What do you think about safaris in India? Are safaris good or bad thing?

India has 155 wildlife parks and 515 wildlife sanctuaries with around 2000 species of birds and around 500 mammals and this number is increasing every year. India has almost 700000 sqkm under forest cover. It is home to 5 Big cats, 10 medium size cats and many small cats, more than any country in the world. This is the reason that it attracts many international and domestic tourists to India.

Wildlife Tourism in India has also undergone a transformation, while initially only the affluent visited these park and sanctuaries, this is gradually changing as people have more disposable income people like to spend their weekends away from the polluted cities.

Till a few years ago people visiting these parks and sanctuaries treated these visits like a visit to a zoo or any other picnic spot. They talked loudly, littered, wore flashy clothes and abused the drivers if they did not see the big cat but gradually things have changed. People are most respectful to the forests, they have stared appreciating the flora and fauna, wear earthy colours, talk softly and do not disturb wildlife. Social media has a big role to play in this. People have learnt that they need nature more than nature needing them.

According to me wildlife tourism is good for nature as long as it is sustainable. We need to ensure that the number of vehicles and people visiting are limited, they are not disturbing wildlife by observing from a distance, maintaining distance from other vehicles, not littering or making noise, wearing earthy colours, carrying back there trash when they leave. Tourism also generates employment and helps in conservation activities. The revenue that is generated goes back in protection and conservation. It helps feed the villages around, pays salaries to all working as forest guards, watchers, officers etc which help detect and douse forest fires, stop poaching and so on.