Responsible Tourism and Tigers

Tiger Conservation Our Responsibility

Well, we are responsible for the sad state of tigers in India and the World over. While the conditions in India are improving with the increase in the population of big cats still the animals are nowhere out of danger. Yes, they are still endangered and still critical. Their population can slide down with a single step missed or a wrong foot forward. Such is the precarious status of the magnificent predator all over.  A lot depends upon our attitude towards this animal A Pride of India. A lot depends upon how the policies are shaped by those at the helm. A lot depends upon our sincerity to conserve this amazing creature on Earth and an utmost fascinating one at that. 

The seventies brought back this animal from the brink whence the Wildlife Protection Act 1972 and Project Tiger were initiated by the Government of India. Butea there are lot many issues still present which create a threat to the species' survival. 

While human activities and our irresponsible nature are responsible for the plight of many life forms. The resultant climate change or global warming is affecting the survival of many life forms globally and mass extinctions have become a reality. Now pandemics have also become a reality and that too in a vicious form as seen in the case of Covid-19 or coronavirus.

Sustainable Tourism

So every responsible step we take we will end up saving many life forms. Tourism is a major economy in India that earns substantial revenue from overseas and local visitors. Thankfully in India, at least tiger tourism is regulated. Yes visit a tiger reserve and you will know. 

But responsibilities have to be on a wider scale encompassing all those involved. This would encompass you and me, tour operators and hoteliers, and the people around the reserves. All elements mentioned above can bring down the extinction rate significantly.

The responsible tourism principles advocate:

• Smaller Carbon Footprints
• Accommodating Locals in Jobs 
• Create New Eco-Friendly Livelihood Options
• Conservation of Natural Resources
• Rewilding 
• Community Initiatives 
• Contribute to Ongoing Community Initiates
• Empowerment of Local Communities
• Local Infrastructure Development Assistance
• Renewable Energy Initiatives   
• Maximize Purchase of Local Produce 
• Encourage Handicrafts Development
• Assist in Modern Dairy Farming 
• Assist in Horticulture 
• Proper Waste Disposal 
• Minimize Use of Energy
• Minimize Use of Natural Resources 
• Assistance to Forest Management 
• Compliance With Protected Area Guidelines
• Compliance With Excursion Rules

In times of restricted entries in the park, smaller properties that leave minimum carbon footprints should be encouraged. Community initiatives and infrastructure development like empowering schools and hospitals, training locals in various disciplines for a sustainable career, and more. All these activities are within the reach of resorts and tour operators with a robust balance sheets.    

Courtyard House Kanha Community School Initiative 

The battle to save the big cat is multi-fronted and holistic, the local communities and the management are in the frontline. As people of India, we too are responsible for our heritage and should act in tandem with green practices in the confines of our homes, neighborhood, and society.

Economy & Conservation 

When the wheels of the economy churn conservation are at their best and nothing churns it better than tourism. Without equity, none will survive including the tigers. Albeit the conservation of species is based on scientific principles in the contemporary World this will lose ground.

Local Labour - Road Works

This archaic perspective of tourism being the antithesis of species conservation is at best myopic and should be done away with.

Our Protected Areas

Take the example of protected areas most of which have now become intact ecosystems and an appreciable increase in the population of different species including the tiger has taken place. This has come about by creating an inviolate space and restricting human activities. An extensive protection mechanism helps ward off poachers, wood loggers, and their heinous acts. 

The contribution to the local economy is in all perspectives phenomenal and has to be seen to be believed. Take the example of  Kanha National Park. In the seventies, during my earlier visit, all the villages lined up along the road to Kanha, and inside were a spectacle of extreme poverty and cut off from the mainstream society....not now. Those who consider the economic upliftment here as minimal need to conduct a proper survey keeping in perspective the era before tourism became popular. The parks are receiving substantial funds due to tourism and that is impressive by all means.

The vision of detractors is poor and steeped in a conservative attitude. Many in the bureaucracy find tourism a nuisance and a hindrance in conservation activities, this is nothing but a colonial stance.

There are many NGOs mostly human rights activists who have little knowledge of how beleaguered ecosystems are repaired and how they function. They are not adept at understanding animal behavior, especially of species which are shy of man. They are well some of them are detractors of tourism and the core area concept reserved for other life forms to breed and survive in peace. They seek human footsteps everywhere. A very human-centric attitude like some of our politicians. 

Regulated tourism is an inseparable aspect of conservation now and the sooner we realize it the better. It accords equity to the tiger and other animals in the minds of people. It encourages local participation in the preservation and protection of their heritage.  Most important it runs the local economies and empowers people belonging to various strata. It helps remote communities join the mainstream society in India and bring them into the nexus of social benefits and related gains.

==============================
Uday Works as Freelance Naturalist and Blogs on conservation, tigers, and environmental issues. 
He also provides SEO and Website Content in English.
Uday Teaches Internet Marketing Classes in his hometown in Jabalpur in Summer.  
He can be contacted at 
pateluday90@hotmail.com
09755089323
===============================

Eco Resorts at Kanha

Tiger tourism is one of the main draw of the visitors from foreign countries and the locals. Tiger reserves like Kanha, Bandhavgarh and Pench in Madhya Pradesh are very popular for tiger safaris. Corbett National Park and Ranthambhore are also very popular for tiger tourism in India. 

In spite of large number of National Parks/Tiger Reserves greater tourism is limited to the above forests. The reason is high density of tigers and hence easy visibility. Though tigers are present in good numbers elsewhere especially in South India the visibility is lacking due to nature of the habitat. Periyar and Wynaad are examples.

To cater to ever increasing numbers of tourists on tiger safaris the accommodation has been steadily increasing. Initially the rest houses belonging to forest and other government departments were the only places one could stay. In recent times the influx of hotels, jungle camps and resorts has been catering to the tourists.

The concept of holiday accommodation in Indian jungle is steadily changing. The tourists prefer fully equipped wildlife resorts for a stay. These resorts are now being built on the principle of sustainable eco friendly tourism. The ambiances though highly modern is built on the exteriors were eco friendly sustainable resources have been used.      

Most of the eco resorts are built using the same technology as the ethnic dwellings of the tribal villages. Kanha Tiger Preserve leads in this aspect. The new concept has been encouraged by responsible eco friendly tourism which is the need of the hour. Even the energy is obtained from solar panels as much as possible. Though for temperature control electricity is a must. But much of the power is generated using solar panels.  

The ethnic construction is environmentally well heeled and cottages and rooms maintain an amiable temperature reducing the need for temperature control. As in ethnic dwellings the walls are used using locally available mud in conjunction with natural materials used by the tribal. The construction is safe, stable and rock solid as has been proved through centuries.    

The appearance of the resorts is that of beautifully sculptured dwellings in harmony with the surroundings. All this, without sacrificing modern comforts and utilities that the guests look for in luxury accommodations. The eco resorts are well equipped with wildlife interpretation center, trained naturalists, and professional managers and wait staff. The resorts offer in house activities relating to eco tourism iike tribal dance and music - this way they provide lively hood to the locals.   

In time to come eco friendly resorts at Kanha will be the preferred accommodation.  The tourists on wildlife safari do not wish for city type hotels anymore in wild habitats. With increasing tourism awareness of our wild heritage is growing among the tourists. They are more and more becoming conscious of responsible tourism practices.

Kanha and other tiger reserves our life sustaining eco systems. The support vast diversity of life forms with which our lives are linked. Conducting proper tourism will help save these vital ecosystems, and sustain lives of the local communities as well. The tribal are the real sentinels who conserve our green belts. 

Festival Time at Tiger Parks

Festival times at Indian tiger reserves is an event of mad rush. The National Parks in India are subject to traffic beyond carrying capacity. All over there is a hustling bustling crowd of tourists and tourist mongers. Service providers and seekers. The poor animals suffer!

This is a perfect example of lack of foresight. Number of times forest officials and perhaps tourism managers have been advised to open up infrastructure in other wildlife places. This will, apart from bringing cost down for ecotourism, reduce pressure on major tiger reserves as Kanha National Park in Central India, Pench reserve, Corbett and Bandhavgarh National Park the most popular. Incidentally this is an earning time for wildlife resorts in National Parks. But than this is not responsible tourism.

Good thing that has happened is that number of entries into the park have been restricted in Central Indian National Parks. Similarly other keystone species should be highlight to take pressures off tiger parks. Few good examples are wild elephant safari at Corbett and Rhino tours at Kaziranga National Park in Assam state of India. Lion safari at Gir National Park should be promoted more. The list is endless. Even for birding there are lot other birding spots that need promotion. I have been to Nalsarovar and Thol at Gujarat near Ahmedabad they are prime birding areas but lack development.

There are lot of wildlife sanctuaries that can attract a large number of tourists - even those who cannot afford to visit major reserves due to high travel cost. This will benefit the locals in terms of employment and strengthen conservation effort.

The best that most wildlife sanctuaries in India offer are a rest house for accommodation which is not readily available to general public. The road and tourism infrastructure is in a mess here and organized wildlife safari is impossible here. These places offer good wildlife viewing and may harbor rare exotic wildlife. Tourism here will help in conservation as well as exploration of the forests.

Some ignored parks and sanctuaries are:

Sanjay National Park

Nauradehi Sanctuary

Bori Sanctuary

Satpura National Park

All in Madhya Pradesh

Achanakmar Sanctuary Chhattisgarh

Indravati National Park in Chhattisgarh.

and many many more in India where tourism can be developed.