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Is tiger tourism helping or hindering?

India’s government last week announced plans to phase out tiger tourism across the country. The news has sparked a great debate about whether that will hinder or hasten the tiger’s roam into extinction. As tourism is said to destroy the tiger’s natural environment, there is the counter argument that without the tourists and the guides around, the area is free for poachers to wander around unseen.

And then I received this shocking information this morning. The Mudamalai Tiger Reserve in south west India has had to be closed to tourists. A torrid, dry spell has seen several fires in the last week, but here’s the sickening bit, they’ve all been caused by tourists flinging cigarette butts into the reserve. Around 20 hectares of the forest has been destroyed.

I visited Mudamalai at the beginning of the year and was lucky enough to see wild elephants on a walking safari. We were very careful when walking around the beautiful sanctuary and we had a very good guide and a forest ranger at hand, but international tourists are conditioned to safaris. Seeing a wild elephant doesn’t happen every day and is a moment to cherish. But Indians don’t seem to think the same way. Litter is a massive problem and the tourism infrastructure is not the same as in Africa or other safari destinations. Disturbingly, I witnessed how tigers were treated by local tourists in Mysore Zoo. Middle class Indian children were encouraged by their parents to taunt the cooped up tigers until the livid creatures launched themselves at the cage. The roar alone propelled us backwards.

Mudamalai is home to many other big cats, sloth bears, birds and tribal families. It seems whatever is decided long term will put that wildlife at risk, but what is certain is that education in Indian schools about their country’s amazing creatures is paramount for the attitude to change. I know there’s economic factors, but if tourism could be successful and helpful, the tiger may not face the plight it does.