Tiger safari at Ramgarh Vishdhari Tiger Reserve likely to begin in October
Forest officials informed that the Tiger Conservation Plan (TCP), a comprehensive strategy detailing eco-tourism, wildlife management, and local community engagement, is in its final stages of approval. Submitted to the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA), the plan has not encountered any objections or required modifications yet.
"The plan was reviewed by NTCA's four-member committee and is expected to receive final clearance soon," said a senior forest official.
Once approved, controlled safari operations in the core area will begin, which will usher in a new chapter of eco-tourism in Ramgarh Vishdhari, he added.
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Spread over 1,501.89 sq km, the reserve includes a 481.90 sq km core area and a 1,019.98 sq km buffer zone. As of now, the reserve is home to six tigers, including two adult males, one adult female, a sub-adult male, and two cubs, making the upcoming safari a potentially thrilling experience for visitors.
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The TCP outlines multiple conservation strategies, including enhanced wildlife monitoring systems, scientific water resource management, human-wildlife conflict mitigation, and species population tracking. Roughly 20% of the reserve is expected to be opened for tourism, a move that will create employment opportunities for local communities and boost conservation-linked livelihoods.
Safari routes have already been proposed, with one stretching from the Peepkhoda entry gate in Naitpur to the core area.
Forest authorities are also planning the creation of four distinct safari zones, each with a specific tourist carrying capacity. Eight villages located within the reserve may be relocated post-approval to minimize human-animal conflict and support long-term conservation goals.
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Ramgarh Vishdhari was declared Rajasthan's fourth and India's 52nd tiger reserve in May 2022 by the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change. Though tigers once roamed these lands, they reportedly vanished from the sanctuary in 1999. Their return marks a conservation success and a hopeful future for eco-tourism in the region.
With all eyes on the NTCA's final nod, Ramgarh Vishdhari stands ready to roar once again, this time, with visitors in tow.
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