In the news

The recent Supreme Court ruling on tiger safaris in Uttarakhand’s Jim Corbett National Park has ignited discussions on wildlife conservation and tourism development.
The Court has condemned the unlawful felling of over 6,000 trees for constructing buildings under the guise of eco-tourism.

About Jim Corbett National Park

	Details
Establishment	Established on August 8th, 1936 (originally as Hailey National Park)
Location	Uttarakhand State, Nainital region
Renaming	Renamed as Ramganga National Park (1954–1955), Later reverted to Corbett National Park
Total Area	1,318.54 square kilometers (509.09 square miles)
Ecological Zones	Dhikala, Bijrani, Jhirna, Sonanadi, Durgadevi, Dhela
Conservation Programs	Included in Project Tiger (1973); Part of World Wide Fund for Nature’s Terai Arc Landscape Program
Flagship Species	Focus on Bengal tiger, Asiatic elephant, Great One-horned rhino
Geographical Features	Ridges, streams, plateaus, ravines, grasslands, deciduous woods, pine forests
Importance	Designated as Important Bird Area by Birdlife International; Key role in wildlife conservation efforts

Petition against Captive Animal Holding: The Supreme Court addressed a petition opposing captive animal holding in the national park.
Permitted Tiger Safaris: The Court allowed the establishment of tiger safaris in peripheral and buffer zones with specified conditions.
Balancing Tourism and Ecosystem Preservation: The Court aimed to maintain a delicate balance between promoting tourism and preserving sensitive ecosystems within Jim Corbett National Park.

Tourism as a Livelihood: Locals rely on tourism for income, with transportation, tourist safaris, food centers, and accommodation facilities contributing significantly.
Infrastructure and Conservation: Tourism infrastructure obstructs wildlife corridors, impacting conservation efforts. The phasing out of Dhikala tourism complex is deemed necessary to comply with legal requirements.
Animal-Centric Approach: The Supreme Court emphasizes an animal-centric approach over tourist-centric policies to ensure conservation in national parks.