Corbett’s Complete Mobile Ban in Effect from February 5, 2026. Here’s What You Should Know
A major change has been introduced in the rules for wildlife tourism at Corbett National Park. In line with the directions of the Supreme Court, carrying mobile phones during safari visits inside Corbett Tiger Reserve has been completely prohibited. This rule will come into effect from February 5 and will be applicable to all safari zones of the national park. Rahul Mishra, Deputy Director of Corbett Tiger Reserve, stated that orders have been issued to enforce this rule strictly. Similar instructions have been shared for national parks and tiger reserves across the country. The Corbett administration has completed all necessary preparations to ensure the smooth implementation of this decision.
Locker System Introduced at Safari Gates
To manage mobile phones properly, special locker facilities have been installed at all safari entry gates. Visitors going for day safaris will be required to deposit their mobile phones at the gate before entering the forest. These phones will be returned after the safari is completed. Separate arrangements have been made for tourists staying overnight inside the national park, especially in popular zones such as Dhikala. Overnight visitors must also submit their mobile phones at the gate. Their devices will be placed in sealed lockers located in their forest accommodation. However, while going on the Corbett tiger safari rides, they are not allowed to carry mobile phones and must leave them in their rooms. When they leave the park after their stay, their phones will again be sealed and returned to them at the exit gate.
Decision Taken for the Safety of Wildlife and Tourists
According to park officials, the main purpose of this rule is to ensure the safety of both animals and visitors. In many cases, the locations of tigers and other wildlife are shared through mobile phones. This leads to large crowds gathering at specific spots, which disturbs animals and increases their stress. Such practices also raise the risk of accidents inside the forest. Another concern is related to photography. Mobile phone cameras have limited zoom capacity. To take clearer photos or videos, tourists sometimes try to move closer to wild animals. This behaviour can be dangerous at any time and may provoke animals, putting tourists and forest staff at risk.
Corbett National Park has several important tourism zones, including Jhirna, Dhela, Bijrani, Garjia, Dhikala, and Durgadevi. Among these, Dhikala is the most popular zone for overnight stays and attracts a large number of visitors. The new mobile phone ban will be applied strictly in all these zones without any exception. The administration has requested visitors not to bring mobile phones to the safari gates. Officials have also made it clear that they will not be responsible for any loss, damage, or breakage of phones deposited at the gates. Tourists are advised to cooperate with forest authorities and follow the new rules carefully.
This step is being viewed as strict but necessary for wildlife conservation and forest safety. By limiting the use of mobile phones inside the reserve, the authorities aim to reduce human interference and promote responsible tourism. The decision is expected to improve both the protection of wildlife and the overall safari experience for visitors at Corbett National Park.
