Sonam Tashi LamaRED PANDA NETWORK
Sonam Tashi Lama
Master of Int' Nature Conservation, B.Sc. Forestry & B.A. Sociology
About
23
Publications
6,637
Reads
How we measure 'reads'
A 'read' is counted each time someone views a publication summary (such as the title, abstract, and list of authors), clicks on a figure, or views or downloads the full-text. Learn more
191
Citations
Introduction
A Conservation enthusiast, endemic to Nepal Himalayas. Least Concern (LC) in IUCN Red List. I write to read.
Additional affiliations
July 2016 - July 2018
January 2010 - June 2016
Global Primate Network
Position
- Coordinator
January 2006 - June 2016
Red Panda Network
Position
- Conservation Coordinator
Education
January 2010 - December 2013
February 2004 - January 2006
Tribhuvan University, Tri-Chandra College
Field of study
- Sociology, Anthropology
Publications
Publications (23)
Context
Habitat specialists residing in human-modified landscapes are likely to be more vulnerable to disturbance because of a functional reliance on very particular habitat features. However, there have been few studies designed to specifically address that issue.
Objectives
This study aimed to explore how the red panda, an iconic endangered habi...
Better understanding of ecology is crucial for the success of endangered species conservation programmes. Little information is available on space use, conspecific interactions and recursions by one such species, the red panda Ailurus fulgens. To address this deficiency, we used GPS telemetry to examine their home range, core area, home-range overl...
Background
Habitat specialists living in human-dominated landscapes are likely to be affected by habitat fragmentation and human disturbances more than generalists. But there is a paucity of information on their response to such factors. We examined the effect of these factors on movement patterns of red pandas Ailurus fulgens , a habitat and diet...
Bamboo availability is a central aspect of red panda conservation. However, its diversity, distribution, and species-wise contribution to red panda diet is unknown. This study aimed to list bamboo species, map their distribution and evaluate their contribution in red panda diet. We recorded 13 bamboo species in red panda range of Nepal. Of these, 1...
The community-based red panda conservation program covers half of the red panda range in Nepal. This program is under implementation in eastern Nepal since 2010 which has been recently extended in western Nepal in 2017. This integrated conservation model comprises awareness building, habitat improvement, sustainable livelihood, and red panda monito...
We report the first record of a Bengal Tiger, Panthera tigris tigris, in eastern Nepal in 2020 based on photographic evidence. We documented this evidence at 3,165 m a.s.l., which makes it the highest elevation record of a tiger in Ne-pal. We recorded this evidence in one of 46 trail cameras deployed for monitoring Red Pandas in the Panchthar-Ilam-...
An endangered species, the Himalayan Red Panda Ailurus fulgens is one of the most iconic and sought-after species in the world. Although a symbolic species of the Himalayas, it is threatened by habitat loss, fragmentation, and poaching. The data collection was carried out in accordance with the Red Panda community-based monitoring protocol. Threats...
The Himalayan red panda (Ailurus fulgens), a recently confirmed distinct species in the red panda genus, is distributed in Nepal, India, Bhutan, and south Tibet. Nepal represents the westernmost distribution of the Himalayan red panda. This study aims to determine important habitat features influencing the distribution of red panda and recommend po...
It is sometimes essential to have an animal in the hand to study some of their ecological and biological characteristics. However, capturing a solitary, cryptic, elusive arboreal species such as the red panda in the wild is challenging. We developed and successfully tested a protocol for tracking, trapping, immobilization, and handling of red panda...
The red panda is a unique species taxonomically known for its peculiar biological and ecological characteristics, and extreme attractiveness. Despite being highly significant from conservation, scientific and economic perspectives, this species has experienced a declining population in the wild. Thus, to direct further research priorities and conse...
The Himalayan red panda is an endangered mammal endemic to Eastern Himalayan and South Western China. Data deficiency often hinders understanding of their spatial distribution and habitat use, which is critical for species conservation planning. We used sign surveys covering the entire potential red panda habitat over 22,453 km2 along the mid-hills...
The marbled cat Pardofelismarmorata is a Near Threatened small felid. The cat’s presence in Nepal is based on an anecdote. A camera trap-based study to access diversity and abundance of terrestrial mammals in eastern Nepal accumulated 3,014 camera trap days and resulted in 5,176 photographs of 17 medium-large sized mammal species. Amongst them, a m...
In Nepal, the red panda (Ailurus fulgens) has been sparsely studied, although its range covers a wide area. The present study was carried out in the previously untapped Chitwan-Annapurna Landscape (CHAL) situated in central Nepal with an aim to explore current distributional status and identify key habitat use. Extensive field surveys conducted in...
Despite being regarded as a sign of good luck and having a cuddly appearance, the red panda is facing an existential threat. Worried about their dwindling numbers, an international effort has been successful in mobilising local communities in eastern Nepal to save the species.
Lahari Budhamagar burst into tears last week when she arrived at the Kathmandu Zoo to hand over a pair of red panda cubs that she had rescued and raised for five months in her home in Gam of remote Rolpa district. They had become like pets and were hard to let go.
The Red Panda Ailurus fulgens is a small carnivore that
is adapted to a mainly herbivorous diet. The present study was
conducted to investigate the prevalence of parasitic infections in a
free-ranging population of Red Pandas in a community forest in Nepal.
A total of 23 faecal samples were collected and examined. Protozoa
infections were the most...
The red panda (Ailurus fulgens) is a globally threatened species living in the multi-national Hindu-Kush Himalaya (HKH) region. It has a declining population trend due to anthropogenic pressures. Human-driven climate change is expected to have substantial impacts. However, quantitative and transparent information on the ecological niche (potential...
Conservationist Tashi R Ghale was in Manang last year installing camera traps at 4,200m near Tilicho Lake to monitor snow leopards. Looking at the images captured by the camera one day, he found not a leopard but a small wild cat.
On further investigation, it turned out to be a Pallas Cat, named after the German naturalist Peter Simon Pallas who fi...
The red panda (Ailurus fulgens) is a globally threatened species living in the multinational Hindu-Kush Himalaya (HKH) region. It has a declining population trend due to anthropogenic pressures. Human-driven climate change is expected to have substantial impacts. However, quantitative and transparent information on the ecological niche (potential a...
Projects
Projects (3)
This study aims to evaluate the response of red pandas to human disturbances and habitat fragmentation. More specifically, we intend to examine the effect of human disturbances and habitat fragmentation on movement and dispersal; space use and interaction; resource selection patterns; and population viability.
How One Health Aspect is essential and critical in the 21st Century?
What are the main diseases in the HKH nations?
Landscapes of Diseases in Plants, Animals, and Man in the HKH regions?
How parasitism affect the health of the man and animals?
What are the distribution and diversity of parasites that infect different hosts?
What is the consequences of parasitism in the different hosts?
How drug and vaccines can combat such diseases as well as non-communicable infections?
This study will be carried out in 2-seasons (winter; December 2017 to February 2018 and spring; March-June 2018).
- To assess the diversity, distribution, abundance, and activity patterns of the terrestrial mammals in the area
- To assess the effectiveness of arboreal camera trapping for endangered red panda
This project is supported by Rotterdam Zoo, Lincoln University, New Zealand, Red Panda Network and Wildlife Conservation Network.
