Tourists visiting the world famous Dudhwa Tiger Reserve in the district this season will have to follow some new rules, including a ban on the entry of private vehicles into the jungle.

With the tourist season scheduled to commence on November 15, the reserve authorities are busy upgrading the amenities at the reserve while also finalising some fresh instructions and codes of conduct for the visitors.

“Our prime focus is that the tourist should enjoy the wildlife in its wildest form with least disturbance to the jungle inmates. The motto for the tourists this season would be — don’t leave behind anything but footprints,” Deputy Director, Dudhwa Tiger Reserve (DTR), V.K. Singh told PTI.

No private vehicles will be allowed to venture into the DTR jungles now as the drivers often fail to follow guidelines on the speed-limit, use horns and even sometimes cause disturbance to the wild animals by venturing into the dense jungle, Singh said.

Now, tourists will have to leave their vehicles at Dudhwa and they will be provided Gypsies which are suited for the rough terrain of the DTR, he said, adding that DTR had 16 Gypsies at present and the fleet would be increased to 35 to accommodate all the tourists.

“Every tourist group will be necessarily accompanied by a tourist guide, who would be called ‘Paryatak Mitra’ (tourist friend). He would tell the tourists about all aspects of the wildlife. These guides would be given a special three-day training, and being local residents, they would be fully aware about Dudhwa and its surroundings,” he said.

Also, this season, the park administration has resolved to make DTR polythene-free.

For this, each and every tourist visiting the park would be provided with an eco-friendly bag at a price of Rs 40 at the reception counter.

Spread over 884 sq km area and comprising Dudhwa National Park, Kishanpur Wildlife Sanctuary and Katarniaghat Wildlife Sanctuary, DTR attracts hundreds of tourists and research scholars every year.

Dudhwa has nearly 117 tigers, which is probably the highest number of tigers for any reserve in India.

Naturally enriched with flora and fauna, Dudhwa also accommodates various species of deer, including swamp deer, hog deer, spotted deer, four hundred species of birds besides several other aquatic species. Nearly three dozen rhinos also live here.

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