Conservation of the Red Panda in India: An Analysis of Ecological Decline and Regulatory Gaps
Krishna Ghosh *
School of Law, Brainware University, Barasat,700125, West Bengal, India.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
This Article involves study of challenges in the conservation of the Red Panda (Ailurus fulgens) in India. Towards this end the research combines ecological findings with legal analysis. Red Panda is found mainly in the forests of Sikkim, Northern West Bengal, and Arunachal Pradesh in India. The matter of concern is the species faces serious threats due to habitat loss, poaching, and weak legal enforcement. Although the Red Panda receives top protection under Indian and international legal instruments, the lack of corridor protection, genetic monitoring, and cross-border coordination limits the effectiveness of conservation efforts.
The paper highlights three main areas for reform, for i.e. habitat connectivity, genetic monitoring, and trade control, and links them with specific legal changes under the Wildlife Protection Act,1972; Environment Protection Act, 1986, etc. With this interdisciplinary approach, the study shows that better integration of science and law is essential for long-term species protection. It concludes that India’s wildlife governance must evolve from static protected-area management to dynamic, ecosystem-based conservation supported by community participation and scientific tools.
Keywords: Red Panda, conservation, law, environmental policy, India