Banaskantha, Aug 12: Gujarat has received approval from the Central Zoo Authority (CZA) for a proposed 103-hectare desert-themed zoological park and drive-through night safari at Juna Deesa in Banaskantha district. The ₹542.14-crore project is expected to add a major new attraction to the state’s wildlife conservation and eco-tourism landscape.
The project, being developed by the Gujarat Forest Department on government land, aims to bring wildlife conservation, animal rescue and rehabilitation, environmental education and tourism together in one integrated facility.
The proposed park is expected to house around 2,700 animals and birds belonging to nearly 83 species. Its design will focus on arid and desert ecosystems, with natural-looking landscapes intended to provide visitors with a more immersive experience.
A key feature will be the night safari, which will have five dedicated enclosures where visitors can observe nocturnal animals after sunset. A separate day zoo will provide facilities for viewing and learning about a wider range of wildlife.
Gujarat Forest and Environment Minister Arjun Modhwadia said the project has been prepared in accordance with CZA guidelines and will be developed across the government land identified at Juna Deesa.
Minister of State for Forests and Environment Pravin Mali said the proposed facility would serve a purpose beyond tourism, with conservation breeding, wildlife rescue, rehabilitation and environmental education forming important parts of the project.
The park is expected to feature several Indian species associated with dry and desert environments, including chinkara, blackbuck, Indian wild ass, caracal, Indian wolf, golden jackal, striped hyena, Indian desert fox, porcupine and hedgehog. Asiatic lions and leopards are also proposed to be part of the facility.
Visitors will also have access to attractions such as an aviary, reptile house, butterfly park, aquarium, rainforest biome and reptile safari. Species from African and Australian desert ecosystems are also planned, including giraffes, Grevy’s zebras, scimitar oryx, black rhinoceros, African cheetahs, meerkats, ostriches, kangaroos, emus and wallabies.
Environmental sustainability has been incorporated into the project design. Officials said measures such as rainwater harvesting, sewage treatment, solid-waste management, solar energy, native plantations and green buffer zones will be used to reduce the facility’s environmental footprint.
Juna Deesa was selected for the project because of its contiguous land parcel, natural sand dunes, proximity to the Banas River and road and railway connectivity.
The project is also expected to strengthen tourism in Banaskantha and complement established destinations in the wider region, including Vadnagar, Ambaji and Nadabet.
For visitors, the proposed facility could offer an opportunity to experience desert wildlife in a setting designed around the region’s natural character. For the state, it represents a broader effort to combine conservation with responsible tourism and public awareness.
With CZA approval secured, the Deesa project has taken an important step forward and could eventually emerge as a distinctive wildlife destination centred on Gujarat’s desert ecosystem and nocturnal wildlife.