Wildlife and birds · Gairibas
Look for red pandas in the Gairibas forest
Walk the forest trails around Gairibas at first light with a guide who knows where red pandas feed. You are searching a bamboo and fir canopy for a cat-sized russet animal curled on a branch, so patience matters more than distance.
The red panda lives in temperate forest with a thick bamboo understorey, eating mostly bamboo leaves and shoots, and spends much of its day resting high in trees. Singalila National Park, with its bamboo and fir forests between about 2,500 and 3,600 m, is one of its strongholds in India. The stretch around Gairibas and up toward Kaiyakatta is among the most reliable.
Go early, when pandas are active and the trail is empty. Walk slowly and look up, scanning forks and mossy branches for a reddish ball with a ringed tail hanging down. Your guide may know particular trees used recently; some guides keep in touch with each other about sightings. Winter months, when trees are thinner and trekkers fewer, often give the best chances.
If you see one, keep your distance, stay quiet and do not use flash. Pandas are easily disturbed and the park depends on them staying. Many trekkers walk the whole route without a sighting; treat a panda as a bonus, and enjoy the forest either way.
Cost: Included in your guide fee · tip a spotter if one helps
Questions people ask
Good to know
What are the chances of seeing a red panda in Singalila?
Modest. Many trekkers see none; some see one on a lucky morning. Chances improve with early walks, a quiet small group, an experienced guide and time spent in the forest around Gairibas and Kalipokhri. Winter and early spring are often best.
When are red pandas most active?
Mostly at dawn and dusk, resting in trees for much of the day. Early mornings from 6 to 9 am are the best time to look. They are easier to spot when trees have fewer leaves, from December to March.
Can I hire a special guide for red pandas?
Ask at the Maneybhanjan guide office or a Darjeeling operator for a guide with wildlife experience, and plan extra time around Gairibas. There is no official panda tour; you are walking the park trails with your licensed guide.
Also in Gairibas
More things to do
Treks and walks · 2.5–3 hoursDescend through Jaubari in NepalGairibas · Included in your guide fee
Wildlife and birds · 1.5–2 hoursDawn chorus birding in the Gairibas clearingGairibas · Included in your guide fee
Treks and walks · 2–2.5 hoursThe forest climb to KaiyakattaGairibas · Included in your guide fee