You won’t have to fly to Singapore anymore to watch big game at night. There’s a proposal to introduce night safari at the Bannerghatta Biological Park.

Jungle Lodges and Resorts (JLR), an arm of the Karnataka tourism department, in collaboration with the Zoo Authority of India, is working on offering this globally popular attraction on about 40 hectares of land at Bannerghatta. The tourism department has earmarked Rs 2 crore; the total cost is likely to be in the region of Rs 40-50 crore.

This offering will be on the lines of the hugely popular night safari at the Singapore Zoological Gardens. A project report is being prepared jointly by JLR and the forest department, the company’s MD N D Tiwari informed TOI. It will be placed before the Zoo Authority of India for final approval.

Renowned night-safari consultant Bernard Harrison has been roped in for the venture. He has visited the park and declared it fit to offer night safaris, said sources. He is expected to make a presentation to the tourism minister in November. If all goes to plan, Bangaloreans can enjoy night safari at Bannerghatta by early next year.

At the safari, areas will be earmarked for reptiles, animals and birds. Each species will be housed in different and appropriately designed enclosures, the boundaries of which will be camouflaged. This will give the effect of watching the animals in their natural environment.

The artificial, low-intensity light, beamed through tree cover and undergrowth, will provide animals the privacy of their natural habitat. Access to the safari could be through a pathway or a tramway. Videos and films will be used to provide information about the service. The night safari is expected to boost tourism and contribute to the conservation of rare species, say forest officials.

Source: TNN