The Mangaldai Wildlife Division has suspended elephant and jeep safaris in Assamese National Parks, Orang National Park, and Tiger Reserve for the 2024-25 tourist season. The decision comes in line with the end of the tourist season, which is the norm for Assamese wildlife sanctuaries. The park experienced a record-breaking number of visitors, including Indian and international visitors, during the 2023-24 season.
Orang National Park, and Tiger Reserve, in accordance with the most recent developments. According to the announcement, the elephant and jeep safaris would not be operating for the 2024–25 tourist season until further notice, starting on May 15, 2024. This decision is in line with the end of the tourist season, which is the norm for Assamese wildlife sanctuaries.
In addition, the management of Orang National Park and Tiger Reserve announced that both the elephant and jeep safaris will be temporarily closed as of May 15 in an effort to prioritize tourist safety and environmental preservation.
Before this news, the Kaziranga National Park & Tiger Reserve had previously announced that elephant safari would cease operations on May 1 and jeep safari would cease operations on May 16.
In Assam, it is customary for all national parks and wildlife sanctuaries to have their tourism seasons begin in October and end in mid-May of the following year, in accordance with seasonal variations and animal movement patterns.
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According to reports, Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve (KNPTR) had a record-breaking number of visitors during the 2023–24 season—the greatest since the park’s founding. For this time, 327,493 tourists were reported, of whom 31,35,574 were from India and 13,919 were from other countries. The park, which is well-known for its distinctive one-horned rhinoceros, has grown to be a favorite among families and wildlife aficionados.
Between 2023 and 2024, there was a noticeable increase in the number of visitors from India and other countries to the Eastern Assam Wildlife Division. Similarly, over the same time period, there were notable gains in both tourist and income at the Bishwanath Wildlife Division and the Nagaon Wildlife Division.
The primary draws of the October 2023 tourist season were elephant rides and forest safaris, which started after the monsoon. Apart from that, visitors might enjoy hiking in the Panbari forest range and Chirang, going on a boat safari to see dolphins, and cycling in the Karbi-Anglong region. The increased number of visitors also raised awareness of the area’s many eateries and food shops, encouraging ecotourism.
