The new safari point at Bandipur Tiger Reserve (BTR) began functioning from the Melkamanahalli Gate outside the national park boundary from Sunday.
This is consequent to a decision of the Forest Department to relocate it outside the core area where it originally was.
BTR director T. Balachandra said the decision to shift the safari point was made to reduce the pressure and incessant crowding of tourists in the core area. Being a popular tiger reserve and located on the route to Ooty, Bandipur continues to attract tourists in thousands which puts tremendous pressure on the habitat and causes disturbance to wildlife.
Mr. Balachandra said the campus which was located in the core area all these years was peaceful and it would be a matter of time before the animals reclaim it. Though there are guest-houses and dormitories in the core area, there are long-term plans to shift them as well in the future.
Niranjan Kumar, MLA, Gundlpet, inaugurated the new safari point and purchased a few tickets for the safari for himself and his family and flagged off the vehicles. He said Bandipur was a popular destination for tourists and it was the responsibility of the government to ensure that there were adequate facilities. He said infrastructure at the safari point would be beefed up and amenities would be provided for tourists. A sum of ₹4 crore would be spent on this.
