Safari at Nagarahole buffer zone mooted

Nischith N. | NT

Bengaluru: The favourite destination for the wildlife lovers of Karnataka, Nagarahole, is coming up with a new initiative - a safari in the buffer zone. At present the forest department is running a safari at the Veeranohalli and Antharasanthe of the national park.

Nagarahole National Park has an area of over 642 sq. km and is spread in Mysuru and Kodagu districts. The adjacent forest is called a buffer zone which was declared by the State government in 2012. The buffer safari is the area which is a habitat of villages and forest.

Both the villagers and animals (mainly tigers) co-exist in the buffer zone. As of now the buffer zone includes 24.74 sq km in Periyapatna taluk,109.09 sq km in Hunsur taluk, 228.01 sq km in H D Kote covering a total area of 361.84 sq km in Mysore district.

Speaking to News Trail, D Mahesh Kumar, Director, Nagarahole National Park said, “We have requested for the forest department to start the safari in Nagarahole buffer zone. The entire preparation for this safari is ready. Once the approval is done, this service will be opened for the general public. This will be the first of its kind in South India”.

According to the reports, considering the wildlife movement in the buffer zone in Kodagu district which has 200.57 sq km, the forest department has sent a proposal to the Chief Conservator of Forests seeking permission to start a safari.

Buffer zone is currently used only for gardening and watering.

Nagarahole forest generates an annual income of around Rs 5 crore. In the wake of the Covid outbreak, the income got reduced by 40 per cent. The proposed new buffer zone safari would help fetch more income to the department.