Forest Minister Eshwar Khandre on Wednesday ordered disciplinary action against officials over violations of safety protocols at Asia’s first sloth bear sanctuary in Daroji, Ballari. The minister directed senior forest officers to prevent the recurrence of such incidents, following complaints from conservationists about serious lapses in tourist safety enforcement.
According to forest department sources, viral photos on social media showed tourists standing dangerously close to sloth bears and clicking selfies, despite the existence of designated safe enclosures. The Daroji Bear Sanctuary, located near Hampi’s UNESCO World Heritage site, sees thousands of visitors annually. However, concerns have been growing over repeated violations of safety measures.
Minister Khandre admitted that safety breaches had occurred. “It’s shocking that despite having a safety enclosure, tourists were allowed so close to wild animals. The sanctuary houses not only sloth bears but also leopards and hyenas. If any of them had reacted aggressively, there was no safe exit. Ultimately, the department would have been held accountable,” he said.
He added that he has instructed the Additional Chief Secretary (Forests) and Chief Wildlife Warden to take strict disciplinary action against officials who permitted such proximity and to tighten safety enforcement going forward.
Local conservationists also voiced concerns. “To ensure visitor safety, a raised viewing point and a stilted enclosure were built within the sanctuary. These allow people to safely observe and photograph bears. Yet, some officers appear to be ignoring or bending rules by letting tourists get too close to the animals,” said a Ballari-based conservationist.