A significant policy change at Rajasthan’s Ranthambore National Park now forbids mobile phone use throughout safari excursions, directly in response to Supreme Court directives. This measure is designed to shield wildlife from the perils of modern tourism.
According to Ranthambore Tiger Project’s Sanjeev Sharma, the ban prevents the chaos caused by phone-wielding visitors chasing viral moments. Vehicles pile up, animals get stressed, and safety protocols are breached routinely.
The apex court’s orders target specific infractions: excessive noise, social media videos, selfies, and unauthorized approaches to wildlife. In fragile ecosystems like Ranthambore, these disruptions jeopardize hard-won conservation gains.
While guides and drivers once faced a short-lived phone curfew, today’s all-encompassing rule leaves no exceptions. Enforced rigorously, it champions responsible visitor conduct and a tranquil park ambiance.
Experts view this as a landmark for eco-tourism, balancing adventure with preservation. Tourists stand to gain a purer wildlife encounter, free from screens, while bolstering the reserve’s role as a tiger stronghold.