03 June,2026 11:20 AM IST | Chandrapur | mid-day online correspondent
Representational Image. Pic/Pixabay
Tourists will not be allowed to enter the core areas of the Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve (TATR) from June 30 to September 30 as part of the annual monsoon closure aimed at protecting wildlife and ensuring visitor safety.
Forest officials said the temporary suspension of tourism activities in the reserve's core zones is a routine measure implemented every year during the rainy season when animal habitats become more sensitive and forest conditions can pose risks to visitors.
Chief Conservator of Forests and Field Director of TATR, P.N. Shukla, said the reserve's core tourism zones will remain closed for three months beginning June 30.
The closure coincides with the monsoon season, a critical period for wildlife breeding, habitat regeneration and ecological recovery within the protected forest area.
Officials said restricting tourist movement during this period helps minimise disturbance to wildlife and supports conservation efforts across the reserve.
While the core areas will remain inaccessible, tourists will still be able to visit designated buffer zones of the tiger reserve during the monsoon period.
Shukla clarified that all buffer tourism gates and buffer tourism areas are expected to remain open. However, access will depend on prevailing weather conditions and administrative directives issued from time to time.
Heavy rainfall, waterlogging, road conditions and safety considerations may lead to temporary restrictions in specific areas if required, officials said.
The buffer zones have increasingly become popular among visitors in recent years, offering opportunities to spot wildlife while reducing pressure on the reserve's ecologically sensitive core areas.
Forest authorities said the monsoon shutdown is a standard management practice followed across several tiger reserves and national parks in India.
Apart from safeguarding visitors from risks associated with heavy rains, slippery roads and reduced visibility, the closure allows wildlife to move freely during a crucial period of the year.
The monsoon months are considered important for the regeneration of forests, replenishment of water sources and breeding activities of several animal species.
Meanwhile, the Tadoba administration has dismissed reports circulating on social media alleging that the reserve's online booking system had been hacked.
Shukla urged visitors to use the official booking portal, mytadoba.mahaforest.gov.in, for safari reservations and tourism-related services.
The clarification came after a social media post claimed that an individual was illegally selling 80 per cent of the reserve's online safari tickets.
The senior forest official described the allegations as false and misleading. He said there was no evidence to support claims of irregularities in the online ticket booking process.
According to the forest department, the social media post was defamatory in nature and had the potential to create confusion among tourists and stakeholders.
As a result, officials have lodged a police complaint seeking action against those responsible for spreading the allegations.
The department has appealed to visitors to rely only on official sources for information related to safari bookings and tourism activities at the reserve.
(With inputs from PTI)
