MP Tiger Reserve Extends Restriction of Mobile Phone Use to Guides

 Bhopal: The Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve (BTR) in Madhya Pradesh has extended restrictions on use of mobile phones in the core areas to the guides and drivers of the vehicles carrying the tourists to the safari zones.

Restriction on use of mobile phones within core safari zones of major reserves in India by tourists has been enforced since February following a directive by the supreme court to reduce disturbances to wildlife.

The BTR authorities have extended the restrictions to guides and drivers of the vehicles carrying the tourists to the core safari zones of the reserve also in the wake of a recent incident in which the Gypsy jeeps carrying the tourists surrounded a tiger to facilitate them to take its photograph.

On June six, the vehicles carrying the tourists surrounded the tiger, Bajrang, in Tala core safari zone of the reserve to allow the tourists aboard the jeeps to take its photograph and video, leaving the wild animal upset.

The video of the sight went viral on social media leading BTR field director Dr. Anupam Sahay to order strict enforcement of the rule to restrict tourists to use mobile phones in core safari zone areas.

The BTR authorities also extended the restrictions to the guides and drivers of the vehicles carrying tourists to the core safari zones.

However, the tourists for whom the mobile phones will be found essential for some reasons are allowed to carry them but they have to deposit the cell phones in the locker boxes of the vehicles before entering the core areas of the tiger reserve, sources said on Thursday.

Sources said that the move will also help curb poaching of wild animals in the core areas of the reserve.