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The Rajgir Zoo Safari or Rajgir Wildlife Safari is a Wildlife safari located in Rajgir, Bihar, India that opened to public on 16 February 2022.[1][2]
| Rajgir Zoo Safari | |
|---|---|
| Date opened | 16 February 2022 |
| Location | Rajgir, Nalanda district, Bihar, India |
| Land area | 191.12 hectares (472.26 acres) |
| No. of animals | over 250 |
| Owner | Department of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Government of Bihar |
| Public transit access | Rajgir railway station, Gaya International Airport, Jay Prakash Narayan Airport (Patna) |
| Website | https://rajgirzoosafari.bihar.gov.in |
The zoo safari has been developed by the Department of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Govt of Bihar at a cost of nearly ₹177 crore (US$21 million). The zoo safari is spread over 191 hectares (470 acres) and has five zones namely Herbivore Safari, Bear Safari, Leopard Safari, Tiger Safari and Lion Safari which accommodate over 250 herbivores and carnivores. The main wild animal species includes Chital, Sambar, Black buck, Hog Deer, Barking Deer, Wild Boar, Sloth Bear, Indian Leopard, Royal Bengal Tiger and Asiatic Lion[3] Considered to be one of its kind, the Zoo Safari is blessed with natural forest varying from large grasslands and Bamboo thickets to dense Sal Forest. Visitors can also enjoy seeing variety of bird and butterfly species here. One can see different water birds like Kingfishers, cormorants in the natural ponds present in the safari. Apart from watching wild animals in forest, efforts has been taken to sensitize the visitors about wildlife and their conservation. One of its main attraction is a selfie point with life-size wild animal statues. It has a unique interpretation centre with informative videos of wild animals. It also has a painting series showing Wildlife in their habitat, challenges faced by Wildlife for survival and role of forest department in Forest and wildlife Conservation. It also has a digital butterfly zone, an orientation centre, and a 180 degree 3D theatre.
Location
editThe zoo is located in the Nalanda district, around 85 km southeast of Patna.[4] It is surrounded by the Vaibhargiri and Swarnagiri hills on both side. It is about half a kilometre from the Rajgir-Gaya road in Rajgir Wildlife Sanctuary.
It is 101 Kms (approx) from the Bihar Capital City, Patna by Road. The nearest airport to the safari is Gaya Airport which is 71 Kms from the safari by road. The safari is also accessible through the Railway Station. The nearest Railway Station is Rajgir Railway station. Gaya Railway station is 60 Kms away from the Safari by Road.[5]
Features
editThe zoo has a fence for keeping the fawns, cubs, and sick animals safe, feeding areas for both the herbivores and carnivores, and another fence to rule out any possibility of the safari animals escaping to the adjoining forest areas. There are also ponds of water for the safari animals to drink from and a security arrangement with watch towers.
Attractions
editIt would be carved out of the existing forest area and would be divided into five broad zones one each for lion, tiger, leopard, bear, herbivores, aviary zone for birds and a small butterfly park and a microtelescope will be install on Vulture peak mountain to watch sky view of Zoo Safari.
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ Pathak, Shubh Narayan (19 February 2022). "राजगीर में खुल गया उत्तर भारत का पहला जू-सफारी; बाघ, शेर, भालू, तेंदुआ और हिरण भी दिखेंगे यहां". Jagran Prakashan.
- ^ Nadim, Farrukh (17 February 2022). "Bihar CM Nitish Kumar inaugurated this Rajgir zoo safari, on 16th February 2022". The Times of India. Retrieved 31 March 2022.
- ^ Sopam, Reena (16 February 2022). "Rajgir zoo safari opens for public, Nitish says one of its kind in eastern India". Hindustan Times. Retrieved 31 March 2022.
- ^ Verma, Sanjeev Kumar (27 February 2019). "Bihar to get its first nature safari". The Telegraph (Kolkata). Retrieved 24 July 2019.
- ^ "Rajgir Zoo Safari » Prepare For Exams". 23 February 2022. Retrieved 17 December 2022.