Mysuru: The forest department has restricted tourists from visiting tiger reserves and wild life safari tours owing to the tiger census being undertaken for one week, starting January 7.

The census will be carried out in Bandipur, BRT Reserve, Cauvery Wildlife Reserve and few other locations in different phases during the next one week.

Following the order issued by the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (PCCF), wildlife Safari in Bandipur Reserve, known for largest tiger population, has been banned.

The census aims to get the exact count of tigers present in the state’s wildlife reserves and the ban is to facilitate wild cats’ free movement. Vehicular movement and tourist presence may hamper census operations undertaken once in 3 years, stated Project Tiger Director Ambadi Madhav, reacting on the ban order.