A red panda, considered a rare species, has been found in the eastern region of Taplejung, a week ago. The three-year old female was recovered from Chabakhola sector of the Kalikhola VDC and according to information given by the chairman of the Chabakhola Community Forest Consumers' Group, Chandra Bahadur Katuwal, after he spotted the injured panda, he did not touch it, knowing that this creature fell under the world's rare species list. The animal is of small dimensions, has a round head, big ears and short legs and looks very much like a cat.

This species has been reported from Nepal, Tibet, and Bhutan in South Asia. The Nepal district branch of the Federation of the Community Forest Consumer of Taplejung claims that red panda, snow leopard and musk deer, are among the many other rare animals that can be found within their forest. Red panda's habitat can be located between 2000 to 4000 meters, above sea level, and according to the estimate of the IUCN of 1999, the number of its population, lies between 500 to 600, in the world.

The estimate of red panda found across Nepal is around 300, with a few dozen found inside this district, reiterates Indramani Bhandari, Chief District Officer (CDO) of Taplejung District Forest Office. This animal usually lives at the base of trees, inside caves and crevices of huge boulders and feeds on bamboo shoots, fruits and wild mushrooms. A year ago, it was sighted at the Kanchanjunga Conservation Area Project which was established by the government, four years ago.

According to Indramani Bhandari, research on rare species of fauna found inside this forest has not been conducted, due to a lack of financial and technical means.

OTHER NEWS

• Hagen's ashes scattered in Khumbu: The ashes of Swiss geologist and explorer Toni Hagen were scattered over the Khumbu icefall, according to a press release from the Toni Hagen foundation. The ashes were brought in a small urn from the late Hagen's village of Leinzerheide in Switzerland by his daughter, Katrin Hagen. She completed the ceremony from on board a Karnali Air helicopter flying at 18,000 feet. "My father's wish was to be cremated and his ashes to be brought to Nepal," said Katrin Hagen. "I am satisfied that his ashes have now joined the mountains of Nepal that he cared for so much."
  
  
• Dhampus tries to attract domestic tourists: After failing to attract foreign tourists, Dhampus is adopting strategies to boosting tourism by wooing domestic tourists. This village, though bearing high tourism prospects, is facing a downturn in tourism for the past three years largely due to Maoist insurgency.
  
  
• German importers warn of not buying Nepali tea: Citing higher use of chemical fertiliser in tea plantation, German importers have warned that they would not procure tea from Nepal, if the chemical residue in the tea crosses a stipulated mark. A recently faxed letter from GNH and Company, a German importer, has further asked the tea producers to limit the pesticide content below 0.01 milligram per kg. This is a standard recommended by German Tea Board (GTB).
  
  
• Hi-tech telescope for RONAST: Nepali professional sky-watchers are set to become cyber-savvy now. The astronomers are soon to have access to a computerised telescope - the first of its kind in the country, thanks to a British expatriate in the capital who has volunteered to donate the equipment to RONAST.
  
  
• Star alpinists expect turnaround in tourism: The globally acclaimed mountaineers expect the golden jubilee celebration of the ascent of Mount Everest to be a turning point for the tourism industry in Nepal. But they have put a condition; the current cease-fire between the government and the Maoists should convert into a lasting peace.
  
  
• Nepali textiles, apparels get duty free access to Canada: The governments of Nepal and Canada signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) allowing duty-free export of Nepali textiles and apparels to Canada.
  
  

By Hari Shrestha, Resident Representative in Kathmandu