India bans tourism in tiger reserves

NEW DELHI, July 25 (UPI) -- India's Supreme Court has ordered a ban on tourism in "core zones" of more than 40 of the country's government-run tiger reserves.

In its ruling, the court warned states failing to put the bans in place and maintain them could face contempt proceedings and fines, the BBC reported.

The court had already imposed fines on six states for not complying with earlier tiger protection directives.

The tiger population has plummeted from an estimated 100,000 tigers in India a century ago, with a 2011 census finding only about 1,700animals living in the wild.

The court's ruling was applauded by conservationists, who had petitioned for the removal of commercial tourism activities from core or critical tiger habitats in tiger reserves.

Most tiger reserves in India have "core zones" and also have buffer zones, fringe areas that surround tiger reserves up to a distance of six miles.

Officials say that while conservation efforts by the government and wildlife organizations have helped tiger populations increase, poaching and conflicts between the tigers and people living in and on the periphery of the tiger reserves remains a threat.

Sourced: upi.com