UP Govt Releases Rs 1 Cr For Proposed Leopard Safari in UP's Pilibhit
Social forestry areas of the Deoria range in Pilibhit and Khutar range in Shahjahanpur had been found suitable for the Leopard Safari project.
Bareilly (UP): The government has released an initial budget of Rs 1 crore for the proposed leopard safari in the Gopalpur forest area of Pilibhit district, marking the first step towards the project, officials said. Bareilly Chief Conservator of Forests PP Singh said the rising tiger population in the Pilibhit Tiger Reserve was pushing leopards towards nearby forests and inhabited areas in search of new habitats, increasing the risk to both villagers and the animals.
"It is not possible to confine leopards to a single spot. It is essential to provide them adequate natural territory suited to their nature," Singh said, adding that the leopard safari was proposed with this in mind.
Singh said the social forestry areas of the Deoria range in Pilibhit and Khutar range in Shahjahanpur had been found suitable for the project.
The estimated cost of the leopard safari is around Rs 49 crore, said Bharat Kumar DK, Divisional Forest Officer of the Social Forestry Department.
The plan involves developing the safari over around 1,700 hectares of forest land, with a safari route of roughly 30 km, he said.
Leopards will roam freely in their natural forest habitat while tourists will be taken through the area in secure, cage-like vehicles, Kumar said.
The safari is expected to provide leopards with a safe and natural habitat while helping reduce their movement into rural areas and mitigate human-wildlife conflict, he added.
