The Rajkot Municipal Corporation is set to make significant improvements to the Pradyuman Park Zoo, one of its largest attractions, with the construction of a Lion Safari Park. The Indian government has approved the project, making Rajkot the first municipal corporation in the country to build such a park.
The Lion Safari Park, which will be built on 33 hectares of land at an estimated cost of 30 crores, is expected to be completed by the end of 2026. Visitors will then be able to see lions roaming freely in the city, similar to the experience in Devalia and Sasan Gir.
The Rajkot Municipal Corporation announced plans to build the Lion Safari Park last year and prepared a project report, which was sent to the Indian government for approval. The expert group of the Zoo Designing Committee gave their approval, and the Central Zoo Authority subsequently gave the final approval.
The corporation has already acquired the necessary land for the safari park and has fenced it to prevent other animals from entering. A group of lions, currently housed in the zoo and breeding center, will be kept in the Safari Park. The number of visitors to both the Lion Safari Park and the nearby Rajkot Pradyuman Park Zoo is expected to increase, providing a new sightseeing experience for both the city and surrounding villages.
The Lion Safari Park will feature a compound wall, a 5-meter-wide inspection road, a night shelter for lions, two watch towers, a to-and-fro gate, two ponds for animals, an artificial check dam, and an interconnected road. Tree planting is also underway to create a jungle suitable for the natural habitat of lions and provide a glimpse of the Gir forest. An Ayurvedic forest is also being created, allowing visitors to see trees useful in Ayurveda along with viewing the lions.
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