As summer draws wildlife enthusiasts to Vidarbha’s famed tiger landscapes, the recent fuel panic cast a shadow over safari operations, disrupting visitor movement across several reserves. While the region which is home to one of the largest populations of Royal Bengal Tigers in the country typically witnesses a seasonal surge in tourism, the uncertainty around fuel availability triggered cancellations and logistical strain, particularly in remote forest zones. Vidarbha’s major tiger reserves including Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve, Pench Tiger Reserve (Maharashtra), Bor Tiger Reserve, Melghat Tiger Reserve and Umred-Karhandla Wildlife Sanctuary, collectively attract thousands of tourists each season, drawn by high chances of tiger sightings and well-managed safari circuits.

 

However, last week’s panic-buying of fuel created an artificial scarcity, directly impacting safari-linked operations. Bor Tiger Reserve emerged as the worst affected. Located in Wardha district, its safari gates are situated far from urban fuel stations, making daily operations heavily dependent on stored fuel. “Petrol pump owners are not providing fuel in cans, and it is not viable for gypsy operators to travel nearly 35 kilometres to refuel vehicles,” said Manoj Lakhe, a gypsy operator from the Seloo gate. The disruption led to a visible drop in tourists’ turnout, as visitors deferred jungle safari plans amid uncertainty.

 

Tadoba, Umred-Karhandla, Pench see minimal impact The impact on Tadoba-Andhari and Pench Tiger Reserves remained short-lived. Both reserves, known for consistent tiger sightings and high tourist demand, witnessed a brief lull during the peak of the fuel frenzy. “There were some cancellations in online bookings, but these were quickly filled by tourists on waiting lists,” officials at the Pench Tourist Information Centre said. Operators at Tadoba echoed similar sentiments. Sainath, a gypsy driver, noted that operations stabilised within two days. “There was a temporary setback, but things returned to normal quickly. Had the fuel shortage continued longer, the situation would have been far more serious,” he observed. Meanwhile, Umred-Karhandla Wildlife Sanctuary reported no significant disruption. Fuel remained accessible for both tourists and safari vehicles, allowing operations to continue seamlessly.