If the Haryana government's plan is successful, Delhi residents won't have to travel far to witness the majestic lion. They may soon hear the king of the jungle's roar right near the capital.
To enhance tourism, the Haryana government is setting up a lion safari in the NCR. The state's Environment, Forest and Wildlife Minister, Rao Narbir Singh, has requested a feasibility report for creating this safari at the foothills of the Aravalli range.
Rao Narbir Singh told Mail Today, 'We have directed officials to find a suitable location for the lion safari. They are instructed to select a site within Gurugram and Faridabad districts, where the environment is favorable, with abundant greenery and a mix of sandy regions.' He stated that around 5,000 acres of land would be required for this project.
Singh added, 'The idea is to develop a lion safari similar to Gir Forest, attracting national and international
. Additionally, the Haryana government aims to establish a breeding site here, apart from Gir, to increase the lion population.'
It's noteworthy that in 2008, Asiatic lions were classified as an endangered species. Since 2010, Gujarat's Gir Forest National Park has seen a steady increase in lion numbers, though the population still stands at just 665.
The incident of eight lion deaths at the Etawah Lion Safari in UP highlights the importance of caution. Thus, the
is committed to conducting thorough checks across all parameters for this project.
This highly ambitious project is estimated to cost around 1,000 crore rupees. Currently, India has two lion safaris—one in Etawah, UP, and the other in Gir, Gujarat—both located far from metropolises like Delhi and Mumbai.
