Karnataka: HC declines to ban jungle safari, seeks detailed response from state

Bengaluru: The High Court on Wednesday declined to impose a ban on tiger safaris in Karnataka while hearing a public interest litigation.

The government had only in February resumed the safari operations in a phased manner after a ban of about four months.

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A division bench of Chief Justice Vibhu Bakhru and justice CM Poonacha, however, directed the state government to file a reply to a petition seeking a permanent ban on tiger safaris within critical tiger habitats on the ground that such activities came in the way of established conservation norms.

The bench also sought a detailed affidavit from the state government clarifying the demarcation of core, buffer and tourism zones, the exact locations where safaris are being conducted and maps indicating these zones.

Mysuru resident V Ravi Kumar has filed the PIL calling for a ban citing the Supreme Court ruling in the TN Godavarman Thirumulpad v. Union of India case, the judgement of which governs forest protection and wildlife management.

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The government, in February, decided to resume jungle safari in a phased manner after the ban at the popular tiger reserves of Bandipur and Nagarahole sparked a series of booking cancellations at local resorts and homestays. December to February is the peak season for tourism.

The government has suspended wildlife safaris since November after places around the two wildlife reserves reported tiger attacks on villagers. The forest department has since captured more than 20 tigers.