Chamarajanagara: Bandipur Tiger Reserve has been ranked the best Tiger Reserve in the State with top marks, in the Management Effectiveness Evaluation (MEE) for tiger reserves in India. The assessment was carried out by the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) and the Wildlife Institute of India (WII), a separate organisation under the Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change.
The management of the tiger reserve, community participation, tourism, protection, habitat management, tiger population, rescue, medical facilities, tribal settlement, and other aspects are assessed once every four years by a group of experts from NTCA and WII.
According to a 2018 census, there are 524 tigers in Karnataka, of which Bandipur Tiger Reserve alone is home to 173 and Nagarahole Tiger Reserve to 164. The assessment was done in Bandipur by a four-member expert team.
As per the evaluation, Bandipur TR received a score of 95.5%, the highest in the State. Every four years, a team of scientists, former IFS officers, and wildlife experts evaluates the management of the tiger reserve and gives scores. According to sources, a team of experts visited the region a month ago and stayed for four days to complete the survey.
