The north Indian state of Haryana is hoping to learn from the UAE’s experience in jungle and desert safaris, with the state chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar, currently visiting the northern emirates.
During the two-day visit, Khattar and a high-level official team from Haryana’s Tourism and Wildlife Department will visit Dubai Safari Park and Sharjah Safari, according to state government officials.
The chief minister will also meet some of the UAE investors during the visit to discuss investment opportunities in Haryana, the officials said.
Haryana, next to the national capital of New Delhi, is home to 180 species of birds, 29 species of aquatic animals, 57 species of butterflies, 15 species of mammals and many reptiles.
It has no safari parks on a scale that could harness the state’s wildlife resources into tourist attractions.
The Aravalli Range of hills, rich in flora, fauna and wildlife, also runs partly through Haryana. It has a 1,600 km-long and 5 km-wide green ecological corridor.
Encouraged by the success of Sharjah Safari, which opened in February this year and the older and well-known attraction of Dubai Safari Park, Khattar had suggested the idea of jungle safaris and tourist-oriented trekking in Haryana recently to India’s minister for environment, forests and Climate Change, Bhupender Yadav.
There are no national parks in the Aravallis part of Haryana.
Yadav is also now in Dubai to attend the World Green Economy Summit and an associated ministerial roundtable on green economy.
Follow us on
