Pathivara forest fire rages on, threatening the survival of red panda

Taplejung- The forest fire in the Pathivara temple area is yet to come under control, even after seven days.

Taplejung Chief District Officer (CDO) Jharendra Prasad Chapagain said that although a helicopter of Simrik Air was used to pour water with the aim of controlling the forest fire, it was not effective.

CDO Chapagain informed Radio Nepal that it had been difficult to tame the blaze as the forest area had a lot of dry and dead trees.

“The wind in the afternoon fans the fire, and it makes controlling the fire even harder, ” Chapagain said.

Chapagain also informed that a team of police personnel had been deputed to take the wildfire under control.

The forest fire of Pathivara has also engulfed the Kanchanjungha Conservation Area.

The Pathivara Area Development Committee informed that the wildfire had entered the Lukumpa community forest of Kanchanjungha Conservation Area.

Conservation officer at the Kanchanjungha Conservation Area Ganesh Prasad Tiwari informed that the fire had destroyed swathes of forested land.

“It has endangered the survival of the already endangered red panda,” Tiwari said.