The Neora Valley National Park is a region of rich biodiversity, situated in the beautiful Darjeeling district of West Bengal. This wildlife reserve falls in the catchment area of the Neora River and shares its boundaries with similar establishments of Sikkim and Bhutan. This wildlife conservation spot was notified as a national park in 1992, as per the Wildlife (Protection) Act of 1972. Covering a total geographical area of 88 sq km, this national park has luxuriant foliage of rhododendrons, endemic orchids and a mixed variety of forests.
Tucked away in the pristine Eastern Himalayas, this place is the habitat of Red Panda –classified as ‘Vulnerable’ by International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). More than 31 types of mammals, 258 bird species, 276 insects, 38 other invertebrates and six types of leeches inhabit the park. Himalayan Tahr, Black Bear, Sambar, Barking Deer, Goral, Tiger, Leopard, Chinese Marmorata Pangolin and Malayan Giant Squirrel can be spotted in the park. This region is also considered important in terms of bird population and is one of the best sites to spot the Rustybellied Shortwing – a native avian species of Eastern Himalayas.
