Tiger conservation holiday in India
Typically trips are expertly guided by a leading specialist with a good knowledge of the area to be visited. Inevitably, wildlife is the main focus of attention however, the aim will be to incorporate all other aspects of the natural world in an attempt to be as broad-minded as possible. A local guide may often accompany trips.
How this holiday makes a difference
Environment
The Tiger Study Tour is organised in support of Global Tiger Patrol and Travel Operators For Tigers and every booking includes a donation to one of these organisations. Each booking also includes a further donation to support the Sabbal Shah Forest Society which is based at Jhinna in Panna National Park and was created to protect and preserve this area of forest from illegal activities such as timber theft, poaching and mining, as well as giving local people custody of this area of the park. Donations are £20 per person for the TOFT/ GTP and £15 for the Sabbal Shah Forest Society.
Global Tiger Patrol (GTP) is a conservation agency prioritising protection of the tiger in the field, funding projects that support tiger and habitat conservation. GTP concentrates its work in India, as the sub-continent is home to about 55% of the world’s remaining wild tigers. We make regular contributions to this organisation through its group and tailor-made journeys to tiger reserves.
Travel Operators for Tigers (TOFT) is a campaign set up by a number of concerned Indian focused Travel Operators in the UK who believe there is a need for change in the way that nature and wildlife tourism is developing in India. The desire is that all those involved in ‘tiger tourism’, including tour operators, accommodation providers, local services, park management and, of course, visitors will join together to halt the demise of the tiger. Through collective action and adherence to a Code of Conduct the campaign aim is to make wildlife tourism in India more responsible and more sustainable. We are a founding member of this campaign.
As a member of TOFT we also send out an accommodation feedback questionnaire for clients to complete. Your feedback helps us to monitor the eco credentials of each lodge and to continue to use the most environmentally responsible accommodation. We also pass on your feedback to the lodge management, which helps them to maintain and improve their eco policies.
To mitigate the carbon dioxide released into the high atmosphere through your air travel we are giving £10 per client to Rainforest Concern. Rainforests have a central role to play in the slowing of climate change and yet we are removing forests from the planet at a faster rate than they can grow back. It is thus axiomatic to try and preserve the forests that we have rather than replanting. Rainforest Concern was established in 1993 to protect threatened natural habitats, the biodiversity they contain and the indigenous people who still depend on them for their survival.
Community
We recognise that responsible wildlife tourism is as much to do with giving local people a stake in tourism, as it is about protecting habitat and controlling poaching. We use locally owned accommodation throughout the trip and employ local guides and sub agents to organise the logistical arrangements.
As well as local guides, we also employ a professional naturalist to escort the group and share his knowledge on conservation and the issues that are relevant to the areas that you visit. Our guides are carefully selected and have in depth knowledge of the region through their own field work. We have a maximum group size of eight people which also limits the overall impact of the tour.
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