New Delhi, August 29
The Supreme Court today extended the ban on tiger tourism by a month, but clarified that it was not averse to allowing regulated tourist activities under revised guidelines for protecting the wild cat. A Bench comprising Justices AK Patnaik and Swatanter Kumar asked the Centre to come out with fresh guidelines in consultation with the state governments and all other stakeholders such as hotel associations, guides and tour operators.

The apex court, which had imposed the ban on tourism activities in the core tiger reserve areas on July 24, today remarked that tourists could in help curb poaching. “Poachers actually work undercover. If no tourists are allowed, it will be a field day for poachers,” it observed.

Attorney General GE Vahanvati said the existing tiger conservation guidelines did not envisage a complete ban on all commercial activities in core areas. The Bench asked the government to identify the activities that could be allowed in the core areas while finalising the comprehensive guidelines.