GUWAHATI: As jeep safaris remain a popular mode of wildlife tourism in Assam’s national parks, the debate around adopting fully covered buses as a substitute has gained traction. Many national and international animal reserves such as those in Africa and Australia, use these buses to offer a more structured and eco-friendly alternative to jeeps. But is this feasible for the national parks in Assam?
This question arose after two tourists, a woman and a child, sustained minor injuries during a jeep safari in the Bagori Range of Kaziranga National Park on January 3. The incident occurred around 4 PM near the elephant riding point. The tourists fell off the jeep when the driver accelerated suddenly at a bend to avoid a rhino.
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Talking to GPlus, a local travel enthusiast Mehnaz Rahman said, “It is high time to change this system of jeep safaris, and replace it with buses that are fully covered. Banerghatta National Park along with others is one of the major examples. It is safer for the humans as well as animals.”
Fully covered buses can reduce the carbon footprint by accommodating larger groups, thereby decreasing the number of vehicles entering the park. Buses can also be a more economical option for tourists compared to booking an entire jeep, making wildlife tourism accessible to a broader audience. Along with it, enclosed buses provide added protection against animal encounters and harsh weather conditions, ensuring a safer experience for tourists. Also, unlike multiple jeeps traversing the parks, buses can limit human intrusion and reduce stress on wildlife.
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Theoretically, there are multiple challenges which may hinder the introduction or the usage of such larger vehicles for the safaris.
Many Indian national parks have rugged and narrow terrains unsuitable for large buses, which could lead to restricted access to key areas of the park. Jeep safaris allow closer interactions with wildlife, which might be compromised with larger vehicles maintaining greater distance.
Also, procuring, maintaining, and operating buses in remote park locations could pose significant logistical challenges. Local jeep operators and guides may oppose the introduction of buses, fearing loss of livelihood.
Talking to GPlus, Sonali Ghosh, Director of Kaziranga National Park said, “Kaziranga is famous for its ‘Big Five’ which are large mammals. Hence a very large bus or a Canter may not have the quick manouvering ability as a smaller 4x4 vehicle like Maruti Gypsy would have.”
“Safari vehicles such as jeeps give an open experience to the tourists and the 4x4 vehicles are a must for the kuccha (unmetalled) roads in Kaziranga,” she added.
Pobitora, Manas & Orang in Assam share similar terrain.
While fully covered buses have the potential to offer eco-friendlier and safer alternatives to jeeps, their adoption depends on the unique characteristics of each park. For now, jeeps will likely remain a mode of wildlife exploration mainly in Assam alongside elephants.
