panda is considered one of the world’s rarest wildlife species. Tourism entrepreneur and wildlife photographer Balkuram Pun captured moments of the red panda playing in the forest with his camera. “I had a unique encounter with the red panda and was able to photograph and video it playing,” he said.
After spotting the red panda in the forest last Friday, Pun was able to observe it closely. “I had been aware that red pandas inhabit this area. I had a stationary encounter of about 38 seconds with the panda,” he shared. The area where the red panda was found is located at an altitude of approximately 3,000 meters above sea level and contains Himalayan bamboo and chuyang, which are the panda’s main food sources.
The Jaljala area and surrounding regions in Rolpa, under Lumbini Province, offer a favorable habitat for red pandas. This species was first recorded in Rolpa in 2015. The Red Panda Network has been conducting surveys in the high hilly zones of the Jaljala region, including villages like Jailbang, Thabang, Uwa, and eastern Rukum, searching for signs of red pandas. Locals have called on the government to prioritize the conservation and promotion of red pandas in the area.
