Details of the Project
About Red Panda
The red panda (Ailurus fulgens), also known as the "lesser panda" or "firefox," is a small mammal native to the eastern Himalayas and southwestern China. It is classified as endangered due to habitat loss, fragmentation, and poaching. Red pandas are solitary and arboreal, spending most of their time in trees. They are primarily herbivorous, feeding mainly on bamboo, but they also eat fruits, berries, acorns, and insects. Nepal plays a crucial role in their conservation, as its protected areas provide a vital habitat for the species. The global population of red pandas is estimated to be fewer than 10,000 individuals, highlighting the need for ongoing conservation efforts to protect this unique and elusive species.
Click here to know more about the red panda.
Data Sources For This Project:
- Red Panda Occurrence Points: Collected from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) and personal field-based data. (GBIF Link)
- Protected Areas of Nepal: Downloaded from the World Database on Protected Areas (WDPA). (WDPA Link)
- Global Distribution Range of Red Panda: Downloaded from the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). (IUCN Red List Link)
Why I Created the Map:
The goal of this project was to create an interactive web-based map that highlights the global distribution of the red panda, with a focus on its occurrence in Nepal’s protected areas. This visualization provides insights into the species' distribution and its overlap with conservation zones, aiding researchers and conservationists in guiding habitat protection efforts.
How the Map Was Created:
This project involved gathering data from multiple sources, processing the data in QGIS, and visualizing it in Mapbox.
Steps Involved:
- Data Collection: Occurrence points from GBIF and field based observational data for Nepal was filtered using QGIS.
- Protected Areas: The shapefile from WDPA was clipped for Nepal and merged using the Union tool in QGIS.
- Global Distribution Range: The IUCN distribution shapefile was clipped and exported for visualization.
- Mapbox Integration: GeoJSON files were uploaded to Mapbox and styled using layers such as heatmaps, custom symbols, and terrain layers.
Tools Used in This Project:
- QGIS: Used for data preparation, including clipping and exporting data.
- Mapbox: Used for creating the interactive map with custom styling and layers.
- GeoJSON: The format used for exporting and uploading data into Mapbox.
- DEM and Terrain Visualization: Integrated in Mapbox to display elevation and land use in Nepal.
Map Features:
- Location: Global distribution, and occurrence of Red Panda focused on Nepal.
- Global Range: Displayed using polygons.
- Red Panda Occurrence: Displayed using both a heatmap and a custom symbol (red panda icon).
- Protected Areas: Highlighted with styled boundaries and labels.
- Terrain: Enhanced with DEM and land-use layers to reflect elevation and land cover.
This interactive map visualizes the global distribution and Nepal-specific occurrence of red pandas. By combining multiple datasets and advanced mapping techniques, it serves as a valuable resource for both research and conservation efforts.
