Do you even know what a red panda looks like?

They live in dense bamboo forests at high altitudes,

making them even harder to spot,

which is ideal to keep them away from poachers

but not great for those who want to save them.

Like the Guardians of the Red Panda Network

who walk the forests of the Nepalese Himalayas

to track and count them.

This is "Firefox Guardian"

from wildlife filmmaker Gunjan Menon.

(birds chirping)

(wind blowing)

- [Narrator] Nestled in the Himalayas,

one of the most unique species on Earth,

the red panda,

is in grave danger.

- The whole red panda habitat of Nepal

has been fragmented into 300 small patches.

- [Narrator] This rare animal is suffering

due to human greed.

- [Damber] Poaching cases of red panda

has been dramatically increased.

- [Narrator] There may be fewer than 2,500 left in the wild.

(dramatic music)

But there is hope.

One woman has devoted her life to fight these forces,

determined to make a difference.

- [Narrator] This is the journey of "The Firefox Guardian."

(uplifting music)

The remote forests of the Himalayas

are the last remaining home

to the magnificent red panda,

lovingly called the firefox.

An endangered species struggling to survive

a devastating fur and pet trade.

But Red Panda Network has come to the rescue,

working with Forest Guardians from the local communities.

Each month they head deep into the panda territory

to gather important data and search for signs of poaching.

But they face a huge challenge.

Red pandas are hard to find.

Only a handful have ever seen them in the wild.

(birds chirping)

(water sloshing)

For one of them, it's been a long road to become a Guardian.

(birds chirping) (rooster crows)

- [Narrator] Menuka and her team are about to set off

on their next mission.

A previous trek revealed an abandoned nest,

a sure sign that a panda here has recently given birth.

(man praying in foreign language)

- [Narrator] They're not the only ones

praying for a successful mission.

- [Narrator] These dense bamboo forests can be dangerous,

but this is panda country.

The pandas here contribute to the natural balance

of this challenging environment.

- [Narrator] It's the last week of April

and monsoon is on its way.

The team only have three days to complete their mission.

Meanwhile, the forest provides important clues.

(birds chirping)

- [Narrator] And later that morning,

the Guardians trace the empty nest.

- [Narrator] They then follow a route

they believe the pandas may have taken.

(thunder booms)

But as always, the Himalayas have other plans.

(rain pattering)

- [Narrator] Menuka's personal journey

has been just as challenging.

(thunder booms)

(fire crackling)

(birds chirping)

(wind blowing)

- [Narrator] With newfound spirit,

the team follow a strategy to split up

in search of the panda.

As they head deeper into the forest, excitement grows.

Menuka catches a glimpse of red.

(Menuka laughs)

- [Narrator] But the moss here plays tricks

on even the expert eye,

and despite their bright red coat

the pandas are well hidden by these misty jungles.

But Menuka has worked hard to see more than most.

(gentle music)

- [Narrator] As their second day ends,

Menuka feels the team are running out of time

to find the young panda.

Darkness in this forest brings leopards and black bears.

For now, the team must stop their search and seek shelter.

(owl hoots) (insects chirping)

(birds chirping)

- [Narrator] So far, the team have had no success.

But knowing this might be their last chance

to find the young panda,

they decide to explore an area

where the trail is even more dangerous.

(team whispering in foreign language)

(team laughing)

- [Narrator] Menuka believes this is the cub from the nest.

It's a huge relief for the team

and will ensure the cub's safety from poachers.

- [Narrator] Finding this cub is another success

for the Firefox Guardians,

giving Menuka hope that what she has fought to achieve

is still helping to secure the future of all firefoxes.

(bright music)