India’s Largest Leopard Safari

Source– This post on India’s Largest Leopard Safari has been created based on the article “India’s largest leopard safari opens at Bannerghatta” published in “The Hindu” on 27 June 2024.

Why in the news?

Recently, India’s largest leopard safari was inaugurated at the Bannerghatta Biological Park.

About India’s Largest Leopard Safari

1. South India’s first and the country’s largest leopard safari was inaugurated at Bannerghatta Biological Park by Karnataka.

2. Following Central Zoo Authority guidelines, a 20-hectare area has been fenced for the safari, and eight leopards have been released into this open forest area.

3. Bannerghatta is known for its healthy population of free-ranging leopards, making this safari an important addition.

4. The safari costing ₹4.5 crore, features undulating terrain with natural rocky outcrops and semi-deciduous forest. The area is secured with a vertical chain-link mesh with MS sheets.

5. The park often receives rescued leopard cubs due to increasing human-animal conflicts. These cubs will be raised and eventually moved to the leopard safari, allowing visitors to learn about the animals, understand the reasons for human-animal conflicts, and discover ways to protect them.

6. A four-acre section within the safari area has been set apart with a solar fence to help the leopards adjust to their new environment.

7. Several new facilities, including a renovated elephant weaning center, a baby care room at the butterfly park, a children’s play area, an entrance arch, electric buggies, and zoo installations were also inaugrated.

8. Skywalks are also being developed to connect the zoo and the butterfly park.

About Bannerghatta Biological Park

1. In 2004, BBBP was carved out of the Bannerghatta National Park (BNP) and placed under the Zoo Authority of Karnataka (ZAK). BNP was declared a national park in 1974.

2. BBBP consists of four divisions: the zoo, the safari, the butterfly park, and the rescue center.

3. The park also encompasses the valley of the Champakadhama hills.

UPSC Syllabus: Environment