Call: +91 7384718607
Call: +91 7384718607
Although the zoo is fairly small, it’s a great place to see some interesting animals that can be found only in the Himalayan regions. It’s no surprise that it is the only zoo in India that has a conservation-breeding programme for endangered animals of the Eastern Himalayas.
Some unique animals you can find here are the adorable Himalayan black bears and red pandas, the Asiatic wolf, Siberian tiger, Himalayan tahr, gorals, wild cats, monkeys, and also a few birds.
Book a day trip to Darjeeling Zoo
Here’s a look at 10 animal species found here:
1) Himalayan Wolf
The Himalayan Wolf is an endangered canine species. Its size, large skull, and teeth distinguish it from the Tibetan Wolf. There are only 350 of these species in the wild. It can be found in Himachal Pradesh and Jammu & Kashmir.
2) Mishmi Takin
A cross between a goat and antelope, the Mishmi Takin is an endangered species native to India, China, and Myanmar. It eats bamboo and willow shoots. The takin has an oily coat for protection against fog.
3) Asiatic Black Bear
Medium in size, the Asiatic Black Bear has a distinct white or cream ‘V’ marking on its chest. It feeds on wild fruits, nuts, berries, honey, and even insects and termites. The male can weigh anywhere between 100-218 kg.
4) Blue Sheep
The name might come from the colour of their dense coat which is slate grey with a bluish sheen. They are active throughout the day, feeding and resting on the mountain slopes. They easily camouflage in the environment by standing really still, which is helpful when they have no cover to protect them from predators.
5) Himalayan Tahr
Usually found in groups anywhere between 2-20, the Himalayan Tahr has narrow ears, a heavy body, and short close-set horns. They thrive in the rugged hills of the Himalayas from Northern Kashmir to China.
6) Snow Leopard
An endangered species, this striking animal has a thick ringed coat and log tail. Its coat is a mix of grey, light brown silver, and white with black spots, which makes it invisible against the rocky background. It feeds on Blue Sheep, wild goat, deer, boar, snow cock, and livestock.
7) Barking Deer
Also known as the muntjac, it got the name of barking deer due to the bark-like sound it makes when it senses danger. Small in size, they are by nature solitary and nocturnal. They are commonly found in thick vegetation, woodlands, forests and grasslands.
8) Red Panda
Native to the eastern Himalayas and southwestern China, it has a bear-like body and thick russet-coloured fur with white marks on the side of the face and above the eyes. They predominantly stay in trees. They are primarily herbivorous.
9) Leopard Cat
A small wild cat, the Leopard cat has a white muzzle and facial stripes, and webbed paws that make them good swimmers. They mostly live in forests and jungles and both wet and dry climates.
10) Jungle Cat
Jungle cats are medium in size and have long slim faces and tall ears. They are mostly active at night. They prefer habitats near water.
The Himalayan Zoological Park also has quite a number of birds such as Rose Ring parakeets, Hill mynas, Blue Gold macaw, and ring-necked pheasants.
Few Park Rules
Basic Information
Location: Jawahar Parbat
Zoo timings: 8:30 am – 4:00 pm
Entry fee: INR 60
Foreigners: INR 100
Camera: INR 10
Why the pictures are not clear of the animals ?Where as the pictures of the cage is much clear than those of the animals