Offering a festive gift to wildlife enthusiasts planning a trip to North Bengal this Durga Puja vacation, Bengal Safari Park has welcomed 18 new animals to its premises. Already a major attraction in the region, the park is set to become even more exciting with preparations underway to introduce these new guests to visitors ahead of the festive season.
The new residents, brought in from Alipore Zoo in Kolkata, include a diverse group of species— a pair of Himalayan black bears, two male Indian wild dogs, two pairs of painted storks, a pair of spoon-billed birds, two female gharials and three pairs of green iguanas. This is the first time that Indian wild dogs, spoon bills, painted storks and green iguanas will be part of the Bengal Safari Park.
The transportation was executed with precision and care— three animal ambulances travelled via a specially created green corridor, covering the nearly 17-hour journey under the watch of veterinary experts, forest officials and police coordination from each district.
In tandem with the arrival of the new animals, the park is also receiving a revamp worth ₹4 crore to enhance facilities and tourist appeal ahead of the festive rush. The initiative follows a visit by State Forest Minister Birbaha Hansda and State Zoo Authority Member Secretary Saurabh Chowdhury, who, after consultations with the Central Zoo Authority, began the process of enriching the park’s animal diversity.
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“Tourist interest in North Bengal is growing, and Bengal Safari Park is now a central attraction,” said Birbaha, adding, "After receiving various suggestions during my last visit, we moved swiftly to bring in new species. If all goes well, tourists will be able to meet these new guests before Puja.”
With the new arrivals, the park’s population of Himalayan black bears has now grown to five with the addition of Madhai (4 years) and Bindu (5 years) from Alipore Zoo. These new bears are expected to help in breeding efforts, which had stalled among the current three— Dhruv, Mohini and Ruby.
Similarly, the number of gharials in the park has also increased to five, following the addition of two more females. This move is expected to improve the park’s gharial conservation efforts.
“These animal exchanges were conducted strictly under the Central Zoo Authority’s protocols. The animals will remain under observation for a brief period before being introduced to the public,” said Saurabh Chowdhury, Member Secretary of the State Zoo Authority.
The new species — Indian wild dogs, spoon bills, painted storks and green iguanas — are being introduced in Bengal Safari Park for the very first time. Authorities are hopeful that these fresh additions will offer greater biodiversity and more engaging experiences for wildlife enthusiasts and children.
“All the animals are currently healthy and adjusting well,” confirmed Park Director Bijoy Kumar, adding, “After a brief acclimatisation period and close health monitoring, we will introduce them to the viewing areas.”
With preparations now in full swing, Bengal Safari Park is gearing up to offer tourists an exciting and enriched experience— just in time for the festive season.
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