Bandipur Tiger Reserve celebrated a momentous occasion today as it was honored by the Indian Book of Records (IBR) for its pioneering wildlife outreach program, “Bandipur Yuva Mitra.”
Led by the Bandipur Tiger Reserve and the Karnataka Forest Department (KFD), under the guidance of Dr. Ramesh Kumar P. IFS, the then CF & FD of Bandipur TR and current Conservator of Forests (Project Tiger), Mysuru, the program achieved a remarkable feat by setting a record for the “Maximum number of People Participated in any Wildlife Awareness Outreach Program.”
Running from March 3rd, 2023, to March 8th, 2024, the “Bandipur Yuva Mitra” initiative lasted for 162 days, during which it successfully engaged a total of 8,410 participants. This impressive number comprised 7,019 students, 655 teachers, 197 Gram Panchayat staff, 395 local farmers, and 143 local tribals.
The remarkable accomplishment was officially recognized, verified, and confirmed by the Indian Book of Records (IBR) on March 8, 2024. Today, on May 2nd, 2024, the certificate of recognition was ceremoniously presented at Bandipur, marking a proud moment for the reserve and its dedicated efforts towards wildlife conservation. Dr. Ramesh who received the honour for this achievement said that such recognition push us to strive for more.
