West Bengal’s first relocated tigress captured in Assam and returned to Buxa Tiger Reserve
Summary
- A tigress, the first to be relocated under West Bengal's wildlife management programme, was found in Assam after moving from its original habitat in Buxa Tiger Reserve.
- The animal was captured by forest officials in Assam's Jorhat district and immediately transported back to Buxa Tiger Reserve in Alipurduar.
- The relocation, undertaken in 2023, aimed to reduce human‑tiger conflict and enhance genetic exchange between fragmented tiger populations.
- The successful recapture underscores the challenges of monitoring translocated big cats and the need for robust GPS telemetry and inter‑state coordination.
Key Facts
- · The tigress was originally captured from Buxa Tiger Reserve, West Bengal.
- · Relocation was carried out in 2023 as part of a pilot project to mitigate human‑tiger conflict.
- · She was spotted in Jorhat district, Assam, after traveling approximately 250 km from her release site.
- · The West Bengal Forest Department, assisted by the Assam Forest Department, recaptured and returned her on 2 October 2024.
- · The project uses GPS collars to track movement and assess habitat suitability.
Why it matters
The incident highlights the complexities of wildlife translocation, the importance of interstate cooperation for conservation, and the need for robust monitoring to ensure the success of tiger corridor initiatives—key topics in India's environmental policy and biodiversity management.
#tiger#relocation#Buxa Tiger Reserve#wildlife conservation#inter‑state coordination#human‑wildlife conflict