Tiger Conservation and Wildlife Tourism in India - A Perspective

South Asian Journal of Tourism and Heritage (2010), Vol. 3, No. 1

       Tiger Conservation and Wildlife Tourism in India
                       – A Perspective

                                    SUBHASISH CHAKRABORTY*

*Subhasish Chakraborty, Travel Writer & Consultant Tourism, Nadia, West Bengal, India

                                              ABSTRACT

   The loss of Tiger habitat has significant implications for millions of people on the Indian sub-
continent, even though they may not realize it. But a symbolic link between Tigers and the forests
where they live may be a tool conservationists can use. Ironically, many such people may themselves
be contributing to the despoilation of Tiger and wildlife habitats, not realizing that in the process they
are placing themselves in jeopardy. Furthermore, it is becoming increasingly evident that the long-
term survival of forests and high grasslands in the Indian subcontinent will depend largely on the
establishment of protected areas. The key to increasing the scope of protection is the Tiger. The
importance of biodiversity and the vital role of forests in the ecosystem are vague concepts in the
minds of ordinary people, but the Tiger is something real, something with which they can identify. The
symbolism is important and in time may help people to realize that their own survival is inextricably
linked with that of the Tiger and the Forest. In this Research Paper, the pivotal role that a Sustainable
Wildlife Tourism policy can play in the conservation of wildlife in India’s National Parks & Sanctuaries
have been highlighted.

  This is where things stood in 1994, when a Time magazine cover shouted that the Tiger
was “Doomed”, and U.S. Secretary of the Interior Bruce Babbit warned–“There may not be
another chance to save Tigers”. This new crisis galvanized the conservation community. It
became clear that saving the tiger was not a battle to be won once and forever, but a
continual process of holding old threats in check and preventing new ones from emerging as
conditions change. India addressed this crisis with the 1994 formation of the Global Tiger
Forum, an attempt to engage the international community in Tiger conservation. The U.S.
Congress passed “The Rhinoceros and Tiger Conservation Act of 1994” to assist conservation
programs in nations with Rhino and Tiger populations. Conservation organizations, such as
the World Wildlife Fund and the Wildlife Conservation Society, launched new programs and
re-energized existing efforts devoted to Tigers. And new conservation organizations
emerged, here and in Tiger range states, to help. Perhaps most important, in the last few
years all of these various players have recognized the need for co-operation among
themselves. Where a century ago more than 80,000 Tigers roamed Asia, because of trophy
hunting and habitat loss fewer than 4,500 exist today. The newest threat is poaching; since
the rise of economic success and prosperity in Asia, the demand for traditional oriental
“tonics” and “remedies” using the body parts of endangered species has skyrocketed. A live
Tiger is precious and priceless, but a dead Tiger is worth $100,000. The Chinese revere the
strength and power of the Tiger, but are “revering” the Tiger to death. According to the Fall
1997 Western Canada Wilderness Committee newsletter, “China has hunted the South China
Tiger from an estimated population of 4,000 in the 1960’s down to the pitiful 20 today”.
Pressure has switched to the Bengal Tiger, whose numbers have dropped from 30,000 after
World War II to less than 3,000 today. It is estimated that China is importing 300-400
poached Bengal Tigers a year from India and Korea another 200-300 from India and
elsewhere. The situation is indeed alarming and the sooner remedial measures are found the
better it is.

                                                   © 2010 South Asian Journal of Tourism and Heritage

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WHY SAVE TIGERS?
  The Tiger is a beautiful animal. But that is not the only reason we should save it. It is time
to realize that when you save the Tiger, you save the forest and in turn secure your food and
water security. The Tiger cannot live in places where trees have vanished. In such places, the
rain becomes a flood, killing people and destroying homes. It takes away the precious soil,
leaving behind a wasteland. The soil jams up our lakes and dams, reducing their ability to
store water. By destroying the Tiger’s home, we not only harm Tigers, but also ourselves.
This is a very simple, very direct link between saving Tigers and saving ourselves. The Tiger
thus becomes the symbol for the protection of all species on our earth, from the tiniest
mosquito to the largest Elephant, from birds and flowers to Crocodiles and frogs. This is why
we sometimes call the Tiger an apex predator, an indicator of our ecosystem’s health. When
the British left India, it left behind a Forest Service, which looked after the huge forest areas
of India. Every politician of independent India made this service subservient to the Indian
Administrative Service and the Indian Police Service. According to well-known Tiger expert
Valmik Thapar, “As far as dedication and commitment by forest officers to protection is
concerned, they require a political clout, the political assurance that someone is interested in
them. That is going to happen only when there is a dedicated Ministry and a dedicated Police
force”. When Project Tiger was launched in 1972 there was never the right mechanism in
this c country to govern wildlife and forest. Project Tiger is a Project of the Ministry of
Environment and Forest. This Project survived and was successful when we had people like
Indira Gandhi and Dr. Karan Singh spearheading it because they believed it was important to
save India’s forests and Tigers. So nobody questioned their political clout. If something
happened in a National Park or to a Tiger, there would be a flurry of phone calls from the
Prime Minister or Cabinet Minister. So till that era survived and then trickled into Rajiv
Gandhi’s time, there was success in terms of the Project.

  But today what we see is that the Project has no power over state governments. The
Project is like a bank, in that it disperses money and that’s all. Money is allocated from the
Planning Commission and given to Project Tiger to disperse. At the moment, it is allocated
Rs. 16 crores. It goes to the 27 Project Tiger Reserves. The Director of Project Tiger is

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supposed to pass cheques after looking at the proposal from the states. He can advise but he
has no powers. According to Valmik Thapar, “Project Tiger needs to be reformed and
restructured in the 21st century”. A lot of organizations and well meaning people have come
forward and are working dedicatedly to save the big cats. Consider the case of Anthony Marr,
a Canadian who is working with WCWC and a grant from CIDA. Marr is helping Kanha
National Park in India to safeguard its Tiger Reserve. In a land where women must walk
several kilometers to collect firewood, 90,000 villagers living in the buffer zone surrounding
this park eye its potential fuel and grazing land with envy. “The park is like a feast laid out on
a table surrounded by hungry people who are forbidden to touch”, says Marr. The solution?
Look after the people so that they will look after the Tigers. Partnered with Tiger Trust India,
the project is setting up free medical clinics and schools, building community bio-gas plants
to show a practical alternative to firewood and developing training and education programs
for Park guides and visitors, as well as village teachers, students and their families. “The
result will be more than just a change in local people’s attitudes towards the Tiger and the
park. It will include a changed, more sustainable way of life”. Marr believes that no one should
have the privilege of lack of responsibility. “What excuse will we give our children if we stand
by, do nothing and watch the wild Tigers go extinct?”

TIGER TRACKING
   Tracking Tigers is not all fun and excitement; often it is as thrilling as land surveying –
painstaking map and compass work. But there are rewards for entering the secret world of
Tigers. Adult Tigers are solitary animals that establish their territories in areas with enough
prey, cover and water to support them. The difficulty of locating prey in Tiger habitat makes
it more efficient for Tigers to hunt alone. As a result, they do not tend to form social groups
like Lions. A female Tiger and her cubs are the exception to this and will form a family group
for 2 to 3 years, until the cubs are able to fend for themselves. The territory of a Tiger usually
ranges in size from about 10 to 30 Sq. miles (26-78 Sq.Kms.). The size of a Tiger’s territory
depends on the amount of prey available. Tiger territories are not exclusive. Several Tigers
may follow the same trails at different times and a male’s territory usually overlaps those of
several females. Both male and female Tigers spray bushes and trees along their route with a
mixture of urine and scent gland secretions. This is a way of declaring their territory. They
also leave scratch marks on trees and urinate or leave droppings in prominent places.

CUNNING PREDATOR
  Even in areas of prey abundance, the Tiger has to work hard for its food since all its prey
species have highly evolved systems of self-preservation, which the Tiger must beat. The
regulates, the hoofed herbivores which constitute the main food of the Tiger, have a highly
developed sense of smell and reasonably keen senses of sight and sound. Whether living
singly (as a Sambhar does) or in herds (like the Chital, Nilgai and Gaur), they are constantly
vigilant as they move, forage or rest. Herd security and leadership is provided by the
matriarchs who keep a close watch while the herd is foraging or resting. They constantly
shift their muzzle to face the breeze in order to catch scents and funnel their ears in different
directions to catch sounds. On apprehension of danger, the first alarm is signaled by
stamping a forefoot. If on further assessment, the danger seems real and imminent, a vocal
alarm is sounded. Finally, the matriarch provides the lead and the herd drifts, scampers or
bolts.

CALL FOR SUSTAINABLE WILDLIFE TOURISM
  When it comes to Tiger Conservation, the only way out for India is to follow a Sustainable
Wildlife Tourism policy, particularly in the National Parks that come under the ambit of
“Project Tiger”. This will enable the National Park authorities and the Ministry of
Environment & Forest to implement the principles of Sustainable Wildlife Tourism and the

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pivotal role that wildlife tour operators are expected to play. The below mentioned report
portrays in generally the experience gained from years of multidisciplinary investigate
research on wildlife tourism in India. Wildlife Tourism that relies principally on viewing of
wild animals in their natural habitats in order to be sustainable over a period of time needs
to meet the following broad based standards –
 • Customer’s satisfaction resulting from the wildlife safari or tour.
 • Wildlife Tour Operators ought to make adequate profits.
 • As a result of conducting wildlife tours and safaris, the wildlife population of species
   should not shrink or become less visible over a period of time.
 • In case the species population shows a diminishing trend due to other miscellaneous
   causes, the Wildlife Tours & Safari operators should in principle contribute a part of their
   income for species conservation.
  However for long-term success, two principles need to be borne in mind -customers have
to have a fulfilling experience and the wildlife population too needs to thrive in India’s
National Parks and sanctuaries for tour operator’s revenue earnings through wildlife tours
and safaris to be profitable. But, it has often been observed in India that the wildlife tour
operators in their bid to earn quick profits in the short-term have engaged themselves in
practices that are opposed to the principles of Sustainable Wildlife Tourism. The need of the
hour is to frame a set of Regulations that will ensure that the element of sustainability is
maintained on the part of the tour operators and they desist from unsustainable practices.
  With a view to capitalize on the actual and perceived links between the implementation of
“Minimal Impact Principles” by wildlife tour operators and the long-term profitability of their
trade, often the key factor is to lessen the dependence on wildlife regulations. This is
particularly significant in cases where compliance of regulations are difficult to put into
practice, as is the case with Tiger Safaris and Lion Safaris. The below mentioned explanation
considers some of the key issues involved in ensuring that wildlife tourism in India is
Sustainable.

MINIMAL IMPACT PRINCIPLES
  For the survival and continued existence of wildlife species, especially Tigers in India that
face the constant threat of extinction and for their easy and trouble free viewing in the great
Indian wilderness, the concerned Wildlife Tourism Operators need to comply with certain
“Minimal Impact Principles”. The basic criterion is to make sure that due to increased tourism
activities, the resident wildlife population in India’s National Parks that are under “Project
Tiger” do not show the occurrence of an increased mortality rate, migration from their
concerned habitat resulting in decline in their population and increased evasion and
avoidance of tourist vehicles/Safari vehicles. The most appropriate “Minimal Impact
Principles” will vary from park to park, taking into consideration the species as well as the
type of tourism – Tiger Tracking, Wildlife Photography tours, Conservation tours or purely
touristy tours. In the case of 4 Wheeled Drive based Wildlife Tourism that involves the
vehicles transporting tourists deep inside the Tiger territory for close-up views of the Big
Cat, the “Minimal Impact Principles” that are especially recommended typically relate to how
the vehicles should be managed when they come in close proximity to these animals. The
park authorities must consider imposing a few restrictive regulations like - approach
distances, vehicle’s speed, the orientation of the vehicle vis-à-vis the animals, application of
gears, number of vehicles within a certain distance of the Tigers as well as the time spent
viewing the Tigers.
  Unfortunately, with most wildlife tours in India, including Tiger Viewing and Tiger
Photography tours, there hasn’t been much in-depth and investigative research to establish
the type or level of disturbance that actually results in the decline in population of the Big
Cats. Nevertheless, population-level alterations are normally mediated by physiological
changes that occur at a purely individual level, which literally means that changes at the

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individual level can be considered as indicators of probable population-level effects. What is
more, physiological indicators are more often than not used in framing strategies and
regulations because of the fact that they can be observed in a straightforward manner during
wildlife encounters between visitors and Tigers. Furthermore, it is amply clear that
increased movement of noisy vehicles leads to avoidance response by the Tigers and so even
if these activities may not cause the Tiger population to decline, they would almost certainly
cause reductions in terms of view ability. Due to the lack of proper scientific understanding
of any link between Tiger behavior and population decline, monitoring of Tiger population
should become a priority. Possibly the principal reason as to why Indian Wildlife Tour
Operators often fail to abide by the “Minimal Impact” guidelines is that they somehow
perceive that falling in line with the “Minimal Impact Principles” will lead to a deterioration
in customer satisfaction. Nonetheless, there are instances galore of evidence that visitors too
can be sympathetic and sensitive of the restrictions imposed by National Park authorities to
their access to Tigers and wildlife, particularly if sustained by a first-rate interpretation plan.

VISITOR SATISFACTION
  For any Tourism product, visitor satisfaction is the vital ingredient for long term success
and Tour Operators have to ensure that the customers have had a “high quality” experience -
by whatever manner they evaluate that experience. The Tour Operators have also to take
into account the “Value for Money” ingredient of the tourism experience vis-à-vis the product
pricing and the perceived quality. It is imperative on the part of the Tour Operators to be
innovative with their product design so that the overall wildlife experience has the element
of “quality” even if certain characteristic element of the wildlife experience is omitted.
Indian Wildlife Tour Operators would do well to have a method of evaluating customer
feedbacks, irrespective of how innovatively a tour was designed and conceptualized. In a
recent study of Wildlife Tourism in India, the factors most recurrently listed by visitors both
from abroad and within India were -
  (1) Viewing wildlife in their natural habitat;
  (2) Viewing rare, endangered and unusual wildlife;
  (3) Experiencing wildlife behavior naturally.
  The features least frequently listed as significant were –
  (1) The opportunity to touch or caress wildlife;
  (2) Availability of trained knowledgeable guides/naturalists;
  (3) Out-of-the-ordinary observations about wildlife.
  However, the two most significant factors that confidently influenced visitor satisfaction
were the knowledge that they had gathered about wildlife and how natural their overall
wildlife experience was in the concerned National Park & Sanctuary.
  The implications of the above-mentioned investigation are enumerated below-
• The Wildlife tourism experience has to be “natural” and most visitors will probably have
   positive customer satisfaction feedback if the experience is natural.
• Visitors expect to have numerous close encounters with Tigers and other wildlife species
   engaged in interesting pursuits.
• Visitors expect good quality interpretation services, which is often the key to have a
   fulfilling wildlife experience and positive customer satisfaction.

PRODUCT VALUE – ACTUAL AND PERCEIVED
  In Tiger Safari tours, the pivotal elements of the wildlife experience that has a direct
impact on customer satisfaction are mentioned below:
• Quality of the wildlife experience.
• Quality of tourist facilities and services like seating arrangements, weather protection,
   toilets and refreshments.
• Quality of interpretation.

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• Quality of staff/naturalists and their efficiency.
• Quality of environmental and wildlife preservation. (A growing numbers of tourists
    worldwide are turning Eco-Friendly and value environmental preservations).
   In India, unfortunately no quality research has been undertaken specifically on what
visitors perceive as high quality wildlife encounter. Issue that have been found to have an
influence on customer satisfaction like nearness of the encounter, numbers seen etc…are at
best suggestive. These days, there has been a growing trend worldwide to embrace
technology, which has resulted in a phenomenal increase in the level of sophistication in
Wildlife Tourism and this technology factor too seems to indicate another vital component of
customer satisfaction. For example at the Ranthambore National Park, visitors monitor Tiger
movements through hi-tech chips. Wildlife Tour Operators in India should seriously consider
innovative wildlife package tours to have a stimulating effect on the visitors. A few humble
suggestions to enhance the wildlife experience are mentioned below-
(1) Accreditation systems (e.g. WWF Accreditation, Government of India’s Ministry of
     Tourism’s Guide Certification Program / Guide Qualification Program etc…
(2) Periodic check of quality assessment in licensing guides / naturalists;
(3) Instituting awards and rewards for high quality interpretation services. It would be
     prudent on the part of the National Park authorities in India to publicize these
     accreditation and awards so that they are linked to “quality” in the visitor’s mind, which
     would create a niche quality.
  In the case of Tiger Safari Tours, Tiger Photography Tours etc… Tour Operators need to
constantly upgrade the standards in each of the following areas:
 • Overall tourism performance.
 • Participate meaningfully in environmental management of National Parks and work in
     close cooperation with National Park authorities to minimize negative effects on the
     wildlife habitats in general, and on Tigers specifically.
 • Excellence in Interpretation skills –both wildlife and environmental along with the
     capability to implement good interpretive practices.

PRODUCT DIVERSITY
  In cases where a key element of the overall Wildlife Tourism experience cannot be
guaranteed (e.g. close encounters with Tigers), it is imperative on the part of the Tour
Operators to supplement with other high quality wildlife experiences for their valued
customers. In particular, Tiger tour operators should consider ways to incorporate newer
experiences like “Biodiversity Experience through Treks in the concerned National Parks” that
has elements of the National Park’s environment other than Tigers. If such innovative
wildlife tourism products are offered in combination with effective interpretation and as
“replacement experiences”, this can guarantee that even if adherence to the “Minimal Impact
Principles” decreases the number of close encounters with Tigers, the element of customer
satisfaction is maintained throughout the tour.

UNDERSTANDING TOURIST DEMAND AND RESPONSES
  Understanding the customers and their overall response to their wildlife experience is
vital to the upholding and future improvement of customer satisfaction levels. Research in
India’s National Parks & Sanctuaries clearly indicates that customers differ greatly in terms
of their expectations, outlook and responses, and consequently Indian Wildlife Tour
Operators would do well to try and appreciate this diversity and to act in response to it
wherever and whenever feasible. One significant proposition is that Wildlife Tour Operators
should accommodate different visitor segments by way of providing two or three levels of
interpretation in prior anticipation of the amount of details that visitors to a National Park
require. However, wildlife research in India carried out under WWF –India Chapter
specifically points out to the fact that the vast majority of wildlife tourism visitors in India’s

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National Parks & Sanctuaries have a general rather than specialized interest in wildlife and
thus the emphasis should be to offer wildlife experiences and interpretation that is suitable
to this market segment. When it comes to on-site monitoring of customer satisfaction by
Tour Operators, they can be informal like for example - observing and talking to customers
and or formal - e.g. written surveys, and they should meticulously investigate customers’
responses to all the elements of the wildlife experience provided to them. A Tour Operator
who is hell-bent to maximize customer satisfaction within an assortment of constraints
under which the Operator operates will often adjust elements of the wildlife experience in
response to such feedbacks.

ONGOING PROFITABILITY
   Profitability of any tour operating business is primarily dependent on the following
factors–
   (1) Cost of operation;
   (2) Number of customers;
   (3) Pricing of the tour;
   (4) Income from other activities like merchandising, sale of souvenirs, refreshments,
        photography services etc…
   Majority of the suggestions for successful financial operation of Wildlife Tours are
identical with those that are applicable to small tourism businesses in general, and we will
not be discussing them here. The number of customers that are lured to embark on wildlife
tours will depend to a large extent on customer satisfaction feedbacks. How favorable this
link is will depend largely on the word-of-mouth publicity that is prevalent in the market
and the amount of repeat tours by customers. Likewise, the pricing of the wildlife tour will
be linked to the anticipated quality of the product or tour. Last but not the least, in the case
of wildlife tourism, the skill to attract customers is at the end of the day dependent on the
persistence of the wildlife species. Groundwork research carried out in India clearly
indicates the following impediments to the financial success of Wildlife Tour Operations
across India –
• Many of the problems that confront Wildlife Tour Operators in India also frequently
     apply to small-scale businesses in general.
• Inadequate marketing strategy is a major obstacle.
• Wildlife Tours in India are more often than not under-priced and Tour Operators and
     those few who charge a high price should be mindful of the fact that they offer quality
     wildlife experience that justifies charging high prices.
• Often Indian Wildlife Tour Operators do not take the advantage earn revenue through
     ancillary tourism activities.
   Thus, Indian Wildlife Tour Operators should focus on improving their skill sets in these
areas so as to profitably run their tour operating business.

EFFECTIVE AND EFFICIENT INTERPRETATION
  Interpretation is basically a “process of motivating and encouraging an appreciation of our
natural and cultural heritage and of communicating nature conservation ideals and practices”
(Department of Environment, Queensland 1996). It involves decoding the technical language
or jargons of natural science or other related fields into understandable terms and ideas that
people in general who do not possess a scientific bent of mind can readily understand in a
way that is entertaining and interesting (Ham 1992). In the case of Wildlife Tourism,
Interpretation is often befuddled with information by wildlife tour operators. It is not just
presenting visitors with facts. Of paramount importance is the manner in which the
information is communicated. Effective and efficient interpretation is fundamental to the
success of Wildlife Tourism because of the following reasons:
  1) Effective interpretation raises the level of customer satisfaction by providing content,

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which is not only interesting but also enjoyable and nicely supplements, the real-life wildlife
encounter or experience by stimulating a feeling of awe and excitement when wildlife is
encountered.
   2) Preserve or even improve upon visitor satisfaction even when “Minimal Impact
Principles” are in vogue by providing “alternate” experiences (e.g. video shows, seminar and
workshops on wildlife etc…) when the “authentic” experience is not available by way of
explaining to valued customers why the “Minimal Impact Principles” are necessary, and
thereafter gaining their support and cooperation for practically implementing these
practices at the ground level even if it means a reduction in close encounters with wildlife.
The Wildlife Tour Operator has to innovatively turn this from a probable negative into a
positive constituent of the wildlife tour by showing to the customers that they are being
environmentally sensitive. By winning the hearts of customers, they would in fact appreciate
that they will be particularly privileged if they happen to witness a close wildlife encounter
with Tigers, thereby reducing the frustration and disappointment if such encounters do not
take place.
   3) Show the way towards enhanced support for wildlife conservation.
   Whatever little research that have been undertaken in India’s Tiger habitats have revealed
that wildlife viewing along with good interpretation plan have been linked with increased
support for conservation by the visitors. Given the existence of numerous threats to Tigers in
India’s National Parks & Sanctuaries, like poaching, this could translate into political support
for measures to protect the Tigers in India’s wilderness. Wildlife Tour Operators in India
may also be intelligent enough to encourage visitors, particularly foreign visitors to become
enthusiastically involved in Tiger conservation and even to make donations for this noble
cause.
   Research in Wildlife Tourism has demonstrated that customer satisfaction is directly
influenced by whether the wildlife experience matches with prior expectations of customers.
It is therefore of paramount importance that the messages represented in images, spoken or
written raises the expectations of the Tiger tour experience, particularly with regard to any
changeability of Tiger sightings. In India, unfortunately, there has been very little scientific
research to evaluate the quality of interpretation in India’s National Parks & Wildlife
Sanctuaries. There is however unanimity in terms of a consensus among a range of
stakeholders involved in Indian Wildlife Tourism sector that it is below par and in need of
further improvement. Given the manifold sustainability goals that can be achieved through
effective interpretation, urgent steps should be taken by the Ministry of Environment and
Forest to ensure that the quality of interpretation in Indian Wildlife Parks are at par with the
international standards. Being a good interpreter is easier said than done and it would be
prudent to bear in mind the key principles, which are enumerated below –

GUIDELINES FOR EFFECTIVE & EFFICIENT INTERPRETATION
   For interpretation to be effective in augmenting the level of customer satisfaction and in
meeting its principal objectives, a set of salient features are mentioned below-
Enjoyable
   Interpretation is an art in itself and the guide / naturalist and the visitors should enjoy the
session in the wilderness. Interpretation doesn’t mean lecturing. Far from it, interpretation
is a joyful exercise wherein the natural and cultural tourism products are presented to the
audience in the most interesting manner so as to heighten the tourism experience.
Appropriate use of stories, legends, jokes and attention-grabbing facts must be incorporated
in the interpretation to ensure that the presentation is entertaining and fun.
Relevant
   The interpreter has to make sure that the content is relevant to the visitor’s own
experience and he or she can relate to it easily. The content should be such that it is
customized to the customer’s position and viewpoint. It is always prudent to gather some

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knowledge about the background of the visitors and thereafter to modify the interpretation
to suit the needs of the visitors.
Organized
  Interpretation should be planned and well thought out. To be effective, interpretation has
to be logical and there should be a link with components in course of the tour program. One
should start a session with an introduction and end with a conclusion.
Thematic
  For interpretation to be lively and exciting, it is imperative on the part of the interpreter to
follow one principal theme throughout the session or tour. Themes help to reduce the
monotony and repetitiveness of dull technical jargons, which ensures that the audiences
remember more of the presentation.
Informative
  The interpreter should be careful with the content, which should preferably be well
researched. Accuracy is of paramount importance along with highlighting issues like wildlife
conservation and Minimal Impact Principles so that the audiences appreciate such issues.
Challenging
  The challenge before the interpreter is to compel the customers to think and keep them
involved. For interpretation to be effective thorough planning is required and one has also to
bear in mind that an element of flexibility too should be an integral part of the program. A
few straightforward objectives for interpretation on wildlife tours in India, with particular
emphasis on Tiger Tours and Safaris are enumerated below-
1. To enhance customer appreciation;
2. To clearly reveal that tour operators are sensitive to the environment and respect the
     “Minimal Impact Principles”;
3. To raise the level of customer’s awareness of Tiger and wildlife conservation issues and
     encourage them to contribute towards such issues;
4. To ensure that planning is done in a systematic and scientific manner and that all the
     staff in the National Park / Sanctuary are familiar with wildlife and conservation issues;
5. On Tiger tours, the interpretation may also include talks, brochures, video shows, slide
     shows etc… and all promotional materials like brochures, maps, newspaper articles and
     photographs should be presented in a professional manner.

CONCLUSION
  It is true that there are many problems facing Forest India. Rampant poaching and lack of a
dedicated protection force are the main obstacles. Saving the Tiger involves making difficult
decisions. Decisions we have been putting off for 20 years. It also means relocating forest –
dwelling people in a more humane fashion and abolishing Timber and other forest product
exploitation from critical Tiger habitats. It may be a dream, but I hope someday India will
have an exclusive service fashioned after the United States Fish & Wildlife Service. This is a
formidable force supported by a fleet of vehicles including helicopters for patrolling. They
have all the necessary surveillance equipment, weaponry and most important, the fund to
support their activities. If we act rationally and deploy our resources wisely, there is still
time to save the Tiger and with it the great Indian wilderness.