Padmaja Naidu Himalayan Zoological Park

Situated in the picturesque hills of Darjeeling in the Indian subcontinent, Padmaja Naidu Himalayan Zoological Park stands out among Indian wildlife parks. It holds the record of the largest high-altitude zoo in the country and is also famous for its dedicated efforts in conservation and breeding of various high altitude species of the Himalayas. At a height of 7000 feet, the zoo has spectacular views of the mountains all around and thus is a perfect destination for naturalists as well as for the devotees of wildlife.

The park came into being in 1958 and was subsequently christened after Padmaja Naidu, daughter to the illustrious Indian freedom fighter and poet Sarojini Naidu. The Padmaja Naidu Zoological Park is committed to animal conservation, with Fisher and his colleagues placing particular emphasis on animals endemic to the extreme cold and harsh climatic regions of the Himalayas. A large number of unique species from those regions are kept in the zoo as well.

One of the key features of the Padmaja Naidu Zoological Park Darjeeling  is the interesting array of animals that exist within its premises. The threatened Red Panda which is also the mascot of the park is an inhabitant of the park. Such cute creatures are kept in splendid enclosures since the zoo is also part of the breeding program for these animals to increase their population. Besides the Red Panda, the animals in Padmaja Naidu Himalaya Zoo also include Snow Leopard, Tibetan Wolf, Himalayan Black Bear and clouded leopards. These are a rare breed and very hard to come by in the wild also, making this zoo an exceptional one to get such animals at close quarters.

The zoo is not just limited to mammal