Supreme Court limits tiger safaris to non-forest land, bans night tourism

Tiger tourism in India is set for a significant shift after the Supreme Court issued a detailed set of directions aimed at strengthening wildlife protection across the country's reserves.

The order, released as part of an 80-page judgment by Chief Justice of India B. R. Gavai, outlines new ecological safeguards that will directly influence how visitors experience tiger habitats. 

As per reports, the Supreme Court ruled that tiger safaris can only be established on non-forest or degraded forest land located within buffer areas. Crucially, these sites must not fall within recognised tiger corridors, which act as vital movement pathways for wildlife.

The bench, comprising Chief Justice Gavai and Justices A. G. Masih and A. S. Chandurkar, accepted findings from a court-appointed expert panel examining ecological breaches at Uttarakhand's Jim Corbett Tiger Reserve.

The judges held "categorically" that no safari operations will be permitted in core or critical tiger habitats.

Any safari allowed in buffer zones must be linked to a full-fledged rescue and rehabilitation centre for conflict-prone, injured or abandoned tigers, ensuring tourism aligns with conservation priorities.

As per reports, on the extent of Eco-Sensitive Zones (ESZs) for the tiger reserves, the court said, "the formulation of ESZs for these tiger reserves will abide by the letter dated 23rd April 2018 issued by the MoEF&CC, which clarifies that the minimum area comprised in the ESZs will be the buffer or fringe area of the Tiger Reserve."