The forest administration of the Ranthambore National Park are planning to set up 3 more gates for the tourists and have initiated a proposal for the same enclosed in Tiger Conservation Plan (TCP). Submitted to the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA), the proposal awaits approval and, if successful, the total number of gates will increase to 8 at Ranthambore National Park. There are 10 safari zones at present, previously it was 5. Zones 1 t0 5 are considered best for spotting tigers whereas zones 6-10 also offers fair opportunities for the same. However, zone 3 is the most popular one among the tourists.
According to one of the senior forest officials, as stated on a recent conference, the core area or the critical tiger habitat (CTH) wasn’t thoughtfully designed when Ranthambore National Park became a national park in the 1980s. Consequently, the tourism had to take shortcuts to be in motion. Spread over considerably in a less area, as compared to other national parks in India, tiger sighting is comparatively easier in Ranthambore. Therefore, these gates have been planned to rectify the flaw and redesign the CTH and buffer zones.
Exercises have begun to determine the locations for the three new gates. “As of now, we have not pinpointed the areas.” mentioned by an official at Ranthambore National Park. Zones 6 -10 were added later in response to the rising popularity of Ranthambore tiger reserve, on the opposite side of the park. Therefore, the entry gates in these zones are located quite at a distance from the gates of zones 1 to 5. To reach there, the canters and safari jeeps drive through the old city of Sawai Madhopur.
