BENGALURU: With frequent sightings of tigers at Bandipur National Park,from the beginning of October, this tiger reserve has become a favourite spot for tourists and wildlife enthusiasts.
On October 3, nine tigers were sighted with four being spotted at Kadamathuru Katte, one near Nanjanapura Lake, one near Solle Katte and three near Moorkere area during safari in the evening.
On October 4, four tigers were sighted on the safari route and two tigers were spotted on October 5.
Apart from tigers, tourists were also lucky to have sighted four leopards, two bears and a pack of wild dogs.
Forest officials, wildlife enthusiasts and wildlife photographers say that it was for the first time that nine tigers were sighted at different locations on the safari route in a single day. They said that usually it is a single tiger or a group of two or three tigers. The officials said that tourists on safari would be very lucky if they spot a tiger in the forest and added that it was indeed a rare occasion to spot a large group or two or three tigers continuously.
Meanwhile, Sapthagirish, naturalist and wildlife photographer, said that sighting of nine tigers in Bandipur was a rare occasion and added that such sightings were relatively common in Ranthambore National Park in Rajasthan and Tadoba National Park in Maharashtra. He said that increase in tiger sightings at Bandipur means increase in visitors to the tiger reserve which may disturb their habitat.