Project Update: June 2009

Four new additional study sites for the red panda survey have been identified in the reserve that now totals 9 potential sites. Among them 7 sites lie in Barse block, one in Surtibang and one in Phagune block. The altitudinal line intercept method was adopted for the red panda survey. Scats, snow tracks/ paw prints, direct sightings of animals and feeding signs were considered as signs. Red panda signs were recorded using GPS (Garmin E-trex) within the 50 m distance of each altitudinal line intercept. Total of 14 line intercepts of variable length were surveyed giving a total intercept length of 6333 m. Total of 67 scats samples, 2 feeding signs and 4 snow tracks were recorded in the area.

The red panda habitat was surveyed using ten-tree plot less method. Total of 15 plots were surveyed in different blocks. An identified sign was considered as plot centre for the habitat survey.