In a welcoming news for wildlife lovers and enthusiasts in Mumbai, Sanjay Gandhi National Park (SGNP) will soon introduce a leopard safari.
This move is aimed at boosting tourism and enhancing wildlife conservation.
Maharashtra's Minister for Information and Technology and Cultural Affairs, Ashish Shelar, announced the initiative recently during his visit to the park.
He further added that after the formal approval of the plan and release of funds, the work for a leopard safari will commence and will be completed within one and a half years.
Leopards, one of the park's most recognisable residents, are rarely spotted by tourists in their native environment. Therefore, officials plan to create a 30-hectare enclosure to house these leopards - which have been rescued from the different regions of Maharashtra.
According to reports, the estimated cost of the project is INR 5 crores.
SGNP, which is spread over 103 sq km in the Mumbai suburban and Thane districts, is home to around 17 leopards currently, Shelar stated.
SGNP attracts around 20 lakh visitors annually, and with the addition of a leopard safari, the footfall is expected to increase further.
The national park currently organises two other big cat safaris: one for lions and the other for tigers. It currently has leopard cubs who were found in various parts of Maharashtra and brought to the park for rehabilitation. However, the cubs are kept in a secured zone, with no access for visitors.