Nagpur: In a stern response to unruly behaviour within the pristine environs of the Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve (TATR), wildlife management has imposed fines of Rs 5,000 each on five tourists caught consuming alcohol during a safari in the reserve.
The incident occurred recently near Moharli Gate in the Tadoba Tiger Reserve, highlighting the growing concern over hooliganism and illegal activities by visitors in protected areas.
According to a media report, the tourists departed from Moharli Gate in the Tadoba Tiger Reserve, with one of them, while riding in a gypsy, displaying a keen interest in spotting a tiger. Regrettably, it was reported that all the tourists who were riding in a gypsy in which he was there consumed alcohol while touring the forest area.
The vigilant tour guide, upon noticing this inappropriate behaviour, promptly intervened and cautioned the tourists against consuming alcohol during the safari. Despite the guide’s warnings, the tourists persisted in their actions, prompting the guide to take decisive action. The gypsy was returned to Moharli Gate, and the forest officials were promptly informed of the incident, the report stated.
Upon investigation, the management of the Tadoba Tiger Project confirmed that all five tourists within the vehicle were indeed under the influence of alcohol. In response, the tourists were fined Rs 5,000 each and subsequently barred from further visits to the reserve forests. The Forest Department collected a total of Rs 25,000 as fines from the offenders.
The Deputy Director of the Tadoba Tiger Project, maintained the privacy of the tourists by declining to disclose their names, citing concerns for their privacy and human rights. Stressing that this incident is not an isolated case, Kale pointed out that fines for alcohol consumption have been imposed on tourists in the reserve forest areas in the past. He emphasized that such stringent measures serve as a deterrent to dissuade other tourists from engaging in similar disruptive behaviour and ensure the protection of the delicate ecosystem within the Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve.
Tadoba, one of the oldest national parks in the country, spans over 1,727 square kilometres and boasts some of the finest forest tracks teeming with diverse biodiversity. Designated as a tiger project in 1996, it is home to over 130 tigers and various rare Indian animals, including leopards, wild dogs, hyenas, wild boar, sloth bears, and bison.
