Nearly four decades after Darjeeling zoo began a conservation breeding programme, it now has the world’s largest number of snow leopards in captivity — 14 in total with 7 males and 7 females.
Among them, there are six cubs from three mothers, the highest since the launch of the breeding programme at Padmaja Naidu Himalayan Zoological Park (PNHZP), also commonly known as Darjeeling zoo.
The announcement was made by the World Association for Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA) — a global alliance of regional associations, national federations, zoos, and aquariums – on its social media handle.
“This is great news and an immense recognition from an international body, like the WAZA. It indicates and signifies the success of our conservation breeding programme. Darjeeling Zoo has the only conservative breeding programme for snow leopards in the entire country. Apart from snow leopards, we have conservative breeding programmes for red pandas, mountain orals and pheasants at the zoo,” Saurabh Chaudhury, member secretary of West Bengal Zoo Authority told The Indian Express.
Snow leopards are in the “vulnerable” category of the International Union for Conservation of Nature or IUCN “Red List of Threatened Species”, with an estimated global population of 4,000 to 7,500.
This success story at Darjeeling zoo, however, has not been overnight. The conservation breeding programme for snow leopards, the first and the only in the country, was launched at Darjeeling zoo in 1985.
Four years later in 1989, the Conservation Breeding Centre (CBC), which is currently spread across five hectares at Topkeydara, recorded the first birth of a snow leopard. Since then, 77 snow leopards have been born in the zoo. While some died of natural causes, others were transferred to other zoos in the country.
“In 2003, three snow leopards, named Rare, Morning, and Zima, gave birth to six healthy cubs and they survived. It was also a great fit. Zima gave birth to a male cub at the age of 13 years and 2 months. She is the oldest female snow leopard to become a mother in this facility. This is rare too,” Basavraj S Holeyachi, director of PNHZP, told The Indian Express over the phone.
At the centre, care is taken to create a natural environment as well as to carefully pair the male and female snow leopards for breeding. According to the zoo officials, a highlight of the breeding programme is the use of a wide genetic pool while pairing the snow leopards for breeding.
“If those paired are closely related, there is a chance of the cubs developing disease. We were careful to use a wide genetic pool. Snow leopards brought to the zoo were not only from different parts of the country but also from zoos outside India,” added Saurabh Chaudhury.
At the centre, there are five naturalistic enclosures of 1,000 square metre area.
“A dry mountainous region has been created artificially within parts of the enclosures, similar to the natural habitat of snow leopards. We checked the pedigree of each snow leopard. The most genetically apart and most unrelated or most distant ones were chosen for pairing,” said Holeyachi.
“Before pairing them, the couple were kept in adjoining enclosures to develop courtship. They were closely observed. Only after their compatibility was seen, they were paired and kept in the same enclosure,” added Holeyachi.
“Once the female leopard is pregnant, it is separated from others and kept under CCTV surveillance 24X7. Regular blood tests are carried out and her body weight is measured at regular intervals. After giving birth, the mother and cub are regularly tested and closely monitored,” said Holeyachi, adding snow leopards from Darjeeling have been sent to zoos in Nainital, Shimla, and Sikkim.
The Darjeeling zoo has been the coordinating zoo for snow leopards in the country since 2007. Its breeding centre practises highest biosecurity protocols that include regular screening of scats for parasites and deworming. Biosecurity protocols for all captive animals include blow flaming of shelters twice a month, using virucidal spray twice a month, daily use of UV lights, daily cleaning of shelters with disinfectants, burning of turmeric, use of potassium permanganate as foot baths, according to the zoo authorities.
The zoo’s veterinary hospital was upgraded last year with advanced equipment. A new hospital was also set up inside the Conservation Breeding Centre.
A 2013 research on the “study of snow leopards”, which was funded by the Central Zoo Authority, helped in giving inputs in setting up the breeding centre for snow leopards.
“The research provided recommendations for creating appropriate facilities for breeding, cub care, and their survivability. Based on the research work, the night shelters, breeding dens, enclosures, and veterinary facilities have been developed at the centre,” said Holeyachi.