Nagpur: The Nagpur bench of Bombay high court took suo moto cognizance of tourists virtually cornering a tigress and her five cubs at the Umred-Pauni-Karhandla Wildlife Sanctuary near Gothangaon Gate recently. Expressing serious concerns, the bench on Monday directed principal chief conservator of forests (PCCF) to submit a detailed affidavit by Wednesday, outlining actions taken and preventive measures proposed to prevent such incidents.
A division bench comprising justices Nitin Sambre and Vrushali Joshi reprimanded forest officials for failing to monitor violations inside the sanctuary and relying solely on social media to detect incidents. They demanded a robust mechanism to prevent such lapses and ensure better enforcement of wildlife protection laws.
The said incident occurred on December 31, 2024, when the tigress, identified as F-2, was spotted near FDCM-2 route in the buffer zone with her cubs. Safari vehicles crowded around the tigress from both sides of the road to capture photos and videos. Trapped and agitated, the tigress displayed signs of aggression as she attempted to retreat. Videos of the encounter, widely circulated on social media, drew sharp criticism from wildlife enthusiasts and conservationists. The footage exposed the lax enforcement of protocols, raising alarms about lack of checks on tourist vehicles.
On Monday, the sanctuary’s field director informed the bench that action was taken against some guides and drivers. However, the judges grilled him on the lack of proactive monitoring, and social media posts revealing the violations. The court stressed the need for immediate reforms, ordering the PCCF to outline actions taken against those involved, proposals for monitoring systems, guidelines to prevent disturbances to wildlife, and penalties for violators under Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.
An FIR was registered under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, which prohibits disturbing or endangering wildlife. Offenders could face imprisonment of up to three years or fines up to Rs25,000. The court hinted at stricter enforcement and penalties to act as deterrents against future violations. While the court has yet to appoint an amicus curiae to assist in the case, the matter will be discussed further in Wednesday’s hearing.
According to forest officials, the guides and drivers failed to follow established protocols, which mandate maintaining a safe distance and avoiding any disturbance to wildlife. Instead, the vehicles surrounded the tigress, leaving her with limited space to retreat.
A division bench comprising justices Nitin Sambre and Vrushali Joshi reprimanded forest officials for failing to monitor violations inside the sanctuary and relying solely on social media to detect incidents. They demanded a robust mechanism to prevent such lapses and ensure better enforcement of wildlife protection laws.
The said incident occurred on December 31, 2024, when the tigress, identified as F-2, was spotted near FDCM-2 route in the buffer zone with her cubs. Safari vehicles crowded around the tigress from both sides of the road to capture photos and videos. Trapped and agitated, the tigress displayed signs of aggression as she attempted to retreat. Videos of the encounter, widely circulated on social media, drew sharp criticism from wildlife enthusiasts and conservationists. The footage exposed the lax enforcement of protocols, raising alarms about lack of checks on tourist vehicles.
On Monday, the sanctuary’s field director informed the bench that action was taken against some guides and drivers. However, the judges grilled him on the lack of proactive monitoring, and social media posts revealing the violations. The court stressed the need for immediate reforms, ordering the PCCF to outline actions taken against those involved, proposals for monitoring systems, guidelines to prevent disturbances to wildlife, and penalties for violators under Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.
An FIR was registered under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, which prohibits disturbing or endangering wildlife. Offenders could face imprisonment of up to three years or fines up to Rs25,000. The court hinted at stricter enforcement and penalties to act as deterrents against future violations. While the court has yet to appoint an amicus curiae to assist in the case, the matter will be discussed further in Wednesday’s hearing.
According to forest officials, the guides and drivers failed to follow established protocols, which mandate maintaining a safe distance and avoiding any disturbance to wildlife. Instead, the vehicles surrounded the tigress, leaving her with limited space to retreat.
