Dehradun: The National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) has taken umbrage at the violation of the protocol to maintain at least 500-metre distance between two safari vehicles.
Though this is a standing instruction given by NTCA in the year 2012, according to states that national parks and tiger reserves are not allowed safari vehicles to crowd around tigers and maintain a distance of 500m between them.
Hence, the NTCA has written to all the Chief Wildlife Wardens of All Tiger Range States to follow the instruction strictly in the tourism zone.
In a circular issued by NTCA Secretary Dr. Anup K. Nayak, it is stated that the tourism carrying capacity in respect of a tiger reserve is determined with the presumption that the gap between two consecutive vehicles is maintained at a minimum distance of 500 m.
“But it is often observed that safari vehicles inside the tiger reserve do not maintain the minimum distance with other vehicles and often result in crowding around animals sighted during the trip to the detriment of wildlife. This defeats the very purpose for which the carrying capacity was fixed,” said the NTCA circular.
According to sources, the advisory is not being followed properly because of which a crowd gets collected at the wildlife sites. Hence, the rule of carrying minimum number of tourists in vehicles becomes meaningless. Human interference is also changing the habitat of wild animals.
While speaking to ETV Bharat, a tourist said, "Now, tourists will visit less as they won't be able to see the wild animals. Earlier, we were unable to see tigers, and now with the current orders, it will be more difficult. I am disappointed with the guideline given by NTCA."
While tourism is important but the primary mandate is to protect the tiger and wellbeing of the animal’s habitat, efforts are made by NTCA to ply the vehicles to different zones to ensure that the 500-metre norm has adhered to the extent possible.
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