Night safaris have now been banned in the buffer areas of tiger reserves in Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh, following issuance of directives by National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA), Delhi.
The reason mentioned by it for closing night safaris is adverse impact of lighting, noise and disturbace to wildlife.
Night safari was allowed by Forest Department in Surewani buffer zone of Pench Tiger Reserve in Nagpur district in the name of patrolling, monitoring movements od animals, providing employment opportunities to local youths etc.
Madhya Pradesh was also conducting such safaris for tourism at Kanha, Pench, Bandhavgad, Panna and Satpuda tiger reserves. However, the department from both the states had not sought sanction from NTCA to do it.
Reliable sources informed that night safaris could be allowed in territorial forest outside a tiger reserve.
