Bannerghatta Biological Park

Forest, Ecology and Environment Minister Ramalinga Reddy toured Bannerghatta Biological Park and formally launched a batch of upgrades costing Rs 38 crore, intended to improve both visitor experience and animal care at the park.

The minister rolled out a fleet of electric vehicles meant to make movement around the park smoother for visitors. He also cut the ribbon on a new administration block called Adavi, alongside a unit for streaming live footage, a nursery facility, a refurbished main gate, and a freshly started quarantine section for animals.

Guests can now use a newly opened souvenir shop and a cafe named Suvarnamukhi. Living quarters for forest department staff were handed over, and the park unveiled redesigned enclosures housing wolves, cheetahs, emus, rheas and pheasants.

During the visit, Reddy asked that the hippo enclosure and a baby hippo be named 'Sameeksha', honouring veterinary officer Dr Sameeksha, who passed away in Shivamogga while treating a hippopotamus. At the safari zone, he opened a lookout tower forming part of the Suvarna Elephant Care Centre, built to support elephant health and welfare, and took a safari ride to review the park's conservation work firsthand.

The investment signals continued government spending on upgrading Bannerghatta's tourist infrastructure while also expanding dedicated animal-welfare facilities such as quarantine space and specialised care centres for elephants and hippos.