Mugu: A black panther and a squirrel have been recorded for the first time in Rara National Park, according to conservation officials. The discovery was made using camera traps installed by zoology students from Tribhuvan University, who are conducting a study on the park’s mammalian inhabitants.

Mahesh Neupane, officiating senior conservation officer at Rara National Park, confirmed the presence of the elusive black panther and squirrel among other species captured on camera. "The cameras also recorded the Himalayan bear, fox, musk deer, wild boar, and several other mammals," Neupane said, adding that this marks the first recorded sightings of the black panther and squirrel in the park.

The research team, led by Tribhuvan University PhD student Tilak Thapa Magar and including researchers Bimal Raj Shrestha, Master’s student Bachan Prasain, and former Park Buffer Zone Consumers Committee president Birkha Bahadur Rokaya, utilized 40 camera traps across the park. The cameras were set up at various locations for 21 days starting October 22, with approval from the Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation and Rara National Park.

The camera-trap method has proven effective in monitoring large and medium-sized mammals, providing crucial insights into their behavior and habitat use. Despite this success, Rara National Park has yet to conduct comprehensive censuses of its wildlife, aquatic animals, and plant species, though it regularly undertakes bird population surveys.

The discovery underscores the ecological richness of Rara National Park and highlights the importance of continued research and conservation efforts in the area.