An Indian region has decided to promote its tiger tourism opportunities due to a booming number of the endangered animals.
Brits booking flights to India are encouraged to visit the Maharashtra region, as the state boasts more tigers than any other in the country.
The local government is planning to promote Nagpur as the tiger capital, the Hindu Times reports, since the rare animals have seen their numbers boom in recent years.
In 2006 there were only 103 tigers in Maharashtra, but this has since risen to 169, conservationists estimate.
Popular sites for tiger spotting include Tadoba and Melghat nature reserves, which are thought to be home to over 100 tigers between them.
Overall, the Indian tiger population has risen from 1,411 in 2006 to 1,706 as of last year, according to a national wildlife census carried out in three stages last year.
Measures taken to protect tiger reserves include imposing an eight to ten kilometre buffer zone around the boundary of these animal sanctuaries. A special protection force has also been introduced to save the animal from poachers.
International airlines running direct flights to Nagpur include Qatar Airways, Jet Airways, Air India and Air France.
Written by Ruth Norris
