Bannerghatta National Park

Infobox_protected_area | name = Bannerghatta National ParkLocation map|India
label= Bannerghatta National Park
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lat=12.80
long=77.58
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width=300
iucn_category = II
location = Karnataka, India
nearest_city = Bangalore
lat_degrees = 12
lat_minutes = 48
lat_seconds = 03
lat_direction = N
long_degrees = 77
long_minutes = 34
long_seconds = 32
long_direction = E
area = km².
established =
visitation_num =
visitation_year =
governing_body = Ministry of Environment and Forests, Government of India

Bannerghatta National Park is situated 22 km south of Bangalore, Karnataka, India. The journey to the park takes nearly half an hour from Bangalore. This hilly place is the home for one of the richest natural, zoological reserves. The 25,000 acre (101 km²) zoological park makes this a major tourist attraction of Bangalore.

The Zoological reserve

s and other mammals. A mini safari here helps to fund the reserve. The Tiger Reserve of the park has been recognised by the Forest Department of India.

Controversy

In 1992, a young child fell prey to a tiger named Bill, allegedly due to carelessness of the Forest Department staff. The incident raised questions on the security of the mini-safari and its maintenance.

However at the time of the tragedy, private vehicles were allowed inside the Safari. The child in question was traveling in a private car driven by his father. The child's grandfather was sitting with the child in his lap and the car stopped annoyingly close to a tiger (supposedly just convert|2|ft|m away). The child's grandfather is rumored to have rolled down the car's window glass and held the kid in the window to give the child a better look at the tiger. They also made loud noises. The irritated tiger took a swipe and the child died instantly.

In the aftermath of the incident private vehicles were stopped from venturing in to the tiger and lion safari. Now park itself operates several mini-buses to serve the people.

Travel Info

Altitude: 740 to 1034 meters above sea level
Visiting hours: 9am to 5pm
Holiday: Closed every Tuesday
Best time: September to January

The Zoo

There is a small museum in the zoo which showcases zoological exhibits. The zoo, which is a major attraction in this area, also has a reptile park and a small theatre. The zoo has been criticised for the maintenance of its exhibits. The Zoo closes on Tuesday (weekly Holiday)

The zoo has separate charges for weekdays and weekends ( or Holidays).The prices currently for A grand safari - of Lions, Tigers & Herbivorus costs Rs. 80 on regular days and Rs. 125 on weekends (and other holidays) where as, to move around the zoo would cost you Rs. 25.00.There are also Lion / Tiger Safari and Elephant joy rides.

Bannerghatta National Park contact phone number: 27828540

Butterfly Park

The country's first Butterfly Park was established at the Bannerghatta Biological Park. It was inaugurated on Saturday November 25, 2006 by Kapil Sibal, Union Minister of Science and Technology.

The Butterfly Park is spread across convert|7.5|acre|m2 of land. It comprises a butterfly conservatory, museum and an audio-visual room. The butterfly conservatory has a polycarbonate roof and is a 10,000 sq ft (1,000 m²). circular enclosure, inside which the living environment has been carefully designed to support over 20 species of butterflies. The environment has a tropical setting — complete with the humid climate, an artificial waterfall and host plants and shrubs that attract butterflies. The conservatory leads to the second and third domes, which have a museum that will have dioramas and exhibits

The collaborative agencies are the Zoo Authority of Karnataka, University of Agricultural Sciences and the Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and Environment (ATREE).

External links and references

*wikitravel|Bannerghatta National Park
* [http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/2003/05/09/stories/2003050908770300.htm Criticisms of the National Park] in "The Hindu"
* [http://www.5tigers.org/news/CatNews/cn17.htm Report from 5tigers.org about a child fatality in 1992]
* [http://www.deccanherald.com/deccanherald/jun132004/s2.asp Lions’ club grows at Bannerghatta park]
* [http://www.hindu.com/2006/11/25/stories/2006112519630400.htm Butterfly Park ] in "The Hindu"
*News: [http://www.hindu.com/2006/10/17/stories/2006101719420400.htm Elephants stray into villages on periphery of BNP, Oct 17, 2006]