Suspension of Elephant Safari at Kaziranga National Park
In an unexpected development, the renowned Kaziranga National Park in Assam has taken the unprecedented step of indefinitely halting its beloved elephant safari, effective December 24. This decision stems from a recent directive issued by the Assam Forest Department, mandating the reservation of one seat on each elephant exclusively for forest department officials.
According to emerging reports, the national park authorities strongly oppose this directive, deeming it impractical, and have chosen to address the issue by temporarily ceasing the iconic safari experience.
The Assam Forest Department’s directive, aimed at ensuring a designated seat for forest officials during elephant safaris, has elicited discontent from Kaziranga National Park authorities. They argue that implementing such a reservation is logistically unfeasible and, as a response, have opted to suspend the elephant safari until a mutually agreeable resolution is reached.
The directive emphasizes the necessity of a separate seat on the back of elephants for security reasons, a point contested by the national park authorities. They highlight the impracticality of this requirement, asserting that it will disrupt the normal operations of the safari and compromise the overall experience for both tourists and the animals involved.
Halting sparks Controversy
Complicating matters further, the national park authorities reported an unsettling encounter with the Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) during discussions on the reserved seat issue. Allegations of mistreatment during the meeting have strained relations between the park authorities and the forest department, exacerbating tensions surrounding the closure of the popular elephant safari.
Tourists who had planned to visit Kaziranga National Park deem the abrupt discontinuation of the elephant safari as unfortunate.. With this sought-after attraction temporarily unavailable, visitors will miss the unique opportunity to explore the park atop elephants—a distinctive experience synonymous with the rich biodiversity and cultural significance of Kaziranga.
The suspension of the elephant safari serves as a symbolic protest against the impractical reservation directive. The national park authorities are advocating for a constructive dialogue to find a mutually agreeable solution addressing the concerns raised by both parties.
