Context
- The Karnataka Government has resumed jungle safari activities in Bandipur and Nagarahole Tiger Reserves, which had been suspended since November 2025 after repeated tiger attacks in nearby villages. The decision followed the recommendations of a technical committee that assessed the reserves as safe for tourism.
About Bandipur Tiger Reserve
- Located in Karnataka, Bandipur is one of the original tiger reserves established under Project Tiger (1973).
- Geographically, it is an “ecological confluence” as the western and Eastern Ghats meet.
- It is also part of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve and lies in the Western Ghats, a global biodiversity hotspot.
- The reserve is famous for its healthy populations of Bengal Tiger, Asian Elephant, Leopard, Dhole, Gaur, and Sloth Bear.
- Major rivers flowing through the reserve include the Kabini, Moyar, and Nugu.
About Nagarahole Tiger Reserve
- Also located in Karnataka, Nagarahole (Rajiv Gandhi National Park) became a Tiger Reserve in 1999.
- It forms a continuous wildlife landscape with Bandipur, Mudumalai (Tamil Nadu), and Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary (Kerala).
- The reserve is known for its moist deciduous forests and supports large populations of tigers, elephants, leopards, gaur, and dholes.
- The Kabini River is one of its major lifelines.
About Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve
- The Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve was established in 1986 and became the first Biosphere Reserve in India.
- It was included in UNESCO’s World Network of Biosphere Reserves in 2000.
- It spans Karnataka, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu, and includes important protected areas such as Bandipur, Nagarahole, Mudumalai, Wayanad, Mukurthi National Park, and Silent Valley National Park.
Consider the following statements regarding Bandipur Tiger Reserve:
1. It is part of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve.
2. It lies in the Western Ghats.
3. It was among the original tiger reserves under Project Tiger.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1 and 2 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
The correct answer is (d) 1, 2 and 3.
• Statement 1 is correct: Bandipur Tiger Reserve is an integral part of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve, which was the first biosphere reserve designated in India (1986). It forms a contiguous forest patch alongside Mudumalai Tiger Reserve (Tamil Nadu), Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary (Kerala), and Nagarhole Tiger Reserve (Karnataka).
• Statement 2 is correct: Geographically, the reserve is situated at the tri-junction of Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, and Kerala, deeply nestled within the Western Ghats landscape, an internationally recognized biodiversity hotspot.
• Statement 3 is correct: Bandipur was established as a tiger reserve in 1973 under Project Tiger, making it one of the initial nine reserves chosen at the launch of the flagship conservation program.