Kukrail Night Safari Project: India's First Night Safari

Context:

Recently, the Supreme Court approved the Uttar Pradesh government’s ₹1,510-crore Kukrail Night Safari and Day Zoo project in Lucknow. This approval clears the way for India’s first night safari and the world’s fifth such facility after Singapore, Thailand, China, and Indonesia.

About the Kukrail Night Safari Project:

The project will be developed over 855 acres inside the 2,027-hectare Kukrail Reserve Forest, combining wildlife conservation, eco-tourism, research, and environmental education. The area also houses the Kukrail Gharial Rehabilitation Centre (1975).

• • • Phase I: Night Safari & Eco-tourism Zone
      • Nocturnal trails and natural habitats.
      • Battery-operated visitor vehicles.
      • Wildlife interpretation centres.
    • Phase II: Day Zoo
      • Modern zoo facilities.
      • Conservation breeding and research centres.

Unique Features:

• • • Unlike traditional zoos, the night safari will allow visitors to observe animals during their active hours. A special lighting system designed to mimic natural moonlight will ensure visibility while reducing disturbance to wildlife.
    • The safari will include species such as Asiatic lions, Bengal tigers, leopards, hyenas, flying squirrels, and gharials. Habitats will be designed using grasslands, wetlands, and native vegetation to create a natural environment.

Ecological Importance of Kukrail Forest:

• • • Kukrail Reserve Forest is one of Lucknow’s largest green spaces and plays an important role in maintaining urban biodiversity. Developed as a plantation forest in the 1950s, it is named after the Kukrail stream, a tributary of the Gomti River.
    • The forest is also home to the Kukrail Gharial Rehabilitation Centre, which has contributed significantly to the conservation and breeding of the critically endangered gharial.

Why Did the Project Face Delays?

• • • The project took nearly four years for approval because it was planned within an ecologically sensitive reserve forest. It required clearances from multiple authorities, including:
      • State Wildlife Board
      • Central Zoo Authority (CZA)
      • Forest and environmental authorities
      • Supreme Court-appointed Central Empowered Committee (CEC)

Environmental and Legal Safeguards:

• • • The project must follow provisions of the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972 and guidelines of the Central Zoo Authority.
    • Important safeguards include:
      • Low-intensity lighting to protect animal circadian rhythms.
      • No baiting or artificial attraction of animals.
      • Controlled visitor movement through battery-operated vehicles.
      • Protection of natural habitats and wildlife behaviour.

Significance of the Project:

• • • The Kukrail Night Safari can boost eco-tourism, generate employment, and increase public awareness about wildlife conservation. It can also support scientific research on nocturnal species and strengthen conservation breeding programmes.
    • However, maintaining a balance between tourism development and ecological protection will remain the biggest challenge.

Conclusion:

The Kukrail Night Safari is a significant step towards integrating tourism with conservation. If implemented with strict environmental monitoring and sustainable practices, it can become a model for responsible eco-tourism in India while protecting the fragile forest ecosystem.