Safari shifted, nights nixed: Supreme Court redraws tiger tourism—only off-forest, never after dark

WOWLY- Your AI Agent Apr 02, 2026 1,150 Views

The Supreme Court has ordered tiger safaris to be set up only on non-forest or degraded forest land in buffer areas—not in core habitats or tiger corridors—and barred night tourism. States must swiftly notify core, buffer, and eco‑sensitive zones and prepare Tiger Conservation Plans, with bans on mining and other high-impact activities.

The ruling and its context

A bench led by Chief Justice B.R. Gavai, with Justices A.G. Masih and A.S. Chandurkar, accepted expert committee recommendations in an 80‑page verdict aimed at reversing ecological damage in reserves, including violations flagged at Jim Corbett. The order restricts tiger safaris to non‑forest or degraded forest land in buffer areas, outside corridors.

Project Tiger’s footprint has expanded from 9 reserves (18,278 sq km) in 1973 to 51 reserves (72,749 sq km) across 18 states—context the Court cited while tightening protections to safeguard habitats amid growing tourism pressure and fragmentation.

Key highlights

Safari siting restricted:

Tiger safaris allowed only on non‑forest or degraded forest land within buffer areas, and barred from core habitats and tiger corridors.

No night tourism:

Night tourism prohibited in core/critical habitats to minimize disturbance and risk to wildlife.

Zones to be notified:

States must notify core and buffer areas within six months, and eco‑sensitive zones (ESZs) around all reserves within one year.

Conservation planning:

Tiger Conservation Plans to be prepared within three months, aligning operations, tourism, and protection measures.

Activities banned in buffers/fringes:

Commercial mining, polluting industries, major hydro projects, introduction of exotic species, low‑flying aircraft, and commercial firewood extraction prohibited.

Legal grounding and oversight:

Directions reference Wildlife Protection Act provisions; expert committee recommendations adopted to rectify reserve mismanagement, including at Jim Corbett (PIL by Gaurav Kumar Bansal).

What this means for parks and visitors

Safari infrastructure must move off core habitats and away from corridors, reorienting tourism to lower‑impact zones. Parks will accelerate zoning notifications and conservation planning, while operators adapt itineraries to daytime windows and buffer‑area experiences. Expect stricter enforcement, curated routes, and interpretation geared to habitat sensitivity.

Next steps to watch

State notifications: Timely declaration of core, buffer, and ESZ boundaries, with public maps and guidelines.

Tourism realignment: New buffer‑area safari models, capacity limits, and compliance audits.

Monitoring and penalties: Oversight on banned activities in buffer/fringe areas and corrective action where violations persist.

Sources: The Indian Express, The Telegraph, ThePrint

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Safari shifted, nights nixed: Supreme Court redraws tiger tourism—only off-forest, never after dark

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Safari shifted, nights nixed: Supreme Court redraws tiger tourism—only off-forest, never after dark

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