Indian Wildlife & Ecotourism Tourism

 Since prehistoric times wildlife or wild animals' meat consumption was a regular part of the human diet. Animals were meant to be hunted for food before agrarian practices proliferated. Although human food also comprised vegetables and fruits that grew naturally animals being in plenty constituted a major part of the human diet.

In the modern era, hunting became a sport ruthless one at that and wild animal meat was a regular part of the human diet. Because of this Europe and the Americas lost most of their wilderness. Even in Asia, this has happened.

 As the civilizations progressed and guns came into the picture and wildlife persecution in form of sport and food magnified. With greater progress in society, wealth accumulation and greed pushed back the ethos of conservation forever.

In many civilizations, most of the wild animals especially predators were treated as vermin and a bounty was placed on them. They were trapped, snared, or shot down for a small price. With expanding communities the ecosystems or habitats began to vanish as widespread clearance started taking place to grow crops.

Clearance for agriculture and hunting is part of the torturous passage of history pages. Many wild species have become extinct, and mass extinction is threatening wilderness everywhere. During British rule, the Tiger, Lion, Elephant, Cobra, and even small predators were ruthlessly eliminated all for a small price.

When cognizance dawned we are all interlinked with all forms of life on Earth it was quite late. The conservation laws came in to stem the rot albeit quite late. Tigers, lions, rhinos, cheetahs, and leopards are being poached on a horrendous scale to this date.

Even in independent India, these animals were shot before the Wildlife Protection Act 1972 for a paltry fee. Shameful. We cannot blame the British alone for the sad state of affairs that prevails today.  It is the protected area concept that has saved much wilderness in the country. Project Tiger is responsible for saving the tiger in the reserves in India. There are more than fifty tiger reserves in the country, and more are being created to save the big cats, wildlife, and the ecosystem.

Ecotourism

Ecotourism in India has been a saving grace and bringing crucial revenue for the conservation of our National Parks and reserves. Organized tiger safaris are playing a major role in conservation. The parks are managed by State Governments under the aegis of NTCA and the results have been encouraging. There are more than 3000 tigers in the country and the future looks bright.