Wildlife enthusiasts have a major reason to cheer as the Karnataka government has decided to fully resume jungle safaris in the renowned Bandipur and Nagarahole Tiger Reserves. This highly anticipated move comes following a report submitted by a technical committee comprising domain experts and department officials. The green light for full-scale operations was given after a thorough scientific evaluation and carrying-capacity assessment. According to the Chief Minister’s Office, this decision is also expected to provide a significant boost to local employment and the regional economy, though safaris will continue to be conducted in a strictly regulated manner as recommended by the committee.
The safari operations had faced major disruptions starting in November 2025, when they were temporarily suspended due to rising human-wildlife conflict in these protected areas. Following the suspension, the government formed a technical committee to evaluate the situation. Based on its interim report, a high-level meeting chaired by the Chief Minister was held on January 2, which led to a partial reopening. By February 19, 2026, safaris were allowed to operate at 50% capacity with reduced operational hours. At the time, Forest Minister Eshwar Khandre had stated that full operations would only be reconsidered after analyzing the comprehensive final report.
During that initial phase of restricted reopening, only half of the usual fleet of safari vehicles was permitted to operate. Furthermore, safari timings in Bandipur were slashed from eight hours to five hours, while operations in Sunkadakatte and Nagarahole were capped at six and four hours, respectively. With the state government now issuing the final clearance to scrap these restrictions and restore full-scale operations, wildlife tourists and conservation enthusiasts have welcomed the decision with great enthusiasm.
