“It is at the conceptual stage at present. We have sent the proposal to state forest department to have a rescue centre for endangered species within the jurisdiction of the SGNP and we are waiting for response from the state government,” said P N Munde, director of the park.

“The park could have rescue centre for endangered animals like the Rusty-spotted cats, different kind of vultures, etc. The proposed park could come up anywhere within the jurisdiction of the park,” Munde added. The estimate cost of the project and its location within the park, is yet to be finalised.

If the proposal gets a go-ahead, the rescue centre would be one of the few to come up within the jurisdiction of a national park, and that too, within the city limits.

Currently, the state has a rescue centre for leopards at Junnar in Pune and a crocodile rescue centre in Nagzira sanctuary in Bhandardhara. Besides, the vulture rescue centre in Haryana is well known.