New Delhi: Concerned over dwindling numbers of tigers, the Rajasthan High Court on Friday issued guidelines for the protection of the big cats in Ranthambore National Park.
The guidelines also included making Deputy Forest Conservator responsible for any poaching activities and banning industrial and commercial units in its vicinity.
The court said that the fall in the number of tigers was due to vested interests and authorities had failed to find fault and fix responsibility.
Issuing the guidelines, Justice Ashok Parihar said Ranthambore National Park should be closed to tourists at least twice a week, the use flash in cameras and other photography equipments should be totally prohibited and vehicles must keep a distance of at least 30 yards from wild animals and 50 yards from cubs.
"With the influx of huge amount in the projects sponsored by the Centre, World Wildlife Federation and other sources, all attention has been diverted to such funds instead of keeping a watch on the safety of the tigers and wildlife," Parihar observed.
"It was only because of creating vested interests that there has been phenomenal fall in the number of tigers and other wildlife," he added.
He also accused authorities of shifting focus from ensuring tiger safety to a number of “hugely-funded” projects.
On Wednesday, the Wildlife Institute of India released preliminary tiger census figures, which said that tiger numbers had dropped alarmingly in reserves in Central India.
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