India’s tiger tourism restricted

In July, the Supreme Court of India banned all tourism and business activities within the “core areas” of all of its 25 national tiger reserves until states comply with the “core/buffer” management strategy laid out by the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) in 1972.

Protected core areas of at least 300 square kilometers are where tigers can find water, shelter and prey and breed in safety. Around these are “buffer areas” in which limited industry (logging, farming, grazing, etc.) as well as tourism lodges are allowed.

It is the states’ responsibility to notify everyone in the buffer areas of the exact boundaries and the limits on activities and development within them. Because notification has not been done, despite repeated rulings and fines, the court shut down all tourism to the core areas until it has proof of compliance. The ruling is being challenged by the states and many in the tourism industry.

In 1900, India had an estimated 40,000 tigers. In 2012 the number had declined to about 1,200.