'Darling and Charming': Darjeeling Zoo Welcomes 2 Leopard Cubs, CM Mamata Names Them

Darjeeling: During a recent visit to Darjeeling, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee added a special touch to the hill town by naming newborn snow leopards and red panda cubs at the Padmaja Naidu Himalayan Zoological Park, popularly known as the Darjeeling Zoo. The snow leopards were given playful names—‘Charming’ and ‘Darling’—while the four red panda cubs received thoughtful names: ‘Healy,’ ‘Paharia,’ ‘Victory,’ and ‘Dream,’ reflecting Banerjee’s connection to the region and her admiration for its unique wildlife.

On the third day of her Darjeeling tour, Banerjee took a refreshing morning walk from Richmond Hill to the zoo, where she engaged warmly with forest and zoo authorities. They had requested her to name the young animals.

Beyond her zoo visit, Banerjee also met with the people of Darjeeling, sharing heartfelt conversations with the locals, which she later expressed on social media.

In a post on X (formerly Twitter), she shared her joy, saying, "I am filled with joy as I spend time with the warm and welcoming people of Darjeeling... their heartfelt conversations and curious questions created a beautiful moment of community bonding." She expressed confidence that Darjeeling’s future held great promise, capturing the spirit of her connection to the hill community.