The district’s Grassland Safari has seen a significant increase in visitors since the Pune Forest Division opened it on October 18.
Pune: Since the district’s October 18 opening by the Pune Forest Division, the grassland safari has drawn a sizable number of visitors.

Since the district’s October 18 opening by the Pune Forest Division, the grassland safari has drawn a sizable number of visitors. The Baramati and Indapur region, which is home to several herbivorous and carnivorous creatures like antelope, chinkara, rabbits, wolves, jackals, and hyenas, as well as birds, is covered by the safari.

With around 120 visits and 30 bookings in the first 20 days, the department has made between ₹50,000 and ₹55,000, according to Mayur Bothe, assistant conservator of forests, Pune Forest Division, and project incharge of grassland safari.
For two-wheelers, the entry fee to the forest department is ₹1,500, and for four-wheelers, it is ₹2,000.

The Baramati and Indapur region, which is home to several herbivorous and carnivorous creatures like antelope, chinkara, rabbits, wolves, jackals, and hyenas, as well as birds, is covered by the safari.

Shirsufal in Baramati tehsil and Kadbanwadi in Indapur tehsil are part of the safari’s forest belt.

“Although the department has not yet prepared their details, such as age, time spent, or experiences, the dedicated website that started to provide safari facilities has logged 120 visitors,” Bothe stated.
At the moment, private cars are used by visitors to the safari. The department intends to launch an internal travel service based on foot traffic.

A senior forest officer stated, “We anticipate more visitors during the winter as it is a good season to sight many wild animals.”

“The forest department’s grassland management program includes the safari project. The primary goals are to create jobs for residents and raise public awareness of the grassland ecology, according to Mahadev Mohite, deputy conservator of forests for the Pune Forest Division.

Future plans for the department include launching a wildlife safari in Baramati and a leopard safari in Junnar.

Source- Hindustan times