Tiger safari in Corbett National Park

The officials of Tiger reserve are awaiting a nod from the Central Zoo Authority before preparing a detailed project report on tiger safari – cum – rescue centre in the buffer zone of the Jim Corbett national park. The chief warden of the wildlife has sent the proposal to the zoo authority in the month of August 2016. The National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) has already given the approval for setting up the centre.

       

       The buffer zone shall be in Pakhro in the national park having an area of 200 hectare, where the centre for safari-cum-rescue centre has been proposed. The entry for this zone shall be from Kotdwara. Initially, only a part of this area shall be exposed to the tourists and remaining shall be other activities like medication and injured tigers.

       The environment for the tigers shall be made as in the wild. The old and injured tigers shall be caged for the tourists, who fail to see the tigers in the wild. The capacity of the tigers shall be 10 to 20 around. There shall be utmost effort to provide a glimpse of Royal Bengal tigers.

       Before giving it’s nod, the Central Zoo Authority (CZA) will send a team to the area where this safari has been proposed. According to the NTCA, the permit for tiger safari is permissible in the buffer area of the tiger reserves. Clause 16.21 says’ “Tiger safari may be established in buffer areas of tiger reserves which experience immense tourist influx in the core / critical tiger habitat for viewing tigers.”  The core area of the Corbett national park is 821.99 km and the buffer area is 466.32 sq km.

       The tourist influx during a season is around 2 lakh (or 200,000) which generates a revenue of Rs. 7 crore (or Rs. 7 million). As per the Corbett officials, the tiger safari shall bring more revenue to the national park and help boosting the economy of the locals.