The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : Initiative to save the tiger

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Wednesday, May 07, 2008
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Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

Initiative to save the tiger

Staff Reporter

Bangalore: The low-cost airline Deccan has teamed up with the Kerala Forest Department and Periyar Tiger Reserve (PTR) in Thekkady, Kerala, and come up with “Simplifly Periyar”, an ecotourism initiative to save the tiger. Periyar Tiger Reserve is one of the most important refuges of tigers in the Western Ghats. “Simplifly Periyar” is aimed at “providing convenient access to Periyar to promote responsible travel for conservation”.

Deputy Director of Periyar Tiger Reserve, Padma Mahanti, who has conceptualised the idea of promoting flying to wildlife destinations to support conservation and livelihood of the local people, said, “In the present-day scenario, when pressures on forests are high and from varied quarters, we need partners in conservation from all walks of life, because our forests have to be preserved for posterity.”

Building trust

G.R Gopinath, Executive Chairman, Deccan, said “Periyar Tiger Reserve stands out for having engaged in a series of exercises to build trust with local communities, which has helped preserve tigers and their habitat”.

“Simplifly Periyar” offers ten ecotourism packages, including stay at specially crafted eco-lodges and carefully designed adventure activities. Travellers will be flown to Madurai or Kochi on Deccan, and the Forest Department will then drive them to Periyar Tiger Reserve in Thekkady.

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