Bandipur Tiger Reserve: The Beauty & The Beast

This week our special episode focuses on Bandipur National Park in Karnataka. Bandipur which part of the Nilgiri Biosphere reserve is part of the belt that has the highest density of tigers in India. The NDTV team was fortunate enough to spot the majestic beast in all its glory. The forests of Bandipur is known for its beautiful landscape used to be a hunting ground of the Maharaja's of Mysore in the past. The tiger reserve in Bandipur 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 or STPF of Bandipur whom we interact with as they look for snares to prevent poachers from hunting game within the park. The STPF is not equipped well 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. Man-Animal conflict also is a predominant issue in this park and we look at measures being initiated to combat such issues.