Gundlupet:  Officials of Forest Department have begun to levy fines on tourists who are found teasing wild animals while passing through Bandipur National Park.

The Department staff are on a regular patrol on the Ooty Road and Kerala Road falling under the Project Tiger Division closely monitoring the passing vehicles of tourists. Stopping a vehicle illegally in the forest regions attracts a fine of Rs.1,000. The recent rains has increased the greenery and replenished the water bodies in forest drawing wildlife to either quench their thirst or just have a cold water dip in hot summer.

Incidents of tourists stopping their vehicles on road clicking pictures of wildlife and teasing them are said to be on the rise.

The infuriated animals, to vent their rage, sometimes block the road or even charge the vehicles.

Taking into view all the happenings, the Department has begun to levy fines on offenders, according to Project Tiger Director T. Balachandra.