Cultural Canvas

About

The 67.56-acre (27.3 hectare) Padmaja Naidu Himalayan Zoological Park, better known as the Darjeeling Zoo, is located in the Indian state of West Bengal's town of Darjeeling. At an average elevation of 7,000 feet (2,134 meters), the zoo was established in 1958 and is the biggest high altitude zoo in India. It conducts productive captive breeding operations for the endangered Himalayan wolf, the snow leopard, and the red panda. It specializes in rearing species acclimated to alpine circumstances. Each year, over 300,000 people visit the zoo. The park bears the name Padmaja Naidu (1900–1975), Sarojini Naidu's daughter. The zoo is a member of the World Association of Zoos and acts as the focal point for the red panda program run by the Central Zoo Authority of India.