[Rhea]

Lots of people hold the view that the animals in the wild are best left alone and that 'nature tourism' does more harm than good. Sure, I agree to a certain extent. BUT- lets face it, those areas where tourism has come in- especially in the Tiger Parks in India- the tiger populations have usually gone up. This is mainly for 2 reasons, one the tourists act as additional patrols, and secondly- picture this- poachers for tiger/leopard skins don't actually go in and catch these predators themselves- they use poor locals. If the locals have a source of employment where in keeping the animals safe is more profitable then they will be more likely to join in to the fight to protect the jungles and its denizens. My husband and I live and work on the outskirts of a Tiger Reserve- so this is not just theory.