Tourists cautious towards geo tagging of Gypsies in TATR

Lokmat News Network

Nagpur, Oct 6

The geo tagging of tourist vehicles through ‘Bagheera’ app in cellphones in Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve (TATR) has caught attention of wildlife buffs and regular visitors to parks also. The tourists are having certain apprehensions about how geo tagging of tourist vehicle will impact wildlife sightings.

The Lokmat Times had carried a news report titled ‘TATR to geo tag vehicles for tourists’ on Monday. The park management is taking this step to curb over speeding and crowding of tourist vehicles during safaris, especially during tiger sightings. Lokmat Times spoke with several wildlife lovers and regular visitors to various parks on Tuesday to understand their views about geo tagging of tourist vehicles through ‘Bagheera’ app in cellphones in TATR.

Sarosh Lodhi, founding member of Conservation, Lenses and Wildlife (CLaW) on Facebook and a regular visitor forests said, “The TATR has only a limited number of routes open for tourism. The management’s intention to introduce GPS monitoring of safari vehicles has its own advantages and disadvantages. We know that there is crowding in certain hotspots in TATR. This can be avoided by imposing fines/charges if anyone is found flouting norms. There will be more discipline and hence more room for animals. The negative factor of geo tagging is that it provides a pathetic safari experience. A speed of 20 km per hour may be too less to cover a decent area. The biggest issue is the number of one way roads in TATR. If the department is introducing GPS, they should make roads two way.”

The geo tagging of tourist vehicles is going on in Pench Tiger Reserve of Madhya Pradesh from last few years. Imran Khan who works as a naturalist has been visiting this park since long time even before geo tagging of tourist vehicles was introduced. Khan said, “Due to GPS enabled device, the over speeding and over crowding of Gypsies have came to an end. The guides and drivers are not able to take Gypsies at prohibited areas as they are being monitored. The tourists are now able to see and understand forest and wildlife easily due to speed limitations. The park management is able to keep watch on Gypsies through geo tagging. Gypsies are not able to stop at one location for longer duration which can disturb wildlife. The over speeding of vehicles was usual practice for rushing towards location of tiger sighting earlier. This caused disturbance to wildlife. Also, the geo tagging can also help in searching tourist vehicle in case it breaks down deep inside forest.”

Speaking about change in approach of tourists now, he said, “The tourists coming to Pench Tiger Reserve are observing that park management has taken care of everything inside forest. The slow moving vehicle allows guide and driver to interact with tourists more which also gives additional information to the visitors.”

Meanwhile, Sandeep Singh who has been in wildlife tourism sector for over 15 years has something different to tell. He said, “The geo tagging of tourist vehicles during safari is indeed a welcome move to control unruly behaviour of tourist vehicles during tiger sighting. What I have observed in Pench MP is that ever since geo tagging was introduced, a change in approach of guides, drivers and tourists during safari has come. Some hick ups were initially, but now everything is smooth. The concerned stake holders have adopted this change which is good for wildlife.”

One resort operator Nikhil Abhyankar from TATR said, “As of now, the Bagheera app guidelines are not clear. But if they are on same lines as that of Madhya Pradesh then it would certainly impact tourism badly. Tiger sightings is the biggest crowd puller at Tadoba. Speed restrictions will surely hamper the sighting prospects.”

Harshal Malvankar, a tour operator from Pune said, “This is not a smart move considering the areas and the hotspots for tiger sightings in the park. Areas like Pandharpauni, Tadoba Lake, Ainbodi, Waterhole No. 97 and Jamni already take around 45 minutes to reach from Moharli gate of TATR. It would be practically impossible to cover these areas and return back within time for a Gypsy from Moharli. Similarly, the coronavirus pandemic has bad hit income of local community and stake holders associated with jungle safaris. The forest department should think about the ways of tourism revival in parks on contrary such moves will only worsen the situation.”