Bhavani Islands to get a face-lift

Next time you visit Bhavani Island, there will be two new attractions, a Bird Arena and a Sea Lion Park. The project will be carried out by Ocean Aquarium, a Turkey-based company for a total project cost of Rs 9.99 crores. While announcing the project, Executive Engineer of Bhavanai Island Tourism Corporation G Uma Maheswara Rao claimed, “There have not been such shows in the country so far and this would make Bhavani Island a global tourism hub”.

The authorities are planning to bring two sea lions from Spain or Urugay. The estimated cost is $25,000 (Rs 17 lakhs). “We are planning to breed them as well. In the Bird Arena, there will be 18-25 birds including vultures, eagles, owls, parrots and marabu – a huge African stork. Due to its massive size, it will be an eye-catching sight to see them walk around the arena,” said Simon Norris, The Development Director of Ocean Aquarium.

Simon Norris explained how the bird arena would function to amuse the spectators. All the vultures would circle above the arena and alight after some time, except two of them. Later at the end of the show, the bird-trainer would say ‘something is missing’ and at once the missing two vultures would plunge down and land.  “The audience would have goosebumps,” claimed Norris. Further, the owls will fly to catch prey thrown up in the air and parrots would talk to the audience.

Bhavani Island is situated in the midst of the Krishna River, in Vijayawada. It is located at the upstream of Prakasam Barrage and is considered as one of the largest river islands in India, with an area of 133 acres.