No Phones on Safari: India's New Rules for Tiger Tourism
Saturday, 2026/05/02168 words3 minutes183 reads
India's Supreme Court has banned mobile phones from tiger reserves during safaris. The ruling came after growing concerns about tourist behavior endangering both wildlife and people. In February, a viral video showed a tiger in Ranthambore National Park surrounded by multiple safari vehicles, unable to escape. These overcrowded moments are called "safari jams."
The problem has become serious. Tourists are so focused on getting photos that they forget safety. There have been incidents of phones falling and guides jumping off vehicles to retrieve them while tigers were nearby. In one case, a child fell from a jeep because the mother was taking a selfie.
India is home to over 3,600 wild Bengal tigers, representing 75% of the world's wild tiger population. While conservation efforts have successfully doubled tiger numbers between 2010 and 2022, the increased demand for tiger safaris has brought new challenges. The new regulations prioritize conservation over tourism convenience, requiring visitors to keep phones in boxes or bags and banning night safaris that disturb the animals.
