BY AMRAPALI CHAKRABORTY
KOLKATA, 12 AUGUST 2023:
On 15 April this year, two red pandas, Neera and Teesta have given birth to a pair of red panda cubs each at Singalila National Park in Darjeeling.
On the other hand, a 13 year old snow leopard has also given birth of cubs at Padmaja Naidu Himalayan Zoological Park in Darjeeling.
In a twitter handle the authority has shared the pictures of the newly born cubs playing and bringing sheer joy to the efforts of the wildlife conservationists and forest researchers in the country in conservation of red pandas in India.
“ The mother and the cubs are being carefully monitored from a distance without causing any disturbances to them. Even a snow leopard Zima has given birth to a cub on 28 th July 2023.At the age of 13 years and three months she is the oldest snow leopard mother to have given birth in the past thirty years of snow leopard conservation and breeding programmee at Padmaja naidu Himalayan Zoological Park in Darjeeling ,” says the Director of the Zoo, Basavaraj Holeyachi with a video footage of the cubs.
The number of snow leopards have risen to 15 in Padmaja Naidu Himlayan Zoological park. Total six cubs have been born this year.
“ We are really excited with the news of the new cubs born of snow leopards and red pandas in Darjeeling. It will surely boost the wildlife and adventure tourism in the state,”says forest minister of West Bengal, Jyotipriya Mallick.
About Red Panda :
Two species of Panda are found worldwide, namely, Giant Pandas and Red Pandas. Red panda is the state animal of Sikkim. They are shy, solitary and arboreal animals. They are also regarded as an indicator species for ecological change. In India, two subspecies of Panda are found viz, Himalayan red panda and Chinese red panda. Red panda is endemic to the forests of India, Bhutan, Nepal, North Myanmar and south China.
IUCN Status:
Red Pandas are categorized in “Endangered” category of IUCN Red list and Appendix I of CITES. They are protected under Schedule I of Wildlife Protection Act 1972. On the other hand, Giant Pandas are Vulnerable in IUCN Red List and Appendix I species in CITES.
Happy news….
The two of the three released Red Pandas, Teesta and neera (3 years each) have given birth to two cubs each after mating with wild Red Pandas. This is a great success for our Red Panda augmentation program. #pnhzp #darjeeling @CZA_Delhi @moefcc pic.twitter.com/fCLHShgprE— Darjeeling zoo (@PnhzPark) August 10, 2023
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