Lucknow To Get India’s First Urban Night Safari At Kukrail Forest Area

Context: Lucknow is set to introduce India’s first urban night safari at the Kukrail Forest Area, marking a unique blend of wildlife conservation and city-based tourism.

About Lucknow To Get India’s First Urban Night Safari At Kukrail Forest Area:

What it is?

• India’s first urban night safari—a controlled nocturnal wildlife viewing experience within city limits, designed for education, conservation awareness, and low-impact tourism rather than entertainment-driven spectacle.

Located in:

• Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh
• Kukrail Forest Area, along the Kukrail River on the northern outskirts of the city

Aim:

• To promote urban eco-tourism while strengthening wildlife conservation awareness.
• To enable city residents, families, and students to observe nocturnal animal behaviour without travelling to distant forests.
• To integrate conservation, education, and recreation in a sustainable urban model.

Key features of the Kukrail project:

• Nocturnal safari routes with restricted movement and low-impact lighting to minimise animal disturbance.
• Existing conservation hubs for crocodiles, gharials, and turtles upgraded rather than replaced.
• Eco-friendly infrastructure: bamboo huts, nature walk trails, interpretation centres.
• Guided educational programmes: night ecology walks, bird-watching, and school outreach.

Significance:

• Urban innovation in conservation: First attempt in India to mainstream nocturnal wildlife education within a city ecosystem.
• Model for sustainable urban planning: Demonstrates coexistence of biodiversity protection and urban leisure.