Nagpur: Following the footsteps of Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve (TATR), the Tipeshwar Wildlife Sanctuary , 180km from here in Pandharkawda tehsil of Yavatmal district, has banned the use of mobile phones during safari but it seems the new rule is not for guides and drivers. Even as the ban came into force from June 1, 2024, guides and safari vehicle drivers are having a free run. “While the tourists are asked to surrender their mobiles and keep them in a box in the gypsy before venturing for safari, guides and drivers don’t follow the rules,” said Robin Sonkar, a tourist from Nagpur.
“The ban applies to both guides and drivers too. The reason for imposing restrictions was to stop overcrowding. Guides and drivers used to call their colleagues and gather at one spot whenever a tiger was sighted.
Monitoring movement of every vehicle was not possible, so a ban on mobiles was enforced,” said Mangesh Balapure, RFO, Patanbori. Balapure said there are 12-15 tigers including cubs in Tipeshwar. “In April-May, tiger sightings were at their peak, and we observed that guides and drivers called their friends to witness the same.
Other safari vehicles used to rush to the sighting spot, and this could lead to accidents and also harm wild animals hence the ban,” the RFO said. On the contrary, Sonkar alleged, “The cell phone ban is only for tourists and there is no check on guides and drivers. This defeats the very purpose of the ban.
It is the tourists who are charged nearly R.