By Arun Pratap SinghGarhwal Post Bureau
Dehradun, 24 Nov: Tourists visiting Corbett Tiger Reserve (CTR) as well as Rajaji National Park can soon hope to enjoy the Elephant safari after many years of discontinuation. The State Forest Department has finally permitted the resumption of the Elephant Safari. Acting on the order issued by the Chief Wildlife Warden of Uttarakhand, domestic and international visitors shall once again be able to enjoy the added thrill of exploring the forest atop an elephant.
Corbett Tiger Reserve, known internationally for its rich biodiversity, the Royal Bengal Tiger and its adventurous jungle safaris, is set to witness a major boost in tourism with the revival of the elephant safari. Although, the approval for the restart of elephant rides cum safari was granted during the State Wildlife Board meeting held in June 2024, but in reality, the elephant safari is set to resume operations only now.
Speaking to my uttarakhand news, Director, Corbett Tiger Reserve, Saket Badola, shared that the Elephant Safari will most likely resume in December after all the preparations and the formalities are completed. He also shared that the elephants and the mahouts for the safari in Dhikala as well as Bijrani zones have already been identified but some other formalities are being completed. He further stated that the tickets for the safaris will be sold at the park’s reception centre on a first-come, first-served basis. The fee has been fixed at Rs 1,000 per person for Indian nationals and Rs 3,000 per person for foreign tourists, with a maximum capacity of five persons, including children, per elephant. Children below the age of five will be exempt from ticket charges. The safari duration has been fixed at two hours.
As per the approval orders in respect of Corbett Tiger Reserve, the elephant safaris will operate in the Dhikala and Bijrani zones in both morning and evening shifts. In Dhikala, safaris will be conducted with two elephants along two designated routes, offering visitors close views of the Ramganga river, dense woodland, extensive grasslands and diverse wildlife. This zone has always been among the most sought-after areas in Corbett, and the safari is expected to further elevate the visitor experience. The Bijrani zone will use one elephant and will also follow two fixed routes, with each safari lasting two hours and allowing tourists to observe the jungle, wildlife activity and natural habitats in their pristine form.
According to state forest officials, Elephant Safari is expected to resume soon also at Rajaji National Park and the preparations as well as other formalities are being completed at Rajaji Park for this.
It may be recalled that the elephant safari had been suspended for nearly six years after the Uttarakhand High Court, in 2018, imposed a ban on the commercial use of elephants under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960, and the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972. Following the court’s direction, all safari operations were halted. Since then, local tourism operators, guides, mahouts and wildlife enthusiasts had persistently appealed for the safe revival of the safari. They argued that elephant rides not only offer a unique and serene forest experience but also serve as an important tool for spreading awareness about wildlife conservation, while providing crucial livelihood support to mahouts and rural communities. With the State Wildlife Board and departmental authorities permitting its resumption under regulated and secure conditions, the local community has expressed widespread happiness.
According to the wildlife enthusiasts, the experience of elephant safari is unmatched by any vehicle-based exploration. The absence of engine noise, combined with the elevated vantage point on elephant back, allows an unobstructed and peaceful view of grasslands, riverbanks and narrow forest passages. Deer, wild elephants, birds and occasionally tigers and leopards may be sighted. The Ramganga riverbank and the vast grasslands of Dhikala, in particular, enhance the distinctiveness of the safari.
The local tourism stakeholders in Ramnagar and in Rajaji Tiger Reserve, including the homestay owners, guides, drivers and wildlife enthusiasts, have welcomed the decision, noting that tourists frequently requested the elephant safari and will now have their wish fulfilled. They believe the move will significantly contribute to strengthening the local economy and consider the well-regulated revival of the safari a commendable step.
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