The government had decided to permit the deployment of only 50% of the safari vehicles and staff.
| Photo Credit: SRIRAM MA
The Karnataka Government on Friday announced the full restoration of the jungle safari (park excursion) at the Bandipur and Nagarahole Tiger Reserves.Safaris were suspended in Bandipur and Nagarhole since November 2025 in the wake of human-tiger conflict in the region. The government suspended safaris in both the tiger reserves following back-to-back tiger attacks in which three farmers died and one was injured.AssessmentChief Minister D.K. Shivakumar, who also holds the Forest, Ecology and Environment portfolio, said the government has decided to fully reopen the jungle safari at two tiger Reserves, based on the assessment made by the technical committee of experts and officials.“The government has decided to fully reopen the jungle safari (park excursion) at the Bandipur and Nagarahole Tiger Reserves, based on the effective carrying capacity scientifically assessed by a technical committee of experts and officials,” a statement from Mr. Shivakumar’s office said.It added that the technical committee’s report has been accepted by the State government, and directions have been issued to operate the jungle safari in a regulated manner, in line with the committee’s recommendations.“Karnataka holds immense potential in eco-tourism and has consistently followed a model of sustainable tourism which generates local employment and livelihood opportunities while boosting the local economy,” it added.It further said that the State remains committed to the eco-tourism model that safeguards ecological integrity and ensures that tourism contributes positively to conservation, local livelihoods, and visitor experience.“Every visitor who steps into our forests should return not just with memories of Karnataka’s extraordinary wildlife, but with a deeper appreciation for the importance of conserving our natural heritage. Our commitment is to build an eco-tourism model where conservation, community welfare and responsible tourism go hand in hand, ensuring that our forests, wildlife and the communities that protect them continue to thrive for generations to come,” Mr. Shivakumar said.Demand from stakeholdersThere had been demand from the stakeholders in the tourism industry urging the government to lift the ban on safari.The Karnataka State Wildlife Board in January had recommended the setting up of an expert committee to study the carrying capacity of the safari vehicles in the two tiger reserves.An interim report in February had recommended the safari operations in Bandipur and Nagarahole Tiger Reserves resumed in a phased manner.The government had decided to permit the deployment of only 50% of the safari vehicles and staff that were in use before the suspension of the operations in November 2025. Published - June 26, 2026 07:43 pm IST
