Safari services have restarted at Bandipur Tiger Reserve and Nagarahole Tiger Reserve in Karnataka following a temporary suspension linked to concerns around human-wildlife conflict. The Forest Department has resumed operations with shorter durations and limits on vehicle numbers.
The reopening offers relief to tourism businesses and local communities across the Bandipur–Nagarahole–Kabini wildlife circuit, where regulated safaris support livelihoods and conservation funding. Industry groups have welcomed the phased return while emphasising continued adherence to guidelines set by the National Tiger Conservation Authority.
Conservation experts note that rising tiger populations, which are a result of successful protection efforts, are also increasing territorial dispersal into fringe habitats, heightening encounters with human settlements. Habitat fragmentation and corridor loss are widely seen as key drivers of conflict rather than controlled tourism activity.
The restart is expected to balance visitor access with conservation priorities while encouraging long-term coexistence strategies across protected landscapes.
