Nagpur’s ₹517 Cr African Safari: Exotic Ambitions or Wildlife Crisis?

thenewsdirt
Jul 7
7 min read

Giraffes and zebras in a misty savanna at sunrise showing Nagpur's African Safari Plan at the Gorewada Zoo. Acacia trees stand in the background, creating a serene, golden-orange atmosphere. — Nagpur’s ₹517 Cr African Safari

The Maharashtra government's ambitious ₹285-517 crore African Safari project at the Balasaheb Thackeray Gorewada International Zoological Park in Nagpur represents one of India's most expensive wildlife tourism ventures.

Set to span 63 hectares within the larger 1,914-hectare zoological park, the project promises to house over 30 African species and attract millions of visitors to the Vidarbha region.

However, the venture proceeds against a backdrop of severe operational challenges, financial mismanagement, and animal welfare concerns that cast doubt on its viability.

Nagpur Zoo African Safari: Project Details and Timeline

The African Safari project stands as a centrepiece of Maharashtra's tourism ambitions, designed to transform Nagpur into a major wildlife destination.

The Memorandum of Understanding signed between Maharashtra Forest Development Corporation, Gorewada Zoo Limited, and National Building Construction Corporation outlines an extensive development spanning 18 months with an anticipated opening in January 2027.

The project's scope encompasses both island-dwelling and free-roaming species across meticulously planned exhibits.

The Mottled Island Exhibit will feature spotted hyenas, white rhinoceroses, patas monkeys, red river hogs, African lions, chimpanzees, hamadryas baboons, and cheetahs in contained environments.

Meanwhile, the open safari areas will accommodate ostriches, hippopotamuses, impalas, gemsboks, common elands, blue wildebeests, giraffes, Burchell's zebras, and kudus in free-roaming conditions.

Supporting infrastructure includes a night safari facility, visitor entry plaza, interpretive centres, and state-of-the-art animal enclosures. The development incorporates food courts, scenic areas, ticket counters, and a 6-hectare parking facility designed to accommodate over 1,900 vehicles.

Additional facilities encompass an animal hospital, quarantine centre, theming works, comprehensive landscaping, and a sewerage system including sewage treatment plant capabilities.

Of the total project cost, ₹80 crore has been specifically allocated for animal acquisition through international channels, representing a significant investment in exotic species procurement.

The project positions itself as an authentic replication of African ecosystems, promising visitors an immersive experience that promotes environmental awareness and biodiversity conservation within the Vidarbha region.

Construction is anticipated to begin before the monsoon season, with the entire Balasaheb Thackeray Gorewada International Zoological Park envisioned to become the largest zoological park in India.

The facility aims to offer a comprehensive 'India Safari' experience bordered by thick forest, positioning Nagpur as a premier wildlife tourism destination in central India.

Gorewada Zoo Overcrowding and Animal Welfare Issues

The Gorewada Zoological Park and its associated rescue centre currently face severe operational challenges that raise questions about the facility's capacity to manage additional species.

The rescue centre has become severely overcrowded with captured tigers and leopards, effectively functioning as a dumping ground for animals from human-wildlife conflicts across the region.

As of November 2022, the facility housed 16 tigers in only 10 available enclosures and 27 leopards in 20 designated spaces, forcing staff to utilise herbivore enclosures and leopard cages to accommodate the overflow.

This overcrowding has created dangerous conditions, as evidenced by a January 2025 outbreak of H5N1 avian flu that killed three tigers and a sub-adult leopard after their transfer from Chandrapur following human-wildlife conflict incidents.

The financial burden of maintaining captive carnivores at Gorewada requires substantial daily expenditure, with sources estimating at least ₹25,000 daily for flesh alone. This recurring cost strains the facility's budget whilst the animal population continues to grow due to ongoing human-wildlife conflicts throughout the Vidarbha region.

Environmental challenges compound the operational difficulties. Despite wall fencing around forest land, plastic waste from visitors poses a significant problem, with debris thrown into nearby drains that flow into Gorewada lake. Lake

A sewage treatment plant is under construction to address sewage water contamination, but the waste management issues persist.

Security lapses have resulted in tragic incidents, including a wild leopard from Gorewada Forest jumping over a five-metre-high fence and killing five deer, three black bucks, and a four-horned antelope in an enclosure at the rescue centre.

This incident, attributed to faulty solar-powered electric fence design, necessitated the installation of Gallagher's Monitored Pulse Fence technology. Additional animal welfare concerns include a reported incident of a bear dying in a fight among three bears at the zoological park.

Disease risk management has become increasingly challenging due to overcrowding conditions. The proximity of different species in inadequate housing creates opportunities for disease transmission, as demonstrated by the recent avian flu outbreak.

The facility's capacity to implement proper quarantine protocols remains limited, given the space constraints and continuous influx of conflict animals from across Maharashtra.

Nagpur Zoo Project Management and Financial Concerns

The project's implementation faces significant governance challenges stemming from past mismanagement and ongoing legal disputes.

A Public Interest Litigation has been filed alleging illegal appointments of five employees at Gorewada International Zoo, including a Project Manager who was allegedly made permanent without due process.

The PIL claims exploitation and violation of legal rights for regular staff, with essential employee benefits such as ESIC coverage, muster cards, uniforms, ID cards, dearness allowance, timely salary, eight-hour shifts, and seniority lists remaining unaddressed.

The state government's termination of a joint venture agreement with Essel World Leisure Private Limited for the Gorewada zoo project highlights broader management issues. The company's breach of tender conditions and withdrawal of earnest money deposit forced the government to seek alternative implementation strategies, ultimately leading to the current arrangement with NBCC.

Financial management concerns extend beyond the zoo project itself. The Deccan College Archaeological Theme Park project at Gorewada faced scrutiny for mismanagement, including delayed stamp duty payment and alleged illegal tender approval processes.

These incidents raise questions about the administrative capacity to oversee a project of the African Safari's scale and complexity.

The allegations of inadequate worker training in captive facilities compound concerns about animal welfare standards.

Poor training can lead to mistreatment and substandard care, potentially resulting in higher mortality rates and increased operational costs. With the addition of 22-30 new African species requiring specialised care, the training and management requirements will substantially increase.

Budget allocation for the African Safari project varies significantly between different estimates, ranging from ₹285 crore to ₹517 crore, with some sources citing ₹355 crore as the projected cost.

This variation in cost estimates reflects uncertainty in project planning and implementation strategies. The substantial investment in exotic animal acquisition through international channels represents a significant financial commitment that must be weighed against existing operational challenges and maintenance costs.

Wildlife Tourism Investment and Conservation Challenges at Nagpur's Gorewada Zoo

The African Safari project's financial structure and animal welfare implications present substantial challenges that may undermine its long-term viability.

The acquisition and maintenance of exotic African species involve significant ongoing costs beyond the initial ₹80 crore procurement budget.

Translocation of animals from international sources carries inherent risks, with studies showing that such movements can significantly reduce survival rates, particularly for large mammals and carnivores.

The stress associated with translocation extends beyond the initial movement, as animals must adapt to new environments, climates, and enclosure systems.

Even conservation translocations, which typically have better outcomes than conflict-driven relocations, can result in high mortality rates if physiological factors are not adequately monitored before and after relocation.

The project's emphasis on creating a tourism hub and immersive experiences suggests a primary focus on entertainment rather than conservation.

While promotional materials highlight environmental awareness and biodiversity conservation goals, the selection of "iconic African species" and the scale of the visitor infrastructure indicate commercial priorities.

The development aims to establish Nagpur as a significant tourism destination, potentially generating substantial revenue for the Vidarbha region's economy.

Wild animals lack adaptation to captive environments and frequently experience psychological and physical harm, including self-mutilation and premature death.

Multiple generations in captivity do not demonstrate domestication characteristics, meaning the animals retain their wild instincts while being confined in artificial environments. The introduction of 22-30 new species into an already overcrowded facility increases the likelihood of stress-related behaviours and health complications.

The financial sustainability of maintaining such a large collection of exotic species depends on consistent visitor numbers and revenue generation. However, the ongoing operational challenges, combined with the substantial daily feeding costs and veterinary requirements, create a high-risk investment scenario.

The allocation of significant public funds to acquire and display exotic animals, whilst existing rescue animals face overcrowding and welfare challenges, raises questions about resource prioritisation and ethical considerations surrounding captive wildlife management.

International best practices for zoo management emphasise the importance of adequate space, appropriate environmental enrichment, and species-specific care protocols.

The current overcrowding situation at Gorewada suggests that these standards may be difficult to maintain with the addition of numerous new species requiring specialised African habitat conditions.

The Gorewada African Safari project represents a bold vision for wildlife tourism in Maharashtra, promising to establish Nagpur as a major destination for exotic animal experiences.

However, the venture's success depends on resolving fundamental operational challenges, governance issues, and animal welfare concerns that currently plague the facility.

The project's completion timeline of January 2027 will test the administrative capacity to deliver on ambitious promises whilst ensuring the welfare of both existing and incoming animal populations. The outcome will likely influence future wildlife tourism projects across India and set precedents for public investment in captive animal attractions.