Darjeeling Zoo Leads the Way in Preserving Wildlife DNA

The Padmaja Naidu Himalayan Zoological Park in Darjeeling, West Bengal, has become India's first zoo to preserve DNA from wildlife native to snowy regions. With 60 DNA samples collected, this cryogenic initiative aims to conserve genetic material for research and future conservation efforts of potentially extinct species.

The Padmaja Naidu Himalayan Zoological Park in Darjeeling has achieved a pioneering feat by becoming the first zoo in India to preserve DNA samples of wildlife native to snowy regions, according to officials.

Chief Wildlife Warden Debal Roy announced on Monday that the zoo, situated at an altitude of 2,150 meters, has already collected 60 DNA samples from indigenous animals. These samples include genetic materials from species such as red pandas and snow leopards, which are often victims of road accidents or kept in captivity.

The initiative, launched in 2023 in partnership with Hyderabad's Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology, involves cryogenic conservation to protect and study the rich biodiversity of the Himalayan region. DNA samples are stored in a dedicated laboratory within the zoo, freezing them in steel containers filled with liquid nitrogen.

(With inputs from agencies.)