In a major relief for wildlife tourism stakeholders, Maharashtra has decided to keep wildlife sanctuaries and buffer tourism zones open during the monsoon season, even though the core areas of all tiger reserves will remain closed for tourism from June 15 to September 30, 2026.
Issuing a directive under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, state Chief Wildlife Warden and PCCF (Wildlife) M.S. Reddy clarified that the closure will apply only to the core areas of tiger reserves. Eco-tourism activities, including gypsy safaris, will continue in buffer zones and protected areas outside the Core Tiger Habitats (CTHs).
Sanctuaries such as Tipeshwar Wildlife Sanctuary, Dnyanganga Wildlife Sanctuary, Painganga Wildlife Sanctuary, Umred Karhandla Wildlife Sanctuary, Yawal Wildlife Sanctuary, Nandur Madhmeshwar Wildlife Sanctuary and Sanjay Gandhi National Park will remain open to tourists during the rainy season.
Forest officials said this is the first time wildlife sanctuaries in Maharashtra will stay open during the monsoon, marking a major shift from the usual seasonal shutdown.
Earlier, authorities in the Pench landscape had proposed an early monsoon closure of tourism activities in the core areas of Pench Tiger Reserve, Bor Tiger Reserve and Umred Karhandla Wildlife Sanctuary from June 15 to September 30, nearly two weeks ahead of the regular schedule.
As previously reported by Lokmat Times, Pench authorities had also directed the suspension of safari bookings for Umred-Karhandla from June 16. However, following the latest directive, the sanctuary will now remain open.
The closure order will apply only to the core tourism zones of Pench and Bor Tiger Reserves, while sanctuaries and buffer tourism activities will continue without interruption.
Usually, under guidelines issued by the National Tiger Conservation Authority, core areas of tiger reserves and wildlife parks remain closed to tourists from July 1 to September 30 during the monsoon season.
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