Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
The red panda is a distant cousin of the larger, and more famous,
blackﾭandﾭwhite variety usually found in China. This type of panda
thrives in the Nepalese region of Kanchenjunga, where it has been
seen sleeping in trees with its ringed tail wrapped around itself for
warmth. Classified by the World Wildlife Federation as an endangered
species, the red panda is threatened by the deforestation of its habitat.
adventurers and climbers. Hiking to the Kanchenjunga area
was opened in 1988, making it possible to visit wonderful
and unexplored tracts in the eastern Nepalese Himalayas. The
absence of roads requires visitors to hike. Their efforts are
richly rewarded, however, by the area's beautiful scenery.
The Kanchenjunga area is rich in biodiversity. In 1998,
the Kanchenjunga Conservation Area Project (KCAP) was
launched by Nepal's government and the World Wildlife Fund
(WWF) to conserve the area's flora and fauna. The project has
focused attention on encouraging local people to manage their
natural resources and improve their livelihood opportunities.
The KCAP includes more than 2,000 species of plants. It is also
