Karnataka’s Chief Minister, Siddaramaiah, has pointed to the growing number of resorts and wildlife safaris within forest areas as a primary cause for wild animals venturing out of their natural habitats.
Speaking to reporters in Mysuru on November 3, the Chief Minister addressed recent concerns regarding frequent tiger attacks. He elaborated that increased human activity in forest zones, fueled by the expansion of resorts and jungle safaris, disrupts wildlife patterns.
Furthermore, he noted that a scarcity of essential resources like water and fodder within the forests is driving various species, including elephants, tigers, leopards, wild boar, and deer, to seek sustenance outside their traditional territories.
A preliminary discussion on this critical issue has already taken place in Chamarajanagar, involving Forest Minister Eshwar Khandre and district-in-charge Ministers K. Venkatesh (Chamarajanagar) and H. C. Mahadevappa (Mysuru). Chief Minister Siddaramaiah affirmed his intention to chair a follow-up meeting soon.
He pledged stringent action against unauthorized resorts, identifying them as a significant contributor to human-animal conflicts. Additionally, directives have been issued to curtail the number of jungle safaris to mitigate these encounters.
Rajyotsava Awards Update
In other news, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah also touched upon the selection process for this year’s Rajyotsava awards. He confirmed that the Karnataka government has recognized deserving individuals without the need for application submissions.
The government emphasized that the selection of awardees was meticulously carried out to ensure both social justice and balanced regional representation.