Ga-ga over tiger sightings, tourists toss rules into the wild

Vijay Pinjarkar, TNN | Mar 2, 2012, 02.20AM IST NAGPUR: If vandalizing of tourists cars at Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve (TATR) gate at Navegaon (Ramdegi) on February 25 was a blot on tiger tourism, the visitors gave a bad name to it on Wednesday by going berserk on spotting tigers in Pandharpaoni area of the reserve. More than 100 visitors in 30 vehicles, including those in the Chimur-Tadoba-Rajura state transport bus virtually scrambled and competed to have a glimpse of four tigers that had appeared on the Pandharpaoni-Tadoba road around 9am on Wednesday. According to Project Tiger guidelines, a distance of 30 metres should be maintained between vehicles and the animals but many were barely 10 metres away from the tigers. With Pandharpaoni becoming a hot spot for tiger sightings, the permitted 40 vehicles entering from Moharli, Khutwanda, Kolara and Navegaon gates head for the spot, causing not only congestion but complete chaos. On Wednesday, when the four sub-adult tiger cubs were sighted, vehicles rushed to the spot. Ostensibly scared by the noise, two cubs crossed the road and vanished inside the dense bamboo clusters while two continued to relax on the road for more than an hour. There were more than 30 vehicles at that time on the spot. Those at the back, upset at not getting a clear view, protested boisterously. The ST bus passengers and its drivers stepped out of the bus, which is completely against the rules, and climbed atop for a good view. Six van majoors with their bicycles too were there at the spot. Some who could not sight the tigers jumped off their vehicles and hollered to those in front. With time ticking away to the 10am deadline when the Moharli gate is shut, vehicles began speeding brazenly. Some stopped to click more pictures and one of the vehicles was just 6 feet away from the tiger. One of the tigers preying a nilgai, which had been released in Pandharpaoni after getting close to humans, was also disturbed by the vehicles. Some gypsies even stopped their vehicles on the attacking tiger's path. "A road hit, like what happened in Bandhavgarh recently, is imminent if the park officials don't take action soon," said Sandeep Dahat, a nature lover from Jaripatka and an eyewitness. Chief conservator of forests (CCF) & field director VK Sinha said the bus driver and some vehicle owners have been asked to show cause on why their entry into the park should not be banned. Sinha agreed that there is need to regulate tourism in the park for which additional staff is needed. "We will deploy more staff from Friday and see that vehicles do not stop at one spot for long durations," he said. "Tourism is an important economic activity and can link tigers to wider constituency and build conservation support. But when managed badly, it can lead to stress on tiger habitats," said Haseeb Badar, a wildlife lover and another eyewitness. What Project Tiger Says? * In place of open gypsies and cars, medium-sized buses, with a closed body and sliding windows may be used for park excursions. This will minimize risk of close encounters with animals and reduce number of vehicles * A minimum mandatory distance of 500 metres should be maintained between two vehicles plying on the same road * Tourists vehicles, while spotting a tiger or any other wild animal, should maintain a minimum mandatory distance of 30 metres * The route guides must be professionally trained and penalty should be imposed on visitors in case they violate rules http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/nagpur/Ga-ga-over-tiger-sightings-tourists-toss-rules-into-the-wild/articleshow/12103989.cms