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2. CORRIDORS : Forest Corridors (Keladevi Sanctuary in the north and Sawai Man Singh and Kuwalji forest in the south) should be re-linked (which existed until some years ago, and there is good forest available to do so) on either side of Ranthambhor Park so that the new adult population of Tigers can consider these forest areas as their ultimate habitat thereby not remaining in conflict with the elder Tigers within the main Park; for this the pressure of grazing and human interference should be removed from the Corridor Zones, a task Government should have initiated long ago but has not considered undertaking. While the village development is on priority by the State, Tiger Conservation does not appear to be receiving sympathetic treatment. Tigers are indicative of the health of forest while forests contribute a lot, directly and indirectly, towards human needs. By more effective Tiger Conservation, the State shall be able to discharge its role better for welfare of the rural folk.

3. MORE EMPLOYEES : Recruitment of new Forest Guards at Ranthambhor should be made on priority as staff at the lowest level is inadequate, a step not taken by the Government for long. Until recruitment is made, a new model can be adopted : on a temporary basis, villagers should be enrolled to serve as Guards on the Periphery (each to serve for less than 90 days, as an experiment) to be paid as per norms for the staff, for which the Director of Project Tiger in New Delhi (Dr. Rajesh Gopal : personal communication with the applicant) has the provision to sanction sufficient finance to the State Government; the objective will be to convert villagers as supporters of the Park; by contributing to their economy.

4. FACILITIES TO STAFF : The existing staff at Ranthambhor Park should be provided just facilities in the field (at the Chowkies) where they live in conditions beyond description, and work almost round the clock without basic infrastructure like torches, wireless, motorcycles, revolver, gun etc (Kaziranga National Park in Assam is an example where the Forest Guards are provided better living, guns etc). Training and upgradation of skills are needed for such employees at grass root level so as to combat poachers who possess improved skills and infrastructure.

5. POACHING CONTROL : The State is aware of poaching around Ranthambhor Park and its role should be questioned about cases detected and legal procedure followed. The priority to anti-poaching measures is found missing presently. If poaching is not eradicated, Ranthambhor Park may face the same consequences as faced by Tigers at Sariska a few years ago. The forest staff need improved intelligence mechanism and positioned to work round the clock; it should not be like casual (hit and run) effort by them as is the case presently. The Park staff has brought the poachers to the book in recent months (2006 summer), but they have not been given appreciation and encouragement. Villagers can offer tactical clues to the Park management after they are taken into confidence and provided gainful employment (as suggested above).

6. STAKE HOLDERS’ ROLE : Participation of Stake Holders needs to be established to strengthen Tiger Conservation at Ranthambhor, in which villagers, drivers, guides, hotel operators, tour operators etc should be assigned role and trust be reposed in them by the Park management; their contribution can be meaningful once the Park management invites them into managing various aspects of the Park.

7. CENSUS RESULTS : Census results of the Park’s fauna and flora should be made public and not kept as secret documents as the case is presently.

8. ENQUIRY : The Eco Development Fund received by the Park (nearly Rs 20 crores) through externally aided programme, resulted in dubious benefit to stake holders and the Park; an inquiry is called for to pinpoint those responsible and they should face the consequences.

9. POLICY FOR VISITORS : A long term policy should be devised for movement of Visitors in the Ranthambhor Park and Pilgrims to the Lord Ganesh Temple, located over the Fort. For want of such a measure, the Park has earned the somewhat bad reputation as ‘most unfriendly Park in India’ because visitors remain in dark each time the Park is reopened on 1 October (closes on 30 June) and they come to know all of a sudden about the new rules for entry, number of vehicles to be allowed, type of vehicles (Jeeps, Large Canter and Mini Canter). The new rules are not publicized adequately thereby deepening the suspicion over the mode of operation and agency responsible at Ranthambhor level. Earlier the Park’s forest officials and now the Tourism officials change the policy almost each year.

(i) TOURISM INITIATIVE : The State Department of Tourism initiated an On Line Booking (vehicles) from 1 December 2006 (which should have been operative from 1 October 2006 when the Park reopened). The new measure provides transparency in booking. However, it has no provision of refund of the amount if one is to cancel the visit to the Park, the entire amount is forfeited; Like the Railways return the amount to passengers, the Tourism Department should introduce the refund mechanism too.

(ii) RELIEF TO PHOTOGRAPHERS : The new system of the Tourism Department also now enforces minimum 6 persons to occupy one jeep (which is too crowded), likewise for Canter. The new rules have no provision for Serious and Professional Photographers who wish to use a jeep for single person. Suitable amendment should be made for such users.

10. CARRYING CAPACITY : It has not been estimated as to how many visitors can be accommodated in Ranthambhor Tiger Park at a time. The ceiling on number of Jeeps, and Canters has been fixed on no-proven method by the forest authorities. It needs to be re-examined and re-assessed. Further, the forest authorities should open new gates to the Park so that entry and exit for visitors is channelised separately thereby curbing situation like traffic-jam at certain points in the Park (several entry-exit gates operate in Parks like Kaziranga, Corbett, Kanha, Nagarhole, Bandipur, Tadoba etc, why not then at Ranthambhor?).

11. CLOSURE OF PARK ZONES : There appears to be no rationale on the part of the forest authorities to suddenly, one fine day, declare that a certain zone of Ranthambhor Park is closed (visitors not allowed to go there). Keeping an area in privacy invites the attention of poachers; a study at Kanha Tiger Park revealed that Tiger had the best (visibility and conservation) in areas which were regularly visited by tourists because poachers could not dare indulge in their nefarious activities for fear of being seen and caught.

12. POLICY FOR HOTELS : Hotels have mushroomed at Ranthambhor thereby causing so much traffic that it becomes unbearable within the Park. More hotels are being constructed with the result that all those staying therein shall not be able to visit the Park (as per present entry norm). It is time there should be a moratorium imposed on new hotels around Ranthambhor. Hotels should be asked to contribute a percentage of their revenue towards welfare of the Park employees, and suitable mechanism has to be devised for this (about Rs 50 crore revenue was estimated to be generated through tourism at Ranthambhor Tiger Park last year). It is an irony that the Hotel sector here has remained unchecked, uncontrolled and unadministered by the State Government.

13. NEW DESTINATIONS : There are alternative destinations around Ranthambhor Tiger Park but they have not been highlighted and popularized to visitors. An ideal mix needs to be developed for visitors to enforce mandatory visit to villages, to Sawai Man Singh forest area after the Park visit has been completed; rotational basis should be adopted.

14. ECOLOGICAL SECURITY : Forest Conservation should receive high priority in the Government’s present policy for rural development as the society’s future and prosperity are dependent upon the greenery around which offers indescribable benefits, round the clock. This has not been practiced. In fact, the Government has created a divide between forest conservation and rural development, which is too obvious by examining the role and deeds of the Department of Forest, which has hardly any say in the official working. Mining, Irrigation, Agriculture, Road development etc are sweeping away even the reserved forests and sanctuaries, and such development would have wiped off the green cover for ever, had the Hon. Supreme Court not intervened in recent years to set new precedence towards Nature Conservation. Wildlife Conservation is accepted as the Citizens’ Duty under the Constitution of India, a sphere in which Government is generally found lacking. Ensuring the Ecological Security for the society should be the prime agenda of the Government. This can best be introduced through Sanctuaries and National Parks, which represent the biodiversity, but sadly neglected by the Government. Tiger is India’s psyche, the catalyst for forest protection and the unpaid best forest guard, offering cover to numerous other species, including the grass land and moisture regime. There is reason why wild animals and birds have been associated with gods and goddesses in the Indian pantheon : Rat with Lord Ganesh, Tiger with Goddess Durga etc. The Srimad Bhagwad Geeta describes Lord Krishna saying that He is Garuda among the birds, Lion or Tiger among the animals and Ashwath ie Peepal among the trees. The living spirit of the country’s people shall get extinct if the Government’s neglect for Tiger is allowed to continue.

15. NO VESTED INTEREST : The applicant has taken pride in the role of the Hon. Judiciary in India since the Hon. High Court of Rajasthan at Jodhpur decided a case in favour of the birds : Great Indian Bustard and Houbara species accorded protection by that Hon. Court during 1979 as the Arab Sheikhs had been indulging in falconry in the Desert, violating the Wildlife (Protection) Act, that too at the invitation of the then Government. This applicant was singularly responsible to get those hunters out of the country, for ever. The applicant took the case of the Keoladeo National ark to the Central Empowered Committee of the Hon. Supreme Court two years ago to seek justice in favour of this Park which was denied its traditional right to receive flowing water during the annual monsoon to recharge its aquatic ecological cycle; the CEC submitted its Report and the decision is awaited by the Hon. Supreme Court. The applicant needs to point out that he has no business interest at the Ranthambhor Tiger Park (neither through hotel nor through any taxi vehicle) and that the applicant’s plea is for Conservation on the basis of his such work for past thirty five years in this regard.

16. RELIEF PLEADED : It is therefore pleaded that the Hon. Court may create a mechanism for long term survival of Tigers in this Park for which specific time frame may be set; the applicant shall be available to support and serve the cause of Tigers as and when so requisitioned by the Hon. Court. It is pleaded that until a final judgement is delivered, which may take time in view of several issues to be addressed, permission may be accorded by the Hon. Court for visitors to enter the Park – they should not receive the punishment which is due to those responsible for putting the Tiger in bad humour at Ranthambhor.

Thanking the Hon. Court.

Harsh Vardhan

Enclosed : publication of the 9th Birding Fair (dedicated to Tiger Conservation).