𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐠𝐚𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐅𝐨𝐫𝐞𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐑𝐞𝐝 𝐏𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐚 𝐇𝐚𝐛𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐭 𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧

…𝒍𝒐𝒄𝒂𝒍 𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒎𝒖𝒏𝒊𝒕𝒊𝒆𝒔 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒇𝒐𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒕 𝒐𝒇𝒇𝒊𝒄𝒊𝒂𝒍𝒔 𝒘𝒐𝒓𝒌 𝒕𝒐𝒈𝒆𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒕𝒐 𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒕𝒐𝒓𝒆 𝒃𝒂𝒎𝒃𝒐𝒐 𝒉𝒂𝒃𝒊𝒕𝒂𝒕𝒔 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒔𝒖𝒑𝒑𝒐𝒓𝒕 𝒔𝒑𝒆𝒄𝒊𝒆𝒔 𝒔𝒖𝒓𝒗𝒊𝒗𝒂𝒍

By Kinzang Lhamo

A major conservation initiative is underway in Wangsingla, Trashigang, aimed at restoring the habitat of the red panda, one of Bhutan’s most endangered and charismatic species. The Trashigang Divisional Forest Office (DFO), in collaboration with local communities and WWF-Bhutan, is leading restoration works to reverse habitat degradation and secure the long-term survival of this elusive mammal.

Once known as a thriving home for red pandas, Wangsingla now shows signs of ecological decline. Bamboo, the primary food source for the species, has become thinly scattered across the forest floor, replaced by fast-growing broadleaf trees. The 2023 National Red Panda Survey recorded 302 individuals across the country, of which 26 were identified in the jurisdiction of the Trashigang DFO, one of the largest forest divisions in Bhutan.

Officials say the depletion of bamboo in Wangsingla is not primarily due to human collection but is part of a natural biological cycle. “The decline of bamboo resources is not caused by local harvesting. It is largely a result of the natural bamboo dieback process, though other factors may also be contributing,” the division explained. However, given the dependence of red pandas on bamboo shoots and leaves, this natural cycle raises concern for their survival in the area.

The DFO’s surveys have provided important baseline data for conservation. In 2023, teams collected a large number of red panda scats from both Trashigang and Trashiyangtse districts, generating valuable insights for future population assessments. While camera traps captured red pandas in Wangsingla during the National Tiger Survey in 2022, forest officials acknowledge that there is no clear population estimate or conclusive evidence of a decline at this specific site.

Climate change is another mounting threat to red panda populations. The species depends on cool, forested areas where bamboo thrives, yet these conditions are shifting. “Red pandas are highly vulnerable to changes in temperature and forest composition. Rising heat, reduced bamboo availability, and increasing environmental stress can directly affect their survival,” the division said. Local residents interviewed during fieldwork echoed these concerns, noting warmer temperatures, unpredictable rainfall, and shifts in crop growing patterns in their gewogs, changes they believe are linked to climate change.

In response, the Forest Division, with support from WWF, carried out bamboo enrichment plantations in Wangsingla under Bartsham Gewog in 2025. The initiative aims to restore bamboo cover and provide sustainable feeding grounds for red pandas. Check dams were also constructed in Rangshikhar to stabilize soil, conserve water, and protect fragile habitats. “If the current restoration efforts prove successful and resources are available, we will replicate these activities in other gewogs where red panda habitats exist,” the division said.

Free-roaming dogs and livestock grazing add further challenges to red panda survival. While dogs have been identified as a threat to wildlife in many parts of Bhutan, officials believe their impact on red pandas in Wangsingla is less severe. Livestock grazing, however, remains a major concern. “Free-roaming dogs may not pose a major threat to red pandas here, but livestock grazing can degrade habitats and restrict the growth of bamboo, directly affecting red panda food sources,” the division explained.

According to the Forest Division, the red panda is more than just a rare animal; it is an umbrella species, meaning its conservation secures the survival of a wider range of flora and fauna within the same ecosystem. Protecting red pandas indirectly safeguards species as diverse as tigers, birds, and lesser-known mammals that depend on the same forest environment.

Community involvement is central to this conservation strategy. Residents of Bartsham and nearby gewogs have actively supported habitat restoration activities, including plantation drives and awareness campaigns. “Through their participation, local communities have gained a deeper understanding of the ecological role of red pandas. Their involvement is crucial, and we hope this commitment will deepen further,” the division said.

Advocacy and education programs have also been implemented to broaden awareness among farmers, students, and monks. These efforts highlight the ecological importance of red pandas and stress the need for coexistence between humans and wildlife. Officials believe that long-term conservation success depends on community leadership, not just government action.

While the future of red pandas in Wangsingla remains uncertain, the coordinated actions of the Forest Division, WWF-Bhutan, and local communities offer hope. Restoration works, combined with monitoring, education, and active participation, are building momentum toward sustainable conservation.

Bhutan has long championed its biodiversity as part of its development philosophy, and the efforts in Trashigang are another example of local action supporting national conservation goals. The Trashigang Forest Division believes that lessons learned here can inspire broader habitat restoration efforts across the country.
“Red pandas are symbolic of a healthy ecosystem. By protecting them, we are protecting much more than a single species. Our efforts today are aimed at ensuring that future generations of Bhutanese will continue to see red pandas in their natural habitats,” the division said.