Langtang National Park has clamped curfew in the habitat of red pandas (Ailurus fulgens), the shy and charismatic endangered mammal species, as they have started to deliver their offspring.

The breeding season of red panda has been started now. Chief Conservation Officer Yubaraj Regmi said they have banned people from entering the habitat of red panda for two months.

“Red pandas start to produce their offspring from the end of May to the end of July. We have prohibited locals to enter forest as the human activities would disturb the red pandas,” said Regmi. Red pandas are found in Cholangpati, Gupche, Polangpati and Dhokachet Kharka of Gosainkunda Rural Municipality-5. These areas are declared as the prohibited zone.

Usually, red pandas are able to reproduce at around 18 months of age. They need peaceful environment while reproducing their babies, otherwise, if the environment will be disturbed, they will leave their newborns, said Regmi. Even locals of Thulosyaphru are active in conservation of red panda these days. They have formed a committee to control the poaching of red panda.

Committee Chairman Nakpudorje Tamang said they conscripted 30 youth to conserve red panda’s habitat. Youth are also patrolling the red panda’s habitat round the clock, he said.

Red Panda, known as Habre in Nepali, is one of the rare animal species inhabiting the temperate forests with abundance of bamboo in Nepal, India, Bhutan, northern Myanmar and southwestern China.

The estimated number of red panda is less than 10,000 in the world and around 1,000 in Nepal. Estimate say there are around 100 red pandas in Langtang National Park.