Its bye to vehicles, Hello to Jumbos

Gone are the days of the “reckless” tour operators. Giant elephants are here to take you on wildlife rides to the various wildlife sanctuaries and national parks of Karnataka.

Karnataka State Government has recently announced that it is going to stop all the movements of private tour operators in these wild protected areas. On the basis of the M.K Appaiah Committee report of 2008, the state government has ordered an issue to introduce giant elephants in all the five national parks, 21 wildlife sanctuaries and three forest reserves of the state, so that they can help in reducing the pollution in the national parks and wildlife sanctuaries due to Eco-tourism .

Government has also decided to terminate the operation of the private operators in these protected areas within next three years. At present, there are 20 major private travel agents that are operating eco-tourism in the state.

The Karnataka government has set up the M.K Appaiah Committee in 2008, so that it can study and advise on formulating a policy on movement of private operators within these protected areas and also the period and time duration of closing national parks and wildlife sanctuaries in a year.

In its report, the committee has recommended the use of elephants or the vehicles of the State Department as it caused least pollution for the wildlife rides within the national parks and wildlife sanctuaries of the state.

I B Srivatsava, the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (PCCF-Wildlife) informed that elephants are already being used for safari rides in some national parks. Mr. Srivatsava explained that vehicles are constantly harming the natural ambiance by causing air and sound pollution. Also they disturbs the wildlife and scared them due to which they usually hide or run away. These in turn disappoints the tourists as they fail to spot the rare and exotic wildlife species. He moreover added that if elephants are used instead of the vehicles than they will give more satisfaction to the tourists and prevents pollution.

Apart from these, the State Forest Department has decided to appoint Chief Wildlife Wardens on the recommendation of the Committee. As because the Wildlife Wardens would decide on the time and duration of closing down of the national parks and wildlife sanctuaries, to help in the breeding activities of the wild animals, which is mainly depends on the environmental conditions and other factors.