Post Pandemic Tiger Tourism An Imperative & Brutal Reality

NO Conservation in Isolation 

"If It Pays It Stays"

Well at some wildlife destinations in Africa as I was reading during the lockdown, the saying goes that if it pays it stays. In extremely poverty-stricken circumstances this holds to be true. Unfortunately, the activity does not appear to be egalitarian to many and yes to some in the bureaucracy as well. This view stands for India as well. 

After the hunting season which thankfully was banned in 1972...than tourism was seen as a recreation of elites. Not anymore, the local communities even those bereft take pride in their heritage or their heritance.  Those who get their bread from the park and tourism consider conservation as an essential tool for their survival. In absence of the reserve, their livelihood would have been nonexistent. We must understand the overall upliftment of a region benefits even those who are not direct participants in the conservation and recreational activities of PAs.      

Even if conservation was in place sans tourism a large community of dwellers with no employment in the department would have turned to wood logging and poaching. This number would have been enough to bring protection and preservation efforts to naught. So would have the empowerment of the locals. There would have been a big dent in local institutions and infrastructure which is somehow empowered due to the tourist arrivals and their activities. Also, a lot of community initiatives have come into the picture due to the tour operators and the hotel industry around the PAs.  

In spite of millions invested in saving our endangered ecosystems and species without the empowerment and participation of local communities, the Conservation Projects and Programs would have performed poorly. 

Another aspect that warrants attention is the revenue that parks generate from tourism, this supports many activities which enable the participation of locals especially the labor class the poorest working section of society. The revenue generated also mitigates the burden of the State Governments, otherwise, contingency funds would have been a major issue, especially those required for core conservation initiatives. We will also have to add income generation from inbound tourism overall which I believe would be substantial.  

Post Pandemic 

For the planners, not only the manufacturing sector but tourism as well has to be looked into in the post-pandemic period in India. Albeit manufacturing has been allowed in remote and rural confines this is not the case with wildlife tourism. Most of our PAs are situated in remote confines. I hope this activity is seen as an imperative by the Government else the industry will have to collectively press upon it.  

In the opening season (October) if the lockdown in a few states and major towns still prevails, organizing tourist activity in the tiger reserves would require new regulations in place but certainly possible. The major tiger reserves are dependent upon visitors from all over India, and equally impressive numbers from overseas. Hence interstate and International transportation has to be facilitated with new norms...as it will be. 

The post-Covid-19 period will not be without blemishes and bottlenecks as the pandemic is not going to go away as a seasonal intrusion as most people still believe. Even if the peak passes off, the pandemic might linger on as local eruptions from time to time or even as a periodic epidemic. So little do we know about this coronavirus?   In spite, we should be planning ahead in order to conduct tourism in our tiger reserves with a new paradigm in place.  

Extension of Activities

Thankfully the buffer zone has become center of activities and it is paying by organizing safaris. In future the buffer zone forest will experience greater protection and preservation efforts.

There is a possibility of organizing regulated tourism in areas where tourism is not permitted in our PAs at present - however minimal. We should look into this with an open mind. 

Many among us, unfortunately, consider tiger tourism as destructive in spite of it being in place for decades with no apparent harm. Until we change our perspective we will not be able to fully exploit the tourism potential of our PAs.

The lockdown has brought many safeguards and protective measures in place and the public has learned the etiquette to keep safe. Things will move on...

Uday Works as Freelance Naturalist and Blogs on conservation, tigers, environmental issues. 

He also provides SEO and Website Content in English.

Uday Teaches Internet Marketing Classes in his home town in Jabalpur in Summer.  

He can be contacted at: 

pateluday90@hotmail.com

Night Safaris at Kanha

Night Safaris at Kanha are not allowed inside the park. But you can frequent the common public roads for a chance encounter with nocturnal animals.  The chances of sighting big cats are rare but the leopards frequent villages so there is a greater chance of stumbling on to the spotted one. 

It is unethical to use strong search lights on animals you encounter. Use your headlight and disturb the animal the least.  On many occasions I have come across small night animals like civets, mongoose, porcupine, ratel, hyena, and fox. These are rare to see in the day time. Larger animals like Nilgai, Sambar Deer, Spotted Deer, Barking Deer and Four Horned Deer can be seen on such rides.

A search for mouse deer would be an exciting discovery if seen since the animal is very elusive. Same goes for the Indian wolf whose sightings are in doubt now a days. One of its favorite haunts the Mocha Village neighboring forests is now occupied by hotel resorts and private bungalows.  Birds like night jars, large owls  and Eurasian thick knee are seen frequently hence you will always sight something or the other.

Even in summers the night sky can throw a chill down on you so carry a blanket at least.  It is wise to go in at early hours and come back to rest early. Take a naturalist with and some other hotel staff to be safe...albeit no untoward incidence has happened. Do not enter the park confines as night rides are not allowed inside the tiger reserve.

The starry night sky and the silence enraptures tourists on such rides. But be safe!

Kanha Wildlife

Though the tiger is the main attraction in Kanha the park is home to many wild animals in India. The most attractive mega fauna is of course the rare hard ground swamp deer. This sub species of deer is found only at Kanha and is surviving precariously after a remarkable come back from brink of extinction. The deer was saved in the nick of the time. 

Indian bison or Gaur is an ox race  and is doing well in the park. Around 1976 disease rinderpest and FPL either of the two wiped out a large population. Thankfully the population has recovered and herds can be seen at Kisli range in summers. There has to be strict implementation of inoculating live stock in the surroundings. 

Samabar deer the largest in the Asia survives in good numbers here and can be seen often especially in the evening hours. Sambar along with the ubiquitous spotted deer constitutes the main prey base of the tigers in the wild.     

On tiger safaris one can see barking deer, four horned deer and of late the mouse deer has been discovered in the park. The leopard is often seen with luck and so is the sloth bear. Wild dogs are seen more often in Kanha and Kisli ranges. Langurs, wild boars, rhesus macaque, jackal and peacock are widespread in the preserve and regularly seen.One can take a peak at the Indian python around the numerous water holes.

During a night safari outside the park confines one can come across many nocturnal animals - civets, hare, ratel, porcupine and perhaps hyena or wolf. Late evening hours are ideal for sighting leopards on night safaris. Park safari inside the park is not allowed hence one should drive along common roads in the periphery. Using flash light is not advisable. 

The ensuing tiger chase prevents experiencing the over all diversity of flora and fauna in the preserve. The focus of attention on tiger safaris is the tiger. This is understandable as the animal holds mesmerizing charisma and a mystic appeal among most humans. Nevertheless once you have encountered a tiger then go in for a holistic appraisal of the landscape, wildlife and bird life in order to make your visit meaningful. 

The tiger is usually sighted on jeep safari in four or five rounds but in most cases  tiger sighting would  take place in one and two rounds. Tiger show much touted as cola show lets many tourists have a close look at this nature's wonder. The sight of the tiger is the wild is amazing experience and turns many into sympathizers of our wilderness.         

For regular visitors the park offers a chance to study Kanha wildlife and birds as amateurs this is good. Awareness of our nature helps us conserve better. There are many wildlife photographers visiting the National Park especially during the hot months of summer.  Summer sunshine and animal congregation  around  water holes is ideal for wildlife and tiger photography.

Birding is exciting in the park with more than two hundred species to be seen during winters. Of late bird watching trips are being organized by tour operators of India. Kanha offers the best in Central India forest birding.

Tiger Safaris India

Wildlife Safaris - Tiger Tours

Come October, the monsoon ends and National Parks and tiger reserves open up for visitors. Though the number of tigers in India is constantly dwindling, the animal finds increasing interest among the naturalists and wildlife lovers.

Severely endangered the majestic tiger is World's most charismatic animal. It's aura revolves around mystic charm, abundant fear and intrigue which humans find irresistible. Tourist flock in thousands from every state of India and the World to have just one fleeting glimpse of the big cat. Tigers are shy of humans and contrary to popular belief they fear man.

Man eating is an aberrant behavior and the cat is literary a gentle giant. It's main purpose is to serve the ecosystem as top/tertiary carnivore in the food chain. It governs the population of herbivores which are it's main prey base. The tiger's presence in the forest acts as an indicator that the ecosystem is intact.

The preferred habitat is dense forest and sometimes tall grasslands like in Kaziranga National Park. Unlike the lion it is not an open country or savanna dwelling animal. Neither does it hunt or live in big prides like it's cousin, but is a solitary animal. The pairing takes place for mating after which the two separate. The female rears the cubs, while the male guards from afar rarely visiting the family.

The tigress is fiercely protective of the cubs and does not let the male come near nor share the food. There is no danger to the cubs from the male which has sired them, but other males will kill the cubs instantly. On rare occasion the whole family can be seen together.

The tiger now survives in protected areas like the National Parks, tiger reserves and wildlife sanctuaries. Outside these areas in the unprotected forests the tiger's survival is uncertain, and it has probably become extinct in many of them.

The protected areas serve many a purpose, one is to conserve the tiger as well as the whole ecosystem. The other is eco tourism which brings in revenue to the locals and the tourism industry including the hotels and wildlife resorts. Subsequently tourism creates awareness among people and encourages them to conserve nature. Tourist also act as an eye on the way things are in the habitat and perhaps help protect the forests in this manner.

In the beginning of the safari season flood gates open up for tour operators in India who get busy selling wildlife packages. Package tours in group are preferred mode of travel for tiger safaris amongst foreign tourists. The Indian tourists prefer family trips or travel independent. The hotel industry is linked with the tour operators in India and abroad. The accommodation is fully booked during the holiday seasons much in advance.

With awareness, tourism has become more responsible. The industry and governance sees the benefit of sharing revenue, jobs and income with the local tribes who are thus encouraged to conserve their natural wealth. Although bit ironical these very people have to be shifted from the core areas of the parks in order to give free space to the wild denizens. This is imperative and the solution is to delivers generous package which justifies the relocation. Proper compensation helps them resettle elsewhere successfully and make a better living.

Responsible tourism is again an imperative in order to make the local endemic tribal communities understand the benefit of conservation and tourism. Many tour operators and hotels employ local people and share benefits with them. In return these very communities strive hard to protect the inheritance.

Though there is much noise about ill effect of tourism, here it is not justified as wildlife nor the ecosystem has ever suffered from controlled tourism. On the contrary parks like Kanha National Park, Bandhavgarh, Corbett, Pench, Ranthambhore and many others have been a conservation success. This in spite of heavy load of tourists every year.

Tiger in the Bush

On my recent visit to Kanha, last week in June, I had a tough time locating tigers. It had rained a day before I arrived and continued to rain intermittently spoiling the tiger safari. Except for herds of Chittal and occasional sightings of Sambar deer it was difficult toe see any other animal.

On the second round of the wild life safari a barking deer went scurrying past too fast for my English guests to take some photographs. The rain kept troubling us and it was at times very heavy.

"Do we have a chance to locate the tiger?" Chris asked rather dejected.

"Very thin chance I replied." The tigers are inactive and their movement is limited as water and prey is available very close to them."

"So they keep to dense thickets?"

"Yes definitely Chris that is why there are no alarm cries or pug marks on the road." I replied unhappy that I was not able to show the tiger to my guests.

We did manage to see the Hard ground Barasingha, Gaur, a lone Jackal and eventually a Barking deer. And yes lots of birds. But my guests did not go away disappointed after all as we saw the Bengal tiger in a tiger show on the last round before leaving. It was the same tiger that had walked alongside us for a long time in January. The same tiger was well camouflaged hidden and sulking in the bush.

The camouflage was so perfect that even a few feet from the bush we could not make out that a tiger was sitting there in a bush and that even a large full grown tiger. The only clue was a partially eaten wild boar which it had hunted the night before.

With little bit of elephant maneuvers we could lay our eyes on the tiger and the guests could get some superlative images of the tiger as seen from the network of branches and twigs.

Tiger Tour Guide

I have added important resources for tiger tour which I am sure those interested in wild jungle safari in India will find useful. The links are about project tiger and major Indian National Parks and Tiger reserves.

The links also give a brief on Indian wildlife for naturalist guides, nature lovers and conservationists. My effort is to provide all tiger tour details at one spot for eco tourist traveling in India to see tiger and Indian wild life.

I would welcome suggestion from the reader on how to improve this blog by adding important travel info to make a travelers trip a success.

Tiger Sighting

The most thrilling moment in one's life is sighting the rare and elusive tiger and that is what a tiger tour offers to a tourist. Most of the tiger sighting in Indian tiger reserves is on elephant back but for the lucky ones they can come across a tiger on the jungle trek. This happens less but when you experience such an adventure it is simply breathtaking. The moment is filled with spine tingling fear and excitement though the fear is unfounded as the tiger is a thorough gentlemen. Harmless if undisturbed. It follows the law of the jungle to tee.

The King of the forest has been so ignominiously treated by the humans that he is on the brink of extinction। For a tiger lover or an eco tourist, those who venture into the wild seeing a tiger is not enough, he should strive to save the tiger any which way he can।

The tiger is just not for tourism he is an important aspect of the environment being on the top of the food chain and an indicator species that tells the state of the forest. These forests are important for man as the source of precious water and food. This fact very few people understand specially urban dewellers.

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