Sun Feb 09 12:54:29 UTC 2025: **Bandipur Tiger Reserve Launches Extensive Fire Prevention Campaign**
**Mysuru, February 9, 2025** – Authorities in Bandipur Tiger Reserve are stepping up efforts to prevent forest fires this summer. With the dry season approaching, a major awareness campaign has been launched across 65 villages and hamlets bordering the reserve. The initiative aims to enlist community support in early fire detection and prevention, acknowledging that human activity is a major contributing factor to uncontrolled blazes.
Bandipur, home to over 150 tigers, 1,100 elephants, and a diverse range of other wildlife, is highly vulnerable to fire damage. Previous fires have devastated large areas of the reserve, impacting both wildlife and the livelihoods of surrounding communities. Director S. Prabhakaran stated that the campaign, which will continue until all bordering communities are reached, seeks to build trust and cooperation in protecting the fragile ecosystem.
In addition to the awareness campaign, nearly 2,900 km of firelines have been created through controlled burning to contain the spread of any fire. However, high-risk areas such as Kundukere, G.S. Betta, and Maddur ranges, situated near numerous villages, remain a significant concern. The ongoing Bandipur Yuva Mitra outreach program, which educates local students about fire prevention, has also created a network of eco-volunteers to monitor for outbreaks. The program highlights the long-term consequences of forest fires on both wildlife and human communities.
First Piper 