Camera traps installed in the remote forests of the Myagdi district in Central Nepal confirmed the presence of a rare and endangered animal — the red panda.
Networked cameras placed in the forest canopy at a height of about 5 meters were eight times more effective at detecting these arboreal mammals compared to cameras set up on the ground. Thanks to clear images of faces with individual patterns, researchers were able to apply the 'recapture' method and estimate the population size in the studied area — from 6 to 25 individuals.
The data obtained is critically important for the conservation of the species, whose population has halved over the past 20 years due to habitat fragmentation and poaching.
Particular attention should be given to the work of the local organization BIOCOS Nepal, which actively involves residents of neighboring villages in forest and bamboo grove conservation. This experience shows that collaboration with local communities can be a key factor in the conservation of this charismatic and endangered animal.
