Jungle safaris atop elephants in Corbett and Rajaji national parks, which were stopped around five years ago when the Nainital (HC) banned commercial use of elephants, are set to begin again.
At the recent meeting ofCorbett Tiger Foundationattended by senior forest officials as well as forest minister,Subodh Uniyal, it was decided to allow jumbo rides in a “regulated manner”. “The interpretation of orders vary from case to case and our state holds significant potential for ecotourism.
The PIL had also red-flagged environmental damage caused to Corbett due to mushrooming hotels, resorts and other commercial properties around it, adding that owners of such properties also conducted elephant safaris in the area.