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Commotion at Nagzira wildlife sanctuary

A group of tourists from Nagpur and Wardha went wild at Nagzira wildlife sanctuary in Gondia on Sunday. 

At around 9.10am tourists sighted a tigress near a waterhole. They followed other vehicles and reached compartment No. 129 where a tigress, suspected to be A-mark, was resting in the bushes and was partially visible. Tourists also saw a sambar kill nearby. 

Even as tourists were quietly enjoying the sighting, two Gypsies also reached the spot. Eyewitnesses told TOI that guide and driver of one of the Gypsies were seated on the backseat and one of the tourists was driving the vehicle . 

"Tourists in both the Gypsies were shouting loudly and disturbing the tigress. When the group leader was confronted by other tourists, he started abusing them. He also stepped out of his vehicle and beat the guide," said Ninad Mairal, an eyewitness. 

Other tourists in the Gypsies also stepped out and there was commotion leading to fight among tourists and guides. "I heard the person in the Gypsy threatening guides that he would get all of them dismissed though they were not at fault," said Mairal. 

Getting down in the park is against wildlife laws. A section of tourists said it was all happening just 50 metres away from the spot where the tigress was resting. The brawl went on for about 10 minutes. After 20 minutes, forest guard HS Goswami reached the spot. However, he showed helplessness in taking any action against violators who had left the spot. 

After returning to Pitezari gate, Mairal lodged a complaint in a notebook as complaint register was not available. "I also asked the concerned forest guard DS Sonawane to impose a fine against violators but he was reluctant. However, a fine of Rs 500 was imposed a tourist Swapnil Ghadge (and his group) only after I threatened to complain about the incident to higher ups," said Mairal.

Another violation which Mairal noticed was that Gypsies were carrying at least 8-9 tourists. Normally, the capacity is not beyond 6 persons. "I don't understand how such vehicles enter the park," he asked. 

Pitezari RFO DV Raut said, "It is a serious issue. If the complaint holds ground, we will suspend the vehicle and its guide for eight days. I will seek a report on the incident," said Raut. 



Parks open till June 30 

Even as national parks and sanctuaries witnessed last minute rush anticipating they will be closed from Monday, the parks in the region including Tadoba and those falling under Pench and Navegaon-Nagzira tiger reserves will remain open till June 30. "Navegaon national park and Navegaon, Koka, Nagzira, New Nagzira sanctuaries will remain open," said field director Sanjay Thaware. TATR field director GP Garad said that all the specified routes will remain open till June 30. "A fresh plan for tourism in monsoon will be sent to chief wildlife warden soon," Garad said.


http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/...659313.cms

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