Tourism in Wildlife Parks and Supreme Court Ruling on Tiger Safaris

Context: The Supreme Court criticised the Uttarakhand government for allowing around 6,000 trees to be cut down in Jim Corbett National Park, highlighting a misuse of authority that resulted in significant environmental damage.

Supreme Court Ruling on Tiger Safaris

• Establishment of Tiger Safaris: The Supreme Court has permitted the creation of tiger safaris in the buffer or peripheral areas of tiger reserves.
• Prohibition on Displaying Wild Healthy Tigers: The court has banned the use of healthy wild tigers and those bred in zoos for display in these safaris.
• Adherence to NTCA Guidelines: The bench mandated strict adherence to the National Tiger Conservation Authority’s 2016 guidelines regarding the operation of tiger safaris.
  • The bench endorsed the guidelines of the NTCA, affirming that safaris should be established outside the core/critical habitats, given the high volume of tourists.
• Criteria for Tigers in Safaris: Only wild tigers that are from the surrounding landscape, or those that are injured and recovered, orphaned cubs unfit for the wild, or tigers involved in conflicts, are to be included in the safaris.
• Concerns Over Resort Activities: The court expressed concern about the proliferation of resorts near tiger reserves, often used for noisy events like destination weddings, which harm wildlife and ecosystems.
  • The court also called for regulations on the type of construction permissible in resorts to ensure compatibility with the natural environment.
• Integrity of Tiger Habitats: Emphasised that even in buffer or peripheral zones, the integrity of critical tiger habitats must be maintained with proper habitat protection for the species dispersal.
• Committee Appointment: Ordered the Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change to form a high-powered committee to study the impact of resorts on reserves and submit findings within three months.
  • The committee will determine permissible and prohibited activities within buffer zones and fringes of tiger reserves, with a focus on promoting eco-tourism.

About Wildlife Sanctuary

A wildlife sanctuary is an area where animal habitats and their surroundings are protected from any sort of disturbance. These sanctuaries serve several important purposes:

1. Protection of Endangered Species: Wildlife sanctuaries are established to safeguard endangered species. Instead of relocating animals from their natural habitat, these sanctuaries allow them to live undisturbed in their native environment. Specially monitored, these species can reproduce and grow in number while under protection, ensuring their survival.
2. Research and Education: Biologists conduct research and studies in wildlife sanctuaries to learn about the animals living there. These areas provide valuable insights into animal behaviour, ecology, and conservation.
3. Rehabilitation: Some sanctuaries take in injured or abandoned animals, nursing them back to health before releasing them into the forest.
4. Preserving Biodiversity: Wildlife sanctuaries protect various plant and animal species from human interference and predators. Many species on the brink of extinction find refuge in these areas.
5. Conservation Efforts: Landowners and authorities engage in conservation efforts, including ecotourism, organic horticulture, and other sustainable practices.

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Declaration Process for Wildlife Sanctuaries in India

There are some provisions concerning Wildlife sanctuaries in India as per the Wildlife (Protection) Act of 1972.

• State Government Initiative: The State Government can declare an area as a wildlife sanctuary if it holds significant ecological, faunal, floral, geomorphological, natural, or zoological value for wildlife conservation or environment enhancement.
• Notification and Boundaries: After deciding to establish a sanctuary, the State Government issues a public notification outlining the sanctuary’s boundaries, officially designating the area as a sanctuary from the date specified in the notification.
• Central Government Role: Similarly, the Central Government can declare an area as a sanctuary for its ecological or zoological importance, following a process parallel to that of the State Government.
  • The government can also declare an area (including an area within a sanctuary) as a National Park.
  • A Collector is appointed by the central government to administer the area declared as a Sanctuary.

Buffer Zone in Wildlife Sanctuary

• This refers to the region encircling or adjacent to the core areas dedicated to nature preservation where human activities that are harmonious with environmental conservation are permitted.
• Such activities may include ecotourism, leisure, sustainable farming, and responsible forestry among others.
• The buffer zone is typically an area of cohabitation where local communities and wildlife, particularly tigers, live together.

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