Source: News on Air
Context: The Red Panda Program of Darjeeling’s Padmaja Naidu Himalayan Zoological Park has been selected as a finalist for the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA) Conservation Award 2024.
About Red Panda
- Diet: Primarily herbivorous, consuming bamboo, berries, acorns, and occasionally small mammals.
- Behavior: Shy, solitary, and arboreal; uses its bushy tail for balance and warmth in winter.
- Habitat: Lives in the mountainous forests of Bhutan, China, India, Myanmar, and Nepal, with nearly 50% of its habitat in the Eastern Himalayas.
- Conservation Status:
- IUCN Red List: Endangered
- CITES: Appendix I
- Wildlife Protection Act 1972 (India): Schedule I
- Threats: Habitat loss due to deforestation and decline in bamboo forests are major threats to red panda populations.
About Padmaja Naidu Himalayan Zoological Park:
- Location: Darjeeling, West Bengal, India.
- Established: 1958; situated at an elevation of 7,000 feet (2,134 m).
- Size: 67.56 acres (27.3 hectares), making it the largest high-altitude zoo in India.
- Specialization: Focuses on breeding animals adapted to alpine conditions, with successful programs for species like snow leopards, Himalayan wolves, and red pandas.
- Conservation Efforts:
- Plays a central role in India’s red panda conservation and breeding efforts.
- Houses a Biobanking and Genetic Resource Facility to preserve gametes, tissues, and DNA of endangered species.
- Recognition: Attracts around 300,000 visitors annually and is a member of the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA).
- Legacy: Named after Padmaja Naidu, the daughter of Sarojini Naidu, in recognition of her contributions to Indian society.
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