Meera Bhardwaj:
Karnataka government SUSPENDS with immediate effect all trekking and trail activities in forest areas with wildlife population till further orders. This temporary ban dated 11.5.2026 has been imposed as people have been involved in conflict incidents with leopards, tigers, bears and elephants in forest areas, wildlife corridors and sanctuary limits in many parts of the state in the recent times.
The Forest Minister has suggested trekking should be allowed only during Shivarathri and Ugadi fair in the MM Hills Division and people should be made aware of wildlife presence in the route to the temples.
The temporary suspension has comes in the wake of a death of a boy in Nagamale forests, Hanur, MM Hills Wildlife Division, Chamarajanagar district in a leopard attack when the boy was attending a nature call and got separated from a group who were trekking to visit a temple. The boy’s family from Bengaluru were travelling in a group of 10 members. A compensation of Rs 5 lakh has already been paid to the family.
SUSPENSION OF TREKKING ROUTES IN FOREST AREAS WITH WILDLIFE
According to a circular issued by the Karnataka Chief Wildlife Warden, there will be immediate suspension of trekking routes where wild animals like leopards, tigers, elephants, and bears roam. On May 10, 2026, a tragic incident occurred in the Nagamale forest area, Hanur, MM Hills Wildlife Division, where a 10-year-old boy was killed in a leopard attack.
In this background, and keeping in mind the safety of the public and trekkers, the Circular states, “It is hereby directed to immediately suspend all trekking paths in areas where leopards, tigers, elephants, bears, and other wild animals roam, and where there is a high potential for human-wildlife conflict. This circular comes into effect immediately from May 11, 2026 and will remain in force until further orders.”
The Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) have been formulated by the Karnataka Forest Department to conduct trekking activities under the supervision of the Karnataka Forest Department and the Karnataka Eco-Tourism Development Board in a safe and responsible manner.
As per the reference circular from the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Head of Forest Force), it is instructed to strictly follow all the points mentioned in the said SOP and to complete all preliminary preparations by 08-05-2026, failing which the respective trekking activity shall be suspended. Therefore, it is mandatory to follow all the points mentioned in the SOP as per the cited circular. If it is not possible to make all the preliminary preparations to follow the SOP, the respective trekking activity is hereby ordered to be suspended immediately.
Furthermore, trekking activities shall only be resumed after making all preliminary preparations to strictly follow the points in the SOP and submitting a certificate to this effect from the concerned Divisional Officer to this office. Apart from this, all the preliminary preparations to strictly follow the SOP mentioned in the cited circular have already been made, the certificate from the concerned Divisional Officer should be submitted to this office immediately.
FOREST MINISTER’S INSTRUCTIONS
In the wake of this incident, Forest, Ecology and Environment Minister Eshwar Khandre has instructed the Karnataka Forest Department (KFD) to close all trekking trails and forest routes with wildlife population in the state of Karnataka.
The Forest Minister has also instructed the KFD to conduct trekking activities in a safe and responsible manner, and they have also been directed to follow the recently released Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).
- If preparations have not been made for compliance, it has been advised to stop all such activities on such trekking trails.
- In the trekking trails under the supervision of the Karnataka Forest Department and the Karnataka Eco-Tourism Development Board, if preparations have been made for compliance, then only trekking activities have been ordered to continue.
TREKKING ALLOWED DURING UGADI, SHIVRATHRI, SAYS FOREST MINISTER
Holding a virtual meeting with senior officials and Chamarajanagar forest officials, the Forest Minister said that instead of allowing people to trek 14 kms to Nagamale, only three kms should be allowed and that too by providing a guide with walkie-talkie and necessary safety equipment. It should be made mandatory for Nagamale devotees to go in jeeps from the ticket counter. The remaining three kms should be covered by a jeep. He suggested that the view line should be removed on both sides of the inaccessible forest route so that wild animals can be sighted.
Similarly, instead of allowing people to climb the 7 km hill route for Madappa’s darshan throughout the year, Eshwar Khandre suggested that it should be allowed only during Shivaratri and Ugadi for the safety of devotees. Further, more forest personnel should be deployed during those times for the safety of devotees. “Signs be put up near the steps of MM Hills and near the ticket counter clearly stating that there are wild animals including elephants, leopards and tigers. Awareness should be created that it is better to use the bus facility rather than trekking.”
NAGAMALE INCIDENT
Currently, combing operations are going on to capture the leopard, says ACF, Hanur Viraj and adds, “This incident happened after a group of 10 members had traversed one kilometre out of the three kilometres to a temple in Nagamale forests. This is a regulated area and the family had availed an entry ticket to traverse the last 3 kms to visit the temple.”
As per Wildlife Protection Act, 1072, the Right of Way inside a sanctuary, is highly restricted and managed to prioritize the protection of wildlife and their habitats, generally prohibited. While specific rules may vary, the core principle is to minimize human interference, and any existing access is subject to strict conditions under the WPA.
The incident happened inside the sanctuary limits which has a Right of Way. There are designated routes as also there are 18 revenue enclosures in this protected area.
The Hanur ACF adds, “There is high possibility that the boy went for a nature call and was attacked by a leopard then. The Nagamale forest is a high density, bio-diverse region with leopards, tigers, elephants, bears, wild dogs, etc. This is the third such incident happening in MM Hills Wildlife Division but it has never happened in the Nagamale forests for a long time.”
ACTIVISTS CALL FOR PERMANENT BAN
But why are people still allowed to trek inside a forest area with wildlife population for a private visit, an annual fair, Jathre or a pilgrimage is the troubling question? Is it the fault of the leopards, tigers or an elephant when people are allowed to enter a wildlife habitat for their personal enjoyment or picnic and get caught up in a conflict situation?
“In view of the escalating human-wildlife conflict in the state and people trekking in forest areas with wildlife population without following any precautionary measures, the ban has been enforced temporarily. But the state government should make a policy change and stop all such activities permanently inside wildlife divisions,” say wildlife conservationist and forest officials in the state.
Wildlife activists further add, “Where will the leopards, tigers, elephants, bears and other wildlife live if even this miniscule four percent of their protected habitat is violated by humans. Unfortunately, the big cats are captured, relocated or forced to live the life of a captive animal for no fault of theirs.”