New herbivore guests at Bengal Safari Park

 Blackbucks, hog deer arrive from Jamshedpur

Deer graze in Bengal Safari Park near Siliguri

Binita Paul   |  TT  |   Siliguri   |  19.03.23  : Visitors to the Bengal Safari Park, on the outskirts of Siliguri, can see blackbucks and hog deer from next week. 

Sources said that 13 blackbucks and four hog deer were brought here from the zoo in Jharkhand’s Jamshedpur on February 22. Since then, they have been kept in quarantine in separate enclosures so that they can adapt to their new home.

“Now they are ready for public viewing and will be released into the open enclosure for herbivores next week. All of them are in sound health. Among the 13 blackbucks (an antelope species) that were brought here from Jamshedpur, eight are females and the rest are males. Along with those, two female and two male hog deer will also be released into the open,” said Kamal Sarkar, the director of the park.

Located off NH10 on the fringes of the Mahananda Wildlife Sanctuary, the Bengal Safari Park is a one-of-its-kind facility in the state where visitors can watch royal Bengal tigers, herbivores of various kinds, black bears, rhinos, elephants, gharials (fish-eating crocodiles) and birds of various species.  

The blackbucks and the hog deer, sources said, are currently under the monitoring of vets and nutritionists. “Their regular health check-up is being done to ensure that they do not face any problem in their new home in a new climate,” the source added.

Park authorities, who intend to earn more revenue, are planning to bring in some more animals such as clouded leopards, pythons and golden jackals as added attractions.

“An aviary for aquatic birds and a veterinary hospital will be built on the park premises soon,” said a source.

Courtesy & source- The elegraph