Since the ban on tiger tourism was issued by the Supreme Court on July 24, Bandipur and Nagarhole have seen a deserted look first time in 40 years.
By Late Wednesday morning, reception centers at the parks looked isolated with the forest department staff relaxing and the fleet of forest department vehicles parked.
Bandipur has nine suites and three dormitories that can accommodate at least 300 people per day.
Tourists were informed Tuesday night that the safari on Wednesday was cancelled. “Many tourists left early in the morning after the gates opened at 6 am. But for the ban on night traffic on the road through the park, they would have probably left in the night,” said a Forest official.
The department staff turned back tourists who, unaware of the ban, came in Wednesday morning to check on accommodation. They were told that all bookings were cancelled. A board was hung at the reception apologising for the inconvenience caused due to Supreme Court orders. The fee for the bookings was refunded.
Swallowing his disappointment, Raju, a visitor said: “It is good that tourism is banned. It might be a good thing for the conservation.”
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