Red Pandas: Are They Nearing Extinction? Researcher Tells More About This Species’ Shrinking Habitats

A new study recently found that the red panda, despite having fans in almost all places, is being pushed nearer the precipice of extinction.,

An Earth.com report specified that when Damber Bista, a Ph.D. researcher from the University of Queensland, tracked red pandas using GPS collars, they discovered their habitat was being fragmented.

He said, their study findings reveal that current patterns of habitat fragmentation and forest exploitation, from infrastructure projects like new roads, have placed the red panda in increased danger.

Because of this, red pandas are changing their activity to minimize their interaction, as well as their disturbances l such as livestock, dogs, or humans, and this is drastically meddling with natural interaction between the animals, leading to population isolation.

Tracking the Red Panda Remotely

The Ph.D. researcher traveled to Nepal to tag and collar pandas, which enabled him to track the animals remotely from Queensland on his computer. Restrictions due to COVID-19 made it impossible to go back to Nepal, as was the original plan.

Bista also explained that the satellite tracking enabled him to monitor the red pandas remotely in Brisbane while he depended on his friends and colleagues in Nepal to install cameras and conduct field surveys.

"It was a surreal experience," he said adding, h e would spend long hours each day during COVID-19 lockdowns in his home, watching the movement of red pandas in Nepal on his computer.

The study published in the journal Nature Ecology is only the fifth of its kind to be carried out on wild red pandas and the second performed in Nepal.

Endangered Species

It is quite a challenge to know how many red pandas, described on the Red Panda Network website, are left on Earth, although it is estimated that 10,000 are left in the wild, and from 500 to 1000 are found in Nepal, Bista said.

With the findings from this study showing fragmentation of their habitat, along with previous research on the effects of poaching, the Ph.D. student expressed concern over the future of this species.

Whereas red pandas can adjust to habitat effects to some degree, Bita continued explaining; that they may be vulnerable to local extinction under these circumstances, placing the wider population of the said species at risk.

The giant panda's shrinking forest habitat forces the animals to make hard decisions. For example, they must decide whether to live nearer the predators or adjust to life close to encroaching humans.

A Decline in Red Panda Populations

As expected, explained Bista, it is in the best interest of an animal to avoid its predators, although "as we continue to build more roads and infrastructure," drastically lessens the capacity for red pandas to do this.

He added as the availability of appropriate forests shrinks, it is up to the red panda to weigh its options on how to survive best.

Regrettably, these types of compromises can result in a decline in the populations of red pandas, not to mention the possibility of eventual extinction.

Related information about the red panda is shown on AnimalWised's YouTube video below:

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