Incident in Umred-Pauni-Karhandla Sanctuary
An incident occurred in Maharashtra's Umred-Pauni-Karhandla Sanctuary where safari vehicles obstructed a tigress and her cubs, drawing attention from the Bombay High Court.
Court's Action
- The Bombay High Court, Nagpur bench, led by Justices Nitin Sambre and Vrushali Joshi, took suo motu cognisance 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.
- A plea on the issue will be heard on January 8, 2025.
Details of the Incident
- Viral videos showed safari vehicles crowding around tigress F-2 and her five cubs, blocking their path in the sanctuary's buffer zone.
- The incident occurred on December 31, 2024, in the Gothangaon area of the Kuhi wildlife range.
Actions Taken
- Four drivers and guides involved were suspended for three months by the state forest department.
- Fines imposed: ₹25,000 on gypsy SUV drivers and ₹1,000 on nature guides.
- Cases registered under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.
- Tourists involved have been banned from future visits to the sanctuary.
Future Preventive Measures
- A committee, headed by the deputy director of Bor Tiger Reserve, is established to recommend preventive measures.
- Field officers and staff are instructed to increase regular patrolling along safari routes.
- Special meetings and workshops for nature guides and drivers are organized to raise awareness and promote ecotourism sensitivity.