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A Close Encounter with Red Panda

Pujan Dhakal /It all started in Grade 6, during a lesson about Nepal’s endangered species. Among the various creatures we learned about, one got me hooked – the Red Panda. That childhood fascination never faded, and now at 21, as an aspiring wildlife photographer, the dream of capturing these elusive creatures in their natural habitat finally came to life.

The Journey Begins

The adventure started with my friend Satyam Pathak – already on his second attempt to photograph red pandas, in the pre-dawn darkness of November 5th, leaving Kathmandu at 3 AM. The seventeen-hour journey to Ilam Bazaar felt like a moment. After a night in Ilam Bazaar charging our equipment and gathering supplies, we prepared for the next leg of our journey – the journey to Dobate.

Recent rains had left their mark on eastern Nepal’s mountain roads, turning what should have been a routine drive into an adventure of its own. Our vehicle, arranged by the homestay, navigated five hours of muddy, treacherous trails before finally delivering us to Dobate Homestay. There, we heard something that sent our spirits soaring–another group had spotted a mother red panda with two cubs earlier that day.

Into The Wild

The forest greeted us the next morning with golden sunlight. Our guides, Nima Sherpa and Lakhpa Sherpa, met us after breakfast, their experience and knowledge immediately evident in their quiet confidence. While Nima handled our registration at the forest office, Lakhpa led us toward the area of the previous day’s sighting.

We hiked for nearly an hour, the fresh mountain air filled with birdsong and the rustle of leaves. The forest felt alive around us, each step bringing us closer to a dream fifteen years in the making.

A Moment of Magic

Suddenly, Lakhpa’s signal cut through the morning quiet. We hurried forward, carefully following his lead through the bamboo thickets. And there they were – the mother and her two cubs, around 200 meters uphill from where they had been spotted the day before, resting peacefully among the bamboo.

For the first ten minutes, I couldn’t even lift my camera. The sight of these creatures, their rust-red fur glowing in the morning light, left me rooted in place. After years of dreaming about this moment, reality had exceeded every expectation. When I finally began photographing them, each click of the shutter felt like preserving a piece of magic. After a while, we could see a cub approaching the mother and kissing her. Witnessing them sharing such a magical and rare moment made me feel really blessed. 

Beyond the Lens

This encounter was more than just a photography milestone. Watching these endangered creatures in their natural habitat brought home the importance of conservation in a way no classroom lesson ever could. The dedication of our trackers, Nima and Lakhpa Sherpa, showed how local communities play a crucial role in protecting these remarkable animals.

The red pandas of Dobate represent hope – hope that with careful conservation and responsible tourism, these creatures will continue to thrive in Nepal’s forests. Every visitor who comes to Dobate Homestay, every photograph taken, and every story shared contributes to their protection.

Coming Full Circle

As I reviewed the photos and videos with our trackers back at the homestay, I couldn’t help but think about that Grade 6 classroom where this journey began. That young student, learning about endangered species for the first time, could never have imagined the adventure that would unfold years later.

The red pandas of eastern Nepal had taught me something valuable – sometimes the dreams that take root in childhood lead us to the most meaningful experiences of our adult lives. All we need is the patience to wait, the courage to pursue them, and the help of dedicated people who share our passion for protecting the natural world.

(The Author Is a Wildlife Photographer)