Darjeeling, Nov 6: The Central Zoo Authority (CZA) has launched a nation-wide conservation breeding of 63 critically endangered species.
Such a programme had been mooted in 1992, but it did not take off for various reasons.
“A special task force has already been formed and zoos have been classified as co-ordinating and participating zoos. We have started with a workshop on the conservation breeding of pheasants,” said B.R. Sharma, member secretary, CZA.
A co-ordinating zoo is the one that will act as the major centre for breeding of animals which will then be exchanged with the participating zoos. The initiative is to create a backup of the species (in case of epidemics) and also to ensure a healthy genetic strain of the animals. Among the 63 identified species, 13 are pheasants. Golden langur, long-tailed monkey, red panda and clouded leopard are among the rest.
Under the project, the Padmaja Naidu Himalayan Zoological Park in Darjeeling — the only zoo in north Bengal — has been given permission to start the breeding of blue sheep, Himalayan tahr, Himalayan monal, grey peacock pheasants, Himalayan blood pheasants and satyr tragopan.
The zoo had announced the conservation breeding of these animals earlier. Today, the CZA said it was part of the nation-wide programme.
Directors of 31 zoos from across the country and international experts are attending the workshop. The session that began in Darjeeling today will end on November 9.
John Corder, the vice-president of World Pheasant Association, is among those attending the workshop. He has been working with the pheasantry at Sarahan in Himachal Pradesh for the conservation of a rare species, commonly known as Western Tragopan.
Of the 50 types of pheasants known, 49 are found in Asia and India is home to 17 species. The Darjeeling zoo is expected to start a pheasantry at the Deer Park in Dow Hill, Kurseong soon.
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