Volume 18 | May 15, 2020

IMPACT IN YOUR INBOX

In this special Endangered Species Day issue of Red PandaNetwork eNews, red panda Idgie of Zoo Atlanta helps toconserve her cousins in the wild, a beautiful art print thatsupports endangered wildlife with, a story about thecosmic side of red panda conservation and how to createred pandamonium!

Greetings!

Two thousand five hundred...that may be how few red pandas there are in thewild today.

I don't share this to add to your distress but rather to emphasize howimportant the 15th anniversary of Endangered Species Day (ESD ) is forred pandas: a species listed as "endangered' on the IUCN's Red List ofThreatened Species.

ESD is a day of global celebration of, and education for, all of our planet'sendangered species. As with all species in peril, time is of the essence for redpandas.

The global red panda population in the wild has been estimated to be less than10,000 (as few as 2,500) and according to the IUCN "its population hasplausibly declined by 50% over the last three generations (estimated at 18years) and this decline is projected to continue, and probably intensify, in thenext three generations."

I believe this global decline will only happen without an effective conservationintervention. And thanks to your support, our community-basedprograms in Nepal are turning the tide for the endangered red panda.

With substantially increased sightings reported during Red Panda Network(RPN) ecotrips — from an average of 1 to 3 sightings to 8 to 10 red pandas

viewed during trips in 2018 and 2019! — and growing dedication toconservation among the communities who live alongside red pandas in Nepal,we believe this decline can be halted.

Thanks to you, the red panda will remain and thrive for generations to come.

I hope you and your loved ones continue to be safe and well on thisEndangered Species Day.

All the best from Nepal,

Ang Phuri SherpaCountry Director - NepalRed Panda Network

2 Ways You CanCelebrate ESD withRPN!

1) Check out ThomasBroadbent's “TheEnvelope” beautiful artprint that supportsendangered wildlife.

2) Sign up for Run forRed Pandas: a virtualhalf marathon to protectred pandas and ourplanet's magnificentbiodiversity.

PS. Did you know that red pandas were first listed as "vulnerable" in 1994,and then "endangered" in 1996, than back to "vulnerable" in 2008 and then"endangered" in 2015?

Zoo Atlanta Honors Idgie by Saving RedPandas in the Wild

Idgie was an ambassador for her species who inspiredpeople to join Zoo Atlanta in conserving red pandas inthe wild.

This spring, Zoo Atlanta lost a favorite resident: Idgie, a red panda, whopassed away shortly before reaching fourteen years of age—a long life by redpanda standards, but too short for her fans among the zoo’s patrons and staff.

Even by the standards of her charismatic species, Idgie had a big personality—a lively, bold spirit who made her likes and dislikes clear. She learned to ask(through pointed stares) to enter her behind-the-scenes area and would bleat(also pointedly) when she was ready for food. A food lover like all red pandas,her adoration of grapes made her easy to train, although she may havethought she was training her keepers to give her grapes if they wanted hercooperation. Grapes also solved a minor problem when Idgie trapped a birdthat had entered her enclosure. Remembering her carnivore heritage, sheprepared to eat it, but given the small but serious risk of wild animals passingdisease to zoo specimens, her keepers had to offer a trade. She happilyditched her prey for some grapes.

Zoo Atlanta's veterinary team winning Idgie over with grapes.

Idgie’s training paid off as she aged, and her regular checkups expanded toincluded treatments for arthritis. Her care team enacted a care plan and someremodeling to keep her comfortable and happy in her golden years adding

ramps, stairs, and platforms in her habitat to allow her to remain arborealwithout having to climb. When she could no longer get up her tree, thehorticulture team added more greenery to give her hidey-holes to cozy up in.She also had a cooled nesting box, an ideal respite from Southern summers.Idgie had a long, comfortable life at Zoo Atlanta, and she repaid her keepersand zoo guests with her sparkle and charm. She will be remembered andmissed.

Idgie was an admirable ambassador for her species—but we have no doubt hersuccessor will do an excellent job. Zoo Atlanta’s red panda enclosure makes aroomy home for one panda; perfectly acceptable for this species that keeps toitself in the wild, and the perfect home for an individual animal that, forwhatever reason, is not a good candidate for breeding but who can serve toraise awareness of their species. Once Zoo Atlanta is ready to welcome a newred panda, they can consult the Species Survival Plan of the Association ofZoos and Aquariums, which will be able to find a good candidate for the zoo’sfacilities and needs. The process can be lengthy, but ensures that placementsare made in the best interests of individual pandas and the species as a whole.

Continue reading article

Celebrate ESD with a Limited Edition ArtPrint to Support Endangered Wildlife

We are pleased to present Thomas Broadbent's “The Envelope”!

This 30”x22” archival pigment print on Innova Soft White Cotton paperfeatures a black rhino, a Grauer’s Gorilla, Malayan Sun Bear, Red Panda and aLemur all stacked on top of each other.

Half of the cost of each limited-edition, museum-quality print will go directly tothe conservation of these species. Upon purchasing a print, the donation maybe directed to either support a single animal, or have it split evenly amongeach conservation group.

We are honored to be one of the organizations selected for this project.Special thanks to Holtzman Wildlife Foundation, Front Room Gallery, Skink Inkand wildlife artist, Thomas Broadbent, for this opportunity!

Learn More

A Photo Within A Photo Within A Photo: The

Cosmic Side of Red Panda Conservation

The first female Forest Guardian breaks throughcultural barriers and inspires women all over the worldas a conservation hero to all.

“I’ll do whatever it takes to protect Red Pandas.”

Menuka Bhattarai says this in Gunjan Menon’s award-winning film, The FirefoxGuardian, and I believe her.

As I watch this remarkable film for the dozenth time or so, I am once againfilled with emotion and awe. Menuka’s connection with the endangered redpanda and her determination to save them — despite the adversity she hasfaced as a woman in Nepal — is soul-stirring. And I can see that my daughterfeels it too.

Emerson or “Emmy”, my nearly-six-year-old daughter, saw the film for thefirst time at Red Panda Network (RPN)’s Red Panda Mini Film Festival inEugene, Oregon in April of 2018. After that, Emmy was hooked and her sweetand tiny voice would regularly make requests like “Can we watch the movieabout Menuka?”

“Of course we can”, was the response I wanted to have every time she askedbecause let’s face it, is there a better person for my Emmy to look up to thanMenuka? Having been a father for nearly six years, I can confidently say, ‘no,there isn’t.’

Menuka Bhattari: the Firefox Guardian.

In December of 2018, we released Menuka Bhattarai: The Firefox Guardian, anarticle about “RPN's first female Forest Guardian — and the focus of theaward-winning documentary The Firefox Guardian — shares her story and howshe fell in love with the endangered red panda.”

While reading (and writing) the article I couldn’t help but notice the differencesbetween Menuka’s life and Emmy’s. Menuka grew up in rural Nepal while thelocation of Emmy’s childhood is in semi-rural Oregon. While women in theUnited States are more likely than men to face obstacles to their chosen careerpaths, it is probably not on the same level of oppression that Menuka hasexperienced.

“They want all women to work at home. They did not believe I could be asuccessful Forest Guardian just because I’m a woman,” Menuka shares in TheFirefox Guardian film.

When I would read the subtitles to Emmy, we would often share a solemn lookduring this scene. She understood how tragic this reality is, as well as howincredible Menuka is for pursuing her dreams despite these obstacles.

One of my gifts to Emmy on Christmas of 2018 was a framed photograph ofMenuka. Her reaction was unforgettable.

Continue reading article

Red PandaMonium!Want to start some pandamonium around the world? Here are two ways:

1) Sign your kiddo up to join Emmy to Read for Red Pandas! it's free to joinand there are prizes for doing something they already have to do — read!

2) Run for Red Pandas! This is a virtual half marathon to celebrate WorldBiodiversity Day, World Environment Day — a great reason to stay healthy andget outside — and protect red pandas and our planet's magnificentbiodiversity!

A half marathon?? Don't worry, you have over two weeks to run, walk or hikeit anywhere you please (while maintaining appropriate social distancing ofcourse!)! We also offer a 5k option.

Fundraising isn't required but encouraged. Participants who raise the mostfunds will win awesome prizes like a $100 gift card to Nike and a reusablestainless-steel water bottle (by Klean Kanteen)!

Are you an RPN member? Email us at info@redpandanetwork.org for apromo code to waive the setup fee!

Create red pandamonium

Supporter Spotlight

Chris Turner-Neal

RPN has been blessed by Chris Turner-Neal's volunteership and superb writingabilities since 2014! He originally joined RPN to help with grant writing andnow he is a member of our Writing and Communications team.

Chris's interest in red pandas developed from the moment he found out aboutthem. He shared with us that a friend told him that his "frequent snacking andawkward gait reminded him of a red panda". Who wouldn't want to becompared to a red panda? Unfortunately, Chris lacks the false thumb thathelps red pandas gather bamboo efficiently so he'll have to stick to his owndiet.

One of Chris's favorite aspects of his work with RPN is when he gets tocollaborate with our team in Nepal. As Chris puts it, "they work so hard to hitthese conservation goals and build an infrastructure on the ground, and I getto help be sure their work is presented as cleanly and effectively as it can."

Chris lives in New Orleans where he is managing editor of 64 Parishesmagazine. He is super excited about RPN's pangolin expansion, also supportsthe Chimp Haven chimpanzee sanctuary in Keithville, Louisiana; and his redpanda tattoo is from Chris Handford at Black Torch Tattoo in Baton Rouge.

Chris is also a member of our team of dedicated monthly donors that we

proudly call 'Panda Guardians.' We are honored to have someoneso #passionateaboutpandas on our volunteer and Panda Guardian teams!

Kuniko Kai

"Frankly, I did not pay much attention to red pandas at first. It was notthat rare of an animal to me because I got to see them whenever I wouldvisit zoos in Japan.

They came to my attention when I helped my daughter’s summer scienceproject on red pandas, which we did together. That was when I came to realizered pandas are endangered. When I told my daughter this, she seemed to bein shock and I'll never forget the sad face she made. I know there are a lot ofpeople who care about red pandas including young kids and I find not want tosee their sad faces too. We agreed we must conserve them!

We then thought about what we can do to save them. My daughter was just 8years old and I was just an ordinary mother who loves animals...what couldwe do?? We tested ourselves to see how much we knew about red pandas.Shameful! We did not know much besides the fact that they arecute. We visited libraries and looked for red panda books written in Japanese.We found none."

Continue reading Kuniko's spotlight

Red Panda Network is committed to the conservation of wild red pandas andtheir habitat through the education and empowerment of local communities.