The Forest Department has decided to keep wildlife sanctuaries and buffer tourism zones of all tiger reserves in Maharashtra open during the monsoon season.
According to directives issued by the Chief Wildlife Warden and PCCF (Wildlife) under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, core zones of all tiger reserves will remain closed from June 15 to September 30, while all buffer zone gates will stay open for tourists.In the past few years, the Forest Department had experimented with keeping some buffer zones open during monsoon in Pench Tiger Reserve and Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve.
This year, however, the department has decided to keep buffer zones open in all tiger reserves across the state.Eco-tourism activities, including gypsy safaris, will continue in buffer zones and protected areas outside the Core Tiger Habitats (CTHs).Wildlife sanctuaries such as Tipeshwar, Dnyanganga, Painganga, Umred Karhandla, Yawal, Nandur Madhmeshwar and Sanjay Gandhi National Park will remain open for tourists during the rainy season.
Forest officials said this is the first time wildlife sanctuaries in Maharashtra will remain open during monsoon, marking a major change from the usual seasonal closure.Earlier, authorities in the Pench landscape had proposed an early closure of tourism activities in the core areas of Pench Tiger Reserve, Bor Tiger Reserve and Umred Paoni Karhandla Wildlife Sanctuary from June 15 to September 30, nearly two weeks ahead of the regular schedule.
However, the Chief Wildlife Warden later directed that buffer zones in all tiger reserves should remain open during monsoon.Usually, under National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) guidelines, core areas of tiger reserves and wildlife parks remain closed to tourists from July 1 to September 30 during the monsoon season.
Speaking on the decision, Dr Prabhunath Shukla, Field Director of Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve, said that some buffer zones were earlier kept open for eco-tourism during monsoon, but this year all buffer zones and gates will remain open for safaris. He clarified that restrictions will apply only to the core zones during the rainy season.
Similarly, Piyusha Jagtap, Field Director of Navegaon-Nagzira Tiger Reserve, said they had initially received instructions to close the reserve from June 15, but now the reserve will remain open during monsoon except for the core areas.
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