The forest department is set to introduce lion safaris at the Bengal Safari Park in October with a 20-acre enclosure being readied.

The park, situated on the outskirts of Siliguri and the fringes of the Mahananda Wildlife Sanctuary, has immense popularity among tourists. Spread across 297 hectares, it is the only open-air zoological park in north Bengal.

In February, a lion and a lioness were brought to the Siliguri facility from the Sepahijala Zoological Park in Tripura under an animal exchange programme. The seven-year-old lion and the six-year-old lioness are in quarantine at the park.

“The infrastructure for the lion safari is almost complete. We have taken measures to prepare the lions for the safari. Authorities at the park are conducting mock trials of the safari to check out how the lions are reacting to it. We believe the animals will gradually become accustomed to it and will be able to introduce the safari by October-end,” a senior state forest department officer said on Thursday.

The forester said the ongoing monsoon slowed the development of the park's infrastructure for lions.

In the 20-acre enclosure where the lions would be eventually released, the foresters developed landscaping, along with stretches of vegetation known as display curl, nursery curl and off-display curl. Night shelter, ramp area, nursery curl, loop, water pumping facility and sewerage system have also been created.

“A suitable rocky background was prepared where the lions would shelter at night. An undulating landscape of grass was developed in the enclosure for the comfort of the animals. The sewerage system is necessary as lions are habituated to live in dry places. Ample areas are kept open so that sunlight could drench the enclosure arena, which the animal prefers,” the forester said.

As of now, the park offers tiger safari, leopard safari and herbivore safari. “The lion safari will be an added attraction and we believe the footfall of visitors will increase here,” said an official of the park.