Tiger safari resumes in Bandipur

The tiger safari resumed at the Bandipur national park on Thursday, with the Supreme Court lifting the ban imposed on tourism activities in the country’s tiger reserves on Tuesday.

The safari will be operated every day in the morning and evening in five mini buses two jeeps, said Kumar Pushkar, director of Project Tiger.

There were not many tourists for the safari on the first day, and the numbers are expected to pick up in the coming days.

The use of private vehicles has been barred inside the forest and only the government vehicles are allowed.

The safari will be conducted in only 10 per cent of the Bandipur forest area, which is home to the highest number of tigers, Pushkar said, adding that the construction of any new building would not be allowed in the forest.

He said the losses were to the tune of Rs 20 crore due to the ban on tiger tourism since July 24.