A day after the Supreme Court banned tourism in core tiger areas, wildlife activists and independent biologists demanded that buffer zones and core areas be notified immediately.

The state governments should notify the core areas immediately and should ensure that the apex court order is implemented in letter and spirit, as the move would be a major breakthrough in the protection of the dying tiger population in the country, said conservationist A. Kumaraguru, who has been working on tiger estimation projects in south India and central India through DNA methods.

The ban on tourism will improve the quality of forests and ensure that the mating of wild animals are not disturbed. Further, the restriction of commercial activities will reduce the spreading of weeds and invasive plant species from buffer zones to core areas. Reduction of noise and air pollution will alleviate the mental stress in animals, he said.

The tiger population in the state is estimated to be between 130 and 170 with Mudumalai having close to 70 animals, according to state wildlife sources. The state tiger population would surge after the notification of the Sathymangalam tiger reserve as STR is believed to be a home to about two dozen big cats.

“In Parambikulam wildlife sanctuary, eco tourism is a major source for Tribals and eco development committee members. Now with the tourism being banned, the local governments should come forward to support the tribals and EDC members,” said K.V.R.K. Thirunaranan, founder, Nature Trust.

According to Dr. Rajesh Gopal, Member-Secretary, National Tiger Conservation Authority, the recent report of the all India tiger estimation carried out in 2010 that covered 6 lakh sq. km, showed that the country has a population of1706 to 1,875, compared to the 2006 estimate of 1,411.

Prime spots in Nellai go out of bounds

Popular tourist destinations in the Kalakkad-Mundanthurai tiger reserve (KMTR) in the western ghats in Tirunelveli district has been closed for tourists from Wednesday.

The ban was imposed following the Supreme Court’s interim verdict on a PIL alleging that commercial exploitation of core areas through tourism was seriously intruding into the breeding of tigers and their habitat, according to KMTR conservator Shanmugasundaram.

As per this order, prime tourist spots like Agasthiyar falls, Manimutharu falls, Chengaltheri forest, Nambi kovil, Karaiyar Sorimuthu Ayyanar temple, Panatheertham falls, Manimutharu dam, Papanasam dam, Servalaru dam, Kothaiyaru, Kannikatti and Kudamadi in the western ghats in Tirunelveli district are out of bounds for tourists.

The private resorts and guesthouses within the Kalakkad-Mundanthurai tiger reserve would also be removed soon after the court gives its final verdict, added the forest official, who however, stated that the tribes residing within KMTR and power projects and tea estates within the tiger reserve will be
allowed to function as usual.

This sudden ban has disappointed tourists, but enthused environmentalists like Dr Ganesan, who has been doing research on the ecological changes in KMTR . According to Dr Ganesan, the ban would help save forest cover.