Archive · 30 Aug 2026
Tracking Elusive Red Pandas in Nepal’s Himalayan Forests
A traveler visited Jaubari, a tiny village high in the Himalayas.
The village is in Nepal near the border with India.
The main goal was to look for a rare red panda.
Red pandas are small, shy animals that sleep in trees and hide among bamboo.
Local trackers searched quietly for signs such as paw prints and droppings.
After waiting and walking carefully, the group saw one red panda in the forest.
The travelers also saw birds, flowers, mountains and villages.
Their trip showed how special and difficult it can be to observe wildlife without disturbing it.
Jaubari is a remote Buddhist village in Nepal near the Indo-Nepal border and Singalila National Park.
The village has about 35 residents and hosts the Red Panda Outpost, a homestay managed by Pugdundee Safaris.
Visitors tracked a red panda through high-altitude bamboo, oak and rhododendron forests with local Nepali trackers.
The red panda population is estimated at about 2,500 adults worldwide, and the species is described as endangered and highly elusive.
The trip also included Himalayan birding, views of Kanchenjunga, Tonglu’s sunrise and visits to local religious and historic sites.
- Who
- A traveler, a naturalist named Yashodeep, local Nepali trackers and other visitors took part in the expedition.
- What
- They visited the Himalayan region to responsibly track and observe a wild red panda, while also exploring the surrounding landscape and villages.
- When
- The account describes a four-day adventure, including early-morning forest walks and a final morning exploring Jaubari.
- Where
- Jaubari in Nepal, near the Indo-Nepal border and Singalila National Park, with visits to Tinchule forests and Tonglu.
- Why
- The trip was undertaken to search for red pandas in their natural habitat and experience the area’s wildlife, scenery and culture.
- Location
- Jaubari, Nepal, near the Indo-Nepal border in the Eastern Himalayas
- Elevation
- Nearly 10,000 feet
- Village population
- About 35 people
- Red panda population
- About 2,500 adults remain worldwide, according to the article
- Wildlife areas
- Singalila National Park and the adjoining Tinchule forests
- Accommodation
- The Red Panda Outpost, managed by Pugdundee Safaris
- Nearby landmark
- Kanchenjunga, viewed from the Tonglu area