The Supreme Court on Wednesday gave its nod to setting up the country’s first night safari at Lucknow’s Cockerel Reserve Forest, directing the state to comply with all conditions imposed by various legal authorities along with prior clearances before commencing work.
The bench headed by Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant approved the order on an application by the Uttar Pradesh government after seeking the opinion of an expert body, the Central Empowered Committee (CEC), which granted conditional approval for the project.
The UP government has received approval from the Central Zoo Authority (CZA) and the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) and has been awaiting court approval since an order passed on February 19, 2024 by the Supreme Court that no final approval should be given for setting up any zoo or safari park without prior permission of the court.
“The state has agreed to abide by all the conditions recommended by the CZA. Considering the fact that the CZA and MoEFCC have given approval for setting up night safari, we allow the present application,” the bench, also comprising Justices Joymalia Bagchi and V Mohana, said.
The court allowed the state to proceed with the project in accordance with the recommendations of the Central Elections Commission, and directed the member of the Central Elections Commission and its secretary to conduct periodic visits and submit reports. “Any breach of conditions will be viewed seriously,” the council said, as it allowed the state to obtain advance permits for logging because the area is a protected forest. The court even allowed any public spirited person to submit suggestions to the CEC for effective implementation of the project.
After obtaining permission, India is scheduled to begin its first night safari. Globally, this will be the fifth project of its kind after Singapore, China, Thailand and Indonesia. The state’s order was moved among a batch of pending cases by former bureaucrats and environment activists challenging recent amendments to the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980. The February 2024 order came as the petitioners had raised objection to diversion of forest land for non-forest activities in the name of setting up a zoo and safari.
Besides the night safari, the state had taken a decision in August 2022 to shift the existing Nawab Wajid Ali Shah Zoo in Lucknow to the night safari site in the Cockerel forest area, claiming that its current location in the heart of the city did not provide scope for expansion of the enclosures. The state also claimed that the night safaris would attract tourism, provide employment opportunities for local people and enhance visitors’ experience of viewing animals in their natural habitat.
The CEC has not approved the transfer of the 104-year-old Nawab Wajid Al Shah Zoo, as the 72-acre zoo is larger than many well-functioning urban zoos across India. The same also plays a crucial role as a major urban green lung, the expert body said in its report submitted to the court in November 2025. However, it added that the state could set up another day zoo at the proposed site in Cockerill.
The original plan for the state included an adventure zone in the proposed area which was shot down by the CEC. “The adventure zone proposed by the forest department will not be established. Forest land cannot be used for such non-forest recreational activities and no approval has been given for any such facility by the CZA,” the expert panel report said.
The report called on the UP government to strictly follow the CZA Guidelines 2005 for night safari operations in recognized Indian zoos and establish an oversight committee to ensure complete and continuous strict compliance of all regulatory conditions and environmental safeguards.
As per the state request, while 855 acres are proposed for the zoo and night safaris, 71% of this area will be kept green. He also stated that efforts will also be made to reduce tree felling required to be done for the project. The project requires cost $1,510 crore will provide quality wildlife observation and viewing opportunity, immersive educational experience, modern visitor amenities and adequate green spaces. The state said it expects to receive approximately 4,000 visitors per day during the week and about 8,000 visitors on weekends and holidays.
The state’s proposal was challenged by environment activists in the Supreme Court who claimed that Lucknow’s green cover has seen an alarming 20% decline with 227 hectares of green space lost between 2001 and 2023.
The state assured the court that out of the 24,274 trees located within the area in question, only 4,800 trees will be cut and 877 trees will be transported while the bulk will be kept inside the night safari.
