Karnataka Restores Full Jungle Safaris at Bandipur and Nagarahole Tiger Reserves

The Karnataka government has decided to fully restore jungle safari operations at the Bandipur and Nagarahole Tiger Reserves. The decision comes seven months after services were originally suspended on November 7, 2025, following intense human-wildlife conflicts in villages bordering the reserves.

The state government accepted a report by a technical committee of wildlife experts and state officials, which assessed the forests' scientific carrying capacity. Under the new directive, the Forest Department will operate the safaris under a regulated framework to maintain ecological balance.

The prolonged restrictions had a severe economic impact on the local tourism sector. Around 35 resorts surrounding the two premium reserves were losing an estimated Rs 3 crore per day, directly affecting roughly 8,000 livelihoods. The safari operations generate between Rs 25 crore and Rs 27 crore in annual revenue, with a state mandate requiring 35 percent of these collections to be channelled into local community development.

During the initial scale-back in February, safari hours at Bandipur were reduced from eight hours to five hours daily, with similar curbs at Nagarahole and Sunkadakatte. Vehicle numbers inside the parks were also cut by half.

To ensure safety under the fully restored schedule, the government has mandated safety upgrades. Existing safari vehicles must be retrofitted with protective iron bar grills or shatterproof glass, open-top jeeps are banned, and ambulances will be stationed near major transit points.

Before restoring full capacity, the Forest Department also undertook mitigation measures, tracking and capturing more than 20 tigers from high-conflict border areas. Officials also reinforced a 100-kilometre critical stretch of the Bandipur perimeter with 25 dedicated anti-poaching camps and round-the-clock monitoring command centres.

With the government's final approval of the carrying-capacity report, safari services will return to their regular pre-restriction schedules, subject to implementation by local reserve directors.