Tadoba Safari: New regulations at Tadoba Safari aimed at preventing overpopulation and disturbance of wildlife

Nagpur: Stung by criticism after a tigress was cornered by over 150 tourists in the core area of the Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve (TATR), the park management has introduced some strong preventive measures to prevent overpopulation. These rules will come into force with immediate effect. On May 17, 2024, the park’s dominant tigress Roma (T-114) was cornered by tourist vehicles on the Khatoda-Tadoba Road, causing confusion. The National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) also described it as an example of “ecoterrorism” and not “ecotourism”. Talking to TOI, Anand Reddy, deputy director (chief), TATR, said, “To control overcrowding, the route from Jamni Chowk to Jamni Lake overflow point has been made one-way again. For the last two years, the 2 km long route has been bidirectional. This means vehicles can only travel in one direction on this section, reducing the risk of traffic congestion and overcrowding.” Reddy said, “Also, there is no U-turn on the safari road. This rule has been implemented to ensure traffic flow and prevent unnecessary downtime or crowding of vehicles. Reversing vehicles is also prohibited on safari routes. This measure was introduced to avoid accidents or disturbance to wildlife. “All RFOs in Kolsa, Tadoba, Kolara and Mohurli ranges have been informed about the new norms, Reddy added. The reserve attracts thousands of tourists every year who come to catch a glimpse of the magnificent tigers in their natural habitat. One of the stakeholders, Nikhil Abhyankar, said, “The one-way route should start from Jamni Chowk to Khatoda and not from Khatoda to Jamni Chowk as Jamni lake is the only nearest water body for tourists entering through Kolara gate.” These new laws have been welcomed by wildlife enthusiasts and conservationists who are advocating for stricter measures to protect tigers and their habitats. The TATR authorities have also increased the number of patrols to monitor tourist traffic and ensure compliance with the rules. “These actions are a step in the right direction towards promoting responsible tourism and protecting wildlife in the reserve. The incident in which a tigress was cornered by tourist vehicles has raised serious concerns for the safety of the animals and requires better management,” some tourists said. “TATR authorities must launch an awareness campaign to educate tourists about the importance of maintaining a safe distance from animals and not disturbing them and their natural habitat. Besides, a limited number of vehicles should be allowed to prevent overcrowding,” they said.