Bengal prepares to bring back Buxa tigress from Assam
Forest Minister Manoj Oraon said the rescue operation to return the tigress to Buxa Tiger Reserve is expected to be completed shortly.
The West Bengal Forest Department is preparing to bring a tigress back from Assam's Raimona National Park to the Buxa Tiger Reserve, according to a report by Telegraph India on Tuesday.
State Forest Minister Manoj Oraon said the animal is being monitored via a radio collar and remains in good health. The rescue may involve a tranquiliser dart or a cage, depending on weather conditions.
Authorities initially allowed the tigress to move freely, expecting it to return through the Raimona or Bhutan forest corridor. However, the decision to launch a rescue operation was made as the animal moved closer to human habitations over the last two to three days.
Oraon stated that the department has obtained clearance from the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) for the operation. He added that the Assam government has been extremely cooperative, with joint teams from both states cordoning off the area.
The tigress was released into the Buxa forest on October 2. Forest personnel have been on alert since the animal crossed the Sankosh river.
The minister said teams are present in the area and expressed hope that the tigress could be brought back by tonight or possibly tomorrow.