Bandipur Safari under Threat amid Rising Tiger Numbers & Shrinking Forest
Bandipur Tiger Reserve, one of India’s most famous wildlife parks, is now facing a big challenge. The tiger population here has gone up a lot - from just 12 in 1972 to more than 150 today. But while the number of tigers has grown, the forest space has not. This has led to more and more animals coming out of the jungle and entering nearby villages. Forest and Environment Minister Eshwar B Khandre recently spoke about this issue at a meeting with farmers and locals in Chamarajanagar. He said that the rising number of wild animals, along with shrinking forests, is making human-wildlife conflict worse each year. He also warned that if the situation doesn’t come under control soon, safari operations in Bandipur National Park might be stopped completely.
According to him, around 55 to 60 people die every year in Karnataka because of animal attacks. Most of these deaths are due to elephants, followed by tigers. In the last few years, the numbers have only gone up. Till now, in the current year, about 30 people have already lost their lives, mostly from elephant and tiger attacks. The minister made it clear that no illegal resorts, mining, or homestays are allowed in forest zones. He said strict action will be taken if anyone is found breaking these rules. Many local farmers at the meeting complained that illegal mining and resort construction are forcing animals to leave their natural homes. Some even said that forests were safer back in the days of Veerappan, when there was more control over human entry into the jungle.
Khandre admitted that man-animal conflict is not new, but it has become more serious because animal numbers are rising while forest space remains the same. Two expert teams have already been formed to study why wild animals are coming into villages and to find ways to stop it. A new task force will also be created with help from local representatives to handle such situations. To prevent future attacks, the government plans to use modern tools like GPS tracking and real-time alerts. A command centre is also being set up to warn villagers when elephants or tigers are near. Forest officers have been told to stay in touch with villagers, visit problem areas regularly, and follow proper rules when capturing or rescuing animals.
The minister mentioned that there is already a shortage of forest staff, especially in conflict-prone areas. If this continues, he said, the government might move personnel from safari duty to these risky zones. He also asked for better coordination between the forest, police, and revenue departments. According to him, there should be no blame game - only teamwork. He pointed out that it’s not possible to increase the forest area in the same ratio as the growing tiger population. So the focus should be on maintaining a healthy balance inside the jungle.
Recently, a man died after a tiger attack in Saragur, Mysuru district. The minister expressed concern that the body was sent far away for a postmortem instead of being it locally. He told officials to avoid unnecessary actions that might draw public criticism and to focus on genuine fieldwork. During the meeting, Khandre announced an eight-point action plan. It includes mapping the hotspots where animal attacks happen frequently, recording the types of incidents, and deploying staff accordingly. He also directed that senior officers spend nights in forest-fringe villages to directly understand the ground situation.
As a safety step, one of the evening safari trips in Bandipur has already been stopped. This came after three tiger attacks in October, which killed two people and left one seriously injured. Farmer leaders argued that headlights from safari jeeps disturb wild animals, making them panic and move toward human settlements. Khandre said youth living near the forest can play a major role in managing the situation. They can join patrols and help forest staff when animals stray into villages. He stressed the importance of trust between villagers and officials so that quick action can be taken whenever danger arises. For now, Bandipur remains open, but if the human-wildlife conflict continues to grow, the safaris might not last long. The park, once known for peaceful tiger sightings, now stands at a crossroads - balancing between wildlife protection and human safety.
