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Not only has it successfully rewilded nine in the past two years – with plans to release a tenth soon – but has established India’s first genetic biobank facility to preserve the DNA of vulnerable Himalayan species.
At the heart of Darjeeling Zoo’s success is its Topkeydara Conservation Centre, where orphaned or rescued red pandas are carefully rehabilitated and made ready for life back in the wild.
Caretaker Sudhan Chhetri speaks of the bittersweet moment when a panda must be released after years of nurturing. ‘It breaks my heart,’ he says, ‘but we know this is crucial for the survival of the species.’
As he alludes to, with only around 10,000 red pandas left in the world, each successful rewilding is a major victory, one the zoo is familiar with.
Recently emerging as a global leader in wildlife conservation, it has also just become the first and only centre in India to establish a genetic biobank facility.
By preserving the DNA and genetic material of endangered Himalayan species like the red panda, snow leopard, and Himalayan tahr, the zoo is in the process of creating an invaluable repository that could prove crucial for future conservation efforts worldwide.
‘This is a game-changer,’ says Dr Bashistha Rai, the zoo’s director. ‘It allows us to safeguard the genetic diversity of these threatened animals, even as we work to protect them in the wild.’
Darjeeling Zoo’s holistic approach to red panda conservation has earned it global recognition.
In June 2023, the zoo was shortlisted for the prestigious Tusk Conservation Awards, which honour exceptional initiatives that protect Africa’s wildlife.
While the Darjeeling model is tailored to the unique challenges of the Himalayas, its emphasis on captive breeding, rewilding, and genetic preservation offers valuable lessons for conservation efforts across the globe.
As the world reckons with the devastating impacts of climate change and habitat loss – The WWF’s Living Planet Report 2022 states that wildlife populations have declined by an average 69 per cent in the past 50 years – Darjeeling Zoo’s trailblazing work proves that with dedication and innovation, even the most endangered species can be brought back from the brink.
