Do not Step Out of Gypsy in Jim Corbett National Park; You May be Fined if You Do This

It is always advised that if you are going inside the protected area of Jim Corbett National Park for enthralling safari ride, do not get off your vehicle at any point in the park except where it is allowed. This is for your own safety and the safety of wildlife species.

In a recent incident that took place in the Jhirna zone of the Corbett National Park on Monday, a fine of worth Rs. 5,000 each has been levied on 15 tourists under the section 28 of the Wildlife Protection Act 1972 after they stepped out of their vehicles while taking a day safari.  The fine amount has been imposed on the visitors by the Corbett Tiger Reserve (CTR) administration. The tourists had booked a jeep safari permit to the Jhirna zone of the park.

According to TOI report, the tourists reportedly stepped out of their day jeep safari vehicles and walked for a kilometer towards the exit gate of the park. These tourists were from Hisar and Panipat, both of which are located in Haryana.

According to Corbett Tiger Reserve Director, the accused has complained about the guide and gypsy driver and informed that they misbehaved with them. After the inquiry conducted by CTR, they found that the tourists had left the vehicles in the protected area of the Corbett Park. This, in turn, had led to an argument between the tourists, the guide and driver.

This is not a single or new case in the Jim Corbett National Park. Tourists have been fined by the Corbett officials for contravening the guidelines in the past as well.

In March 2018, four students from IIT- Kharagpur along with professor were fined Rs 40,000 for operating a drone in the restricted area of Bijrani Zone of the CTR.