A Nepali documentary on Red Panda has been selected for Best Category Film Award in the Wildlife Conservation Film Festival (WCFF) in New York, US.

The documentary film titled ‘ Conserving the Red Panda’ produced by Red Panda Network and directed by Krishna Prasad Sigdel has been selected for the Award, shared WCFF on its website. Sixteen other documentary films on wildlife from across the globe are awarded under different categories by WCFF.

According to Sigdel, the organisers informed about the selection via email on Wednesday. The award ceremony will take place during the 2015 Wildlife Conservation Film Festival and Biodiversity Conference scheduled to be held from October 16 to 25 this year.

Red Panda, scientifically named Ailurus fulgens and known as Habre in Nepali, is one of the rare animal species inhabiting the broad leaved mixed-temperate forests with abundance of bamboo majorly in three Eastern districts—-Panchthar, Ilam and Taplejung.

Besides Nepal, the red panda is also found in India, Bhutan, Myanmar, and China and the population of this threatened species is estimated to be less than 10,000 individuals in the wild. In Nepal red panda population is estimated to be within a range of 237 to 1061 individuals.

Unsustainable developmental activities, especially road construction with no consideration for red panda habitat, deforestation and excessive grazing, along with loss of major food, bamboo also known as nigalo are considered major challenges in red panda conservation. Similarly, poaching for its hides, forest fires and attacks from domesticated livestock are also threatening red panda populations.