The three-year-old tigress, Dooars Rani, was tranquilised in Assam's Kokrajhar district on Tuesday after straying from the Buxa Tiger Reserve.
A three-year-old tigress named Dooars Rani was captured in Assam's Kokrajhar district on Tuesday and returned to West Bengal's Buxa Tiger Reserve, according to The Indian Express. Forest officials from West Bengal and Assam, supported by the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA), conducted a joint operation to tranquilise and cage the animal in the Gilaguri area of Dotma.
The tigress was part of West Bengal's first tiger relocation project, having been moved from Bihar's Valmiki Tiger Reserve to Buxa on October 2. She crossed into Assam's Raimona National Park on October 25 after travelling over 100 km from her release site. The Hindu reported that she crossed the Sankosh River and a road in Gosaigaon while searching for habitat.
West Bengal Forest Minister Manoj Oraon said the decision to capture the tigress was made after she approached human settlements. He noted that officials had initially allowed her to explore the area, as it is natural for tigers to move. Oraon stated that the tigress is healthy and safe.
The capture operation involved the use of three elephants from Bengal, earthmovers, and nets to cordon off the area. The tigress had been spotted near Hatigarh village and Narayanpur village before being caught in Gilaguri at approximately 5.30 pm on Tuesday.
The Buxa relocation initiative aims to assist in the recovery of the tiger population in the region. Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari said that three additional tigers are scheduled to be released in Buxa within the next two months to support conservation and tourism.
