In a significant decision, the Division Bench of the Karnataka High Court, led by Chief Justice Vibhu Bakhru and Justice C.M. Poonacha, has declined to prohibit tiger safaris in the state. The court has instructed the state government to provide a detailed affidavit outlining the demarcation of core, buffer, and tourism zones, along with the specific locations where these safaris take place. This ruling came in response to a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by V. Ravikumar from Mysuru, who had requested a ban on tiger safaris citing concerns about their impact on critical tiger habitats.
The court’s verdict was issued after reviewing the PIL, which argued that conducting tiger safaris in reserve forests, designated as crucial tiger habitats, went against established conservation norms. Despite the plea for an immediate ban, the court has asked the state to respond to the petition seeking a permanent halt to such safaris. Additionally, the court has requested the government to furnish maps delineating the specific core, buffer, and tourism zones within the state.
Referring to a significant judgment by the Supreme Court on forest protection and wildlife management in India, the petition highlighted that the safaris were being operated in core tiger habitats where they are not permitted. It alleged that the decision to resume these safaris was influenced by political and business pressures, warning of potential human-animal conflicts if the safaris continued. Notably, the state had previously suspended jungle safaris after tigers ventured out of the Bandipur Tiger Reserve, resulting in fatal attacks on villagers.
