Two sides of the holiday rush

The Park is overcrowded during holidays, triggering pollution and creating nuisance for animals

Bannerghatta Biological Park (BBP) receives at least four to five thousand visitors on any public holiday. It even manages to earn a revenue of Rs 20 lakh on one single day.  But with huge crowds thronging the 100 odd acres of land comprising the zoo, safari and the butterfly park, the demand for adequate parking spaces and facilities for drinking water and eateries has also increased.

With the constant movement of the safari vehicles entering the lion, tiger and the bear safari, there is hardly any break given for these wild animals for a decent nap. The Park sources say that at any point of time, BBP can accommodate at least 5,000 cars in their parking spaces. But even this will be inadequate when the number of visitors in their private cars go beyond expectations.

For instance, on December 25 last year, many visitors had to return without visiting the Park due to lack of parking space.  

Constant movement of the safari vehicles rob the animals of their siesta. The vehicles often travel one behind the other, creating an environment of constant air and noise pollution inside the safari.  These wild animals, especially the lions and the tigers, are fed every day in the evening. They end up eating till late night. Inside sources say these animals would want to sleep during the day, but the safari vehicle movement doesn’t allow them that luxury.

There are now suggestions from within the Park staffers that the BBP administration should take steps to give the animals a break for at least an hour.

The rising number of visitors has also increased the pollution levels in the vicinity of BBP. The park is also bearing the brunt of indiscriminate littering. The lack of dustbins and civic sense among the visitors are blamed for plastic bags and bottles thrown not just outside the Park premises but also inside the safari areas. 

Unlike the Mysuru zoo, BBP as of now is not conducting any nature camp or any education programmes for the schoolchildren or villagers.  Except for a nature walk that happens if you are staying at the Jungle Lodges Resort, BBP has suspended all its educational and awareness activities for now.  

Sources say that the cottages attached to Jungle Lodges are high priced, and are mostly given for IT and BT companies that hold their seminars.  BBP had discontinued serving liquor to the  guests at the resort, but no efforts have been made to keep tabs on the liquor brought by the guests.  Sources say that people staying at the resorts have indulged in drinking and creating noise during night at the premises disturbing animals at the Park.

BBP's Executive Director Range Gowda, however, maintained that there have been several plans to make BBP a smart zoo.  “We have been taking steps to control littering and throwing of garbage inside and outside the Park, but the number of visitors sometimes is too many. This makes things extremely difficult to manage.  There is a shortage of funds in BBP as of now to create more infrastructure. We are planning to have more space for parking in future,” he informs.