Tiger Safari in India is Not Zoo Safari as Perceived

 Tiger Safari in India

Tiger safari in India is within the scope of tiger tourism as governed by NTCA, and the State Governments. It is not a zoo safari as wrongly perceived. Unlike in a zoo safari, the tigers and other wild animals move freely in an unrestricted area delimited by the crown cover.

There are more than fifty tiger reserves in India, and they are open to tourism in twenty percent area as per the court decision, this area comes under the jurisprudence of the respective State where the reserve is located.   

Tiger Safari & Zoo Safari Difference

Although in both cases you have to pay an entry fee. In the case of the tiger reserves, the entry fee is included in the permit which you book in advance or procure from the gates. In the case of the zoo safari, you need to buy a ticket at the entrance gate and enter on foot or in your car. At the zoo safari, a bus is available to score the large spread of the zoo and see the animals.   

In the tiger reserve, you cannot set foot on the forest floor, you have to stay alight on the jeep or the 20-seater canter. The jeep usually scores the area within the zone mentioned in the permit.  Brunch or tea can be had only in a designated area in the core of the tiger reserve, and there is usually one cafeteria for refreshment or freshening up in a zone.

The safari zoo may be commercialized with eateries in and around the zoo. The number of eateries can be unlimited and may be associated with other places of entertainment. Zoo safari is a one-day affair, while in the reserves you can stay for several days, and enjoy as many safaris as you like subject to the availability of permits. That is the reason why so many wildlife resorts are situated on the periphery of the buffer of the tiger reserves. These resorts support local employment and generate revenue for the hospitality industry. They are instrumental in earning valuable foreign exchange from inbound tourism that they enhance for India. 

Tiger Safari in the reserves is getting more popular day by day as filmmakers, wildlife photographers, holidaymakers, and naturalists throng these paradises. In India, Safari Zoos are limited in numbers and are usually situated near big towns or within.

Popular Reserves for Tiger Safari India

Some of the popular reserves are as follows:   

• ·         Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve
• ·         Ranthambore Tiger Reserve
• ·         Wayanad Tiger Reserve
• ·         Kanha Tiger Reserve
• ·         Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve
• ·         Corbett Tiger Reserve
• ·         Pench Tiger Reserves     
• ·         Panna National Park

A visit to these National Parks and Tiger Reserves should be planned well in advance. It is very important to book safari permits in advance. You must make preparations before a tiger safari In India to make a success of tour. Apart from the permits secure accommodation at a luxury resort, make local travel arrangements, and then book the air flight, etc. If you wish to avoid travel hassles then engage the services of tour operators in India.   

Lesser Known Tiger Reserves Part II

As discussed in the earlier post the problems that arise in tiger conservation are many. But one insurmountable problem that interferes with the management practices and is the cause of severe man-animal conflict is the excess population around the reserves.   

Since the law prohibits human settlements within the core area of the reserve the impetus is on relocating them outside. Though in spite of a generous compensation package it is difficult to relocate people away from the critical tiger habitats.     

As the tiger population grows more and more space will be required this will include the forest in the buffer. Unfortunately, the problem of settlements is further compounded in the buffer due to the absence of a law to relocate settlements further. Not only the absence of law there is an absolute lack of political will if contingency arises.  

Coming back to the article read below briefs on lesser-known tiger reserves in India. The list also includes reserves that are least visited.  

Melghat Tiger Reserve lies in the State of Maharashtra in the Satpura Ranges. With an area of over two thousand sq km, Melghat is home to a large population of bison and Central Indian mammals. Gugamal National Park with an area of 360 sq. km constitutes the core.   

Buxa Tiger Reserve in West Bengal is a 760 sq km big cat heaven in India. It is home to Indian elephants besides tigers and other mammals. Bagdogra lies at a distance of 195 km.    

Dudhwa Tiger Reserve bordering Nepal is in Uttar Pradesh. The preserve is home to a good number of tigers besides other mammals. The swamp deer in the Northern race is found here. The rhino relocation has been successful for many years. Dudhwa lies in the Lakhimpur Kheri district within a short distance from Palia City.  

Ratapani Tiger Reserve lies in close proximity to Bhopal the capital city of Madhya Pradesh. Home to tigers, wolves and other mammals the reserve contains the finest stands of teak. Prehistoric Bhimbetika Caves lie within.  Poaching and illicit felling are major causes of concern.      

Sunbheda Tiger Reserve is situated in Odisha in Nuapada District. The 500 sq km preserve is home to Central Indian mammals like tigers, leopards, and sloth bears.  

Bhadra Tiger Reserve is situated in Karnataka State near Chikkamagaluru District. It is home to tiger, lion-tailed macaque, slender loris, bonnet macaque, and wild elephants. Approximately 600 sq km in the area the reserve is 163 km from Mangalore.    

More tiger reserves have been created and hopefully more will be notified in near future. This is essential if we wish to save the tiger from extinction as well as give new lease of life to myriads of life forms in India. 

At present the non violate area in India is very small, barely one percent of the total land mass. Better management of our land will result in the preservation of niche habitats for other life forms and increase the protected area.  

Find List of Tiger Reserves   

Best place for tiger safari?

Where to see the tiger in the wild?

This question arises whence people plan to see the tiger in the wild in India. For many, it may be just one visit to India and they would like to see the tiger in the wild on that visit. Tigers are shy creatures well almost secretive. 

It is not easy to spot a tiger in most of their homes in India however for one reason or another their visibility is very high in Kanha, Bandhavgarh, Pench, and Ranthambhore in order to preference. Corbett Tiger Reserve is also a good place to see the tiger but sightings are at times difficult and infrequent.

Hence one should always prefer to visit Kanha and Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve in order to see the tiger. Sightings are not guaranteed but anyway, a three-night stay should deliver. Even if you do not see the tiger on a jeep safari you can still see it if the tiger show takes. Tiger is cordoned off by a group of tame elephants if they are able to track the big cat. You are then taken atop the elephant back to the place where the tiger is. This is a short elephant ride basically from your jeep to the tiger and back.  

On many occasions, the forest guide accompanying you or your naturalist are able to track the tiger with their skills. This increases the chance to see the charismatic big cat The movement of the tiger is found out by observing the pug marks on the jungle road and listening to the alarm cries of the animals.     

Kanha, Bandhavgarh, and Pench National Parks are in Central India in the state of Madhya Pradesh. They are accessible from Jabalpur and well connected with New Delhi by air and rail. Pench is also close to Nagpur Airport about eighty-plus km.   

Entry of vehicles in Bandhavgarh and Kanha is limited in each of the four zones hence your tiger safari should be booked in the advance. This can be done through an MP Online Kiosk appointed by the forest department.