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Why in the News?
Recently, the Padmaja Naidu Himalayan Zoological Park (West Bengal) started a programme to release 20 red pandas in about five years to the forests.
About Red Panda
- Characteristics: Red pandas are shy, solitary and arboreal (spending life on trees) animals and are considered an indicator species for ecological change. They feed mainly on bamboo.
- Habitat: Almost 50% of the red panda’s habitat is in the Eastern Himalayas.
- In India: Found in Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh, West Bengal and Meghalaya. It is the state animal of Sikkim.
- Both (sub) species, i.e, Himalayan red panda and Chinese red panda are found in India.
- Protection Status
- IUCN Status: Endangered.
- CITES: Appendix I
- Wildlife Protection Act 1972: Schedule I
- Concern: The number of red pandas has been declining in the wild, even in the Singalila and Neora Valley National Parks. According to current studies, there are 32 in Neora and 38 in Singalila.
About Singalila National Park
- The Singalila National Park is the highest protected area in the Darjeeling districts of West Bengal.
- It was declared a wildlife sanctuary in 1986 and was made an Indian national park in 1992.
