The Supreme Court order banning tourism in core areas of all tiger reserves yesterday has left wildlife experts and conservationists disappointed in the extreme. They say the decision may end up benefiting poachers while preventing conservationists from knowing whether the big cats are disappearing from their habitats.

The court was hearing a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by conservationist Ajay Dubey, who had demanded removal of commercial tourism activities from core or critical tiger habitats in the reserves. u00a0The SC was irked that several states, despite its directions on April 4 and July 10, had failed to notify buffer zones in their respective reserves. The apex court warned that if the states failed to comply within three weeks, then the defaulting ones shall be saddled with a cost of Rs 50,000 each, and the amount would be recovered from the Principal Secretary (Forest) of the state concerned.