BENGALURU: Amidst the drop in tiger numbers across Karnataka, the state govt’s decision to add 28 sq kms of additional forest area to expand the Bhadra Tiger Reserve in Chikkamagaluru has drawn applause from conservation circles.
The decision to expand the tiger reserve, barely a few days after the release of the tiger monitoring survey in Karnataka, is seen as a boost for tiger conservation efforts in the central Karnataka landscape by conservation activists.

Complying with the directions of the National Board for Wildlife (NBWL) and the State Board for Wildlife (SBWL) in 2023 and 2024, the state govt on March 27, 2025, formally notified the addition of 28 sq kms of Chornadehalli State Forest and Kaithotlu State Forest as an additional buffer zone area of the Bhadra Tiger Reserve.
Another 15.6 sq kms of Kakanahosodi Reserve Forest was added to the core area of the reserve a couple of weeks back, aiding tiger conservation in the region. The fresh additions increased the total area of BTR to 500.16 sq kms.
Eshwar Khandre, forest minister, said that the move will address the rising incidents of human-wildlife conflict in the region.
“As these forest areas are part of the region where the govt will be setting up a soft release centre for rescued wild elephants, the expansion of the buffer and core area of the tiger reserve would strike a balance in the region,” he said.
K Srinivasulu, Additional Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife), said that any addition of forest into an existing protected area is always a ‘plus’ for conservation.
“Establishing a contiguous corridor for the wildlife to move around was one of the long-pending demands. Also, this will further strengthen our focus, efforts, and resources in the region for better conservation. Also, this will aid us financially and strategically with additional funds for conservation,” he added.
The 28 sq kms of additional area, as per the notification, include 2,626 hectares of forest in Chornadehalli State Forest and another 170 hectares of state forest under the Kaithotlu minor forests, excluding enclosures, revenue land parcels, and those areas earmarked for rehabilitation packages.
Solution to long-drawn problem
Conservation activists from Shivamogga and Chikkamagaluru districts termed the decision as a ‘solution to the long-drawn problem’.
“Due to the confusion over the boundaries of Shettihalli Wildlife Sanctuary and Shivamogga city, the urban pockets of Shivamogga were included under the areas notified under Shettihalli Sanctuary. Resolving this boundary dispute, the state agreed to add these parcels of the state and minor forest patches to the buffer area of Bhadra Tiger Reserve,” explained Akhilesh Chipli, a conservation activist from Shivamogga.
Senior officials in the forest department expressed hopes that the expansion of the buffer and core areas would result in the recruitment of additional staff, more funds, setting up of anti-poaching camps, and funds for forest fire prevention activities.