by Shristi Kafle
KATHMANDU, Nov. 10 (Xinhua) -- Nepal's only Central Zoo located in the capital is home to 850 animals from 100 different species and attracts 1 million people annually to observe the amazing wildlife and interact with the animals.
Among the public's favorite are the Ailurus Fulgens, which are better known around the world as red pandas, and have been a major attraction for the zoo's visitors recently, as the bears often engage in funny and acrobatic games and romps.
Part of the attraction is also their habitat, and the cute bears are treated to a fairly luxurious life that focuses on their safety, comfort and, in fact, style.
Two little bears in particular are constantly wooing the crowds with their cuteness. The two adorable cubs are just one and half years olds and known by zoo officials as "pando" with the siblings often seen playing happily together in trees, the green brush or their enclosures.
Many believe that these red pandas are the very heart and soul of the zoo.
Sarita Gyawali, Chief at the Central Zoo told Xinhua recently that "this is one of the most attractive species in the zoo at the moment. And we are trying to treat them in best way as possible, especially regarding their habitat, food, health and care. We want to have more pairs of red pandas."
The bears were rescued from a local family in the western mountainous district of Rolpa some 10 months ago. Native to the Himalayan bamboo forests of Nepal, China, Bhutan, India and Myanmar, this species has already been listed as endangered.
Red pandas are mostly found in temperate forests with plentiful bounties of bamboo at an altitude of 2,000-4,500 meters above sea level. In light of this, bamboo trees have been planted around the exhibit area of the zoo to make the bears feel it is their natural habitat.
Two separate enclosures have also been constructed, one for the two young pandas, and another for nine-year-old Gauri, who was rescued from the Gaurishankar Conservation Area in 2013, in an injured state.
To the surprise of some visitors, the Central Zoo has provided an air conditioning facility in the enclosure to make the bears feel as comfortable as possible at any time, meaning the bears often prefer to stay indoors rather than playing outside.
"Red pandas usually live in cold regions and since the temperature of the capital does not suit them in summer, we provide air conditioning to keep them cool. We usually maintain a temperature of 22 degree Celsius to make them feel comfortable. They mostly like a peaceful environment as they are shy creatures by nature," Ganesh Koirala, Assistant Curator at the Central Zoo told Xinhua.
Beside the special facilities for the bears, the wild cats in the zoo are also somewhat spoiled. They enjoy a premium breakfast and lunch as well. They are fed three times a day with a glass of milk, eggs, apples, seasonal fruits and their favorite bamboo shoots. They eat bread, but only with honey.
Rajendra Maharjan, who has been taking care of these animals since their initial days in the zoo, shares a special bond with the red pandas.
"After cleaning them for an hour, we feed them their favorite bamboo shoots and follow the diet chart for the rest of the day. 'Pandos' are very friendly. They instantly recognize my voice and love to be near humans," Maharjan said.
According to the Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation, Nepal is home to around 2 percent of the global population of red pandas, which is approximately 300 bears.
A study by Red Panda Network Nepal shows that these wild animals are found in eastern districts of Nepal. They are seriously impacted by anthropogenic activities such as illegal foresting, rapid deforestation, disturbance of the dense bamboo forests, forest fires and poaching.
According to the Metropolitan Police Office, 44 red panda hides were seized in the last two years, adding to the increased threat to red pandas. Experts have been advocating that it is high time to take necessary steps to preserve this endangered species by maintaining their natural habitat and supporting global biodiversity.
Against the backdrop of the numbers of these bears dropping to dangerously low levels, breeding has been an integral part of the zoos preservation program. Female red pandas, whose life span is generally eight to 10 years, can give birth to between one to four cubs at a time.
"We are eager for the bears to breed in order to increase their population. For this reason we have built over four small alternate habitats inside the enclosure. We hope to hear some good news soon," Sarita Gyawali, Chief at the Central Zoo added.
