Q. Consider the following statements:
1.Darjeeling zoo holds the largest captive population of snow leopards in the world.
2.Snow leopards are listed as Endangered on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct?
Explanation –
Statement 1 is correct. Darjeeling zoo, also known as the Padmaja Naidu Himalayan Zoological Park, holds the largest captive population of snow leopards in the world. It is the largest high-altitude zoo in India. It specializes in breeding animals adapted to alpine conditions. It has successful captive breeding programs for the snow leopard, the endangered Himalayan wolf and the red panda. The zoo serves as the central hub for Central Zoo Authority of India’s red panda program. It is a member of the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA).
Statement 2 is incorrect. Snow leopards are classified as “Vulnerable” on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. This means that they are facing a high risk of extinction in the wild in the medium-term future unless the threats to their survival are reduced.
Source: Forum IAS
