Vehicle seen with drone in Bandipur safari zone belongs to Forest Department, not private: Director

Mysuru: A video shared by a wildlife enthusiast on social media, reportedly recorded around 6 p.m. on Saturday, alleged that a private jeep bearing an Andhra Pradesh registration number had illegally entered the Tavare Katte Temple safari route in the Moorkere range of Bandipur Tiger Reserve, Chamarajanagar district.

The post questioned how the vehicle was allowed into the core tiger habitat where safaris were temporarily suspended to protect four tiger cubs abandoned by their mother.

Clarifying the issue, Bandipur Tiger Reserve Director Prabhakaran said the jeep seen in the video belonged to the Forest Department and was being used with proper authorisation.

“The vehicle was deployed for monitoring the four tiger cubs separated from their mother. Forest officials were also present in the vehicle. It was not a private jeep,” he said.