Ranthambhore tiger reserve flouts rules to welcome tourists in monsoon season

By Sudhanshu Mishra

Published: 19 August 2015

In a shocking revelation, it has come to light that half of the Critical Tiger Habitat (CTH) of the Ranthambhore Tiger Reserve (RTR) has been opened to tourism during the three months of monsoon, beginning September 30. 

This is in defiance of not only the guidelines of the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA), but also the conventions and practices in other sanctuaries of the state, experts said. 

Interestingly, the state officials, hitherto “unaware” of the fact, have decided to review the situation and stop it. 

While other wildlife sanctuaries remain closed during monsoon, Ranthambhore Tiger Reserve will be opened to tourists from September 30

Conservationists said that it was a glaring example of the nexus between the hoteliers and Ranthambhore authorities that made tourism activities and the forest safari possible between July 1 and September 30, when as a rule other wildlife sanctuaries of the state, including Sariska Tiger Reserve, are kept closed for tourism. 

Illegal act 

“It (tiger tourism during monsoon) is illicit encouragement to commercial tourism”, alleged RN Mehrotra, Rajasthan’s former principal chief conservator of forests (PCCF). 

“It has been a long tradition to keep the entire CTH closed for tourism during this period (July-September) as it is generally the breeding season of various species, especially those that provide the prey base for the big cats,” Mehrotra pointed out. 

It was strictly followed till 2011 when he headed the forest force of the state. This is also the period when sprouting of new plants take place in the nature, he said. In fact, in 1988 the state government had issued a direction to keep all wildlife sanctuaries closed for tourism in the interest of conservation. 

The area being opened is known to be home to at least 10 big cats

The government order dated August 22, 1988, a copy of which is with Mail Today, was issued accepting a request of the chief wildlife warden to this effect. 

However, in 2012 following a decision of the state Forest Conservation Foundation the forest department decided to partially open the Ranthambhore’s CTH for tourism. Consequently, out of 10 sectors of RTR 5 (from sectors 6 to 10) were opened for tourism. 

Significantly, this area (sectors 6 to 10) is known for the movements of at least 10 big cats. 

Sunayan Sharma, president, Sariska Tiger Foundation, told Mail Today that it (opening of CTH) was done at the behest of the then tourism and forest minister to benefit the tourists travelling by the super-luxury train ‘Palace on Wheels’, and the hoteliers of Ranthambhore. The practice continued ever since. 

Sharma, also a former field director of Sariska Tiger Reserve, maintained the move was detrimental to the Ranthambhore’s conservation and the tigers living there. 

“I didn’t know about the tourism activities during the current monsoon period in the five sectors of the RTR. When the area was opened it had negligible tiger movements. Now in accordance with the old practice the CTR would no more be opened for tourism during the Monsoon,” principal chief conservator of forests SS Choudhary told the media. 

Choudhary’s predecessor AC Choubey, during whose tenure the five sectors were opened for tourism, maintained that when the decision to partially open the CTH was taken as there were little movements of tigers in those areas. But as the tigers’ movements had increased since then tourism must be banned now, he asserted.

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