Supreme Court clears Kukrail Night Safari and Day Zoo Project in Uttar Pradesh

The Supreme Court (SC) has approved the Kukrail Night Safari and Day Zoo Project in Uttar Pradesh, clearing the final legal hurdle for the project.

The project will establish India’s first Night Safari and will become the world’s fifth, after similar facilities in Singapore, Thailand, China and Indonesia.

The project will be developed inside the 2,027-hectare Kukrail Reserve Forest on the outskirts of Lucknow, at an estimated cost of ₹1,510 crore.

It will be developed over 855 acres in two phases:

• Phase I: Night Safari and Eco-tourism Zone.
• Phase II: Day Zoo.

The Night Safari will allow visitors to observe nocturnal animals during their active hours using a special lighting system designed to mimic natural moonlight without disturbing wildlife.

The Kukrail Reserve Forest, named after the Kukrail Stream, a tributary of the Gomti River, is an important urban forest and is home to India’s first Gharial Conservation Centre, established in 1975.

The project was announced by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath in July 2022 and received Uttar Pradesh Cabinet approval in August 2022. Since it is located within a reserve forest, it underwent multiple environmental, regulatory and judicial clearances before receiving the Supreme Court’s approval.

The project aims to promote wildlife conservation, eco-tourism, environmental awareness and sustainable tourism, while efforts are also underway to revive the Kukrail Stream.

Source: PIB

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