West Bengal to get bird sanctuary on lines of Singapore's Jurong Park: Mamata Banerjee

SINGAPORE: West Bengal will set up a bird sanctuary within Rajarhat Eco Park on the lines of Singapore's Jurong Bird Park, the world's largest, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee announced here today.

Banerjee, who is on a five-day visit to Singapore to tap foreign investment in her state, after touring the world famous park said the bird sanctuary at Rajarhat will come up over a five acre area.

She said the state officials accompanying her have discussed the project with Jurong Bird Park authorities.

"We already had planned the bird sanctuary. Now we will plan in a better way," she said.

Jurong Bird Park has more than 9,000 birds of 600 species including endangered ones like Toco Toucans, Caribbean Flamingos and Dalmatian Pelicans.

It is the world's largest in terms of number of birds and second largest in terms of land area after Germany's Vogelpark Walsrode.

The Chief Minister also said that a Safari Park is being set up at Siliguri on the fringes of Mahananda Wildlife Sanctuary.

The Safari Park, the first of its kind in the state, will be built over an area of 600 acres at a cost of Rs 255 crore.

The foundation stone of the park was laid on July 17.