AGARTALA, January 16 (TIWN): To draw more tourists and visitors at Sepahijala wild life sanctuary the authority has decided to introduce golf cars and elephant ride, informed by K.G Bhowmik, director of the sanctuary. He said, “A proposal has been sent for having two 11 – seat golf cars and talks are on with ONGC to have it from next financial year. The golf cars will be used by tourists and visitors for sightseeing”.

For the first time elephant ride will be introduced in the sanctuary, there are three elephants, the authorities are planning to use them as rides for visitors, said Bhowmik. “A team of elephant trainers are coming from Assam state zoo to train the elephants and mahout. The team is coming on February and they will train for four months,” he added.

 The director also informed that a treaty has been signed for exchange of animals with four other major zoos of the country – Mysore, Banarghat, Rajkot, Itanagar. Exchange of animals would also take place between the zoos who signed the treaty. It includes - Royal Bengal tiger, lion, Hyena, bison, nilghai, white peacock, ullock, rhino, and different species of deers.  In return, Sepahijala zoo will give bears, clouded leopards, and different species of monkeys. The proposal has been sent to National Zoo Authority, once the proposal approved exchange of animals will begin.

Inflow of tourists and visitors at the Sepahijala was affected after the death of only rhino called ‘ Pradip’ due to deadly virus anthrax month back. After this serious of measures was under taken by the authority The Sepahijala Wildlife Sanctuary is located around 35kms from Agartala, the capital city of Tripura. The sanctuary was incepted in the year 1987 as a measure to protect the wildlife of the place. The sanctuary covers an area of around 18.53sq.kms and abounds in varied type of vegetation cover.