BELAGAVI: In just over a month, commuters on Bengaluru-Pune National Highway-4 stretch at Butaramanahatti in Belagavi can catch a glimpse of lions with the Kittur Rani Chennamma Mini Zoo here all set to welcome jungle king, besides other carnivores, including tigers.
The zoo that falls on NH 4 has every potential to be a hot tourist spot for the people travelling on this Bengaluru-Pune highway, said a zoo official.
Enclosure for lions, the zoo officials say, will be readied in around 45 days. Initially a pair of lion —male and female — will be housed at the zoo and later one more female may join the family. The zoo authorities feel housing carnivores may boost the footfall. At present, the zoo houses black bucks, spotted deer, four-horned antelopes, crocodiles and several species of birds. The mini zoo was built on 31.68 hectares of forest land at Butaramanahatti.
“The enclosures will have chain-link mesh holding rooms where they are fed and treated if any medical assistance is required,” said Rakesh, range forest officer (RFO), who is also curator of the mini facility.
“We hope to get a pair of lions, two pairs of leopard, a pair of sloth bear, two pairs of hyena and jackal here,” he said. Reptiles, including giant King Cobra will be also be a major attraction, he added.
Post completion of the construction of enclosures, a proposal will be sent to Central Zoo Authority (CZA) seeking permission to source animals, the official added.
“Once the mini zoo gets approval from the CZA, the animals will be sourced from other zoos in Karnataka. There are eight zoos excluding Rani Chennamma and sourcing will happen based on the availability of animals in the zoos,” said Rakesh.
Tiger Safari
In four months, the authorities plan to get two pairs of tigers to facilitate tiger safari for the visitors. Holding room for the tigers has been erected and now fencing is underway. The total safari range is 20 hectares, vehicles will take tourists around the area showing the majestic creatures.
The safari will have ponds and day-crawl for the animal to play. As soon as the animals arrive, the zoo authority will erect hoardings on national highway from Belagavi to Butaramanahatti to promote tourism.
The zoo that falls on NH 4 has every potential to be a hot tourist spot for the people travelling on this Bengaluru-Pune highway, said a zoo official.
Enclosure for lions, the zoo officials say, will be readied in around 45 days. Initially a pair of lion —male and female — will be housed at the zoo and later one more female may join the family. The zoo authorities feel housing carnivores may boost the footfall. At present, the zoo houses black bucks, spotted deer, four-horned antelopes, crocodiles and several species of birds. The mini zoo was built on 31.68 hectares of forest land at Butaramanahatti.
“The enclosures will have chain-link mesh holding rooms where they are fed and treated if any medical assistance is required,” said Rakesh, range forest officer (RFO), who is also curator of the mini facility.
“We hope to get a pair of lions, two pairs of leopard, a pair of sloth bear, two pairs of hyena and jackal here,” he said. Reptiles, including giant King Cobra will be also be a major attraction, he added.
Post completion of the construction of enclosures, a proposal will be sent to Central Zoo Authority (CZA) seeking permission to source animals, the official added.
“Once the mini zoo gets approval from the CZA, the animals will be sourced from other zoos in Karnataka. There are eight zoos excluding Rani Chennamma and sourcing will happen based on the availability of animals in the zoos,” said Rakesh.
Tiger Safari
In four months, the authorities plan to get two pairs of tigers to facilitate tiger safari for the visitors. Holding room for the tigers has been erected and now fencing is underway. The total safari range is 20 hectares, vehicles will take tourists around the area showing the majestic creatures.
The safari will have ponds and day-crawl for the animal to play. As soon as the animals arrive, the zoo authority will erect hoardings on national highway from Belagavi to Butaramanahatti to promote tourism.
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