Yogi Govt to project Akhilesh's pet Etawah Lion Safari project as a world-class one

New Delhi: The Yogi Adityanath government is set to publicise former Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav's pet project of Etawah Lion Safari as a "world-class project comparable to all best safaris in the world like in Africa and Singapore" and a special website will be launched ahead of the inauguration of the 1000-acre project for the public later this month.

Seven Asiatic lions have been brought in from Gujarat’s Junagarh last week to the Etawah Lion Safari, taking their strength of the lions here up to 18. Special buses to ferry tourists inside the Safari have also arrived ahead of the inauguration. The project is located on the outskirts of Etawah town near the native village Saifai of the Yadav family and the Lion Safari was one of the prestigious projects of the previous government.

Officials in the UP government however told ET that the Yogi government had made special efforts to increase the number of lions at the Safari before throwing it open to public after many casualties of lion cubs were reported earlier. The UP government has also worked closely with the Gujarat government lately to bring the lions to Etawah.

As per a brief to prospective bidders for setting up a website for the Lion Safari, the UP government has said the project “is being developed with world class standards and would be comparable to all best safaris of the world like Africa and Singapore; in the first phase 400 acre for the Lion Breeding Centre and Lions Safari and the remaining 600 acre in the surrounding reserved forest, has been taken up”.

The brief also mentions that the Breeding Centre, Animal Houses, Veterinary Hospital, Interpretation Centre, visitor amenities, staff facilities and offices have been developed here and also the creation of facilities of international standard in near natural condition wherein the population of the Asiatic Lion can be furthered through captive breeding.

The website will help guide the visitors through route-map, exhibit the information about all Safari exhibits, provide information on other facilities available at the Safari, display information on functions and activities performed by Safari and take feedback from the visitors.