Two more snow leopard cubs, a vulnerable species, born in Darjeeling Zoo
admaja Naidu Himalayan Zoological Park, also known as the Darjeeling Zoo, now boasts two new snow leopard cubs, continuing its status as the zoo with the largest captive population of the species in the world.
'The cubs are a month old. We are taking special care of them,' said Basavraj S Holeyachi, director of PNHZP, speaking to The Indian Express over the phone.
'This is good news. We have planned to ask Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee to name the two cubs,' said Birbaha Hansda, state forest minister.
At present, the zoo houses seven female and four male snow leopards, in addition to the two cubs.
The cubs were born to Rare (female) and Namka (male) about a month ago. They are currently housed at Togbey Danra, an off-display conservation breeding centre located around 20 km from Darjeeling town.
The births mark another success for the zoo's 'Conservation Breeding Programme' for snow leopards.
The programme began in 1985, with the first successful birth recorded in 1987. In 2007, PNHZP was designated the coordinating zoo for snow leopards in India.
According to authorities, a key element of the programme's success has been maintaining a wide genetic pool in breeding pairs.
'If those paired are closely related, there is a chance of developing disease. We were careful to use a wide genetic pool. Snow leopards brought to the zoo were not only from different parts of the country but also from zoos outside India,' said an official.
The Conservation Breeding Centre (CBC) at Togbey Danra spans five hectares. It is designed to replicate the natural environment of the snow leopard, and breeding pairs are carefully selected.
'Five naturalistic enclosures of 1,000 square metres are there. A dry mountainous region has been artificially created within parts of the enclosures, closely resembling the snow leopard's natural habitat,' said an official.
'Once the female leopard is pregnant, special care is taken. She is separated and kept under CCTV surveillance 24/7. Regular blood tests and body weight measurements are conducted. After birth, both mother and cub are checked and closely monitored,' the official added.
Snow leopards bred at the Darjeeling Zoo have been sent to zoos in Nainital, Shimla, and Sikkim.
Snow leopards are listed as 'Vulnerable' on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species, with an estimated global population of 4,000 to 7,500.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Scroll.in
5 hours ago
- Scroll.in
Uttarakhand: Seven dead in Rudraprayag as helicopter carrying pilgrims crashes
Seven persons died on Sunday in Uttarakhand's Rudraprayag district when a helicopter carrying pilgrims taking part in the Char Dham Yatra crashed near the Gaurikund area, The Indian Express reported. The helicopter, which was travelling from Kedarnath to Guptkashi, went missing around 5.20 am, Inspector General (Law and Order) Nilesh Bharne said. The crash took place at Gauri Mai Khark, which is about 5 kilometres uphill from Gaurikund. The pilot of the helicopter – Captain Rajbir Singh Chauhan from Jaipur – was among those killed, The Indian Express reported. The others were Vikram Rawat from Uttarakhand, Vinod Devi and Trishti Singh from Uttar Pradesh, Rajkumar Suresh Jaiswal from Gujarat, Shraddha Rajkumar Jaiswal and two-year-old Kashi from Maharashtra. The Uttarakhand Civil Aviation Development Authority said that the helicopter, a BELL 407 utility chopper belonging to a company named Aryan Aviation Private Limited, crashed because of unknown reasons. Uttarakhand | A helicopter crash took place on the Kedarnath route, in the Gaurikund area under Rudraprayag district. According to preliminary information, bad weather is being considered as the possible cause of this accident. A total of 07 people were on board the helicopter.… — ANI (@ANI) June 15, 2025 This was the fifth helicopter accident in Uttarakhand in about 40 days, The Hindu reported. In the wake of the accidents, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has ordered the formulation of a standard operating procedure for helicopter services in the state. 'The Chief Minister has directed the Chief Secretary to constitute a committee of technical experts that will conduct an in-depth review of all technical and safety aspects of helicopter operations and formulate the SOP,' The Indian Express quoted the chief minister's office as saying. 'This committee will ensure that heli-services operate in a safe, transparent manner and in strict adherence to established standards.'
Indian Express
12 hours ago
- Indian Express
Did not expect to be in top 100: NEET 3rd rank holder
Krishang Joshi secured AIR-3 in the NEET, results of which were declared on Saturday. Speaking to The Indian Express, Krishang said, 'I am feeling very good, I did not expect such a rank. Before NEET 2025, I was not even sure if I would get a rank under 100.' Originally from Haldwani, Uttarakhand, his father's transferable government job meant the family moved frequently. With his eyes set on AIIMS Delhi, Krishang said it has always been his dream college where he intends to specialise in surgery. 'I want to specialise in invasive surgery, as it is more challenging and intense,' he said. His NEET journey involved rigorous preparation, leaving little room for extracurriculars.
Time of India
13 hours ago
- Time of India
Dolphins face survival threat
Patna: Graceful, elusive and nearly blind, the Ganges river dolphin, locally known as "susu", once glided through the murky waters of the Ganga and Brahmaputra with a quiet majesty. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Today, the ripples they leave behind are few and fading. Despite its revered status as India's national aquatic animal, this freshwater sentinel is fighting a losing battle against rising pollution, river traffic and creeping urbanisation. Once abundant in the subcontinent's river systems, the Ganges dolphin (Platanista gangetica gangetica) is now confined to select stretches of rivers in India, Bangladesh and Nepal. The recently concluded first-ever comprehensive river dolphin population survey in India (2021-2023) has revealed an alarming reality – only 6,327 river dolphins remain nationwide. Among them, Uttar Pradesh hosts the highest number at 2,397, followed closely by Bihar with 2,220. This endangered species belongs to an elite and shrinking club of four obligate freshwater dolphins worldwide. The others include the "bhulan" in Pakistan's Indus, the "baiji" of China's Yangtze (declared functionally extinct in 2006) and the "boto" of the Amazon river. In conservation terms, the "susu" is under maximum protection, listed in Schedule I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, Appendix I of CITES, and categorised as Endangered by the IUCN Red List. Yet, no law seems sturdy enough to shield it from the escalating dolphin-human conflict. "The Gangetic dolphin is an extremely useful animal for monitoring river quality. These animals act as indicators of a healthy river ecosystem. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Being at the top of the food chain, their thriving presence signals rich biodiversity," said dolphin expert R K Sinha, widely known as the Dolphin Man of India. According to him, the threats are manifold – poaching, accidental killings, demand for dolphin oil and flesh, dam constructions and relentless pollution have all taken a brutal toll on their fragile numbers. These dolphins, which navigate the Ganga using echolocation, are blind in the conventional sense but are highly adapted to their muddy environment. They help maintain ecological balance by regulating fish populations. "Without them, the very rhythm of the Ganga's aquatic life is disrupted," warn scientists. In a bid to turn the tide, the govt established the National Dolphin Research Centre (NDRC) on the banks of the Ganga near Patna's Law College Ghat. Inaugurated a couple of years ago, this one-of-its-kind facility in Asia was envisioned to become a hub of dolphin science and freshwater ecology. Built at an estimated cost of Rs 32 lakh, the NDRC will study dolphin behaviour and habitat and do research on aquatic life like benthic macro-invertebrates, otters, gharials and even migratory birds. "The centre will also take up river hydrology as a key research component," said Dr G B Chand, zoology professor at Patna University and member of the NDRC experts' committee. But for all its noble intentions, the centre's journey has been anything but smooth. "The idea was first proposed in 2011. It hung in limbo for nearly a decade before finally being approved. Even after the CM inaugurated it, progress has been agonisingly slow," said Gopal Sharma, senior scientist with the Zoological Survey of India and interim director of the NDRC. "We have faced delays at every step – funds, infrastructure staffing. It has been rough weather since day one," he added. Still, forest officials remain optimistic. Prabhat Kumar Gupta, principal chief conservator of forests, said the govt was committed to seeing the centre flourish. "The state's environment, forest and climate change department is closely monitoring the NDRC's progress. We are currently assessing the equipment and manpower required. The centre is expected to be fully functional within this financial year," he said. Gupta also highlighted the department's goal to make the NDRC a centre of excellence, not just for research but also for training fishermen on dolphin-friendly practices.
