Context:
Announcement by WAZA (World Association for Zoos and Aquariums) about the success story of India’s lone Conservation Breeding Programme, at Darjeeling zoo making the world’s largest number of Snow Leopards captivity.
About Padmaja Naidu Himalayan Zoological Park:
- Commonly known as Darjeeling zoo.
- Location: West Bengal
- Only conservative breeding programme for snow leopards in the entire country.
- Other Conservative Programmes at zoo – Red Pandas, Mountain Orals and Pheasants.
About Snow Leopard:
- State animal of Ladakh and Himachal Pradesh
- Flagship species for high altitude Himalayas
- Acts as an indicator species for mountain ecosystem.
- Protection Status –
- Appendix I of CiTES
- IUCN status – Vulnerable
- WPA 1927 – Schedule I
- Estimated global population – 4,000 to 7,500.
- Habitat – vast but fragmented distribution across the mountain landscape of Central Asia – covers different parts of Ladakh, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh and Sikkim
- Threats –
- Loss of natural prey
- Retaliatory killing
- Illegal trades
- Major Snow Leopard range countries – Afghanistan, Bhutan, China, India, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Mongolia, Nepal, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan.
About Conservative Breeding for Snow Leopard:
- 1st and the only kind of programme in the country
- Launched at Darjeeling zoo in 1985.
- Major Biosecurity Protocols – burning of turmeric, use of potassium permanganate as foot baths etc.
About WAZA:
- Umbrella organization for the world zoo and aquarium community
- Established in 1935
- HQ – Basel, Switzerland
- Aim – To guide, encourage and support the zoos, aquariums and like‑minded organisations of the world in animal care and welfare, environmental education and global conservation.
Source: The Indian Express
Previous Year Question
Consider the following:
1. Black-necked crane
2. Cheetah
3. Flying squirrel
4. Snow leopard
Which of the above are naturally found in India?
[UPSC Civil Services Exam – 2012 Prelims]
(a) 1, 2 and 3 only
(b) 1, 3 and 4 only
(c) 2 and 4 only
(d) 1, 2, 3 and 4
Answer: (b)
Explanation:
The statement 2 is incorrect
Cheetah is an extinct species in India. They have gone extinct during the pre-independence era mainly due to hunting.
