Plea to scrap full-day safaris after tigress cub killed in Panna

Bhopal: The death of a sub-adult tigress at Panna Tiger Reserve has triggered demands to discontinue full-day safaris in Madhya Pradesh. Wildlife activist Ajay Dubey has alleged that mandatory safety protocols were ignored and sought a high-level probe into the reserve’s safari operations.The demand comes two days after the female cub of tigress T-151 was killed in a territorial fight with tiger T-661 inside the reserve.In a representation to the Chief Wildlife Warden, Dubey urged the state government to discontinue full-day safaris, on the lines of other states, arguing that commercial tourism should not compromise wildlife conservation in core habitats.Dubey also sought a high-level inquiry into all full-day safari permits issued since January 2026.

He alleged that the reserve management stopped deploying forest personnel in full-day safari vehicles, despite it being a mandatory permit condition.According to the representation, the June 30 territorial clash between the two tigers occurred in front of two full-day safari vehicles. It alleged that if trained forest personnel had been present, the reserve management could have received immediate information about the conflict, allowing a quicker response that might have saved the cub.

The representation further claimed that the practice of deploying forest staff with full-day safari vehicles was discontinued in January this year. This left extended safari operations inside the core area without official monitoring. It also questioned the issuance of permits without complying with mandatory conditions and alleged that revenue generation was being prioritised over wildlife protection.Dubey urged the Chief Wildlife Warden to verify deployment records of forest personnel in all full-day safari vehicles since January and fix accountability for any violations. He also sought disciplinary and legal action against officials responsible if the allegations are substantiated.Dubey, who has worked on Panna conservation for nearly two decades, said he had earlier approached the Supreme Court on issues including buffer zone notifications, closure of illegal resorts in the Hinouta core zone, and a probe into tiger poaching. Forest department officials were not immediately available for comment.