Suvidha Rajwadkar

Vigilantes on Wheels Getting away from the city lights, lying down and listening to the nature and meeting the real friends living in the wild wild regions has been on minds of thousands of people today. Many nature enthusiasts prefer visiting forests than visiting glittery crowded countries abroad. Eco - tourism, one of the latest tourism industries, is responsible to the upliftment and preservation of the wildlife. This nature friendly, high quality and environmentally responsible tourism is essential in drawing people’s interest towards environment and wildlife. Many have been debating, whether this newly formed and most popular form of tourism is a boon or a bane. Although the answers might vary, few essential aspects of Eco - tourism which help in conserving the Wildlife can never be missed. I have tried to analyze few of those aspects which are the most significant ones according to my view. 1. Less Poaching and hunting incidents: as highlighted above, I believe the nature tourists work like the Vigilantes in the Jungle and the frequent visits keep poachers and hunters away from the forest. It creates a guiding and protecting mechanism in itself. If more and more tourists are made aware of the problems persisting in the protected forests, they can contribute more and more to the cause. The volunteers and workers working in the are keep an eye for any suspicious movements around such areas. 2. Opportunities for locals who know how to preserve that native habitat: many locals and residents find good opportunities of employment through Eco- tourism. The sons of the land are more aware of the native land and habitat of the friends in the forest, hence they provide for a great resource in protecting and nurturing the wildlife, flora and fauna in the area. 3. Good in Funding the sanctuaries: rule abiding tourism, nature loving – environmentally aware tourists and nature conscious tourist companies together form a great base for a funding mechanism. Funds generated from the visits to nature, are used for the medical aid and other necessities in the forest- which is helpful in providing for costlier treatments or medical experts to treat the species in the wildlife. The funds are a great tool for preserving the forest from all the threats be it a manmade threat or a natural disaster. 4. Protects Natural Habitat and Pristine environment: through eco-tourism there is constant watch on the activities of the forests, there are more and more volunteers working for the betterment and preservation of the natural habitat of the animals. As stated earlier, eco-tourism within certain bounds helps in maintaining the biodiversity of the environment, which in turn helps in preserving the species of that particular forest. A well-educated (in terms of environmental education) tourist visiting a green forest is a boon, but a tour frenzy maniac with zero awareness of the forest rules and etiquettes is a curse. If we keep this in mind and perhaps, train and make nature loving people aware of the forest they are visiting, then Eco- tourism shall achieve greater heights in upholding the essence of Wildlife.