First photographic record of the Himalayan Red Panda Ailurus fulgens (Mammalia: Carnivora: Ailuridae) in Yordi Rabe Supse Wildlife Sanctuary, Arunachal Pradesh, India

Authors

  • Yomto Mayi Zoological Survey of India, Arunachal Pradesh Regional Centre, Senki valley, Itanagar, Papum Pare, Arunachal Pradesh 791113, India. https://orcid.org/0009-0004-6826-056X
  • Shantabala Devi Gurumayum Zoological Survey of India, Arunachal Pradesh Regional Centre, Senki valley, Itanagar, Papum Pare, Arunachal Pradesh 791113, India. https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0917-8158
  • Salvador Lyngdoh Wildlife Institute of India, Chandrabani, Dehradun, Uttarakhand 248001, India.

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.11609/jott.10110.18.6.29079-29084

Keywords:

Biodiversity documentation, camera trapping, Eastern Himalaya, Forest connectivity, Mammalian conservation, Protected area, Range extension, Species occurrence, Temperate forest, Wildlife monitoring

Abstract

The Himalayan Red Panda Ailurus fulgens, an endangered species of the eastern Himalaya, is threatened by habitat loss, fragmentation, and limited ecological data across parts of its range. In Arunachal Pradesh, despite extensive suitable habitat, confirmed records from several protected areas remain scarce. Here we present the first confirmed photographic evidence of the Red Panda Ailurus fulgens from the Yordi Rabe Supse Wildlife Sanctuary (YRSWS) using camera traps. The species was recorded at elevations of 2,409 m and 2,848 m in high altitude temperate forest habitats characterized by dense multi-layered vegetation with a moist understory, providing important field-based confirmation of the species’ presence in a previously undocumented area. These records highlight the conservation significance of YRSWS and emphasize the need for further systematic monitoring and strengthened protection of its habitats in central Arunachal Pradesh.

References

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Published

26-06-2026

Issue

Vol. 18 No. 6 (2026)

Section

Communications

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Copyright (c) 2026 Yomto Mayi, Shantabala Devi Gurumayum, Salvador Lyngdoh

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