Padmaja Naidu Himalayan Zoological Park is the only Zoo in the world to breed Tibetan Wolf in Captivity and the first South Asian Zoo to breed Snow Leopard and Siberian Tiger.

    Padmaja Naidu Himalayan Zoological Park is a unique zoo in the country. It is situated at an elevation of 2133.5 meters against the glorious background of the mighty Kanchenjunga. This zoo in Darjeeling is the only specialized zoo in the country and is internationally recognised because of conservation breeding of Snow Leopard and Red Panda. It was established on the 14th August 1958 under the Department of Education of the State for study and conservation of the Himalayan Fauna. On 21st November 1975, the zoo was dedicated by Shrimati Indira Gandhi, the then Prime Minister of India, to the memory of Shrimati Padmaja Naidu, former Governor of West Bengal. Since then the zoo is known as "Padmaja Naidu Himalayan Zoological Park".

The Zoo is striving for the maintenance of ecological balance in the Eastern Himalayas with the following objectives :
 

1.	Conservation of natural resources and preservation of the Himalayan animals with special reference to research on ecology, animal behaviour, biology and physiology or different high altitude fauna and flora.
2.	Education, motivation and training of people towards the role of conservation.
3.	Re-introduction of rare and endangered wild animals into the wild.
4.	Co-ordination of conservation breeding programme.

Recent success in breeding Red Pandas and Snow Leopards has brought the zoo in the forefront in the field of ex situ conservation. PNHZP follows its objective not only in principle but also in practice. The zoo neither sells animals nor does it make exchanges on bargain. If there is a need for conservation purpose, it gives animals free of cost. While other zoos in the country are still struggling for breeding important species, PNHZP has shown success covering all endangered animals in the collection.

There has been a substantial increase in the number of important animals during the last 5/6 years. Red Panda and Snow Leopard population has tripled. Their number of enclosures have approximately doubled during the last 5/6 years. This has elevated the position of the zoo at international level.

In addition to the above, the zoo gives pleasure to visitors by displaying different kinds of animals like Siberian Tiger, Tibetan Wolf, Yak, Blue Sheep, Markhor, Himalayan Thar, Himalayan Black Bear, Red Panda, Snow Leopard and host of Pheasants.