Nepal

Conservation campaign

Following the "Nepal mission" carried out in 2018 by Hélène and Alexis, we were able to target campaigns that we could implement from France and thus respond to needs on the field in a concrete way.

We therefore decided to prioritize the protection of the sites we visited: Patmara and Sinja. These communities, located in the Jumla district of western Nepal, have recently benefited from the assistance provided by the protection programs implemented by the RPN.

Reforestation campaign

After a sad assessment of the state of the forests, we concluded that it was urgent to reforest an entire plot on the Patmara site, as a priority.

This site is home to a thriving population of red panda, among other species, all equally threatened. But this huge forest has two problems caused by deforestation:

• the lack of bamboo groves, the main food source for the red panda.
• A plot too deforested to allow wildlife to disperse properly, which in the short term causes a risk of inbreeding or excessive predation.

To address this issue, we launched the "Adopt a Tree" campaign, which we call "AuA." The principle is simple: offer to sponsor a tree at our stands or online store for €1.50 to finance a seedling to reforest the plot in question. This sum includes the cost of the seedling, its transport, and the remuneration received by the person who will replant it on site.

In return, the sponsor receives, if they wish, a symbolic adoption certificate, as well as the possibility of receiving news by email on the progress of the planting.

Different species have been selected to ensure the success of this program:

• many conifers, because on them grows an orange lichen allowing the red pandas to camouflage themselves during the day;
• Himalayan birch trees, as their bark crumbles naturally, it will be used to make paper;
• obviously varieties of bamboo, to ensure a suitable diet for the pandas;
• but also rhododendrons, shrubs, bushes, etc., so that all the local fauna can benefit from these environments.

In 2019, our first "AuA" campaign sponsored the equivalent of two hectares! These plants were transported by RPN teams and planted by the residents of Patmara. We thank all the sponsors who made the program a success.

It is also very positive to note the general public's interest in the preservation and rehabilitation of our planet's forests. This encourages us to continue the campaign to restore as many of the red panda's forest areas as possible, as much remains to be done.

Vaccination and sterilisation campaign for stray dogs

Dogs used by cattle ranchers breed uncontrollably, leading to an ever-growing population of stray dogs in the plains and mountains of Nepal. The predominantly Buddhist and Hindu culture endows all living creatures with a certain benevolence from the local population, allowing dogs to live confidently around villages.

Being originally herding dogs, these animals therefore have a perfect instinct to surprise wild animals and cause damage such as fatal injuries or even the transmission of diseases and parasites (distemper, rabies, etc.). In the absence of management measures, stray dogs therefore appear to be one of the main threats to the red panda, it is therefore urgent to intervene at this level.

To this end, the RPN wanted to set up a campaign to capture stray dogs in order to sterilise and vaccinate them.

Neutering not only limits reproduction in these animals, but also lowers aggression. In the absence of puppies, females feel less pressure. As for males, castration limits testosterone levels and therefore reduces unwanted behavior.

Vaccines, on the other hand, provide multiple protection, since in addition to being beneficial for the dogs concerned, they also protect local populations and, of course, wildlife, by preventing the spread of diseases.

Our association therefore wanted to provide assistance in carrying out this large-scale campaign, particularly from a material perspective. We listed the equipment needs and organized a collection with our partners in France.

Animal park veterinarians have been very supportive of this logistical help by sending us tools adapted to our needs:

• harnesses and leashes for restraints
• medical equipment: gas tape, compresses, ophthalmic solutions, haemostatic powders, post-operative dressings.

For this, we would like to thank Rosemary, veterinarian at the animal park Le Pal, who organised the collection of material!

In 2019, the early stages of the campaign have already resulted in the effective vaccination of almost 700 dogs.

Working with local people

It is important to understand that the association works to protect the red panda in its habitat in full collaboration with the inhabitants of the sites concerned. The ecological and economic alternatives offered by the RPN to local populations allow for a significant improvement in living conditions, and enable the success of the measures implemented.

The active participation of residents in conservation programs also helps ensure a more peaceful future for all, both economically and ecologically.

We also wanted to help these local populations, for example by collecting warm clothes and shoes suitable for high mountains, for the forest rangers, or by offering a water purifier to the school in Sinja, because there, the water is not drinkable, and people have to boil it before drinking it (and therefore take wood to light a fire...)