What New Rules Apply As Safaris Resume At Bandipur & Nagarahole Tiger Reserves?

Karnataka has now decided to resume safari at Bandipur National Park and Nagarahole Tiger Reserves in a phased manner. The safaris were temporarily suspended after a rise in tiger and leopard attacks across the state. The closure impacted tourism, but the authorities have now decided to resume it with some new rules in place. Here’s more on this.

Tiger Safari At Bandipur & Nagarahole To Resume At 50% Capacity

According to The Hindu, Environment Minister Eshwar Khandre has now announced that the safari operations in Bandipur and Nagarahole Tiger Reserves in Karnataka will resume in a phased manner. This decision was taken after an expert committee submitted an interim report recently. But there are going to be some rules at the start. Initially, the safari operations will restart at 50%.

The authorities will make a decision on restoring full operations after the committee’s comprehensive report. Along with this, several other operational changes have also been introduced. According to News18, only half of the vehicles previously deployed for safari services will be permitted for now.

Also Read: Sachin Tendulkar Keeps Going Back To THIS Tiger Reserve In India As There’s Something About It

Campfires Prohibited Near Reserves

In Bandipur Tiger Reserve, safari hours have been curtailed. The upper limit has been reduced from 8 pm to 5 pm. On the other hand, at Nagarahole Tiger Reserve, access will be restricted to six hours in the Sankadakatte zone and four hours in the Nagarahole zone. According to News18, authorities have also prohibited campfires at resorts and homestays in the vicinity of the tiger reserve.

You should know that Bandipur National Park in Karnataka is home to Bengal tigers, Indian elephants, Indian leopards, dhole and more. While the Nagarahole Tiger Reserve also has a high density of tigers, Asiatic elephants, deer and more. The reopening of safaris at Bandipur and Nagarahole Tiger Reserves has left farmers in the border areas quite unhappy. They have expressed concerns over safety, as there have been many instances of wildlife fatalities in the area.

Also Read: Buffer Zones Of 9 Tiger Reserves In MP To Be Developed With Wildlife Health Care & Fencing

What do you think of this decision to reopen tiger safaris? Do share your thoughts with us in the comments.

Cover Image Courtesy: Canva Pro/ Pranav Chaugule (Representative Image)