Red Pandas Relocated to Darjeeling for Conservation Effort

Why in the news?

Two red pandas from Rotterdam Zoo were moved to Darjeeling’s Padmaja Naidu Himalayan Zoological Park as part of a global breeding initiative to bolster endangered red panda populations and address habitat loss challenges.

Red Pandas Relocated to Darjeeling for Conservation Effort

Relocation for Conservation:

  • Two red pandas from Rotterdam Zoo in the Netherlands are being relocated to the Padmaja Naidu Himalayan Zoological Park (PNZP) in Darjeeling, West Bengal.
  • This move is part of a global conservation breeding initiative to protect the endangered species, Ailurus fulgens.

Threats and Protection

  • Red pandas are solitary, arboreal mammals native to Bhutan, China, India, Myanmar, and Nepal.
  • Habitat loss, including bamboo depletion and reduced nesting sites in the Eastern Himalayas, severely threatens their survival.
  • Listed as “Endangered” by the IUCN, they are also protected under CITES Appendix I and Schedule I of India’s Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.

PNZP’s Role in Conservation

  • Established in 1958, PNZP has been instrumental in red panda conservation.
  • Its breeding program, launched in 1986 under the Global Captive Breeding Masterplan, has successfully increased red panda populations.
  • The addition of red pandas from Rotterdam strengthens international collaboration for the species’ preservation.

About Red Pandas (Ailurus fulgens):

  • Species: Himalayan Red Panda (Ailurus fulgens), Chinese Red Panda (Ailurus styani).
  • Habitat: Found in Bhutan, China, India, Myanmar, and Nepal; 50% of their habitat is in the Eastern Himalayas.
  • Features: Reddish-brown fur, bushy tails for balance and warmth, arboreal, solitary, shy.
  • Diet: Primarily bamboo, supplemented with fruits, insects, and eggs.
  • Protection: IUCN: Endangered, CITES: Appendix I, Wildlife Protection Act: Schedule I.

Sources Referred:

PIB, The Hindu, Indian Express, Hindustan Times