Ballari district is now all set to launch a 28km long Safari Ride in Daroji Bear Sanctuary from August 15. Daroji Bear Sanctuary has remained one of the Tourist destinations in the Ballari district.
Tourists to Daroji sloth bear sanctuary will have a chance to see bears from close range as the forest department is all set to introduce safari rides in the morning and evening. The fare is yet to be finalized.
Daroji Bear Sanctuary is spread across 82 square km in Ballari and Vijayanagar districts is the only place in India that is a protected area for sloth bears. The sanctuary also houses reptiles and mammals, peacocks, jackals, boars, leopards, and some rare bird species.
“The safari plans are in place except for tariff and timings Each trip needs at least two hours. We will fix a suitable schedule from 6.30 am to 8.30 am and 2.30 pm to 4.30 pm. We are expecting more tourists to visit the sanctuary once the safari rides are introduced,” said M Usha, RFO, Daroji Bear Sanctuary.
DCF Siddaramappa MC, wildlife wing Ballari said preparations have been completed to flag off the 27-km safari rides in the sanctuary. “We have built a mud road for the safari. Initially, we have planned to introduce two vehicles with nine seats each. Each vehicle will have a guide. These vehicles were donated by Sandur Manganese and Iron Ores Limited. As bears are nocturnal, they start coming out of their dens during evening hours,” he said.
Shivashankar Banakar, a wildlife photographer from Hampi said, “Starting a safari is a good move and tourists will be happy to go for the rides. There are many interested photographers and visitors, who come here from far off cities only to see sloth bears and other animals.”
Usha said the safari rides will begin from the Interpretation Centre in the sanctuary and will end at the same spot towards Bilikallu reserve forest. We have installed signboards to create awareness about the biodiversity, forest and wildlife among tourists”.
