Tiger Safari in Tiger Reserve

• 14 Mar 2024

For Prelims: Supreme Court, Tiger Safari at Pakhrau, Corbett Tiger Reserve, Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), National Parks, Wildlife Sanctuaries, Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, Tiger Safari, National Board for Wild Life , Central Zoo Authority (CZA) , Rajaji Tiger Reserve, Nahargarh Biological Park, Asiatic lions, Royal Bengal tigers, panthers, hyenas, wolves, deer, crocodiles, sloth bears, Himalayan black bears,

For Mains: Significance of establishment of a Tiger Safari in the Buffer zone of Corbett Tiger Reserve.

Source: IE

Why in News?

The Supreme Court expressed inclination towards approving the establishment of a Tiger Safari at Pakhrau, Uttarakhand in the buffer area of Corbett Tiger Reserve (CTR).

• The court emphasised that safari parks are intended only for local tigers that are injured, conflicted, or orphaned, and not those sourced from zoos.
• The court gave the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) a three-month deadline to conclude its investigation into alleged irregularities within CTR.

Note

• In its interim order related to the case challenging the Forest (Conservation) Amendment Act, 2023, the Supreme Court stated that the creation of zoos or safaris by any government or authority must receive final approval from the apex court.

What Does a Tiger Safari Really Mean?

• About:
  • A tiger safari is an expedition undertaken to observe tigers in their natural habitat.
  • These safaris typically take place in protected areas like national parks and wildlife sanctuaries, particularly in India, which is home to over 70% of the world's wild tiger population.
• Definition:
  • The Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 does not define "tiger safari".
    • The act mandates that “no construction of commercial tourist lodges, hotels, zoos and safari parks shall be undertaken inside a sanctuary except with the prior approval of the National Board for Wild Life constituted under the Act.
• Establishment:
  • The concept of a tiger safari was introduced in the 2012 Guidelines for Tourism by the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA), allowing for such establishments in the buffer areas of tiger reserves.
  • NTCA guidelines of 2016 permitted the establishment of "Tiger Safaris" in buffer and fringe areas of tiger reserves for injured, conflicted, or orphaned tigers, stipulating that no tigers should be obtained from zoos.
  • In 2019, the NTCA permitted animals to be sourced from zoos for tiger safari, granting the Central Zoo Authority (CZA) the authority to select these animals.

What are the Needs and Concerns Related to Building a Tiger Safari in the Forest?

• Need:
  • The 2012 NTCA guidelines supported safari parks as a strategy to alleviate the tourism pressure within tiger reserves, which can stress wildlife.
  • There is resistance to transferring animals that are not suited for the wild, like those that are injured, orphaned, or caught in conflicts, to distant zoos.
    • Safari parks provide a way to keep such animals captive within their natural environment.
  • Buffer areas were designated to accommodate activities supporting the livelihood and development needs of local communities.
    • Safari parks contribute to generating income and fostering local support for tiger conservation.
• Concerns
  • Housing zoo tigers or other captive animals within tiger habitats poses a risk of disease transmission to wild tigers and other wildlife.
  • Keeping captive animals in different locations doesn't change their captive status. Creating safari parks for "rescued" tigers in reserves might focus more on the welfare of individual tigers than on conserving the species, which could disturb natural habitats.
    • The concept of displaying "rescued" tigers in safari parks diverges from the norm of keeping distressed animals away from public view.
    • The 2016 guidelines were cautious about this policy shift, mandating assessment by the NTCA for every "recovered/treated animal" before placement in safari parks.
  • The Supreme Court held that the NTCA's interpretation of tiger safaris as essentially zoos within tiger reserves contradicts the purpose of tiger conservation.
  • Efforts to reduce tourist crowds around tigers in reserves have often failed, with new safari routes attracting even more visitors.

Corbett Tiger Reserve

• About:
  • It is located in the Nainital district of Uttarakhand. The Project Tiger was launched in 1973 in Corbett National Park (first National Park of India), which is part of Corbett Tiger Reserve.
    • The national park was established in 1936 as Hailey National Park to protect the endangered Bengal tiger.
  • The core area forms the Corbett National Park while the buffer contains reserve forests as well as the Sonanadi Wildlife Sanctuary.
  • The entire area of the reserve is mountainous and falls in the Shivalik and Outer Himalaya geological provinces.
  • Ramganga, Sonanadi, Mandal, Palain and Kosi are the major rivers flowing through the Reserve.
• Other Major Protected Areas of Uttarakhand:
  • Nanda Devi National Park.
  • Valley of Flowers National Park.
    • Valley of Flowers National Park and Nanda Devi National Park together are a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
  • Rajaji National Park.
  • Gangotri National Park.

Rajaji National Park

• About:
  • Location: Haridwar (Uttarakhand), along the foothills of the Shivalik range.
  • Background: Three sanctuaries in the Uttarakhand i.e. Rajaji, Motichur and Chila were amalgamated into a large protected area and named Rajaji National Park in the year 1983 after the famous freedom fighter C. Rajgopalachari; popularly known as “Rajaji”.
  • Features:
    • This area is the North Western Limit of habitat of Asian elephants.
    • Forest types include sal forests, riverine forests, broad–leaved mixed forests, scrubland and grassy.
    • It was declared a Tiger Reserve in 2015.
    • It is home to the Van Gujjars tribes in the winters.

Way Forward

• Addressing Disease Transmission Risks: Implement stringent health screening and quarantine protocols for captive animals before introducing them into tiger habitats.
• Balancing Welfare and Conservation: Develop guidelines and management plans that prioritise species conservation and minimise disruptions to natural habitats while also considering the welfare of individual animals.
• Enhancing Oversight and Evaluation: Strengthen monitoring and evaluation mechanisms, building on the cautious approach outlined in the 2016 guidelines. Ensure that the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) conducts thorough assessments of every "recovered/treated animal" before approving their placement in safari parks.
• Aligning with Conservation Goals: Foster dialogue between conservation organisations, government agencies, and legal authorities to ensure that policies and practices support long-term conservation efforts while upholding ethical standards.
• Sustainable Tourism Management: Implement sustainable tourism practices to reduce the impact of tourist crowds on tiger reserves. Explore options such as visitor quotas, diversified tourist activities, and improved infrastructure to manage visitor traffic more effectively.

UPSC Civil Services Examination, Previous Year Questions (PYQs)

Prelims:

Q1. Consider the following pairs: (2013)

	National Park	River flowing through Park
1.	Corbett National Park	Ganga
2.	Kaziranga National Park	Manas
3.	Silent Valley National Park	Kaveri

Which of the above pairs is/are correctly matched?

(a) 1 and 2
(b) 3 only
(c) 1 and 3
(d) None

Ans: (d)

Q.2 Among the following Tiger Reserves, which one has the largest area under “Critical Tiger Habitat”? (2020)

(a) Corbett
(b) Ranthambore
(c) Nagarjunasagar-Srisailam
(d) Sundarbans

Ans: C

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Mains:

Q. “Policy contradictions among various competing sectors and stakeholders have resulted in inadequate ‘protection and prevention of degradation’ to the environment.” Comment with relevant illustrations. (2018)