New crowd-pullers arrive Leopards & crocodiles introduced at Siliguri park

One of the four leopards at the Bengal Safari park on Sunday. Picture by Passang Yolmo 

TT, Siliguri: The much awaited leopard safari and crocodile enclosure were inaugurated at the Bengal Safari Park in Siliguri by state tourism minister Gautam Deb on Sunday afternoon.

Four leopards were brought to the park from Alipurduar and three crocodiles from Alipore zoo in Calcutta.

In the leopard enclosure, spread over 20 hectares, males and females numbering two each are kept.

"The leopard tour and the reptile zone will be another attraction for wildlife enthusiasts here. We also have three royal Bengal tigers with three cubs at the park. Chief minister Mamata Banerjee will name the three cubs. We have also plans to develop a nature interpretation centre at the park that would be opened before Durga Puja," said Deb.

State forest minister Binay Krishna Burman was also present at the inauguration.

The park, near Siliguri, is located on the fringes of Mahananda Wilidlife Sanctuary. It is spread over 290 hectares.

Apart from the new entrants and tigers, the park has a one-horn rhino, two Himalayan black bear, elephants, six ghariyals (fish eating crocodiles), deer and an aviary of different species.

The elephant, tiger and Himalayan black bear safaris are already available for tourists.

The existing safari plans include: Herbivore+tiger+ black bear for Rs 150 per person. Herbivore+ tiger for Rs 100 per head. The tiger safari costs Rs 50 a person. The leopard tour woul