Supreme Court Approves India's First Night Safari Project
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Supreme Court Approves India’s First Night Safari Project

SYLLABUS

GS-3: Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, environmental impact assessment.

Context: The Supreme Court has permitted the Uttar Pradesh government to proceed with the Kukrail Night Safari and Zoological Park Project at Kukrail Reserve Forest in Lucknow.

More on the News

  • The Supreme Court granted prior approval after noting that the project had received recommendations from the Central Zoo Authority (CZA), MoEFCC, and the Central Empowered Committee (CEC), while directing strict adherence to all environmental safeguards.
  • The Court clarified that its approval does not replace statutory clearances under laws such as the Forest (Conservation) Act, Water Act, Air Act, Biological Diversity Act and the EIA/SEIAA framework.
  • The CEC rejected the proposals to shift the Lucknow Zoo and establish an Adventure Zone, while directing periodic inspections to ensure compliance with prescribed conditions.

About the Project

  • The ₹1,510-crore project will be developed over 855 acres within the 2,027-hectare Kukrail Reserve Forestin Lucknow and is proposed to be India’s first Night Safari.
  • It is an integrated wildlife conservation, research, education and eco-tourism project to be implemented in two phases:
    • Phase I: Kukrail Night Safari and Eco-tourism Zone
    • Phase II: Day Zoo
  • The project aims to combine wildlife conservation, captive breeding, research, environmental education and sustainable tourism.
  • Visitors will travel through the safari in battery-operated/electric vehicles along designated forest trails.
  • The master plan includes:
    • Conservation breeding facilities
    • Wildlife interpretation and education centres
    • Research laboratories
    • Cafeterias
    • Auditorium
    • 7D theatre
  • Around 71% (610.34 acres) of the project area will remain under green cover.
  • The CEC has permitted only essential tree felling and prescribed a 1:10 compensatory plantation ratio, besides periodic monitoring of environmental compliance.
  • The project underwent multiple forest, wildlife, environmental and judicial clearances since its announcement in 2022 because it is located within a Reserve Forest.

About the Kukrail Night Safari

  • The Kukrail Night Safari is proposed to be India’s first Night Safari and the world’s fifth, after similar facilities in Singapore, Thailand, China and Indonesia.
  • It will allow visitors to observe nocturnal wildlife during their natural active hours using a specially designed moonlight-mimicking lighting system, minimizing disturbance to animals.
  • The safari will feature theme-based naturalistic habitats inspired by wildlife landscapes in India and abroad, along with forest trails and eco-tourism experiences.
  • Proposed animal species include:
    • Asiatic Lion
    • Bengal Tiger
    • Leopard
    • Hyena
    • Flying Squirrel
    • Gharial
  • Habitats will replicate natural ecosystems using grasslands, wetlands, rock formations and native vegetation.
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