Maharashtra: Chandrapur to have country’s first jungle safari in territorial forest

NAGPUR: This is yet another attempt where tigers will bring money for tribals. The Chandrapur forest circle will open country’s first jungle safari in Karwa to be run with community participation in Ballarshah forest range under Central Chanda division.
Until now, jungle safaris being operated in core and buffer zones were under the control of tiger reserves or management of sanctuaries.With the new initiative, the safari will be managed by joint forest management (JFM) committee.

“This will be the first such safari to be run in a territorial area. It will be thrown open for tourists on January 26,” said NR Praveen, chief conservator of forests (CCF), Chandrapur circle.
Karwa area chosen for the safari is part of Tadoba-Kanhargaon tiger corridor having a dense canopy of trees, beautiful landscape, and water bodies. The area is rich in wildlife and has the presence of tigers, leopards, sloth bears, deer, sambar, wild boars, dholes, nilgai, gaurs, and 200 species of birds and butterflies. There is resident as well as dispersing population of animals.

Praveen said, “The basic idea is to provide livelihood to the tribals and reduce their dependence on forests. In Karwa, we have carved out 30km tourism routes, encompassing 11 forest compartments, which were earlier used to transport timber on bullock carts during coupe working.”

Central Chanda deputy conservator (DyCF) Arvind Munde said, “Till Gypsy vehicles are procured and registered, tourism will be allowed in private vehicles. The morning safari will be from 6am to 10am and evening from 2pm to 6pm. Local youth are being trained as guides and in the future online booking will also be available on www.mytadoba.org website.”
JFM committee president Vinod Sidam welcomed the move. “We have found that in Tadoba buffer, tourism has brought smiles on the faces of local villagers. If the same model is replicated here, people will be happy and ecotourism will provide direct and indirect employment to many.”
Sidam says, “Karwa already has an e-surveillance project. It will also help keep watch on the tourism activity. It will also become another added attraction for tourists coming to Tadoba core and its buffer zones.”