The Supreme Court on 16 July 2026 granted final approval for the Kukrail Night Safari and Day Zoo project in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh — India’s first urban night safari and the world’s fifth after Singapore, Thailand, China and Indonesia.
Project and Approvals
- Location and area: Kukrail Reserve Forest, Lucknow; forest extent 2,027 hectares; ~855 acres earmarked for the night safari and zoo complex.
- Approvals: Central Zoo Authority (CZA) clearance, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) approval and conditional clearance from the Central Empowered Committee (CEC) before SC nod.
- Estimated cost: ₹1,510 crore.
Design, Species and Operations
- Phase 1 facilities: 38 wildlife enclosures planned; theme-based and naturalistic habitats with night and forest trails.
- Planned species: Asiatic lion (Panthera leo persica) — Endangered; Bengal tiger (Panthera tigris tigris) — Endangered; leopard (Panthera pardus) — Vulnerable; gharial (Gavialis gangeticus) — Critically Endangered; hyena and flying squirrels also listed.
- Visitor movement and lighting: Battery-operated vehicles proposed; lighting designed to mimic moonlight for reduced disturbance.
Regulatory Conditions
- Zoo relocation: Proposal to shift the 104-year-old Nawab Wajid Ali Shah Zoological Park to Kukrail was rejected by CEC and SC.
- Infrastructure limits: Road widening inside the forest capped at a two-lane alignment; previously proposed adventure zone components removed.
- Timeline: Phase 1 construction estimated ~24 months after completion of administrative procedures.
IASPOINT Booster Facts
- Central Zoo Authority: Statutory body regulating zoos under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.
- IUCN statuses: Gharial — Critically Endangered; Asiatic lion and Bengal tiger — Endangered; leopard — Vulnerable.
- Night safari model: Nocturnal viewing with subdued illumination and electric vehicles to minimise noise and light disturbance to wildlife.