Saroj Shrestha^1,, Karan Bahadur Shah², Damber Bista³, Hem Sagar Baral^4,

This study was carried out to identify individual red panda (Ailurus fulgens) through photographs and develop a protocol for their identification from pelage patterns. Manual observation method for photo-identification was applied for matching natural markings and statistical tools like Kruskal-Wallis tests and Sensitivity and Specificity tests were used during the analysis. Out of the three different sections considered in the study, contribution of head section was recorded to be the most significant (77.33%) followed by tail (53.33%) and mid section (50.66%) for discriminating individual red panda. Similarly, head section’s contribution was remarkable (60%) in distinguishing juvenile and adult red panda. This study also helped reveal out some discriminating features in tail, ear, pelage-coloration, tear drop and patches of juvenile and adult red panda. Four major types of facial patterns (Bald, Murky, Faint and Shiny) and 12 morphological features including five primary and seven secondary features were recorded for identifying individual red panda.

individual identification, invasive marking, natural marking, photo-identification, red panda