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On the India-Nepal border, ‘forest guardians' track endangered red pandas
In the misty hills of eastern Nepal near the border with India, 48-year-old farmer Surya Bhattarai patrols the steep slopes of Sudap Community Forest in Taplejung district. Braving remoteness, treacherous terrain and wild animals, he is tracking red pandas, an elusive and endangered species native to the eastern Himalayas. Trained in field data collection, Bhattarai, one of 128 Forest Guardians, carries a GPS tracker, a mobile phone, a notebook, a pen, a measuring tape and a vernier scale to document signs of the animal. Forty-four Forest Guardians operate within the Panchthar-Ilam-Taplejung Corridor, a vital 11,500-square-kilometer habitat that shelters roughly a quarter of Nepal's red panda (Ailurus fulgens) population. In Taplejung, Bhattarai monitors designated forest blocks, walking transects to look for scat, claw marks or other signs of red panda. Monitoring takes place four times a year – in February, May, August and November – timed around key stages in the red panda's life cycle, like breeding and mating seasons. Patrolling during the summer months also helps deter poaching, says Bhattarai. Globally, fewer than 10,000 red pandas remain across India, Bhutan, China and Nepal, which hosts between 500 and 1,000 in its temperate bamboo forests across 25 districts. The shy, elusive species is quietly slipping toward extinction due to rapid development like road building and hydropower expansion and habitat degradation from human activities that are fragmenting the bamboo forests they depend on. Launched in 2010 by the nonprofit Red Panda Network with just 16 members, the Forest Guardian program has evolved into one of Nepal's most ambitious citizen-led wildlife monitoring efforts. Forest Guardians conduct quarterly censuses, track red panda behavior and habitat use and raise awareness in their communities while mobilising support against poaching. They are paid 3,000 Nepali rupees (roughly $22) for each monitoring session. Inspired by Nepal's community-managed Annapurna Conservation Area, Forest Guardians act as bridges between the Red Panda Network and local communities, says Ang Phuri Sherpa, the organisation's executive director. 'Our biggest challenge is building trust with local communities. The Forest Guardians serve as our local ambassadors,' he tells Mongabay. Drawn from local communities – mostly from underprivileged and economically marginalised groups – the Forest Guardians, who usually have up to middle-school education, patrol forests near their homes. This grassroots surveillance forms the backbone of the Red Panda Network's conservation strategy, according to Sherpa. The data collected by Forest Guardians – from red panda sightings and GPS mapping to camera trap footage and patrol logs – is regularly compiled and used to shape conservation strategies and policy briefs. 'These efforts have helped identify key habitat zones, guide anti-poaching measures and inform local land-use planning,' Sherpa says, adding that zoos in the US and Europe support the program. 'They are professional forest stewards and our local conservation ambassadors who monitor red panda populations and habitat, as well as raise awareness in their communities.' 'The idea of engaging local citizen scientists in red panda monitoring is commendable,' says Arjun Thapa, a wildlife researcher pursuing postdoctoral research at the Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences in Beijing. 'But equally important is understanding how the data they collect is used – whether it informs policy, leads to tangible conservation outcomes or benefits local communities.' Thapa cautions that data collection alone is not enough. 'We need to rigorously validate and analyse the information. Without that, it's difficult to make evidence-based decisions or meaningful management interventions.' He also questioned the effectiveness of current monitoring methods. 'Red pandas don't consistently follow the same paths,' he says. 'So, using fixed transects for quarterly monitoring may not capture an accurate picture of their movements or habitat use.' A 2016 national survey revealed that 70% of red panda habitat in Nepal lies outside protected areas. Unlike national parks, these forests are less monitored and more vulnerable to poaching and encroachment. Since then, the Forest Guardian model has been focused precisely where red pandas are most at risk. 'Earlier, there were up to 10 poaching incidents a year,' Sherpa says. 'In the last five or six years, we haven't had a single case in our project areas.' To reduce local people's dependence on forests, the Red Panda Network trains them on homestay management, nature guide and ecotourism. It also supports income-generating programs such as rug weaving, crochet making and nettle fiber processing, particularly for women. In Phurumbu village, Taplejung, women sit behind sewing machines, stitching bags and handkerchiefs from nettle fiber. Forty-year-old Chandra Kumari Limbu received training from Himali Conservation Forum, a local nonprofit, and now sells them to local schools and souvenir shops in Kathmandu. The facility, in its second year, has employed 16 women. 'We need to market the products so that people know about it,' Limbu says. 'These skills enable [the women] to participate in conservation-linked livelihoods, creating a self-sustaining economic model that fosters pride, ownership and long-term commitment to protecting natural resources,' Sherpa says. 'RPN not only conserves biodiversity but also invests in the resilience and self-reliance of the very communities that coexist with endangered species like the red panda.' Research conducted by Sherpa and his colleagues found that people in the Panchthar-Ilam-Taplejung corridor were more aware of red panda conservation than people in western and central Nepal. 'This increased level of awareness about red pandas could be attributed to the red panda-focused conservation education program being implemented in eastern Nepal,' said the study published in 2021 in ScienceDirect under a volume titled Red Panda: Biology and Conservation of the First Panda. The Red Panda Network, which currently works in 13 red panda districts, is planning to replicate the conservation model in other districts across the country. In Ilam, bordering Singalila National Park – a crucial red panda habitat in India, families run homestays for eco-tourists who come to get a glimpse of the elusive animal in the wild. About 15 homestays operate in the PIT corridor, hosting up to eight groups of foreign tourists – roughly 50 visitors – a year. 'Our business wing manages this program and shares part of the profits to fund conservation. Our goal is to reduce dependence on forests by providing alternative livelihoods,' Sherpa says. Despite growing community involvement and measurable conservation gains, the threats to red pandas remain acute. Habitat loss and fragmentation are key drivers of red panda decline. 'One of the biggest threats to their survival is the rapid, haphazard construction of roads in Nepal's mid-hills,' Sherpa says. 'These roads often cut through critical habitat, without any scientific assessment, fragmenting the forests red pandas rely on.' RPN has launched an ambitious plan to restore their habitat in Ilam district. The organisation recently secured a $2.5 million grant for a five-year project, which aims to restore 500 hectares (1,235 acres) of forest in Ilam, connecting with Singalila. 'This will enable genetic exchange between red pandas in Nepal and those in India and improve species resilience,' Sherpa says. 'Without it, inbreeding becomes a serious risk. If there's a pandemic in the group, the disease can wipe out a significant population.' In August last year, Puwamajhuwa village in Ilam district was declared the country's first community-based conservation area, raising hope for the species. The animal faces other threats such as attacks by free-roaming dogs, particularly near Pathibhara temple in Taplejung, where goats are sacrificed to appease the Hindu goddess worshipped here. 'During the pilgrimage season in autumn and spring, the dogs get to eat goat meat [discarded] by the devotees. When they don't get meat in the off-season, they may attack red pandas descending from the trees,' says Ramesh Rai, program coordinator of Himali Conservation Forum. He added that the dogs also spread diseases such as rabies and canine distemper. Dhan Kumar Sembu, a 47-year-old Forest Guardian in Pathibhara area, agrees with Rai. 'Stray and hunting dogs pose a threat to red pandas. But a vaccination campaign has helped control it to some extent,' he says. Wildlife researchers have documented how the red panda evolved from its carnivorous ancestors to the now largely-vegetarian diet. It feeds on bamboo leaves, and researchers suggest the species may have adapted to the changes in its habitat. 'Their teeth and digestive systems still resemble those of meat-eaters, but over time, likely due to a scarcity of prey, they adapted to a bamboo-based diet,' Sherpa says. 'Since bamboo is low in calories, red pandas must consume it in large quantities and conserve energy by remaining mostly inactive during the day.' While the tree-dwelling creature basks in the sun, Forest Guardians such as Bhattarai, who received a Green Ambassadors Award for his work by a Nepali nonprofit in 2023, must endure harsh weather to protect them. On a recent patrol, Bhattarai faced fierce winds and sudden rain. 'I was nearly blown away,' he says. But he keeps walking because the red panda still needs guarding. 'I feel a responsibility,' he says. 'We should leave wild animals in the forest for the next generation – not just in photos.'
The Star
12-06-2025
- Sport
- The Star
Nepal's 12th man: Diaspora cricket fans power the Rhinos in Scotland
DUNDEE: Nepal concluded their ICC CWC League 2 tri-series against the Netherlands and host Scotland on Tuesday (June 10) with three wins in four games. And the cricketers were not shy to accept that the fans—Nepal's 12th man—made the wins possible. Despite playing in the Scottish heartland, the Rhinos were buoyed by the unmatched energy that Nepal supporters injected into the games. But these weren't fans flown in from Kathmandu. They were members of the Nepali diaspora, living in the UK and Ireland—from London and Liverpool to Glasgow, Aberdeen and Edinburgh—who filled the modest ground of Forfarshire Cricket Club in Forthill, Dundee. With just 1,000 tickets on offer due to the lack of proper seating, fans were handed plastic chairs and seated around the boundary. And among them, one familiar figure stood out at every match—89-year-old Madhusudhan Bhattarai. A resident of Arbroath, 15 miles from Forthill, Bhattarai showed up for each Nepal match donning a traditional dhaka topi, buying his £20 ticket (US$27), carrying his chair and cheering tirelessly for the team through games that stretched over eight hours. Franchise cricket is booming across the world with cheerleaders and flashy entertainment. But in Forthill, Bhattarai became a different kind of attraction during Nepal's matches. Every time a Nepali batter hit a boundary or six, or a bowler claimed a wicket, Bhattarai would blow a conch shell—his unique way of lifting the team's spirits. If you were not completely invested in the game, the sound of his shell would tell you Nepal had just struck gold. Further, Bhattarai was also there to cheer for Nepal when the Rhinos faced the A team of Scotland for a two-match one-day series before the League 2. And accompanied by the sound of his shell and other musical instruments, Nepali supporters beamed with growing pride. The environment provided warmth to the players who travelled to the chill of Scotland from the sunny days in Kathmandu. Binod Bikas Simkhada, based in London, was part of a ten-member group that travelled to Dundee to watch the League 2 matches. 'Most travelled from outside Dundee—some even drove through the night just to be here for the morning matches. That shows how deeply they care,' Simkhada told the Post. 'Having the Nepali team play nearby gave us a perfect reason to reconnect with home through cricket. Usually, we have to travel far to see Nepal play. This time, they came closer to us.' He added, 'It doesn't feel like an away match when Nepal plays abroad. The crowd makes it feel like they're playing at home. We are proud to be those motivators this time.' Similarly, Bishal Gautam, who moved to London two years ago, said he never missed a cricket match of the national team when he was back home. 'I have lamented the inability to watch the national team perform since I came to the UK,' Gautam said. 'This was the first time I watched them play overseas. That the team played really well was a cherry on top.' Around 700 to 800 spectators attended the matches on June 2 and 8— the majority of them Nepali fans. 'I found a special vibe seeing our national team on foreign soil,' Gautam added. 'We have college, work and everyday stress to manage. But watching Nepal play made us forget it all.' Fans had been enjoying the matches from the open ground without much restriction. But after Nepal's thrilling chase of 297 runs against Scotland in their opening match, excitement spilt over as supporters stormed the field to lift hero Karan K. C. onto their shoulders. 'Scotland's one-day cricket match against Nepal in Dundee perhaps wasn't the sporting event where you'd have expected crowd trouble,' British tabloid Daily Mail reported after Nepal's victory. 'That dramatic win led to a pitch invasion from the Nepalese fans—there were more there than you would have thought—with the victorious players having to be escorted from the field by stewards in the aftermath.' In a video of cheering Nepali fans posted by Cricket Scotland on its Facebook, Alan Cunningham, a Scottish national, commented: 'Made me laugh. Usually stewarding at a Scotland cricket match is easy money. You might have to walk round at the end of the game and wake up a few of us old guys but not much else. The stewards today really earned their wages. Some game, some finish.' Meanwhile, in response to the invasion on the first day, the Cricket Association of Nepal and Cricket Scotland issued a joint appeal urging fans not to enter the field for the remaining fixtures. Entering the playing area is considered a breach of conduct, and after that match, barriers were installed around the boundary to prevent further invasions. It appears that Cricket Scotland will require more preparation when the Rhinos march through Glasgow for a T20I tri-series comprising Scotland and the Netherlands from June 15. Sagar Bhandari, who has been in the restaurant business in the area for 17 years, expects an even bigger turnout when Nepal play in Glasgow. Nepal's first match of the T20I tri-series is against the Dutch side on June 16. Nepal face the hosts for the first of the two fixtures in the double round-robin tournament on June 17. 'Dundee is a bit remote, but Glasgow has a large Nepali community,' he explains. 'Most of them work in restaurants. Since weekends are busy and Mondays are usually off, we're expecting a huge crowd for that first match in Glasgow.' Nepalis living abroad often seek reasons to feel close to home, whether through festivals, films, or visits by artistes. Now Nepali cricket has become one of those powerful reasons. When the national team arrived in Scotland, it wasn't just about the sport. For many, it felt bigger than a festival. Cricket brought together communities from Glasgow, Edinburgh, Aberdeen, and beyond. Dundee, a small city, had never seen such a large Nepali gathering, with over 500 Nepalis showing up for the matches. Even those who've never followed cricket are connected with the team through pride and national identity. The team's strong performance made the experience even more meaningful. People followed the games from the warm-up matches onward, cheering not just for cricket, but for a piece of home. Before this, cricket was hardly discussed in the Nepali community. Most didn't even know Dundee had a cricket ground. Now, it's become a common topic—something that even the next generation born in Scotland can relate to. Nepali cricket, simply put, has given the diaspora a new way to feel rooted in their identity. - The Kathmandu Post/ANN
The Print
28-04-2025
- Politics
- The Print
PMs of India, Nepal should sit together to resolve outstanding issues: Ex-Nepalese PM Bhattarai
He also spoke about the political landscape of the Himalayan nation and the 'revolution' his country saw for making of a constitutional democracy. Interacting with reporters here, Bhattarai said that he met Defence Minister Rajnath Singh during his ongoing India visit and had a brief discussion with him. New Delhi, Apr 28 (PTI) Former Nepalese prime minister Baburam Bhattarai on Monday emphasised on the historic ties between India and Nepal, and suggested that the PMs of both the countries should sit together to 'resolve outstanding issues'. 'The political instability in Nepal is a product of an unfinished revolution or a very prolonged transition after a political revolution,' he said in his opening remarks before fielding questions from reporters on a wide range of subjects. On India-Nepal relations, he underlined the historic ties between the two neighbours and said 'dialogue is the best way to resolve outstanding issues' between the two countries. He referred to the border disputes like the Kalapani issue, among other issues inherited over the last century or so. Bhattarai also referred to the 1816 Treaty of Sugauli and the 1950 Treaty of Peace and Friendship to buttress his point. 'Until and unless we have a good relationship with India, specially in economic cooperation, it is very difficult for Nepal to prosper in short time. Because of ceratin misunderstanding, or issues left behind by history, which we have not been able to resolve… We need to discuss it thoroughly,' he said. 'It is high time, our two prime ministers meet together and resolve the outstanding problems left by history, and have a close working relationship between India and Nepal,' the former PM of Nepal said. India is a 'rising regional power', while Nepal has been lagging behind, he said. 'We need a good understanding among the top political leadership. Whatever problems are left behind by history need to be resolved through dialogues,' Bhattarai said. On a question on China-Nepal ties, he said that Nepal is 'never going to be used as a card against India'. Later, interacting with PTI Videos, Bhattarai said, 'We are the closest neighbours, historically, politically, culturally, and socially.' 'But, because of some misunderstanding or wrong policies followed by both the governments, our relations have been strained for some time. So, I wish these strained ties will be resolved, and both countries can prosper together,' he said. 'Old issues should be resolved through dialogues, this is my humble suggestion,' he added. The former PM of Nepal said his country needs investment from India, and there is potential in tourism, industrial, health and IT sectors. On the future roadmap of Nepal, he said Nepal was late to abolish monarchy and walk on the path of democracy. 'We are doing quite well, and there is no reason we should go back. Anything that is dead cannot be resurrected, and in the case of Nepalese monarchy, the same rule applies,' he underlined. The dividends of a revolution should go to the masses or the people in the form of socio-economic transformation or rapid economic development, he said. 'But in Nepal, though we formed our own Constitution through a Constituent Assembly, in which I had a role to play as a chairman of the Constituent Committee… because of some lacunae in the form of governance or electoral system, we have had constant political instability,' Bhattarai added. He termed the political revolution in Nepal as a 'great victory' as it 'overthrew a monarchy', but lamented it was 'partly unsuccessful' in the country. In his opening remarks, he also proposed that Nepal should go for a 'directly elected president and a fully proportional parliament.' PTI KND KVK KVK This report is auto-generated from PTI news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content.
New Indian Express
28-04-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
High time India, Nepal PMs meet and resolve issues: Ex-PM Baburam Bhattarai
NEW DELHI: Baburam Bhattarai, the former Prime Minister of Nepal, said on Monday that it will be very difficult for Nepal to survive if India and Nepal do not share good relations. He emphasized that the Prime Ministers of the two countries should meet and resolve the existing issues. 'It is high time that the two PMs meet and resolve the problems left by history,' Bhattarai said while interacting with the media at the Press Club of India in New Delhi. 'If we have a good relationship with India, Nepal can progress,' he said and suggested following the path of dialogue, proposing the formation of a committee of eminent persons from both countries to review treaties and disputes. He further stated that the relationship between the two countries should remain strong, regardless of changes in government. When asked about Nepal's relations with China, he described China as Nepal's second neighbor, given that Nepal lies between India and China. 'Nepal has India on its three sides, and in the north is China, which has only two roads connecting the two countries,' said Bhattarai. As per the latest trade figures, India's trade with Nepal stands at 67 percent, compared to 13 percent with China. In response to a question about recent pro-monarchy demonstrations, the former PM dismissed any significant support for the monarchy, stating that the demonstrations and protests were actually against the government of KP Sharma Oli. He described it as resentment against the current government, not support for monarchy. However, he assured that democracy in Nepal would not be weakened. Bhattarai plans to launch a political party aimed at strengthening democracy in the country. Baburam Bhattarai is on a visit to India to participate in the convention of the Progressive Nepali Society Committee, India. On Monday, he met India's Defense Minister Rajnath Singh. During the meeting, the two leaders held positive discussions on strengthening Nepal-India relations and taking development and economic cooperation to new heights, according to Bhattarai's secretariat. Bhattarai also mentioned meeting leaders from BJP, Congress, and other political parties.
Hindustan Times
28-04-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
PMs of India, Nepal should sit together to resolve outstanding issues: Ex-Nepalese PM Bhattarai
New Delhi, Former Nepalese prime minister Baburam Bhattarai on Monday emphasised on the historic ties between India and Nepal, and suggested that the PMs of both the countries should sit together to "resolve outstanding issues". Interacting with reporters here, Bhattarai said that he met Defence Minister Rajnath Singh during his ongoing India visit and had a brief discussion with him. He also spoke about the political landscape of the Himalayan nation and the "revolution" his country saw for making of a constitutional democracy. "The political instability in Nepal is a product of an unfinished revolution or a very prolonged transition after a political revolution," he said in his opening remarks before fielding questions from reporters on a wide range of subjects. On India-Nepal relations, he underlined the historic ties between the two neighbours and said "dialogue is the best way to resolve outstanding issues" between the two countries. He referred to the border disputes like the Kalapani issue, among other issues inherited over the last century or so. Bhattarai also referred to the 1816 Treaty of Sugauli and the 1950 Treaty of Peace and Friendship to buttress his point. "Until and unless we have a good relationship with India, specially in economic cooperation, it is very difficult for Nepal to prosper in short time. Because of ceratin misunderstanding, or issues left behind by history, which we have not been able to resolve... We need to discuss it thoroughly," he said. "It is high time, our two prime ministers meet together and resolve the outstanding problems left by history, and have a close working relationship between India and Nepal," the former PM of Nepal said. India is a "rising regional power", while Nepal has been lagging behind, he said. "We need a good understanding among the top political leadership. Whatever problems are left behind by history need to be resolved through dialogues," Bhattarai said. On a question on China-Nepal ties, he said that Nepal is "never going to be used as a card against India". Later, interacting with PTI Videos, Bhattarai said, "We are the closest neighbours, historically, politically, culturally, and socially." "But, because of some misunderstanding or wrong policies followed by both the governments, our relations have been strained for some time. So, I wish these strained ties will be resolved, and both countries can prosper together," he said. "Old issues should be resolved through dialogues, this is my humble suggestion," he added. The former PM of Nepal said his country needs investment from India, and there is potential in tourism, industrial, health and IT sectors. On the future roadmap of Nepal, he said Nepal was late to abolish monarchy and walk on the path of democracy. "We are doing quite well, and there is no reason we should go back. Anything that is dead cannot be resurrected, and in the case of Nepalese monarchy, the same rule applies," he underlined. The dividends of a revolution should go to the masses or the people in the form of socio-economic transformation or rapid economic development, he said. "But in Nepal, though we formed our own Constitution through a Constituent Assembly, in which I had a role to play as a chairman of the Constituent Committee... because of some lacunae in the form of governance or electoral system, we have had constant political instability," Bhattarai added. He termed the political revolution in Nepal as a "great victory" as it "overthrew a monarchy", but lamented it was "partly unsuccessful" in the country. In his opening remarks, he also proposed that Nepal should go for a "directly elected president and a fully proportional parliament."
