Bandipur tiger reserve: Up in Flames

An estimated 1,000 people — 300 local villagers and at least 500 state forest staff — too joined in fire-fighting efforts even as dry, windy conditions continued to fan the flames and officials grappled with a lack of local sources of water.

IAF to help Karnataka govt put out fire in Bandipur Tiger Reserve

BENGALURU: The Indian Air Force is set to join the operations to contain the forest fire raging in Bandipur Tiger Reserve area in Karnataka.

The forest fire for the past five days has gutted thousands of acres of land and is feared to have killed hundreds of wild animals, reptiles and insects. It has also endangered the lives of tigers. Forest fires not only destroy habitats and food sources, but they also kill thousands of smaller mammals, ground-nesting birds, insects, slow moving reptiles and other wildlife species.