Karnataka bans open safari campers after tourist death in Dubare
Karnataka's Minister of Forests, Ecology and Environment Eshwar Khandre has ordered enhanced safety protocols in wildlife safari zones and elephant ca...
Karnataka's Minister of Forests, Ecology and Environment Eshwar Khandre has ordered enhanced safety protocols in wildlife safari zones and elephant camps after a 33-year-old tourist died on May 18, 2026, in the Dubare elephant camp in Kodagu during a collision between two elephants. Open safari campers will be phased out and replaced with fully enclosed buses. As an interim measure, existing vehicles must be fitted with iron mesh or bulletproof glass, and first-aid kits. Exiting vehicles in forest areas is prohibited. The measures apply to Bandipur and Nagarhole national parks, Kali Tiger Reserve, Bhadra Wildlife Sanctuary, and others.