By CricketCountry Staff
Former India captain Anil Kumble’s wild life trip to Kanha Tiger Reserve in Madhya Pradesh almost turned to tragedy on Wednesday as a tiger tried to assault a pair of trained elephants; carrying the ace spinner and other visitors.
Published: Jan 20, 2012, 02:58 PM (IST)
Edited: Jan 20, 2012, 02:58 PM (IST)
Anil Kumble, deputy chairman of the Karnataka State Board for Wildlife was on a wild life trip elephants at the Kanha Tiger Reserve in Madhya Pradesh © Getty Images
By CricketCountry Staff
Bangalore: Jan 20, 2012
Former India captain Anil Kumble’s wild life trip to Kanha Tiger Reserve in Madhya Pradesh almost turned to tragedy on Wednesday as a tiger tried to assault a pair of trained elephants; carrying the ace spinner and other visitors.
According to a report in Deccan Chronicle, a young girl almost tumbled off one of the elephants before being rescued by an alert mahout who maneuvered the elephant the girl was seated on.
Kumble, deputy chairman of the Karnataka State Board for Wildlife and a wildlife enthusiast refused to comment on the incident but said he planned to write to the concerned officials.
Wildlife experts criticised Kanha’s ‘Sher Darshan’ programme conducting the wildlife trip. He said, “Sighting a tiger should be a matter of luck. Corner an animal like the tiger and it is bound to get disturbed.”
However, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (wildlife), of Madhya Pradesh, Dr H S Pabla, feels riding elephants is a part of the tradition which draws many visitors to the Reserve Park.
“Riding on elephant back is a traditional way of moving inside a forest. Tourists come from far off places to see a tiger and we don’t want to disappoint them. We facilitate the sighting from a distance and for a short time only,” he said.
