Rudrapur, Dec. 20 -- Elephant safari has resumed in the Corbett Tiger Reserve (CTR) after a gap of seven years, with the facility being reintroduced in the Dhikala and Bijrani zones, officials said on Friday. The safari, which restarted on Thursday, will be conducted in two shifts-morning and evening-on a "first come, first served" basis. Initially, three elephants have been deployed for the safari, two in the Dhikala zone and one in the Bijrani zone, CTR director Saket Badola said. "Elephant safari has begun with three elephants. Depending on the response from tourists and other operational considerations, the number of elephants may be increased in the future," Badola said. Elephant safari had been a major attraction for tourists visiting Corbett for decades but was halted in August 2018 after the Uttarakhand high court banned the use of elephants for commercial purposes. The ban was imposed under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960, and the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, following a PIL filed by an NGO, Himalayan Yuva Gramin Vikas Sansthan. Subsequently, on January 29, 2019, the Supreme Court lifted the ban after repeated appeals by local tourism operators, wildlife guides and conservation enthusiasts, who sought a regulated and welfare-oriented revival of the safari. Although the legal restriction was removed, the process of restarting the elephant safari took several years, officials said. "The duration of each elephant safari has been fixed at two hours, during which tourists will be able to cover a distance of at least five kilometres," Badola said. He added that the safari would be conducted only on designated routes to ensure minimal disturbance to wildlife while allowing visitors to experience the rich flora and fauna of the reserve. Officials said strict guidelines have been put in place to ensure animal welfare and ecological balance. "Elephant safaris will operate on fixed routes, and all necessary precautions are being taken to maintain the sanctity of the reserve," an official said....