Project Red Panda chose Singalila National Park of Darjeeling for reintroduction of red pandas from its captive breeding program at the Padmaja Naidu Himalayan Zoological Park. Red Pandas are endangered animal species and found only in high altitude forest of Himalayan states of Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh and Darjeeling.
Red Panda is an arboreal mammal, found in the high altitude of Himalayas in India mostly distributed in Sikkim, Darjeeling Hills and Arunachal Pradesh. Endangered red panda is endemic to the cold forests of the Himalayas and eat mostly bamboo,eggs, flowers, and berries.
Cherub of the Mist is based on the life of two red pandas released into the Singalila National Park from captive breeding. The documentary was first ever documentary film on Red Panda,filmed by noted Indian filmmakers Rajesh Bedi and Naresh Bedi.
Mini and Sweety were two red pandas chose for captive breeding program at Padmaja Naidu Himalayan Zoological Park. The reintroduction film has first such successful re-entry for red panda with tracking device to film in their natural habitat.
Sandakphu is the highest point of the Singalila Ridge in Darjeeling and also the highest mountain peak of West Bengal. The peak offers best view of the mountain Kangchenjunga and the group of mountains are known as Sleeping Shiva or Sleeping Buddha.
The Singalila Ridge is a mountain ridge at an altitude of 7000 feet with two highest peaks of West Bengal, Sandakphu and Phalut peak. Sandakphu and Phalut Trek through Singalila Ridge are very much popular amongst adventure travelers.
The park is home to 120 species of birds, number of small mammals including pangolin,yellow throated marten, clouded leopard, serow and takin, barking deer and Red Panda. Singalila national park and wildlife sanctuary has many rare and exotic species such as kalij pheasant,satyr tragopan and Parrotbill.
Singalila National Park is one of the most scenic protected area in India and well known for the trekking route to Sandakphu peak in the Darjeeling. Trekking route to Sandakphu highest peak runs through national park and offers fantastic views of the high altitude Himalayas.