Central Zoo Authority Approves Asia’s First Desert-Themed Night Safari at Gujarat’s Deesa

Key facts

• The Central Zoo Authority (CZA) approved the proposal for the Desert Zoological Park and Night Safari at Deesa in Gujarat’s Banaskantha district.
• The project will be developed by the Gujarat Forest Department on 103 hectares of government land at an estimated cost of ₹542.14 crore.
• The CZA approved the proposal to develop Asia’s first desert-themed drive-through night safari.
• The park is planned to house about 2,700 native and exotic animals and birds representing nearly 83 species.
• The facility will include a day zoo and five dedicated night safari enclosures for viewing nocturnal animals after sunset.
• The project will focus on conservation breeding, wildlife rescue and rehabilitation, environmental education and scientific interpretation.
• Indian species planned for the facility include chinkara, blackbuck, Indian wild ass, Asiatic lion, leopard, sloth bear, caracal, Indian wolf, striped hyena and Indian desert fox.
• African species planned include Angolan giraffe, Grevy’s zebra, scimitar oryx, black rhinoceros, chimpanzee, African cheetah, African lion, fennec fox and ostrich.
• Australian species planned for the park include kangaroos, emus and wallabies.
• The site was selected due to its 103 hectares of land, natural sand dunes, proximity to the Banas river and road and railway connectivity.