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Grand Safari beckons visitors to Bannerghatta park: Deccan Herald
Bangalore, Mar 05: Come Saturday and a Grand Safari will beckon visitors at the Bannerghatta National Park, situated 25 kms away from Bangalore. A newly built bear safari and a herbivore safari, are being added to the already existing lion and tiger safaris and all four together have been given the name - The Grand Safari.
Bangalore, Mar 05: Come Saturday and a Grand Safari will beckon visitors at the Bannerghatta National Park, situated 25 kms away from Bangalore. A newly built bear safari and a herbivore safari, are being added to the already existing lion and tiger safaris and all four together have been given the name - The Grand Safari.
The park authorities have used the occasion to hike the tariff of all the other facilities (see table), for all categories of visitors. Some entry fees have even been doubled, according to park officials.
Deputy Conservator of Forests (DCF) K B Markandaiah, explaining the reason for the hike, said the annual expenditure of the park was Rs 2.50 crore, against its income of Rs 1.50 crore. “We want to generate our own funds for the constant upgradation and improvement of the park,” he said. Twenty-six sloth bears, all rescued from captivity, have been housed in a natural habitat.
The herbivore safari houses animals like bisons, spotted deer, black buck, barking deer, nilgai and sambars.
Mr Markandaiah told reporters here that the Elephant Safari and long and short trekking are the other attractions of the park. Three elephants are being used for rides to catch a glimpse of the animals in the biological park. A trekking facility is also being created inside the biological park to encourage study of the flora and fauna of the region for conservation education. About 8 lakh people visit the park annually, the DCF said and the authorities are making efforts to increase it to 15 lakh.
The following conditions will apply to visitors: Special rates will be charged on holidays – holidays as declared by the Government, even if such holidays fall on Saturdays and Sundays. Those in the age group of 5 and 12 years will be considered as children. For children below 5 years, no tariff will be collected.
Senior citizens (above 60 years) will have to produce age proof. Student groups and accompanying teachers will be given a 50 per cent discount on adult rates. For trekking and nature walk, a minimum of 10 members will be required.
The park authorities have used the occasion to hike the tariff of all the other facilities (see table), for all categories of visitors. Some entry fees have even been doubled, according to park officials.
Deputy Conservator of Forests (DCF) K B Markandaiah, explaining the reason for the hike, said the annual expenditure of the park was Rs 2.50 crore, against its income of Rs 1.50 crore. “We want to generate our own funds for the constant upgradation and improvement of the park,” he said. Twenty-six sloth bears, all rescued from captivity, have been housed in a natural habitat.
The herbivore safari houses animals like bisons, spotted deer, black buck, barking deer, nilgai and sambars.
Mr Markandaiah told reporters here that the Elephant Safari and long and short trekking are the other attractions of the park. Three elephants are being used for rides to catch a glimpse of the animals in the biological park. A trekking facility is also being created inside the biological park to encourage study of the flora and fauna of the region for conservation education. About 8 lakh people visit the park annually, the DCF said and the authorities are making efforts to increase it to 15 lakh.
The following conditions will apply to visitors: Special rates will be charged on holidays – holidays as declared by the Government, even if such holidays fall on Saturdays and Sundays. Those in the age group of 5 and 12 years will be considered as children. For children below 5 years, no tariff will be collected.
Senior citizens (above 60 years) will have to produce age proof. Student groups and accompanying teachers will be given a 50 per cent discount on adult rates. For trekking and nature walk, a minimum of 10 members will be required.