JAIPUR: The special half-day and full-day safaris in Ranthambore National Park (RNP) have been wildly popular, drawing tourists from across the globe and generating roaring business, since they were introduced some six years ago. But these safaris are being discontinued in the coming tourist season starting October 1.
On Monday, principal secretary of the forest and environment department, Shikhar Agarwal, announced on his social media account that these safaris are being discontinued. “In the larger interest of wildlife, it has been decided to stop half-day and full-day safaris in Ranthambore Tiger Reserve,” he wrote.
The department has, however, decided to allow tourists who have made advance booking for half-day and full-day safaris. “Future bookings for these safaris will be closed. To avoid financial transaction issues, tourists who have booked safaris in advance will be allowed,” said a senior official.
At present, other than the regular morning and evening safaris for three hours each, the forest department organises half-day and full-day safaris. Indian tourists pay Rs 29,992 and Rs 55,054 for half-day and full-day safaris, respectively.
The department charges Rs 42,637 for half-day safari and Rs 75,019 for full-day safari from foreign tourists.
“There is no restriction of safari zones for tourists going on full-day and half-day safaris after they pay such a big amount. As per the quota, there are a total of five vehicles, including for full-day safari. As these vehicles are allowed to move freely into the reserve, most of the time they reach the spots where tigers have gathered. The latest decision will make the safaris disciplined and reduce the disturbance caused to tigers,” said a senior official.
Wildlife lovers and stakeholders have, however, expressed mixed reactions on this decision.
Hemraj Meena, a tour operator in Ranthambore, said, “These safaris were a major attraction across the globe. This will now be a dent on Ranthambore’s appeal as the park will lose serious wildlife tourists…”
‘Decision will boost effective conservation’
“After the amendments made in 2019, tourists were also not allowed in core area (1 to 5 zones) after regular morning and evening safari hours. Once the regular timings were over, tourists who booked these safaris were sent to buffer areas (6 to 10 zone). This helped monitor the tiger habitat.”
Wildlife activists welcomed the decision, saying it will lead to effective conservation. Mukesh Siit, who presented a memorandum in the past to discontinue full- and half-day safaris, said, “The practice of allowing tourists for the entire day is against the calculated carrying capacity of the park. The ad hoc arrangement was not only defeating the purpose of fixing the carrying capacity, but also degrading the tiger habitat. Moreover, these safaris were only benefiting a few hoteliers, who have been influential”.
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