Bandipur Tiger Reserve: The Beauty & The Beast

The forest of Bandipur, known for its beautiful landscapes, used to be a hunting ground of the Maharajas of Mysore. The Bandipur Tiger Reserve was declared a tiger reserve as part of Project Tiger in 1973. With a variety of flora and fauna these jungles are home to our national animal and its protectors, the Special Tiger Protection Force (STPF) of Bandipur, with whom we interact as they look for snares to prevent poachers from hunting game within the park. The STPF is not well equipped at the moment, although through the Aircel-NDTV ‘Save our Tigers’ campaign the Forest Department of Bandipur and Nagarhole did receive two rapid response units. We also focus on funding and how corporates like Aircel play a major role in helping forest departments. Human-animal conflict is also a predominant issue in this park and we look at measures being initiated to combat such issues.

Pick up Sunita’s story in the second half – from 12 minutes into the video.