India’s First Frozen Zoo in Darjeeling

April 16, 2025 

• The first frozen zoo in India, which will help in the conservation of endangered species, has been set up in Padmaja Naidu Himalayan Zoological Park in Darjeeling, West Bengal. 
• This facility, the first of its kind in India, houses a laboratory where the DNA of threatened creatures is stored in liquid nitrogen at temperatures as low as -196°C. 
• The facility employs cryogenic technology to store genetic substances of threatened Himalayan species including snow leopards and red pandas. 
• It aims to help scientists undertake breeding and conservation initiatives in the future. 
• In addition to protecting the genetic material of endangered creatures, the zoo also houses animals that visitors can observe.