Snow Leopards from Poland arrive in Darjeeling zoo

Adding to its impressive collection of elusive and endangered animal species, the Darjeeling zoo has acquired two more Snow Leopards from the Lodz zoo of Warsaw, Poland as part of its conservation and breeding programme in captivity.

The leopards arrived at the zoo late Sunday evening from Kolkata in an air-conditioned vehicle. The animals reached Kolkata on Saturday morning and after necessary paper work at the airport was completed, they were dispatched to the cold climes of the hills.

Zoo officials said the two female leopards, aged 24-26 months, are in good condition and will be kept in seclusion for some time to give them time get acquainted with the environment.

“Both animals are in good condition. They were a little drowsy in Kolkata due to sultry weather conditions there, but they became fine after we shifted them into an air-conditioned facility. Snow Leopards thrive in Darjeeling-like climatic conditions and while coming uphill, we gave them mineral water to drink,” informed Sirimoni Syangden, estate manger of the Padmaja Naidu Himalayan Zoological Park (PNHZP), who had gone to Kolkata with a vet to fetch the leopards.

A Central Zoo Authority (CZA) vet was also present to oversee the leopards’ condition till they left for the hills, added Syangden.

The Snow Leopard population of Darjeeling zoo has now gone up to 11. One of them was brought from Germany’s Nurnberg zoo last year. Zoo authorities here had requested their counterparts in Lodz zoo for two female leopards as the ones in Darjeeling were inter-related and hence not conducive for breeding.

“We got to know the Lodz zoo had snow leopards and were willing to gift them. Since the ones here are inter-related and not suitable for breeding, we requested the Polish zoo for two females of the species to continue with our conservation and breeding programme in captivity,” explained AK Jha, the Darjeeling zoo director.

Before the new members arrived, Darjeeling zoo had five male and four female snow leopards. The zoo has a record in successful conservation and breeding of Snow Leopards in captivity along with the Red Panda. It has also gifted the Nainital, Shimla and Sikkim zoos pairs of snow leopards for their respective captive breeding projects.

As per the tradition at the PNHZP, the naming ceremony of the two snow leopards will be conducted within a week.

“We will have to name the leopards as is the custom here to ensure their keepers get to maintain friendly relations with them. The naming ceremony will be held later in the week,” added Jha.(EOI)