Plans afoot to ban cellphones during safari

Soon, carrying mobile phones may be banned during Safari at Bandipur National Park. The Forest department authorities are planning to ban mobile phones in the forest to prevent disturbance to the animals.

It is said, the tourists and the drivers make calls to the other vehicles after spotting the animals, making them visit the spot and thereby disturb the animals. Hence, the department has been planning to ban cellphones during safari.

If it is implemented, the tourists and the drivers should handover their cellphones to the forest department personnel before going to the safari.

The decision has been taken following complaints by the animal lovers. It is said that one of the drivers who had spotted a tiger, summoned others to the spot over his phone, disturbing the tiger. Bandipur Tiger Project Director Ambadi Jadhav, who convened a meeting of the drivers and the officials, directed them not to use phones during the safari.

Speaking to DH, Jadhav said, one of the drivers on contract in the excitement of spotting a tiger had shared the information and even tried to drive into the restricted area in the forest. This was brought to his notice by the tourists and the department is planning to impose a ban on the use of the mobile phone during the safari, he said.