In the wake of frequent man-animal conflict around the Bandipur and Nagarahole Tiger Reserves, the Karnataka Forest Department has decided to reduce the number of late-evening safari trips by one in both the reserves.
In a note issued to the principal secretary of the Forest Department on October 27, Forest Minister Eshwar Khandre raised concerns about the increase in the number of tourists visiting reserve forests.
“The number of safari trips has increased. Even after 6 pm, safari vehicles are travelling inside the forest,” he said. The light and noise from these vehicles are inconveniencing wild animals, leading to an increase in instances of animals entering villages and hamlets at the fringes of forest reserves. Several farmer organisations have complained about safaris and urged the government to stop them immediately, Khandre said.
Following this, the Forest Department reduced the number of safari trips by one from Tuesday (October 28).
Last Sunday, a farmer was mauled to death by a tiger when he was herding cattle at Mulluru, HD Kote taluk of Mysuru district. This happened days after another farmer lost an eye due to a facial injury suffered when a tiger attacked him during a combing operation to capture it.
In June this year, a tigress and its four cubs were poisoned to death at Male Mahadeshwara Hills Reserve, after a tiger had attacked the cattle of farmers from Koppa village located near the sanctuary.