A rare red panda has recently been spotted in the Olanchungola region of Taplejung, specifically in the Jomgim area of Faktanglung Rural Municipality-7, near the China border. The discovery was made by local resident Tashi Sherpa, who shared videos and photos of the red panda on social media. According to local reports, it has been quite some time since a red panda was last seen in this area.
Tenzing Walung, another community member, mentioned that red pandas used to be a common sight in Olanchungola. The recent sighting occurred just below Olanchungola’s main settlement, in the Jomgim area.
Residents are hopeful that this sighting will attract more tourists, as Olanchungola is already a well-known travel destination. However, concerns remain regarding past incidents of illegal hunting, which have threatened red pandas and other wildlife, such as pheasants, in Olanchungola and surrounding Himalayan border regions. Locals noted that hunters from Tibet, an autonomous region of China, have previously entered these mountainous areas to poach rare animals, including red pandas.