India’s largest leopard safari opens at Bannerghatta

• South India’s first and the country’s largest leopard safari was inaugurated by Karnataka at the Bannerghatta Biological Park.
• As per Central Zoo Authority guidelines for safaris, an area of 20 hectares has been demarcated and fenced for the safari.

Highlights:

• Eight leopards have been released for the safari in the open forest area.
• Bannerghatta is home to a good population of free ranging leopards (Panthera pardus), and highlighting these predators is vital.
• The leopard safari area is made up of undulating terrain with natural rocky outcrops and semi-deciduous forest.
• The officials added that owing to increasing human-animal conflict in recent times, the park receives many leopard cubs rescued across Karnataka.
• These cubs will be raised and shifted to the leopard safari to help visitors learn about these big cats, the reasons for the growing human-animal conflicts, and the ways to protect the animals.
• The officials added that four acres within the safari area have been separated, using a solar fence, to help the animals acclimatize to their new environment.

Other initiatives

• A number of new initiatives, which included a renovated elephant weaning center, a babycare room at the butterfly park, a children’s play area, an entrance arch, and he also flagged off electric buggies and zoo installations.
• A male elephant calf “Swaraj" and six hamadryas baboons are also for public display.
• Skywalks are also being developed to establish connectivity between the zoo and the butterfly park.

Prelims Takeaway:

• Big Cats
• Bannerghatta