Tourist Fined for Rule Violation: Narrowly Escapes Elephant Attack in Bandipur
A recent incident in the Bandipur Tiger Reserve has renewed concerns over unsafe tourist behaviour in wildlife areas. A man narrowly escaped being trampled by a wild elephant after stepping out of his vehicle to take a close-up photograph. The encounter, filmed by a foreign tourist, has since gone viral on Instagram, sparking widespread debate about visitor safety and respect for wildlife. The incident occurred on Sunday evening, 10 August, along NH 67. This highway passes through the core of the reserve, and stopping vehicles is strictly prohibited. The man, identified as Basavaraj, ignored these rules and approached the elephant on foot. According to forest officials, he intended to take a selfie or video, but his actions provoked the animal.
Witnesses reported that the elephant was standing on the busy road when Basavaraj moved closer. Startled, the animal charged. In the chaotic chase that followed, Basavaraj ran for his life but stumbled and fell. The elephant came dangerously close to trampling him. Fortunately, it was distracted and turned back towards the forest, sparing him from serious harm. Forest department staff quickly intervened. S. Prabhakaran, Deputy Conservator of Forests and Director of the reserve, confirmed that Basavaraj admitted to breaking the rules. He was fined ₹25,000 and made to give a written undertaking promising not to repeat the offence.
In a statement recorded later by the forest department, Basavaraj explained that he had been returning from Bankapura temple when he saw the elephant on the highway. He admitted that he had tried to take a selfie, which led the animal to chase and attack him. He urged other tourists not to stop their vehicles, step out for any reason, or offer food to wild animals.
The incident took place on the stretch of road between Melkamanahalli and Bandipur, a section often frequented by wildlife. Authorities have repeatedly warned that getting too close to wild animals is both dangerous and disruptive to their natural behaviour. The viral video of the incident was shared by Daniel Osorio, a foreign tourist who was driving through the reserve at the time. In his caption, Osorio explained that the elephant had been eating carrots that had fallen from a passing truck. Several vehicles were waiting at a safe distance for the animal to finish. However, according to another witness in the video, Basavaraj used a camera with a flash to take a close-up photo. The sudden burst of light startled the elephant, prompting it to charge.
Osorio observed that clear signs along the road advised visitors to stay inside their vehicles and remarked that the incident served as a strong reminder to follow wildlife reserve rules and allow trained authorities, rather than individuals on foot, to manage such situations.
The footage shows the tense chase, with Basavaraj running, stumbling, and falling as the elephant closes in. While it is unclear if he sustained any injuries, Osorio later confirmed that he was alive. Such reckless behaviour is not new in Bandipur. In February 2024, a tourist from Andhra Pradesh had a similar escape after getting too close to an elephant. He, too, was fined ₹25,000 and warned. Authorities have reiterated that the rules exist to protect both visitors and wildlife. Disregarding them risks lives and threatens the safety of the reserve’s animals.
