Saving India's elusive red panda from wildlife crimes

The red panda is a small tree-dwelling mammal with a bushy tail and thick fur. https://india.mongabay.com/2020/03/indian-scientists-building-dna-database-to-protect-the-elusive-red-panda/ In India, the endangered animal is found in three states only: West Bengal's Darjeeling district, Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh.

The animal is protected under Schedule 1 of the Wildlife Protection Act 1972 in India, which means it is accorded the same protection as tigers. But, according to scientists, due to habitat fragmentation and rapid land-use changes, the red panda populations exist in a series of local, small disconnected populations in India. Hunting for meat, pelts and illegal pet trade also put the animal at risk.

Indian scientists are building a reference DNA database for red panda populations in the country that will help in conservation and combating illegal wildlife trade.

While a recent report suggests that red panda related crimes are at a relatively low level in India compared to Nepal, experts advise threat assessment, population estimations, boosting community conservation initiatives, building on red panda crime database and creating DNA databases at regional levels.

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