Mapping
Source: Northeast Today
Context: A Red panda, an endangered species, was recently captured on camera in the Eaglenest Wildlife Sanctuary (EWS) in Arunachal Pradesh.
Key Points about Red Pandas:
- Two panda species: Giant Pandas and Red Pandas.
- State animal of Sikkim.
- Shy, solitary, arboreal; indicator species for ecological change.
- Two (sub) species in India: Himalayan and Chinese red pandas.
- Found in India, Nepal, Bhutan, Myanmar, and China.
- Declining numbers; protected under IUCN, CITES, and Wildlife Protection Act.
- Release program by Padmaja Naidu Himalayan Zoological Park: Pandas released in Singalila National Park, West Bengal.
About Eaglenest Wildlife Sanctuary:
Located in the Himalayan foothills of West Kameng District, Arunachal Pradesh, Eaglenest Wildlife Sanctuary is a protected area known for its rich biodiversity. It borders Sessa Orchid Sanctuary to the northeast and Pakhui Tiger Reserve to the east, spanning an altitude range from 500 to 3,250 meters. Home to over 500 bird species, it is part of the Kameng Elephant Reserve. The sanctuary is renowned for birding, with diverse flora including temperate cloud forests, bamboo patches, and rhododendrons. Its fauna includes species like the capped langur, Bengal tiger, Asian elephant, red panda, and Asiatic black bear. The sanctuary’s name is derived from the Red Eagle Division of the Indian army, stationed there in the 1950s
