GG News Bureau
Mumbai, 7th Jan. The Bombay High Court’s Nagpur bench, comprising Justices Nitin Sambre and Vrushali Joshi, expressed concern over an incident at Maharashtra’s Umred-Pauni-Karhandla Sanctuary on New Year’s Eve, where safari vehicles blocked a tigress and her five cubs. Viral videos showed tourists surrounding the tigress, identified as F-2, in the sanctuary’s buffer zone to capture photographs and videos.
Taking suo motu cognizance of the incident, the court issued a notice to the state’s principal chief conservator of forests, seeking a detailed affidavit on actions taken and preventive measures. The plea will be heard on Wednesday.
Following the incident, the state forest department suspended four drivers and guides for three months. A fine of ₹25,000 was imposed on the gypsy drivers, and the nature guides were fined ₹1,000 each. Cases were registered under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.
Pench Tiger Reserve Deputy Director Prabhu Nath Shukla confirmed that tourists violated sanctuary rules by blocking the tigress’s path at Gothangaon in the Kuhi wildlife range. The tourists involved have been permanently banned from the sanctuary.
To prevent such incidents, a committee led by the deputy director of Bor Tiger Reserve has been established to recommend preventive measures. Increased patrolling along safari routes and workshops for nature guides and drivers are being organized to promote ecotourism awareness and sensitivity.
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