The Chairperson of the Karnataka Zoo Authority, Rehana Banu said that an Herbivorous Animal Safari would be established in an 82-acre of land at Kuragahalli in the outskirts of Mysore city.
Talking to presspersons in Kalaburagi on Sunday, Ms. Banu said that the State government has already handed over 86-acres of land at Kuragahalli, which is a forest area, and this would be developed into a safari in consultation with the experts in the field.
She said the Chief Minister Siddaramaiah during one of his recent visits to Mysore Zoo had evinced interest in establishing a safari and asked the authorities to identify a suitable land for establishing the safari under the Karnataka Zoo Authority.
Ms. Banu said that initially the authority proposes to establish an Herbivorous Animal Safari and later it would be converted into both Herbivorous and Carnivorous Animal Safari. A detailed project report would be prepared in consultation with the experts and within a month.
To a question, Ms. Banu said that there were no proposals to close down any of the nine zoos in the state and that the authority would strive for upgrading the facilities available in the zoo to make it more attractive to the visitors, particularly the young children.
She said while the Mysore and Bannerghatta Zoo in the outskirts of Bengaluru city were earning good revenue and were self-sufficient, the authority used the Rs. 5 crore provided by the government for the maintenance of the remaining seven zoos in Ballari, Belagavi, Gadag, Davanagere, Shivamogga, Hosapete and Kalaburagi.
