(MENAFN- AsiaNet News) The forest department in Rajasthan’s Sawai Madhopur has seized 19 SUVs, including 14 from Zone 8 of Ranthambore National Park and five from nearby hotels, as part of a major operation to stop private vehicles from illegally entering the park’s tiger reserve, officials said. The number plates of the seized cars are from Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Haryana.

“At least 12 to 15 vehicles entered the Rantahambore National Park on the evening of August 15 when the tiger reserve was closed for the monsoon. We are still investigating how the tourists were able to enter the park despite the tight surveillance,” said forest official Ramanand Bhakar.

Although the jungle safari was closed due to the monsoon season, more than a dozen luxury cars entered Ranthambore National Park for an adventure drive on August 15, according to forest authorities.

Only registered vehicles such as Gypsies and Canters are allowed on jungle safaris. Nevertheless, the seized vehicles, including the Mahindra Scorpio, Thar and XUV500 models, drove into the prohibited zone. Even in the tiger reserve, where tigers are said to roam, people were seen in a widely circulated video.

After the video went popular on social media, forest officials searched for the cars between Zones 6 and 10, where private vehicles are banned. They found more than a dozen cars in Zone 8. Officials explained that it was highly unusual for cars to enter the forest zone, given the park’s surveillance and anti-poaching measures.

Under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, violations can be punished with a fine of up to Rs 100,000.

MENAFN18082024007385015968ID1108571872