In a shocking case of human recklessness around wildlife, a man from Nanjangud has been fined Rs 25,000 after attempting to take a selfie with a wild elephant near the Bandipur–Ooty road — a stunt that
nearly ended in a tragedy.
The individual, identified as R Basavaraju, was caught on camera venturing dangerously close to the elephant near the Bankapur temple area in Bandipur. Video footage shows him positioning himself for a photograph when the elephant suddenly charges. Basavaraju escaped by a narrow margin, sprinting away before the animal could reach him.
According to forest officials, the incident occurred a few days ago and involved trespassing into a restricted forest zone. After the footage circulated online, personnel from Bandipur National Park tracked Basavaraju to his residence in Nanjangud. He was brought in, fined for his actions, and required to record a public video confession. In it, he admitted that his behaviour stemmed from ignorance about wildlife safety and appealed to others not to repeat his mistake.
A narrow escape! A tourist in Bandipur was nearly trampled by a wild elephant while trying to take a selfie. Video shows the elephant charging as the man tries to run. #Bandipur #WildlifeSafety pic.twitter.com/mf3Mw3MFPf
— Harish Upadhya (@harishupadhya) August 11, 2025
“While returning from the temple, I went to take a selfie with an elephant and to have fun. The elephant attacked me and I was lucky to have escaped. But please, don’t attempt such things. After that, I switched off my phone and went home. Even then, the forest officials found my home and arrested me, and now they have slapped a fine. Please, nobody should ever do such a thing. Also, don’t park vehicles or give anything to any animals like monkeys or anything else. Don’t get down even for five minutes in forest area,” he said.
Wildlife experts warn that such acts not only put human lives at risk but also endanger animals by provoking unpredictable responses. “Elephants are powerful and can become aggressive if they feel threatened. Approaching them for photos is extremely dangerous,” said a Bandipur forest ranger.
Karnataka has witnessed several elephant-related tragedies in recent years. In June 2024, a farmer in Kodagu district lost his life after being trampled while attempting to chase an elephant away from his field. Earlier this year, in Chikmagalur, a villager was killed after unknowingly walking into the path of a lone tusker during the early hours.
Authorities continue to urge tourists and locals to maintain a safe distance from wildlife and respect forest boundaries to prevent such avoidable incidents.
