In March 2025, the Padmaja Naidu Himalayan Zoological Park in Darjeeling became India's first zoo to preserve DNA samples of wildlife found in snowy regions.
Launched in collaboration with the Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB), Hyderabad, the project aims to support conservation efforts for endangered species. So far, 60 DNA samples from indigenous animals, including red pandas and snow leopards, have been collected.