The Chief Minister's Office of Karnataka announced on Saturday, 27 June 2026 that jungle safaris have resumed at Bandipur Tiger Reserve and Nagarhole Tiger Reserve, with the government citing scientific assessments, carrying capacity reports, and expert recommendations as the basis for the decision.

Context

The official post from Karnataka's Chief Minister's Office stated that safaris would be 'conducted in a strictly regulated manner to protect biodiversity, preserve wildlife habitats, support local livelihoods and promote sustainable eco-tourism in Karnataka.' The resumption brings relief to wildlife tourism operators and enthusiasts who had been awaiting clarity on access to two of south India's most celebrated protected landscapes.

Bandipur Tiger Reserve, established in 1974 as one of India's first reserves under Project Tiger, lies in Chamarajanagar district and is known for one of the highest tiger densities in the country. Nagarhole Tiger Reserve, also known as Rajiv Gandhi National Park and notified in 1999, is contiguous with Bandipur and together the two form a critical corridor within the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve.

Policy Backdrop

The decision is grounded in a framework that has been decades in the making. Project Tiger, launched in 1973, brought formal conservation management to Bandipur and set the template for tiger reserve governance across India. The Wildlife Protection Act, amended in 2006, created the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) — the statutory body under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change — with powers to regulate tourism inside tiger reserves.

In 2012, the NTCA issued detailed tourism guidelines mandating scientific carrying capacity studies before safaris could be permitted in core zones. Karnataka's invocation of 'carrying capacity reports and expert recommendations' in its announcement signals alignment with these national norms, positioning the state's approach as science-first rather than demand-driven.

Stakeholders and Impact

The resumption of safaris touches several groups simultaneously. Wildlife tourists and naturalist communities gain renewed access to habitats that harbour tigers, elephants, leopards, and rare bird species within the Western Ghats biodiversity hotspot. Local communities on the fringes of both reserves — many of whom depend on eco-tourism for seasonal income through guide services, homestays, and transport — stand to benefit directly from the revival of visitor footfall.

Conservation NGOs and forest department staff will watch closely to ensure that the regulated framework holds in practice. Karnataka has previously positioned its Western Ghats reserves as models for balancing strict habitat protection with managed tourism revenue that channels funds back into fringe village economies. The dual mandate — conservation and livelihood — is now formally embedded in the government's stated rationale.

What's Next

Attention will now turn to how strictly the carrying capacity limits are enforced on the ground, particularly during peak wildlife tourism season. Nationally, the next All India Tiger Estimation report will provide updated population data that could influence future NTCA guidelines on permissible visitor numbers across Karnataka's reserves.

The Karnataka government's framing of this resumption — anchored in scientific assessment rather than tourism demand — sets an expectation of transparent, data-backed management. Whether that promise translates into durable conservation outcomes will depend on consistent monitoring, adequate forest staff deployment, and community participation in both reserves.