Darjeeling Zoo’s Red Panda Program Finalist for Award

Why in the news?

  • Darjeeling’s Padmaja Naidu Himalayan Zoological Park’s Red Panda Program is a finalist for the 2024 World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA) Conservation Award.
  • The winner will be announced on November 7, 2024, during the 79th WAZA Annual Conference in Sydney, Australia.

Darjeeling Zoo’s Red Panda Program Finalist for Award

Red Panda Breeding and Release

  • From 2022 to 2024, nine captive-bred red pandas (seven females and two males) were released into Singalila National Park, West Bengal.
  • Three of the released females gave birth to five cubs in the wild, marking a significant conservation success.
  • The zoo collaborates with the West Bengal Government’s Wildlife Wing for habitat restoration efforts.

Conservation Efforts and Biobanking:

  • Padmaja Naidu Himalayan Zoo has established a Biobanking and Genetic Resource Facility to preserve the gametes, tissues, and DNA of red pandas and other endangered species.
  • The zoo also collaborates with institutions like CCMB, IISER, and WII for research on red pandas.
  • These initiatives aim for the long-term conservation and augmentation of red pandas in their natural habitat.

About Padmaja Naidu Himalayan Zoological Park:

  • Location: Darjeeling, West Bengal; covers 56 acres
  • Established: 14th August 1958 by the West Bengal Department of Education
  • Named after: Padmaja Naidu, daughter of Sarojini Naidu
  • Elevation: 7,000 feet (2,134 m)
  • Director: First director was Dilip Kumar Dey, IFS officer
  • Specialisation: Breeds animals adapted to alpine conditions
    • Successful breeding programs: Snow leopards, Himalayan wolves, Himalayan salamanders, red pandas
  • Species housed: Includes gorals, Siberian tigers, endangered birds
  • Conservation hub: Central hub for Zoo Authority of India’s red panda program, WAZA member
  • Visitors: Attracts around 300,000 visitors annually

Sources Referred:

PIB, The Hindu, Indian Express, Hindustan Times