Tiger sightings greet tourists at Tadoba, Nagzira on day 1

Nagpur: Amid mixed response from tourists to early opening of wildlife parks on Sunday, those visiting Tadoba, Khursapar in Pench, and Nagzira on Sunday were lucky to get tiger sightings.

"Tadoba was packed with online booking of 92 vehicles as per the new carrying capacity. Monday being a public holiday, the park is packed," said field director Mukul Trivedi.

In Navegaon-Nagzira Tiger Reserve (NNTR) in Bhandara and Gondia districts, field director Ravikiran Govekar said 58 vehicles entered the park on day one. Pench field director Rishikesh Ranjan said 45 vehicles entered from Sillari (15) and Khursapar (30). In Bor, 17 vehicles entered in both shifts.

Tadoba guides said tourists in five vehicles were thrilled to sight the park's popular tigress Maya near Panchdhara and Chital Road in the morning round. Even Matkasur, the dominant male of Tadoba, was sighted at waterhole 97 in the evening round.

Wildlife enthusiast Sandeep Singh said a tiger was also sighted by a couple of vehicles entering Khursapar gate of Pench in the morning.

A tourist from Raipur (Chhattisgarh), Rahul Kulkarni, sighted a big male tiger near Pitezari in the morning round in Nagzira. Kulkarni told TOI, "I am really thankful to the guide Baburao Tekam, who first saw the tiger hiding in the dense bushes. I'm really impressed by the rich biodiversity in the park."

However, even as these sightings kicked off wildlife tourism season in the state, many gates did not open as roads were in bad condition following delayed road works last month.

Bor's Adegaon gate, Pench's Nagalwadi, Saleghat and Chorbahuli, and Umred-Karhandla's Gothangaon remained closed. The RFOs concerned had already apprised the higher-ups that it would not be possible to open the areas since roads were still wet and hence murrum cannot be laid. Besides, there is tall grass.

"In Mansinghdeo sanctuary's Saleghat area, only 4km of the road is open. It will not be possible to take up repairs immediately as getting labour will be a problem ahead of Diwali," said RFO Ritesh Bhongade. Similar is the situation at Nagalwadi, where even night safari and machan sittings are allowed.

In Bor Tiger Reserve, no tiger sightings were reported though a group of visitors from Nagpur led by Ajay Kataria sighted a pack of 10 wild dogs and many herbivores. Bor RFO Kishor Talvekar said five vehicles entered the park in morning round from Bor. "Adegaon gate will take time to reopen. Being close to the dam, some roads and nullahs on the route are still under water due to belated rains," said Talvekar. He added that 35km route is open for tourism in Bor.

Umred-Karhandla RFO Rakesh Kotrange said from Karhandla 12 vehicles entered in shifts. "In morning, there were two vehicles and in evening 10 vehicles entered the park. Of the 44km tourism routes, 20km is closed," he added. However, from Paoni gate, only one vehicle entered the park in morning.

Gothangaon RFO Ghanshyam Thombre says the gate cannot be opened for at least 15-20 days due to swollen Gosikhurd backwaters. The roads are also badly damaged due to belated rains.