Eco-tourism in national parks worries wildlife conservationists

The pristine backwaters of the Kabini, home to a variety of wildlife near Mysore, have been attracting nature lovers in hordes. But this increasing interest in eco-tourism among travellers has become a cause of concern for those involved in wildlife conservation, what with Bandipur and Nagarahole National Parks reaching their saturation point as far as tourism is concerned.

 

While a few resorts were permitted to conduct wildlife safaris in the past, the Forest Department recently received several applications seeking permission. At present, over 10 eco-tourism resorts, including Jungle Lodges and Resorts, a State Government undertaking, are operating in the area, attracting a large number of tourists from India and abroad. Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (PCCF), Wildlife, I.B. Srivastav confirmed to The Hindu that he had received around five app lications from the eco-tourism resorts operating in the Bandipur and Nagarahole area seeking permission to operate wildlife safaris in the tourism zones. "We have calculated the carrying capacity of the area, and it is almost reaching the maximum point," he said. At present, wildlife tourism is permitted in an area of around 52.70 sq. km in Nagarahole, 71.10 sq. km in Sunkadakatte and a 75-km stretch in Bandipur that has a combined carrying capacity of around 60 vehicles a day.

 

The Forest Department has calculated the carrying capacity in Bandipur to be between 20 and 22 vehicles and 14 and 16 vehicles in Nagarahole, while the carrying capacity in Sunkadakatte is between 20 and 22 a day.Wildlife safaris are conducted for three hours in the morning and two hours in the evening, and the Union Government has drawn up guidelines for the entry of vehicles into the national parks. According to the guidelines, a distance of at least 500 metres should be maintained between two vehicles. But this rule is observed more in the breach, say Forest Department officials. Mr. Srivastav said, "Management plans of the national parks has allowed only three tourism zones, and opening up of any other tourism zone has to be decided by a committee set up for the purpose."

(The Hindu, 30^th  August 2007)