PTR Deputy Director Manish Singh informed PTI on Tuesday that clarification has been requested from Vairahi Range Ranger Arun Mohan Srivastava, along with instructions to provide details regarding the tourist jeeps involved.
Officials noted that on December 9, following a tiger sighting near the siphon bridge, numerous tourist jeeps were strategically placed on both sides of the bridge to offer visitors a close-up of the majestic creature, thereby hindering the animal’s movement. Surrounding wildlife or obstructing their natural pathway is a serious infringement of safari regulations, officials stated.
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Following the viral circulation of the video and images on social media, the forest department took action against the Vairahi ranger, officials confirmed.
The PTR was designated as a tiger reserve in 2014 and is celebrated for its rich biodiversity, encompassing dense sal forests, towering grasslands, and marshy areas formed by the Sharda and Khakra rivers.
It plays a vital role in the Terai Arc Landscape of Uttar Pradesh.
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Chuka Beach, jungle safaris, and the siphon canal are key attractions within the reserve. PTR has also gained recognition for its accomplishments in tiger conservation, having received the international TX2 award in 2020 for successfully doubling its tiger population in four years.
According to the National Tiger Conservation Authority’s (NTCA) 2022 estimate, PTR housed 71 tigers. Internal surveys conducted in 2025 indicated the presence of over 80 adult tigers in the reserve, officials reported.
(Edited by : Jerome Anthony)
