Darjeeling zoo to release endangered Red Pandas in the wild
Sunday, 9 December, 2007

Darjeeling, Dec 9 (ANI): A zoo in Darjeeling, which has bred two Red Pandas in captivity, plans to release the endangered mammal in the wild by early next year.

The Padmaja Naidu Himalayan Zoological Park (PNHZP) has in the past successfully bred and released the animal under the Project Red Panda launched in 1986.

Buoyed by the success of the release of four female Red Pandas a few years ago, park officials are once again preparing the ground for the release of two male Red Pandas.

"Maybe next year we will be able to release the animals in the Singalila National Park," said PNHZP Director Akjha.

The pandas will initially be "soft released" into the Singalila National Park, during which the animals are kept within an enclosure large enough for them to roam around so that they gradually acclimatise to their surroundings.

Red Panda is one of the endangered species in the world. There are about 2,500 Red Pandas and their number is declining. They are mostly found in the mountainous stretch from Myanmar, Nepal, China, North Eastern India, Bhutan and Laos. (ANI)
- AY