Jharkhand's first tiger safari in Latehar on the lines of Rajgir in Bihar soon
RANCHI: Elated with increasing number of tigers in Palamu Tiger Reserve (PTR), Jharkhand government has started taking initiatives to open the state's first tiger safari on the lines of Rajgir in Bihar. According to officials, the survey has already been completed and required land has been identified in the forests of Putuagarh under PTR's Barwadih Western Forest Range.
A tiger safari typically involves driving through protected areas such as national parks and tiger reserves to spot tigers. The officials also informed that after getting a formal nod from state government, the proposal will be sent to the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) and Central Zoo Authority (CZA) for approval.
'The tourism minister expressed his desire to open a tiger safari in Jharkhand on the lines of Rajgir in Bihar. We have identified the required land near PTR in the forests of Putuagarh near PTR which has been Okayed by the minister,' said PTR Deputy Director Prajesh Kant Jena.
As per official records, six tigers have been spotted wandering in the PTR and their number is supposed to increase further in the wake of the measures taken by the officials to improve the tiger count.
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Indian Express
5 days ago
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Jharkhand to set up its first tiger safari: The plan and concerns around it
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The concept was first envisaged in the Guidelines for Tourism issued by the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) in 2012, which provided for such establishments in the buffer areas of tiger reserves 'which experience immense tourist influx in the core/ critical tiger habitat for viewing tigers'. The idea was to build an enclosure within tiger reserves where animal sightings are not left to chance, unlike in the case of traditional wild safaris that are undertaken, for example, in the Jim Corbett National Park. This would be done by housing animals in large naturalistic enclosures within a tiger reserve. In 2016, the NTCA issued guidelines for establishing tiger safaris in the buffer and fringe areas of tiger reserves for rescued, conflict-prone, or orphaned tigers with the clear restriction that no zoo-bred animals would be introduced. Three years later, however, the NTCA made an amendment that allowed tigers from zoos to be housed in safari parks. 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The Jharkhand government believes that the safari would not only increase tourism but also generate direct jobs for at least 200 locals in the tourism sector. People would be required for the roles of guides, support staff, and maintenance crews. Currently, the project is in the ideation stage. Once the state Forest Department gives the go-ahead, the Deputy Director of PTR will prepare a Detailed Project Report (DPR) and send it to the NTCA and CZA. The CZA will evaluate the proposed area and the selection of species. The entire approval and clearance process could take up to five to six months, followed by a construction period of around 18 months. Speaking to The Indian Express, Madhe Gowda, a Soliga tribal leader and conservationist based at Karnataka's BRT Tiger Reserve, says that although tiger safaris attract tourists, they tend to erase the presence and contributions of forest-dwelling communities, portraying them as a threat rather than stewards of biodiversity. As a result, such initiatives often lead to the displacement of local tribal communities. Speaking on the concerns pertaining to displacement of people, state officials have clarified that the project site falls under forest administration and no relocation or displacement is expected. Tiger safaris also threaten the disruption of local economies. The projects restrict livestock grazing and collection of forest produce, which severely impacts the livelihoods of Adivasis. George Monippally, a senior activist and member of Van Adhikar Manch (VAM) in Latehar, tells The Indian Express that before establishing the tiger safari the Jharkhand government should ensure that the project has the consent of local communities. 'If this tiger safari is planned on forest land, the Forest Department must consult the Gram Sabha and allow them to deliberate on all details — location, impact, and plan. Otherwise, it's a clear breach of law,' he said. Shubham Tigga hails from Chhattisgarh and studied journalism at the Asian College of Journalism. He previously reported in Chhattisgarh on Indigenous issues and is deeply interested in covering socio-political, human rights, and environmental issues in mainland and NE India. Presently based in Pune, he reports on civil aviation, other transport sectors, urban mobility, the gig economy, commercial matters, and workers' unions. You can reach out to him on LinkedIn ... Read More
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Cambodians on tiger-saving trip caught in jumbos' crosshairs
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