Cry for more safaris - Lodge owners want increase in Jaldapara jumbo rides

Jumbo safaris in Jaldapara National Park. File picture

TT, Alipurduar, Sept. 23: Private lodge owners in Jaldapara National Park have demanded that the number of elephants for safaris be increased from two to eight so that more tourists could avail themselves of jumbo rides.

Biswajit Saha, the secretary of the Jaldapara Lodge Owners' Association, said there were two pet elephants engaged for tourist rides in Jaldapara but they had been sent to the Bengal Safari Park opened in Siliguri early this year.

"When the (Jaldapara) park re-opened for tourists on September 16 after the monsoon break, the forest authorities had to bring in a retired elephant, aged 68, for safaris. On Monday, this elephant was used for the ride booked by the boarders of Holong bungalow. Against the usual fee of Rs 600, only Rs 300 was charged from tourists for a half-an-hour ride," said Saha.

"This is unfortunate. Most visitors come to Jaldapara only for elephant safaris. In Holong bungalow, 20 people can stay. Besides, there are 32 private lodges and the Madarihat Tourist Lodge, where also a good number of visitors stay. Hundreds of people come to Jaldapara during Durga Puja and the Christmas holidays. At least eight to 10 elephants should be used for rides a day. If the elephant number is not increased, the number of tourists will come down in Jaldapara," he added.

On Wednesday, the forest department added another pet elephant and the number of animals for the safaris is two now.

Saha said visitors became disappointed when they came to know that there were not enough elephants for the safaris.

"When tourists book rooms, all they want to know is whether they will be able to avail themselves of elephant safaris. Many tourists even cancel bookings when we fail to assure them of jumbo safaris. Next week, we will have a meeting to discuss all these things. When the chief minister herself is giving impetus to tourism promotion in the Dooars, the forest department is taking a different approach,' said Saha.

Bhashkar J.V, the divisional forest officer of Jaldapara wildlife division, said two more elephants would be brought in for the safaris.

"Now, there are two elephants for the rides in Jaldapara. Only the boarders of Holong bungalow are allowed the safari which is for half-an-hour. This is a temporary arrangement. Two elephants have already started from Bankura and within a week, there will be four jumbos for the safaris. Three elephants used in the safaris are pregnant now. We are trying to train few other elephants for the safaris. Depending on the weather and the health of elephants, we will think of organising safaris in the afternoon during the Pujas," he said.

Even if four elephants are used three times a day, maximum 50 people will be able to enjoy the safaris. But during peak season, at least 100 people come to Jaldapara a day just to enjoy the elephant safaris.