In a strict reaction to disorderly conduct within the pristine Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve (TATR), wildlife management has imposed fines of Rs 5,000 on each of the five tourists caught consuming alcohol during a safari in the reserve.
The incident occurred near Moharli Gate in the Tadoba Tiger Reserve, highlighting the growing apprehension regarding hooliganism and illegal activities by visitors in protected areas.
As per 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. Unfortunately, it was reported that all the tourists in the gypsy, including the individual mentioned, consumed alcohol during their forest tour.
In a recent incident near Moharli Gate in the Tadoba Tiger Reserve, a vigilant tour guide noticed inappropriate behavior among tourists during a safari. Despite the guide’s intervention and warnings, the tourists persisted in consuming alcohol. Subsequently, the gypsy was returned to Moharli Gate, and forest officials were alerted. An investigation by the Tadoba Tiger Project management confirmed that all five tourists in the vehicle were under the influence of alcohol. Consequently, they were fined Rs 5,000 each and barred from further visits to the reserve forests, with a total of Rs 25,000 collected as fines.
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.
The Deputy Director of the Tadoba Tiger Project, while maintaining the privacy of the tourists, emphasized that such incidents are not isolated and that fines for alcohol consumption have been imposed on tourists in the past. These stringent measures aim to deter disruptive behavior and safeguard the delicate ecosystem of the Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve.
Spread across 1,727 square kilometers, Tadoba is one of the oldest national parks in India, renowned for its diverse biodiversity and tiger population. Designated as a tiger project in 1996, it is home to over 130 tigers, along with various rare Indian animals like leopards, wild dogs, hyenas, sloth bears, and bison.