‘No time-frame fixed for re-opening MTR’

A special tourism plan is in the process of being put in place for the Mudumalai Tiger Reserve (MTR) near here, according to Field Director, MTR, Raguram Singh. He told The Hindu that it would be in tune with the guidelines of the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) and the conditions laid down by the Apex Court while lifting the ban on tourism in the core areas.

The National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) will soon create a national data base for tigers, the flagship species of India, and each one of the big cats will have a unique identification numb

The famous Ranthambore and Sariska national parks in Rajasthan were thrown open to tourists on October 17, a day after the Supreme Court lifted the interim ban on tourist activities in the core areas of tiger reserve forests in the country, following the notification of revised comprehensive guidelines for tourism in these zones.

The resumption of tourism activities brought cheer to hoteliers and tour operators, whose business had been hit hard by the cancellation of tiger safaris and bookings, following the impasse after the apex court’s July 24 order, which halted all tourism-related activities in the tiger reserve areas

Much to the delight of wildlife enthusiasts and conservationists, the Supreme Court on Tuesday lifted its interim ban on tourism in core areas of tiger reserves which had stopped the entry of visit

Tiger tourism will be back to business as the Supreme Court today lifted its July 24 ban that had made the core areas of all the 41 tiger reserves across the country out-of-bounds for tourists.

SC Verdict On Lifting Ban Likely To Attract More Tiger Tourists During Festive Season

Jaipur: It could not have been better than this. With festive season around, it was a gift of sorts for many a tourist in the state as the Supreme Court on Tuesday lifted the ban on tiger tourism in reserves across the country. The court has now allowed tourism in 20% of the core area of tiger reserves.

Rajasthan was the worst hit after the ban was imposed on tourism in the core areas of tiger reserves. The two reserves in the state -- Ranthambhore National Park and the Sariska National Park -- normally open for tourists from October 1. However, due to the ban this year, the parks had to remain closed, turning away many as the tourist zones in these parks lie mostly in core areas. Now, both will open on Wednesday.

The lifting of the interim ban on tourism in tiger reserves has brought a cheer to the tiger tourism industry though the Supreme Court has unequivocally placed the onus of responsibility of protection of the tiger reserves on the state governments.

Amit Sankala, director of Tiger Resorts, believes the Supreme Court has given a six month lead period for the creation of Tiger Protection Force (TPF) across all the 17 states in which tiger reserves are located.

Strictly adhere to National Tourism Conservation Authority guidelines, says court

The Supreme Court on Tuesday lifted the ban on tourist activities in core areas of tiger reserve forests. This follows Additional Solicitor-General Indira Jaising’s submission that on October 15 the government notified the revised guidelines for the 41 tiger reserves to be followed by States. A Bench of Justices A.K. Patnaik and Swatanter Kumar said: “This court passed an order on July 24 that till final guidelines are issued, core areas won’t be used for tourism. Now that the National Tourism Conservation Authority [NTCA] has notified the comprehensive guidelines under the Wildlife Act for tourism in and around tiger reserves, we modify the interim order and direct that henceforth tourism activities will be strictly in accordance with the guidelines.”

Bhubaneswar: As part of the Tiger Monitor Protocol of National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA), sign survey of carnivores and ungulates, kicked off across the Similipal Tiger Reserve (STR) on M

Jaipur: With the Sariska tiger translocation project bearing fruit in the form of two cubs, the stage is set for Sariska to get three more tigers. In fact, the second phase of the translocation will see the forest department trying to introduce fresh blood into the 866 sq km forest.

“Plans have been finalized for the shifting of three big cats to Sariska. One of the tigress will be from Ranthambore and two more (one male and one female) will be relocated from outside the state. It could either be from Madhya Pradesh or Maharashtra and we are talking to both the states,” says V S Singh, additional chief secretary, environment and forest, government of Rajasthan.