Filming the Adorable but Elusive Red Panda | The Making of Asia | BBC Earth

With confirmation they're in the area, the search continues into the weeks that follow. There are red pandas somewhere on this misty mountainside. The Himalaya are known as the roof of the world, home to nine of the ten highest mountains in the world, including Mount Everest. A BBC crew is searching the forests of the eastern Himalaya for a rarely spotted animal. It's an animal famed for its beauty and elusiveness. Sometimes called a fire fox, it's better known as the red panda. And these misty mountainsides are a stronghold for the species. So we've just been told that there's a panda sighting and these guys don't really stick around too long so we need to make sure we're packed up and ready to go so we can start the trail. Filming such a secretive creature was never going to be easy. Yep, there's a lot of stairs. I'm carrying a 20-25 kilo backpack and 3,000 meters altitude so breathing's fairly difficult. Panda at the end of the tunnel. But despite their efforts, Ben and the team have arrived too late. Luckily, the crew has a secret weapon in the form of Shantanu Prasad. He has been working with red pandas for eight years and is sharing his knowledge to help find them. Since that time, Shantanu and his team have patrolled the forest every day and he's seen them a few more times since then. With his unparalleled knowledge, Shantanu knows the best place to see red pandas. The crew, under his advice, have placed camera traps at various points in the forest and the results are promising. With confirmation red pandas are active in the area, the hunt intensifies into the weeks that follow. The pandas are endangered so Shantanu is determined to do his part in protecting them as much as he can. One way is to watch out for poachers in the area. So our main idea is to go patrol the forest every day and that is the reason why we eventually also know where the red pandas are and what they are doing. It's not just the crew that benefit from Shantanu and his group's knowledge. Ecotourism is a practice that, when managed, can be a source of funds whereby some profits can go towards protecting the species. And working with the local people, who know and love this place best, is important too. With Shantanu's help, the crew have managed to enjoy enough time with the beautiful fire foxes to complete their filming. And whilst a team remains in place protecting the pandas, the gate has been left open for their recovery. For red panda, I do not know what attracts me to them but they are also cutest animal, you know. We have that connection with red panda, I do not know. Every time I see them still, it feels like it is not enough.