Red panda cub helping out forest guardians

Deeply saddened by the news that on Monday 23 of March fire destroyed 35 houses and displaced 90 families in Fungling, Taplejung – Nepal, Auckland Zoo have started a givealittle page to help raise much needed funds for the rebuild and in return a chance to name their 11-week-old male red panda cub.

Also destroyed were the Himali Conservation Forum (HCF) offices, Red Panda Network’s (RPN) partner in the Taplejung district. HCF helps manage Red Panda Network’s forest guardians in the Taplejung district, who conduct essential community based conservation work that Auckland Zoo has supported and been involved with since 2011.

Over the years Auckland Zoo staff have visited the Taplejung district and assisted with Red Panda Network’s field work. During these visits they gained an appreciation for the great work these organisations do to provide a future for red panda while supporting local communities, as well as made lasting friendships.

Some of these include Mr. Ramesh Rai and Bishal Gurung, forest guardians who have lost their homes to the fire.

Team Leader of carnivores Lauren Booth spent three weeks walking through the Taplejung district with Mr Ramesh Rai in 2010, “I can’t imagine what it must have felt like for the people affected to watch helplessly as they lost everything they had. These people work so hard for the little they do own that a loss like this is a major setback. I’m just thankful no one was hurt but I am aware that Ramesh has not only lost his house and personal belongings but also his job may be affected if the HCF office does not get back up and running soon.”

Red Panda Network are doing what they can to support staff affected by this tragedy as well as locals, but are in need of help to get the offices up and running again so their conservation work can continue.

Auckland Zoo would love to help them out, so encourage everyone to go to the givealittle pagehttp://givealittle.co.nz/cause/redpandarebuild and donate whatever they can as well as suggest a name for their red panda cub –which will be chosen by red panda keepers and announced on Friday 1 May.

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