Tigress Released in Buxa Tiger Reserve
Key Facts
- A tigress (T138) translocated from Valmiki Tiger Reserve (Bihar) was released into Buxa Tiger Reserve (West Bengal) to inaugurate India's Wildlife Week 2026.
- Wildlife Week 2026: observed from 2nd to 8th October; theme — "Connecting Habitats, Thriving Wildlife", highlighting the need for ecological corridors.
Institutional Framework
- Part of the Tiger Augmentation and Recovery Project, implemented since 2018 by:
- Government of West Bengal
- National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA)
- Wildlife Institute of India (WII)
- Translocation followed standard NTCA veterinary and management protocols.
- Monitoring via radio telemetry, camera traps and field observation; three more tigers planned to establish a viable breeding population.
Habitat Restoration
- Historical absence of resident tigers was due to prey depletion.
- Authorities restored 380+ hectares of grasslands and released 800+ chital (Axis axis) to improve carrying capacity.
Buxa Tiger Reserve (BTR)
- Located in Alipurduar district, West Bengal; covers Terai, Bhabar and sub-Himalayan ecosystems along Bhutan and Assam borders.
- Critical transboundary corridor connecting Manas Tiger Reserve (Assam), Phipsoo Wildlife Sanctuary (Bhutan) and Jaldapara National Park (West Bengal) — linking the North East/Brahmaputra Valley tiger landscape.
- Rivers: Sankosh, Raidak, Jayanti, Churnia, Turturi, Phashkhawa, Dima, Nonani.
- Vegetation: Sal, Champ, Simul forests.
- Fauna: tigers, elephants, gaurs, sambar, wild dogs, wild boars; endangered species like the Bengal florican and Chinese pangolin.
Significance
- Demonstrates species reintroduction science and corridor-based conservation under Project Tiger.
- Strengthens transboundary conservation cooperation (India–Bhutan) and genetic exchange among tiger populations.