SC to ban wildlife tourism? 'intelligent tourism' in demand

New Delhi, Nov 8: Supreme Court may ban wildlife tourism in all reserves across the country as a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) was filed by a Bhopal based environment NGO, Prayatna seeking ban on wildlife tourism because of the adverse impact that is having on national parks animals. The petition will heard in the Supreme Court tomorrow (Nov 9).

The filed petition argued that intensive tourists, resorts and lodges, especially in tiger sanctuaries are causing inconvenience to the tigers and are resulting in the decline of its population. Meanwhile, Travel Operators for Tigers India Wildlife Association (TOFT India) and many tiger specialists have termed the ban on wildlife tourism as irrational, hugely dangerous and not based on the ground of scientific evidence. Experts said that tourism acts as a tool for monitoring and by which tiger population has been increasing where tourism is popular.

"If we are to save tigers and wildlife, we just cannot ban tourism. It would be a disaster," said Belinda Wright, Founder, Wlidlife Protection Society of India.

However, animal experts demand for promoting intelligent tourism in tiger declining sanctuaries instead of wildlife tourism.

OneIndia News