In country’s first, tribals to operate Karwa jungle safari The jungle safari will start from January 26

 

 

Come January 26 and the Chandrapur forest circle will script history. In the country’s first, tribals in Karwa, with community participation, will operate jungle safari in Ballarshah forest range under Central Chanda division. Joint Forest Management (JFM) Committee will manage the safari under this new initiative. Until now, the tiger reserve or management of sanctuaries are responsible for jungle safari in core and buffer zones.

 

The Forest department is taking an innovative step to promote tribals to contribute in tourism and wildlife conservation. The jungle safari will start from January 26, informed N R Praveen, Chief Conservator of Forest (CCF), Chandrapur Circle while talking to The Hitavada. The forest has old pathways which will be used for the 30-km-long jungle safari in Karwa area. The area chosen for the safari is part of Tadoba-Kanhargaon tiger corridor having a dense canopy of trees, beautiful landscape, and water bodies. The area is rich in wildlife and has the presence of tigers, leopards, sloth bears, deer, sambar, wild boars, dholes, nilgai, gaurs, and 200 species of birds and butterflies. The corridor has dispersing population of animals.

 

“To provide livelihood to tribals and to reduce their dependency on jungle is the main objective behind this initiative. When the tribals will start managing the forest and jungle safari, they will understand the importance of tourism and also get earning from this idea,” said N R Praveen. “We have carved out 30 km tourism routes, encompassing 11 forest compartments, which were earlier used to transport timber on bullock carts during coupe working,” the CCF informed. The distance of Karwa from Nagpur is 170 kms, from Chandrapur the distance is 19 kms and from Ballarpur it is just 6 km away. After its opening on January 26, private vehicles will be allowed for safari in the jungle on experimental-basis. Till gypsy vehicles are procured and registered, tourism will be allowed in private vehicles.

 

The morning safari will be from 6 am to 10 am and evening from 2 pm to 6 pm respectively. On both sessions four vehicles each will be allowed to enter the jungle for safari. Forest Department has trained local youth as guides and in the future on-line booking will also be available on www.mytadoba.org website. Entry fee for the jungle safari is Rs 500 and guide fee will be Rs 350. “A large number of e-Surveillance cameras will help to control tourism and other activities inside the forest. It will also become another added attraction for tourists coming to Tadoba core and its buffer zones,” said Vinod Sidam, President, JFM Committee.