Adventure Tour: 19 SUVs Seized for Illegal Entry into Restricted Area of Ranthambore National Park
Adventure Tour: 19 SUVs Seized for Illegal Entry into Restricted Area of Ranthambore National Park
In a significant operation, the Forest Department in Rajasthan’s Sawai Madhopur seized 19 SUVs for illegally entering the Ranthambore National Park, a tiger reserve, on August 15. The vehicles, bearing number plates from Rajasthan, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, and Maharashtra, were found in Zone 8 and nearby hotels.
Despite the park being closed during the monsoon season, at least 12-15 vehicles entered the reserve in the evening, raising concerns about the breach of surveillance and anti-poaching systems. A viral video showed people walking inside the tiger reserve, prompting forest officials to search for the vehicles.
The seized cars, including variants of Mahindra Scorpio, Thar, and XUV500, are not authorized for jungle safari, which is only permitted for gypsies and canters. Divisional Forest Officer Ramanand Bhakar stated that an investigation is underway to determine how the tourists managed to enter the park amid tight surveillance.
The incident highlights the need for stricter measures to protect the tiger reserve and ensure the safety of both visitors and wildlife. The Forest Department’s swift action is a step towards maintaining the integrity of the park’s conservation efforts.
A Mahindra spokesperson on the issue said “We understand that in connection with an adventure event there was an incident of some vehicles entering Tiger Zone B of Ranthambore. We would like to clarify that the said event was organised by a third party who uses Mahindra vehicles for the activity. As a responsible OEM, we will investigate the matter to find out any violation on the part of the organisers of the event. We strongly condemn any act of violation and will fully support the administration who is investigating this incident.”
