Red Panda Network

The red panda is classed as endangered by the IUCN Red List. Human populations are leading to greater exploitation and fragmentation of the red panda’s forest home. The Red Panda GSMP (Global Species Management Plan) Team decided they would promote red panda conservation in the wild, as well as cooperating on the global captive management of the species.

It was agreed that this conservation goal was to be achieved by supporting the work of the Red Panda Network, an organisation that uses community conservation to protect red pandas in Nepal. This is a win-win situation; it brings employment to remote villages, it protects the local community forests that have no state protection, it makes people proud of their natural heritage, it raises awareness and it provides good information on the status of the pandas.

Colchester Zoo’s charitable arm has donated £2,271.62 since 2014. In 2023, we will be making a contribution of €250 to this important project.

Forest guardians hold the key to the future of the red panda. They work within their respective communities to create a Community Forest Network, which empowers local people to protect their forests. Forest guardians are trained as professional forest stewards and local conservation ambassadors who conduct regular monitoring of red panda populations and habitat, as well as awareness-building activities. Therefore the Red Panda Network Forest Guardian sponsorship not only helps protect the red panda in its natural habitat, but it helps support a family at the same time.

This community-based red panda conservation programme has been extended throughout all 27 Village Development Committees (VDCs) within red panda.