Shillong, August 11: In a remarkable event at Darjeeling’s Padmaja Naidu Himalayan Zoological Park, a 13-year and three-month-old snow leopard named Zima has become the oldest snow leopard to give birth in the past three decades of the animal’s conservation breeding program. Zima gave birth to a cub on July 28, as announced by the zoo’s director.
As per India Today, the zoo authorities shared heartwarming videos, including red pandas snuggled in a tree’s bark and playful leopards engaging in biting and playful behavior.
Renowned as the country’s sole specialized zoo, the Padmaja Naidu Himalayan Zoological Park is internationally acclaimed for its successful conservation breeding initiatives, focusing on endangered species like red pandas, snow leopards, and Tibetan wolves native to the Himalayan region. The zoo’s expertise lies in nurturing creatures capable of thriving in mountainous habitats.
Encompassing 67.56 acres, this high-altitude zoo not only captivates approximately 300,000 visitors annually but also serves as an educational center for scientific research and species preservation.