Cases of poaching and illegal trade in the endangered red panda (Ailurus fulgens) are on the rise in Nepal. But with little evidence of a demand for panda pelts and parts, researchers are asking why. Led by researchers from the University of Queensland in Australia, a team of nearly 40 university graduates traveled throughout the […]
Tag: red panda
From a new bird to a new community reserve: India’s tribe sets example
SINGCHUNG, India — “Follow the rustling in the bushes,” whispers Phurpa Tsering, tiptoeing aside. I hear a brief low-pitched call. A bird, larger than a sparrow but smaller than a pigeon, stirs in the branches before diving deeper into another bush in the ravine. Its partner trails behind, revealing a fleeting glimpse of the bird’s […]
As the mammal tree of life suffers hits, should we prioritize which species to save?
The current mass extinction is eliminating whole branches of the mammal tree of life, which will take millions of years to replace, according to a recent study. Some researchers suggest focusing our conservation efforts on mammal species that sit on the tree’s most distinct and precarious limbs. How we choose to save one species over […]
Heartbreaking Red Panda Rescue Raises Concerns About the Illegal Pet Trade
Red pandas are unquestionably adorable, but unfortunately that could be causing them problems. A recent rescuehas raised concernsthat their cuteness is making them vulnerable in the illegal pet trade. In January, a random inspection of a vehicle by customs officials in Laos led to the discovery of six red pandas near the Chinese border. The […]
Video: Scientists capture first-ever footage of wild red pandas in Myanmar
This year, a team of scientists from the Fauna & Flora International (FFI) in Myanmar (also called Burma), caught a pair of reclusive red pandas on camera, for the first time ever. The bushy tailed pandas were climbing up a rocky pile of rubble left behind in the region by Chinese loggers. For the scientists, […]