Padmaja Naidu Himalayan Zoological Park upgrade with bird breeding centre and a satellite zoo at Dow Hill in Kurseong

Darjeeling, Dec. 7: The Padmaja Naidu Himalayan Zoological Park here has set up the first specialised pheasantry in eastern India with the inauguration of a breeding centre and a satellite zoo at Dow Hill in Kurseong.

The state government has pumped in Rs 1.43 crore into the satellite zoo, a reminder that the hills were being taken care of. Forest minister Hiten Barman today released five Lady Amherest and six golden pheasants at the Dow Hill centre. A couple of blue sheep and barking deer were also released at the herbivore enclosure of the zoo.

“This is one more step taken by the state government for the development of the hills. By March, we will set up a nature interpretation centre at Jorebunglow. The development of the existing eco-tourism spot at Chatakpur (near Sonada) will also start soon,” said Barman, while reeling off the other projects that the government has planned for the hills.

One of them is the renovation of forest properties at Rambhi and Sandakphu. Community halls will be set up at Pubung and Rajvir along with two ayurvedic warehouses at Taipoo in Kurseong. “We will try and complete the projects by March,” said Barman.

The birds will be bred at the satellite zoo before being released in the wild. “The inauguration of the satellite zoo is a step towards conservation and breeding of indigenous pheasants and herbivores. While the state government has pumped in Rs1.43 crore for development of the centre, the Central Zoo Authority has given us Rs 36 lakh. We are expecting Rs 95 lakh from the CZA so that we can open up 10 more pheasantry units at Dow Hill,” said zoo director A.K. Jha. The only other specialised pheasantry in the country is at Sarahan in Himachal Pradesh.

The minister also inspected the ropeway, which he said would be opened soon. The Darjeeling-Rangeet Valley ropeway has been defunct since October 19, 2003 when an accident killed four tourists.

“We will reopen the ropeway as soon as the PWD department gives the final nod,” said Barman. 

-The Telegraph