Shutting of tiger reserves, parks harming the locals: Wildlife group writes to Aaditya Thackeray

Sarosh Lodhi, co-founder of CLaW group and a conservation photographer, has stated that due to the closure of tiger reserves and national parks, the livelihood of natives around jungles has been impacted badly

The closure of the tiger reserves and national parks in Maharashtra amid the rise in COVID-19 cases is having an impact on the livelihood of people depending on tourism.

Sarosh Lodhi, co-founder of CLaW group and a conservation photographer, has written a letter to Environment Minister Aaditya Thackeray, requesting the government to consider reopening the reserves and parks.

Lodhi also has stated that due to the closure of tiger reserves and national parks in Maharashtra, the livelihood of natives around jungles has been impacted badly. "Their incomes have already been impacted for losing out on two peak tourist seasons during the earlier two lockdowns, in 2020 and 2021. I humbly urge you to reconsider your decision as most commercial establishments are allowed to function with limited capacity in closed spaces where the numbers are very high." states the letter.

Lodhi has also suggested that the government may introduce strict compliance of entries to tourists with mandatory RT-PCR negative report and double vaccination.

Wildlife conservationist Kedar Gore from The Corbett Foundation said, "I don't think tiger reserves or national parks need to be shut due to COVID. The influx of crowds, however, could be regulated as a preventive safety measure. Some steps such as reducing the number of tourists per safari vehicle, ensuring COVID-appropriate behaviour by tourists, asking for negative RT-PCR reports, etc, could be formulated. Shutting the parks is a loss of revenue and livelihoods for the local communities who are dependent on wildlife tourism."

Voices

Sarosh Lodhi, co-founder of CLaW group and a conservation photographer
‘Their incomes have already been impacted for losing out on two peak tourist seasons during the earlier two lockdowns, in 2020 and 2021. I humbly urge you (the environment minister) to reconsider your decision as most commercial establishments are allowed to function with limited capacity in closed spaces where the numbers are very high'

Kedar Gore, from The Corbett Foundation, Wildlife conservationist
‘I don't think tiger reserves or national parks need to be shut due to COVID. The influx of crowd, however, could be regulated as a preventive safety measure. Shutting the parks is a loss of revenue and livelihoods for the local communities who are dependent on wildlife tourism'