Chandrapur/Nagpur: Two latest incidents in which Pandharpaoni queen Maya and her two one-year-old cubs being mobbed by tourists in Tadoba core three days ago, and a sub-adult tiger chasing a tourist vehicle in buffer zone in Agarzari, have once again called for regulated tourism in the premium park.On Sunday, two videos went viral on social media in which tourist vehicles blocked Maya’s path to get a close view and photographs from both sides of the road. Another was about a tiger chasing a vehicle near Devada gate. Time and again such incidents have been happening in Tadoba and it is high time rowdy tourists are made to fall in line before it is too late.“Both the incidents should be eye-openers and are indicators of prospective man-animal conflict. Tigers will lose fear of humans by tourists going too close to them. Once these sub-adults cubs disperse there is every possibility they entering into conflict with humans. Our indiscipline is changing behaviour of tigers,” says state wildlife board member Bandu Dhotre.Wildlife lover and resort owner Dhananjay Bapat says, “Tourism in Tadoba is already reduced but I agree there is dire need to train guides and tourists to maintain discipline. There should also be briefing to tourists before they enter the park. Surprise checks by senior officials can also curb the problem.”When asked, TATR field director NR Praveen said, “The Devada tiger had chased vehicles earlier too. We are framing guidelines wherein tourists will have to sign an undertaking stating they are going into the forest at their own risk and park administration will not be responsible for any untoward incident with them. The decision comes in the wake of a sub-adult tiger charging at a tourist vehicle in Devada circuit of TATR buffer on Sunday morning.”A video clip, showing a sub-adult tiger charging at a tourist vehicle while the driver speeding away on kuccha road through the forest amid scary cries of tourists in the Gypsy, has gone viral. TATR officials confirmed the incident that took place near Devada gate in TATR buffer.“A tigress having two cubs suddenly came between two Gypsys carrying tourists for safari in the buffer zone. One of the sub-adult cubs got disturbed and charged at the one of the Gypsys. Driver, however, sped away with the tourists to safety,” said deputy director, TATR buffer, Gajendra Narwane.He cleared the driver and guide of any mistake in the incident, but maintained that all of them have been warned. Following the directives of field director, in the light of these two incidents, senior officials held a meeting with all guides and drivers early Monday morning and directed them to keep safe distance between two vehicles and also from tigers. “As per NTCA guidelines distance between two vehicles in the park should be 50 metres but this rule is never followed,” said officials.“I have also directed the officers to draft an undertaking stating that tourists entering the forests for safari will do so at their own risk.“Every tourist will have to sign this undertaking at the gate before going for a safari. We cannot deploy a guard with every vehicle,” said Praveen. He claimed that safety of tourists was always a concern.This is second instance of tiger charging at the tourist vehicle in TATR. Earlier in the last week of May, a male tiger had charged at a vehicle after tourists disturbed its mate devouring a kill at Madnapur gate in TATR buffer. After the incident, Madnapur area was sealed for tourists.blurbTourists will have to sign an undertaking stating they are going into the forest at their own risk and park administration will not be responsible for any untoward incident. The decision comes in the wake of a sub-adult tiger charging at a tourist vehiclePhotoPhoto grab from the video clip that has gone viralfile Sent on WhatsApp group

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