Wild Life
What is Wildlife?
Wildlife consists of undomesticated animal species and includes all organisms that grow and live in the wild with minimum contact of humans. It is found in all ecosystems and plays an important role in balancing the environment. Wildlife is fundamental to stabilizing the various processes of nature. Its importance can be categorized as ecological, economic, investigatory and conservation of biological diversities.
‘Cherish the natural world, because you’re a part of it and depend on it’, quoted Sir David Attenborough. Wildlife is also a sensitive indicator of environment change however, the most vital role of wildlife conservation to humans is food security. Through the protection of forests against deforestation and restoring natural habitats, not only do economic opportunities arise but agricultural diversity is also ensured. Wildlife Tourism ‘Wildlife tourism is more than travel to enjoy or appreciate wildlife, it also includes contributions to conservation and community projects in developing countries, in addition to environmental education and awareness through the establishment of codes of conduct for wildlife tourists as well as other components of the travel industry.’ – Kutay, 1993 Wildlife Tourism is a growing phenomenon in India and the benefits of this growth include greater tourist interest in and support for conservation however, the need for increased education and awareness on the difficult realities of conservation in India also need to be highlighted. Jim Fowler once said, ‘The continued existence of wildlife and wilderness is important to the quality of life of humans.’ Wildlife in India is very rich and diverse and draws the attention of nature lovers from around the world. From the mighty Himalayas in the north, the marshy lands in the east, to the tip of Kanyakumari in the south, India is home to a number of wildlife conservation parks and sanctuaries. These are tourist spots for short vacations or weekend getaways for families and nature lovers. Wildlife tourism in India is gaining popularity and much recognition. From Asian Elephants to Asiatic Lions, Bengal Tigers, Sloth Bears, the Indian Rhinoceros and Leopards to hundreds off bird species, travellers from across the globe are attracted to visit India. The increased publicity by tourism boards and improved facilities for tourists has worked wonders in attracting more tourists in the last decade. A visit to Kanha and Bahdhavgarh National Parks in Madhya Pradesh to see the Royal Bengal Tiger and experience one of the best wildlife safaris in India or the Jim Corbett National Park in Uttarakhand to see the sloth bear, elephant, leopard and hyena in addition to the tiger are experiences of a lifetime. The Ranthambore National Park in Rajasthan, the Kaziranga National Park in Assam, the Gir National Park in Gujarat and the Periyar National Park in Kerala are only a handful of the spectacular destinations for wildlife experiences. Wildlife Tourism Programs Offered: The Programs offered are meticulously designed to minimize the physical, social, behavioural and psychological impacts while building environmental and cultural awareness and respect for wildlife and their habitats. With rigorous planning, we are able to provide positive experiences for both visitors and hosts in turn adding to the direct benefits for conservation. Responsible wildlife tourism plays an important role in reducing detrimental activities such as, deforestation, hunting and pollution while bringing forth the beauty of natural environments. We understand the demand for wildlife tourism experiences and have developed services and activities on the basis of this research. Based on the infrastructure and permissions on activities of protected areas, we have developed wildlife packages that can be further customized to individual needs of visitors. Whether your reason for wildlife tourism is curiosity or novelty, we will identify activities most suitable for you and make every effort to make your experience memorable in pristine destinations. Various features of wildlife tourism include: Proficient Professionals: Our team at Navyush including our partners and advisors are experienced and skilled professionals in wildlife tourism and experience holidays. Whether you wish to see wildlife that looks intelligent, colourful, graceful, soft/fluffy, dangerous looking, similar in behaviour to humans or because of their cultural association or iconic status, we understand that not all visitors are motivated by the same stimulus. We understand the distinction between experts/specialists and novices/generalists and the different needs in seeking a wider range of species to view, higher levels of interest in rare species and physical activities for both. We strive to bring the mindful person in you to the fore during your experience with wildlife. Paying attention to the information available on the environment around, reacting to new information and learning such that your experience is fulfilling and lasting, encourages us to actively enrich our offerings of wildlife experiences, factor greater control and choice for the visitor and create a multi-sensory experience for you. Stay The settings for wildlife tourism can range from captive to semi-captive to in the wild and encompass a variety of interactions from passive observation to feeding/touching the species viewed. At Navyush, we strive to offer indigenous communities the opportunity to gain economic benefits from wildlife and to communicate indigenous knowledge and understanding of wildlife to visitors. Wherever possible we try to include host communities in the planning and management of wildlife tourism, create new partnerships and provide an additional source of knowledge and labour. ‘Conservation activities have greater potential for success of local people are allowed to take part in formulating and implementing policies and programs that incorporate safeguards against abuses and that place strong emphasis on equity and social justice’. – R. Hitchcock, 1997 Responsible Experiences: Watching animals feeding, playing and interacting with their natural surrounding is a great way to get back to nature and escape everyday life. Experiencing wildlife requires much thought on the way our actions might impact the world around us. As photographers it is our social responsibility to be stewards of our wild subjects. We must do everything to not harm the wildlife that we photograph. Intentionally or not, our presence plays a role in the life of an animal and it is our duty to be self-aware when entering into natural places. This implies being aware of the surroundings and not allowing the animals we photograph to come in harm’s way while in our care. ‘Every single day of our lives involves wildlife education. We must teach, spread the word, the wildlife gospel’ – Steve Irwin, the Crocodile Hunter Why Navyush Navyush believes in designing for our clients highly personalized and customized packages, so that those partaking, feel good inside out – in body as well as mind – through robust planning and management. We ensure for you to enjoy your vacation and spend your time engaged in activities that are meaningful to you. Our access to the best tours and packages and exclusive events while navigating logistics will give you the options to choose what’s new and exciting during your holiday. We travel the world looking for everything from the size of rooms in hotels to jeeps used in safaris, dining options on site and nearby. And if there’s a place we’ve not been to, we get accurate and credible information from someone in our network, so that you get value for the trust you place in us. Moreover, when you travel, whether global warning, acts of God or just tough luck, we will get you where you want to go whatever the problem. Our team is good not only with their research to find you the perfect vacation, but also sitting on hold when resorts are short-staffed to make your vacation perfect. We at Navyush are invested in your happiness and satisfaction and want to make sure that every trip is packed full of positive lifelong memories. We listen, suggest, understand and try to become your friend, not just a search engine or an anonymous voice. We are with you before, during and after your trip. Ibn Batuta has said, ‘Travelling – it leaves you speechless, then it turns you into a storyteller.’