Nagpur Gorewada International Zoo will now be named after late Shiv Sena supremo Balasaheb Thackeray. The Forest Minister Sanjay Rathod also informed that the Indian Safari of the zoo will be inaugurated on January 26 by the Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray. After the inauguration, the zoo will be open for tourists. Gorewada Zoo will provide International-level safari and facility to tourists and nature lovers in coming days. Forest Development Corporation of Maharashtra (FDCM), Nagpur is managing body of the zoo which has worked hard to make this project successful in Nagpur. The Indian Safari will provide tiger safari, leopard safari, sloth bear safari and herbivorous safari for tourists.
The translocation of animals was done by FDCM and Forest Department. In this 2,000 ha zoo, the African Safari has also proposed along with Indian Safari. The work for the African Safari is also under progress. The zoo is situated at a distance of just about 6 kilometres from Nagpur city and well connected with road. It has huge potential to attract tourists from all over the country in future. The project will also create job opportunities and Government is also working in this regard. The project is situated near the Gorewada forest and it would also help to promote the forest for tourism and nature conservation. The Indian Safari consists of 7 leopards, 2 tigers, and 4 sloth bear safaris in 25 hectares each, and a composite herbivore safari in 40 hectares, with a buffer area totalling 115 hectares. The herbivore safari has 4 deer and 14 nilgai. The FDCM has spent over Rs 40 crore on developing these safaris. Three special 40-seat capacity vehicles and an on-line ticket booking facility will be made available to the people soon after the Indian safari is inaugurated.
