Parliament Question: Development of Rampara as safari park

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE RAJYA SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 73 TO BE ANSWERED ON 29.01.2026 Development of Rampara as safari park 73. SHRI KESRIDEVSINH JHALA: Will the Minister of ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE be pleased to state: (a) whether Government is aware that Rampara in Wankaner, though geographically suited for wildlife habitats and identified as an alternative breeding site for Asiatic lions, continues to remain underdeveloped; (b) whether the original plan to allow free-roaming animals has been curtailed, with current practices restricting them to caged enclosures; (c) whether Government proposes to expand Rampara into a full-fledged safari park featuring free-roaming lions, inline with successful ecotourism models elsewhere in Gujarat; (d) the steps being taken to revive and implement the original vision for Rampara; and (e) the expected conservation, tourism, employment benefits from developing Rampara into safari park? ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE (SHRI KIRTI VARDHAN SINGH) (a) to (e) The Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972 empowers the State Governments for notification of Protected Areas. The Act also provides for management of the Protected Areas, including Sanctuaries in accordance with the Management Plan. As per information received from the State of Gujarat, Rampara Wildlife Sanctuary was notified in 1988 and is managed as per the Management Plan approved from time to time. Further, it has also been informed that there is no proposal under consideration of the State Government to expand Rampara Wildlife Sanctuary into a full‑fledged safari park. ***