Chandrapur: Hours after national tiger conservation authority OK, Tadoba opens safaris from today, but only till June 30

NAGPUR: With six days remaining for wildlife parks to close for the monsoon, the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) on Thursday gave the go-ahead to open sanctuaries, national parks, and tiger reserves for tourism.
On Wednesday, NTCA IG Dr Amit Mallick had said, “As the Covid situation has improved across the country, the chief wildlife wardens may take a call to open tiger reserves for tourism in consultation with local authorities.”
After the death of two lions at Arignar Anna Zoological Park, besides reports of tigers and lions testing positive for Covid in Etawah, Mumbai, Jaipur, and Hyderabad zoos, on June 7, NTCA had ordered the closure of parks immediately.
Now, taking cue from the order, Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve (TATR) in Chandrapur has decided to open a jungle safari in the core area from Friday. “The safari will remain open till June 30, following all Covid-19 protocols. Other parks like Nagzira, Melghat, Pench can also open as per the directions of the respective district collectors,” said PCCF (wildlife) Nitin Kakodkar.
The opening of Tadoba comes after more than two months of lockdown due to spread of Covid-19 cases. The park was closed from April 15, after it opened for safari from October 1.
TATR field director Jitendra Ramgaonkar said, “Entry till June 30 will be offline and will be given on first-come-first-serve basis as per gate quota. A separate order will be issued for tourism in buffer zone during monsoon.”
The NTCA decision followed by TATR management action has been welcomed. Tourists, who had only the option to visit tiger reserves in Madhya Pradesh since June 1, have welcomed the move.
“The park was closed for the entire peak tourism season. The opening of parks, even for a short period, would refresh our minds from the sickening memories of the pandemic. Hopefully, it will also help park, resort owners, guides, and gypsy drivers get some income,” said Sakshi Yeramwar, wildlife lover.
Even as Tadoba will be open, Pench CCF and field director Ravikiran Govekar said, “We will take a decision on Friday after we receive a go-ahead from the district collector, who heads the Disaster Management Authority (DMA). Bor will not open due to damage to roads by rains. However, monsoon tourism will remain open in buffer and separate order will be issued soon.”
Meanwhile, even as Tadoba will close for the monsoon, buoyed by NTCA directive, deputy director (buffer) G Guruprasad said, “I’ve called a meeting of guides and drivers on Friday to discuss tourism in the buffer during monsoon. Mostly, it will start from all 13 gates from July 28. We will allow 12 vehicles in two shifts operating from 6am to 10am and from 2pm to 6pm.”
Navegaon-Nagzira Tiger Reserve (NNTR) field director M Ramanujan said, “It is a good decision. We will open the park from Saturday, maybe with offline bookings.”