Guwahati, India - August 10, 2025 A tourist attempting to photograph a wild elephant on the road was suddenly attacked. The elephant trampled him as he stumbled while fleeing. He was promptly transported to a hospital by ambulance for medical treatment. The incident took place near Bandipur Tiger Reserve Forest, in Chamarajanagar district, in southern India’s Karnataka, on August 10. Visuals show that an elephant was standing in the center of a road inside Bandipur Tiger Reserve as vehicles passed nearby. Suddenly, upon spotting a man emerging from the roadside bushes, the elephant charged. The man tried to flee, but the elephant accelerated the chase. During the pursuit, the man tripped and fell on the road. The relentless elephant raised its foot above the fallen man’s body, and onlookers feared the worst. It seemed like a fatal moment, but then unexpectedly, the elephant stopped and bolted back into the forest. The man narrowly escaped being crushed under the elephant’s foot. Speaking to Newslions, Mahadeva, Range Forest Officer, Bandipur Forest Range, Karnataka, stated that on 10-08-2025, at approximately 6:15 pm, a wild elephant was crossing National Highway 181 within the Bandipur Tiger Reserve, Bandipur zone. While the elephant was feeding on a bundle of carrots from a vegetable truck, a traveler on the same road exited his vehicle and entered the forest area. He took a selfie with the elephant and recorded a video, displaying reckless behavior. As a result of his arrogance, the elephant attacked him. Later that night, and continuing into the next day, 11-08-2025, following instructions from the Honorable Conservator of Forests and Director of the Bandipur Tiger Reserve, the Zonal Forest Officer of Bandipur Zone and his team located the individual who had been attacked and confirmed that he was alive. Upon investigation, it was revealed that the man was R.Basavaraju, a resident of Nanjangud. He was brought to the Bandipur Zonal Office around 7:00 pm on the same day and questioned in the presence of the Honorable Conservator of Forests and Director, Bandipur Tiger Reserve, along with the Assistant Conservator of Forests, Bandipur Sub-Division. During the inquiry, he admitted to acting out of ignorance. He was cautioned against repeating such behavior in the future and was fined Rs. 25,000 ($285.26) as per the directive of the Honorable Conservator of Forests and Director, Bandipur Tiger Reserve. Such incidents are not uncommon in Bandipur. The road through Karnataka’s Bandipur Tiger Reserve serves as a key wildlife corridor and is frequented by tourists. There have been numerous human-elephant encounters in this area, some resulting in fatalities. Earlier this year, in February, an elephant pursued two tourists in Chamarajanagar district’s national park after they attempted to take a selfie with it. Fortunately, the tourists, who were traveling to Kerala, escaped without injury. In December 2023, authorities discovered a man’s body in the Kundakere range of the Tiger Reserve. This marked the third fatal tiger attack in Bandipur within a single month. [Restriction:Not Distributable in Germany] * Exclusive Video rights*