A red panda was found in the Chilim Lahure community forest in Kepilasgarhi Rural Municipality-1 Phedi. Manoj Rai, a local, found and photographed the endangered red panda on May 2.

Fedi is considered the 'hub' of red pandas. Red pandas are found in community forests such as Phungaluwa, Chhimalung, Vaishakhe Walikha, Chilim Lahure and others in the said ward.

Janaklyan Samaj Nepal, Khotang has conducted a community-based red panda conservation project with the financial support of Red Panda Network in that area.

Virendra Magar, president of Janaklyan Samaj Nepal, Khotang, said that although red pandas were found in abundance, the number could not be counted.

"Fedi is the habitat of red pandas," Magar said, "Even though the number of red pandas is large, they have not been counted." The project has also placed Heralu in those forests.