Tiger Reserves in IndiaBehold the spectacular black and yellow amidst swaying grass or peep over a rock is enough to titillate your heart with colourful cameos. You need not be a wildlife enthusiast to appreciate this wild beauty. So exciting is it, that people abandon all luxuries and comforts to roam in the jungles ignoring scorching heat and biting cold.

There is’nt any other better place in the world to encounter this fascinating beauty in its natural habitat than India.The Indian sub-continent has around 80 National Parks and 441 Sanctuaries of which some have been conserved as Tiger reserves under the Project Tiger Scheme.

Visit India!! and know what diversity is !

No place in the world offers such a diverse spectrum of wild wonders as does India. This ecologically blessed land perpetuatuates wildness and scatters the colours of nature, randomly. In fact vacation to the Indian wild zone is like a rendezvous to the who’s who of the Kingdom Animalia. The tourist’s indeed can act as the parks’ best ambassador and introduce them to the remainder of the world. The exposure at times may harm the ecological balance of the area but the constant flow of tourist help stop the poaching and plundering of this endangered species.

Several tiger reserves are established in the former hunting grounds of the former Indian and British aristocracy. Some parks do offer modern styled guesthouses with electricity while others only have bungalows with basic amenities. Jeep or Van ride is available everywhere and in some, elephant or boat rides are organized to scan these areas more discreetly.

Tiger Safari in IndiaAll these reserves are protected under ‘Project Tiger’ and bookings are generally done at state forest departments or through private operators. Sometimes the state even promotes a particular area as a part of its tourist attraction. Advance booking in accommodation is advisable. One should obtain necessary permits, where required, prior to entry.

Save the pride of the wild!

Protecting the tiger is a serious cause and by the virtue of serious and persistent endeavors, this royal animal is now more and more active (and hence more visible). Hence, we must move ahead.

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Just a few days ago I wrote about the likely Snow Leopard Research Centre in Spiti Valley in northern India going ahead. Turns out there has just been a sighting of two snow leopards in that region. In the past there’s only been indirect evidence of the cats like pictures in trap cameras but this time  “the team saw two snow leopards who were in a playful mood and remained in sight for an hour, raising hope for the success of Project Snow Leopard” said KS Thakur, wildlife conservator. This is really good news for the Project, hopefully the Centre can be set up soon and do great research, community development and education in this region where we still have the beautiful cats.

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Just yesterday I wrote about the successful snow leopard breeding program at Darjeeling Zoo in north India. Well, news today is they have another cub! She was born 42 days ago and appears in good health.

Mr Alonkar Jha, Director of the Zoo said

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Come October, the monsoon ends and National Parks and tiger reserves open up for visitors. Though the number of tigers in India is constantly dwindling, the animal finds increasing interest among the naturalists and wildlife lovers.

Severely endangered the majestic tiger is World’s most charismatic animal. It’s aura revolves around mystic charm, abundant fear and intrigue which humans find irresistible. Tourist flock in thousands from every state of India and the World to have just one fleeting glimpse of the big cat. Tigers are shy of humans and contrary to popular belief they fear man.

Man eating is an aberrant behavior and the cat is literary a gentle giant. It’s main purpose is to serve the ecosystem as top/tertiary carnivore in the food chain. It governs the population of herbivores which are it’s main prey base. The tiger’s presence in the forest acts as an indicator that the ecosystem is intact.

The preferred habitat is dense forest and sometimes tall grasslands like in Kaziranga National Park. Unlike the lion it is not an open country or savanna dwelling animal. Neither does it hunt or live in big prides like it’s cousin, but is a solitary animal. The pairing takes place for mating after which the two separate. The female rears the cubs, while the male guards from afar rarely visiting the family.

The tigress is fiercely protective of the cubs and does not let the male come near nor share the food. There is no danger to the cubs from the male which has sired them, but other males will kill the cubs instantly. On rare occasion the whole family can be seen together.

The tiger now survives in protected areas like the National Parks, tiger reserves and wildlife sanctuaries. Outside these areas in the unprotected forests the tiger’s survival is uncertain, and it has probably become extinct in many of them.

The protected areas serve many a purpose, one is to conserve the tiger as well as the whole ecosystem. The other is eco tourism which brings in revenue to the locals and the tourism industry including the hotels and wildlife resorts. Subsequently tourism creates awareness among people and encourages them to conserve nature. Tourist also act as an eye on the way things are in the habitat and perhaps help protect the forests in this manner.

In the beginning of the safari season flood gates open up for tour operators in India who get busy selling wildlife packages. Package tours in group are preffered mode of travel for tiger safaris amongst foreign tourists. The Indian tourists prefer family trips or travel independent. The hotel industry is linked with the tour operators in India and abroad. The accommodation is fully booked during the holiday seasons much in advance.

With awareness, tourism has become more responsible. The industry and governance sees the benefit of sharing revenue, jobs and income with the local tribes who are thus encouraged to conserve their natural wealth. Although bit ironical these very people have to be shifted from the core areas of the parks in order to give free space to the wild denizens. This is imperative and the solution is to delivers generous package which justifies the relocation. Proper compensation helps them resettle elsewhere successfully and make a better living.

Responsible tourism is again an imperative in order to make the local endemic tribal communities understand the benefit of conservation and tourism. Many tour operators and hotels employ local people and share benefits with them. In return these very communities strive hard to protect the inheritance.

Though there is much noise about ill effect of tourism, here it is not justified as wildlife nor the ecosystem has ever suffered from controlled tourism. On the contrary parks like Kanha National Park, Bandhavgarh, Corbett, Pench, Ranthambhore and many others have been a conservation success. This in spite of heavy load of tourists every year.

Tiger is a shy and secretive animal. Well most of the time! Tourism has made it possible to see the tiger in the wild for common tourists. During the British Raj, tiger and tiger hunting was the prerogative of the Maharajas and  the Lords.

Timely conservation of the species resulted in the animal coming back from sure shot extinction, but the tiger is in no less danger now. This is due to demand for tiger parts in China and other Asian Nations. It will take lot of hue and cry for the Chinese system of medicine to stop the use of tiger parts in their concoctions.

The rush to see the tiger is seen more in popular National Parks like Kanha, Bandhavgarh and Pench in Madhya  Pradesh or Central India. The tiger population in these parks is steadily increasing thanks to active conservation measures. The core zones especially the grassy meadows are an ideal habitat for tigers to hunt their prey base. The spotted deer and sambar deer make up the major diet of the tiger. Tiger eats anything that moves except humans. But humans kill the animal with impunity and greed not even expressed by cannibals.

The tiger parks have well laid tourism infrastructure outside and road network inside the core zones for wildlife watching on jeep safaris. The tiger is often seen on open grasslands and jungle roads on a tiger safari in the park. The wildlife safari begins at dawn and ends by noon. The second round begins around 3 pm and ends by  dusk. On a safari inside the parks one can see the tiger, leopard, spotted deer, sambar, Hanuman langur, wild boar, wild dog, sloth bear, barking deer and jackal. These reserves are exciting birding  spots as well, and one can enjoy bird watching while trekking tigers in the forests.

The tiger safaris are arranged by package tour operators who offer a complete jungle package which includes accommodation, food and room stay. The tour packages also includes excursions in the park. The best package tour operators offer stay in luxury hotels and travel by luxury cars. The cost is bit more for wildlife watching but it is worthwhile to travel and stay in luxury in wilderness areas.

There is enough room for budget travelers who prefer traveling by bus and stay at budget hotels around the tiger reserves. A three day safari is ideal for sighting tigers in the wild at these parks. Since if tiger sightings does not take place on jeep safari the tiger shows on elephant back will offer the tourist tiger sighting at close range.

At Kanha, Bandhavgarh and Pench tiger sighting takes place at least once in three days so it is worth staying for three nights to get a holistic experience of the wildlife parks.

India wants to agree on a pact with China to protect its fast dwindling tiger population from extinction, as part of an attempt to capitalise on the goodwill created between the neighbours in their alliance during recent climate change talks.

Closer co-operation between the two countries is seen by some tiger conservationists as key to preserving India’s few remaining big cats. A trans-Himalayan agreement to calibrate national strategies would be the first of its kind. India has an estimated 1,400 tigers in the wild.

Jairam Ramesh, India’s environment minister, said tiger conservation was part of a proposed bilateral agenda on environment and natural resources that included sharing information and expertise on Himalayan glaciers and regional water resources. He said a “special relationship” forged at the United Nations climate change talks in Copenhagen last year was ready to address a wider agenda.

“I would like to work very closely with the Chinese on tiger conservation. China is one of the reasons our tiger population is being decimated,” he told the Financial Times.

The killing of tigers is a source of friction between India and China. Indian officials and conservationists say an illegal trade in tiger parts used for medicine encourages poaching. Last year, about 60 tigers were killed in India. Many fell victim to traffickers that operate between India, Nepal and China.

However, Mr Ramesh’s overtures to Beijing reflect India’s ambivalent relationship with its wealthier neighbour. New Delhi recognises the need for closer co-operation on issues such as the environment. Yet India’s security apparatus remains suspicious of Chinese intentions, reflected in India’s informal ban on telecommunications equipment made by China’s Huawei.

Mr Ramesh came under fire in New Delhi on Tuesday for comments made on a trip to China last week, when he called Indian security officials “alarmist” and “paranoid” in their attitude towards Beijing. The Bharatiya Janata party said it would seek Mr Ramesh’s resignation, and the minister has also been scolded by Manmohan Singh, prime minister, for his intemperate criticism of other Indian government ministries.

Mr Ramesh, who has visited China four times since he took up office last year, has built up a close relationship with Xie Zhenhua, China’s top climate official. He has also been encouraged by China’s preparedness to break new ground with a neighbour it fought a war against in 1962, particularly in the sensitive area of south Asian river systems.

“For the first time, the Chinese shared information on what they are doing on the Brahmaputra river. They’ve never done this before. They are building a 500MW run of the river power station,” said Mr Ramesh. “The Chinese had been very cagey. We don’t have a treaty on the Brahmaputra.”

Mr Ramesh’s ministry stumbled into controversy earlier this month when a top bureaucrat suggested India would consider a ban on tiger tourism to protect the dwindling numbers. Mr Ramesh denied that such draconian measures were under consideration, but that the government sought to lessen the impact of tourism on the creatures’ habitats.

“We are talking of regulating tourism. We are talking about bringing in eco tourism. No one is talking about closing tourism,” he said. “Tourism is the lifeblood of the local community.”

However he warned that uncontrolled resort developments at the world famous Corbett tiger reserve had become a “hazard”.

The Corbett national park has a “buffer zone” around its perimeter where commercial activity is banned. But weak implementation of restrictions has allowed their flouting.

http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/d2c1fdac-5d50-11df-8373-00144feab49a,s01