Deccan Chronicle: Kochi: Tuesday,
February 14, 2017.
Tiger may
bring tourists to the Periyar but the number of visitors shows that it is high
time the government sets a closure period to help the national animal survive
in the reserve specially made for it. It has come to light that more than seven
lakh people visit Periyar Tiger Reserve annually. A reply under Right to
Information Act revealed the data which also stated that close to 1.2 lakh
vehicles are also reaching the ecologically important spot. PTR, however, has
no break to restrain the tourists to the area despite the pollution the
visitors and the vehicles
cuase.
RTI accessed
by Sajimon Salim, a Kumily native, reveals that 7,56,066 people visited the
area in 2015. Among them, 44,396 were foreign tourists. The number of foreign
students visited during the period is 1,098 while 60 children accompanied their
parents or caretakers. As many as 7,54,306 persons visited PTR in 2016 and of
them, 42,727 were foreign nationals. As many as 12,115 students and 59,967
children from India visited the area in the year. Interestingly there is no
closure period for the Periyar Tiger Reserve which irks green activists and
animal rights advocates alike.
The number of
visitors came down immediately after the Thekkadi boat tragedy, which killed 45
tourists on September 30, 2009, according to a top source with the Periyar
Tiger Reserve. “This year the number may touch 8 lakh," he said. On an
average, 7,500 people visit the area while the number is bit less at 500 in
June and July.
Activists
claim that the authorities can close down the area during the monsoon season
and can even consider restricting domestic tourists. Mr Sajimon said that a
closure period will indeed help the tigers and other animals in the forest. “If
people flock to the region every day the animal may withdraw to deep forest,
thus reducing their living space. IF a closure period is allowed animals can
live peacefully which will not affect the tourism aspects,” he said.