New research from the Durrell Institute of Conservation and Ecology (DICE) has found that the endangered Himalayan red panda in Bhutan, South Asia, is at high risk due to plant disturbance and infrastructure.
The research, published in Ecology and Evolution, suggests that the conservation of the red panda in the Jigme Dorji National Park is threatened by the construction of power transmission lines across prime red panda habitat, including the encroachment on water sources and fir forests.
With red panda habitat use significantly influenced by both landscape level habitat (fir forest), microhabitat (water source), and disturbance (plant disturbances and infrastructure), the study stresses that conservationists must prioritise habitat management interventions to protect red panda in the region.
The research was conducted by DICE MSc scholar Pema Dendup and Dr Tatyana Humle, among others.
Pema Dendup said: ‘Few studies have focused on the Himalayan red panda in Bhutan and so this was a vital research area that needed further attention. Infrastructure development has long been recognised as a major factor responsible for habitat loss and fragmentation as well as negatively affecting wildlife populations. While the building of infrastructure is inevitable, more consideration needs to be taken to avoid disturbing wildlife areas.’
Dr Humle said: ‘In order to promote the conservation of the red panda in Jigme Dorji National Park we recommend that the development and implementation of local forest management plans and a strict application of environmental impact assessment regulations are all considered.’
‘Habitat requirements of the Himalayan red panda (Ailurus fulgens) and threat analysis in Jigme Dorji National Park, Bhutan’ [PEMA DENDUP/JIGME DORJI NATIONAL PARK AND DICE, DR TATYANA HUMLE/DICE, DAMBER BISTA/UNIVERSITY OF QUEENSLAND, UGYEN PENJOR/ROYAL GOVERNMENT OF BHUTAN, CHOKI LHAM/JIGME DORJI NATIONAL PARK, JIGME GYELTSHEN/JIGME DORJI NATIONAL PARK] is published in Ecology and Evolution. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.6632