Why the Government Did Not Make Jawai a National Park

Jawai Leopard Hills is a wonderful spot in Rajasthan that offers thrilling safari rides. These granite hills offer the perfect habitat for leopards to live and grow. Many people come here every year for the adventurous Jawai safari, but they wonder why it is still not a national Park. Despite having a lot of leopards and wild animals in the area, the government has still not declared it a national park. Let’s know why turning Jawai into a national park is not easy and why the government has not thought about declaring it yet. 

1. Too Many Villages Inside the Area

Jawai is not an empty forest area or hills. This spot is a home for hundreds of families, especially the Rabari community. This community grazes its animals on the hills every day. The temples, farms, and homes of the Rabari community are spread over the whole area of Jawai. If the government makes it a national park, people would have to leave their homes, stop grazing cattle, and move to other places. This would completely destroy the lifestyle and culture of the people who live here. 

2. Leopards and Humans Already Live Peacefully

This is a special spot where leopards and humans live peacefully and do not harm each other. The government makes national parks to protect wildlife from humans, but they are already protected here. The humans and leopards already live together without conflict. Both of them use the Jawai Leopard Hills for their daily needs without harming one another. Because the system is already working smoothly, the government may feel that the strict rules of a national park are not required.

3. The Area Is Large 

A national park has boundaries, and it needs a defined area - a big area of land. But Jawai is different. It has many separate hills, several small villages, farms, open lands, big roads, and even tourist lodges. It is not a full forest area, so it would be difficult to draw a single boundary and declare the whole place as a protected park.  If the government tries to include everything, then it will also cover the homes of humans, grazing lands, and private properties. Including them will not make sense because leopards live exactly in those areas. This is why making Jawai a national park becomes complicated.

4. Locals Depend on Grazing and Farming 

The villagers who live in Jawai leopard hills totally depend on cattle grazing, farming, temple activities, and tourism for their daily income. If they make this area a national park, then grazing and farming will be stopped. Farming activities may also be affected, and this can reduce crop production and income. Many families may lose their main source of income, which can create stress. Also, the peaceful relationship between leopards and villagers may get disturbed if people feel that the government is doing wrong to them because of the leopards. This kind of situation can disturb the peaceful bond between villagers and leopards. To avoid harming the local people of the area, the government avoids turning Jawai into a national park

5. Tourism is Easier  

Right now, the tourism in Jawai is easy as the safari timings are flexible, are there are no particular gates. Pope can make a Jawai safari booking easily, and they can visit the temple without restrictions. The private drivers and gypsy owners are earning well, and the resorts are working fine. If the Jawai Leopard Hills are converted to a national park, then there will be fixed safari timings that can be a problem for tourists. People might have to make separate bookings to visit temples and different zones. This all can disturb the current smooth tourism system.

6. Government Already Protects the Leopards

This area is not a national park, and even without it, the leopards are being protected in Jawai. There is the Wildlife Protection Act, the forest department monitoring, restrictions on certain activities like mining, and rules for new constructions. The legal protection already exists in the area of Jawai Leopard Hills, so the government does not feel like giving this area the status of a national park. The area is already managed in a way that supports wildlife conservation without changing its name. 

7. Forced Rules May Break Human - Leopard Bond

The most beautiful thing about this area, which attracts tourists to come here and enjoy a Jawai safari, is the bond between humans and leopards. If the government suddenly brings very strict national park rules, then the daily life of villagers may be affected. People may feel their freedom is taken away, and this can create anger among locals. The humans may stop cooperating, small issues can slowly turn into serious human–leopard conflicts, and maybe humans push the leopards away. So, to keep the peace of the area, the government prefers the traditional system instead of national park rules.

8. It Costs a Lot of Money to Make a National Park 

Making Jawai a national park is not easy, as it needs a huge amount of money. The government has to spend on land surveys, boundary marking, staff recruitment, vehicles, offices, and regular monitoring of leopards and other wild animals. The villages may need to be relocated or compensated, which itself costs a lot of money. More forest guards and officers must be appointed for patrolling and the protection of animals, and regular funding is required to manage the park properly. The Jawai already has legal protection, and the villagers of the area already keep the animals safe. The government prefers to use funds in areas where protection is urgently needed, instead of spending a huge budget on declaring Jawai as a national park.

Conclusion 

Jawai Leopard Hills is a rare place where animals are protected, and there is a special bond between them and humans.  Leopards are safe, villagers are peaceful, and tourism is growing without strict rules.  Making this area a national park may look good on paper, but it can disturb the local life and may break the bond between humans and leopards. The area is already safe, legally protected, and well-managed through the cooperation of locals and authorities. The visitors can go on the Jawai safari and experience a good time.