Andhra Pradesh government , which loves to ape Singapore in every aspect, will soon have night safari on the lines of Singapore Night Safari. Inspired by the theme of Singapore’ night safari, the government is planning to set up Night Safari centres in state at various locations. While Chief minister Naidu’s constituency Kuppam will have Elephant night safari Srisailam will be developed into a Tiger night safari.
Andhra Pradesh will become the second in India to embark upon the setting up of night safaris, the first being the state of Uttar Pradesh. Night safari is a nocturnal visit to a zoo or wildlife sanctuary. The first country to set up a night safari is Singapore (1994). Very few countries in the world have tapped the potential of night safari. They are China, Thailand, Malaysia, Laos and Zambia. In 2014 Uttar Pradesh announced its plan to develop a night safari on 250 ac of land near Gautam Budh University along the Yamuna Expressway.
Now Andhra Pradesh is all set to develop Jungle resorts, Jungle trail, Mountaineering, Rock Climbing spots at appropriate locations to make the state a world-class tourist destination.
As part of this, the State government today decided to strengthen eco-tourism wing in the office of the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests and Head of Forest Force, located in Hyderabad. An official in the rank of Additional PCCF/Chief Conservator of Forests will head the wing to promote eco-tourism in the State.
The eco-tourism Wing will function in close co-ordination with the Tourism Department. The wing prepare a master plan to develop tourist attractions including Night rides across the State which include a Tiger Safari in Srisailam Tiger reserve and Jungle resorts, development of Elephant Safari at Kuppam, development of Deer Parks, Bird Sanctuaries located at Pulicat, Nelapattu, Kolleru, Telineelapuram. The State government wants to make Nandanvanams, being developed by the Forest Department in each district, as a must visit eco-tourism destinations.
The eco-tourism wing will also develop Coringa Mangroves as Eco-Tourism destination, besides developing HOPE Island as Eco-Tourism destination. The wing has also been directed identify other Eco-Tourism destinations based on other wildlife, and other natural features to develop them as tourist spots.
