Padmaja Naidu Himalayan Zoological Park — Zoo in Darjeeling

Padmaja Naidu Himalayan Zoological Park and its collection

Padmaja Naidu Himalayan Zoological Park, opened in 1958, is a zoo in Darjeeling, West Bengal, Kanpur division.

At around 7,000 feet, it is described as the country's biggest high-altitude zoo, and it breeds alpine-adapted species including the Himalayan wolf. Roughly 300,000 people visit each year.

History

It was set up on 14 August 1958 at Birch Hill by the West Bengal education department, with the aim of studying and saving Himalayan fauna. Dilip Kumar Dey, an Indian Forest Service officer on deputation, was its founder and first director.

Conservation and approach

An off-show centre breeds snow leopard and red panda. Snow leopard breeding began in 1983 with animals from Zurich, the United States and Leh-Ladakh, and red panda work followed in 1994 with stock from Cologne, Madrid, Belgium and Rotterdam.

What the venue says

• There is a refreshment corner and eatery located inside the park, alongside drinking water stations situated near the aviaries.
• Regular cars are generally not permitted to park right at the main entrance gate; however, parking spaces are available nearby outside the core gate area, and visitors typically walk or take local transport from Chowk Bazaar or the Mall Road.
• Wheelchairs are available for rent at a nominal cost, and public restrooms near the main gate are accessible to visitors with disabilities.